Teachers’ unions threaten strike
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, July 25
Strongly condemning yesterday’s incident of manhandling and suspension of a political science lecturer of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College, several teachers’ unions have threatened to go on strike if the police case and suspension orders of the said teacher were not revoked.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Kuldeep Singh, area secretary, Panjab University, said that the incident was “created” by certain unscrupulous elements to get political mileage as elections were approaching. “The lecturer, Mr Sunil Aggarwal, has been sent to judicial remand for 14 days and we have filed an application for his bail. Being a Hindu himself, he can never insult Hindu Gods and Goddesses,” he said.

The President of Government College Teachers Association (GCTA), Prof Jaipal Singh, said that the incident was an unfortunate one. “The students manhandled the teachers, created indiscipline in the college and destroyed public property. Instead of punishing them, the college authorities punished the teacher and the police, too, registered a case against him. We, as teachers, believe in secularism and cannot hurt anybody’s religious sentiments,” he said.

Mr Yograj, a lecturer at Kamla Lohtia, said that the faculty was with the lecturer. He said that teachers had already started their agitation by striking work in the college. “The strike will continue till the suspension of the teacher is revoked and the students responsible for this incident are rusticated,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the lecturer Sunil Aggarwal, while taking his class yesterday, had criticised the students protesting against the ‘insulting behavioural connotations of Hindu Gods and Goddesses’ in the course book of IGNOU.

It is learnt that the agitated students manhandled the lecturer but he managed to escape. Other lecturers of the college made a human chain and locked the lecturer in a room. The police was immediately called to diffuse the tension.

Ensure survival of saplings, says DEO
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 25
Mr Joginder Singh Aulakh, District Education Officer (DEO), Sangrur, has called upon leaders of social and educational organisations to join hands with the Education Department in the preservation of environment by planting saplings of shady and fruits-bearing trees.

While talking to Ludhiana Tribune after inaugurating district- level tree plantation programme at Government Senior Secondary School, Kanganwal, Mr Aulakh said he had directed heads of all government and private schools located in the district to ensure that each student of the institutes plants at least one sapling.

“To ensure the survival of planted saplings, we have decided to constitute special teams of teachers and senior students who would prepare lists of these plants and monitor their progress,” explained the DEO.

He said the programme would be extended to all schools in a phased manner but attempt would be made that academic activities were not affected. “I have advised heads of all institutes that classroom teaching should not be affected on the pretext of vanamahoutsava celebration. Rather students should be inspired to plants saplings voluntarily, at places of their choice,” maintained Mr Aulakh.

Mr Bhupinder Singh Bath, Principal, Mr Jagtaran Singh, president, Sports Club, Mr Darshan Singh Rai , Mr Rai Chand and Mr Anad Sagar were present on the occasion.

COURTS

Lok Adalat gets Chairman
Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, July 25
One year after its inauguration, the permanent Lok Adalat here has finally got a regular Chairman with the State Legal Services Authority appointing Mr C.D. Gupta, former Additional District and Sessions Judge, as its Chairman.

The lok adalat here was inaugurated by the then Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, a Supreme Court Judge, on April 10, last year.

Mr Gupta joined here today. He had also served here as Additional District and Sessions Judge from 1997 to 2000. He has also been entrusted with the Chairmanship of the permanent lok adalat at Moga, where he will sit once a week.

The appointment has been made for six months which may be extended upto five years on the basis of work and conduct of the officer.

The lok adalat will deal with disputes arising out public utility services, which includes insurance services, service in hospital or dispensary, supply of power, light or water to the public by any establishment, postal, telegraph or telephone services, transport service for the carriage of passengers or goods by air, road or water and system of public conservancy or sanitation.

Any party to a dispute may, before the dispute is brought before any court, make an application to the lok adalat for the settlement of dispute.

This lok adalat will not have the jurisdiction to entertain the matter where the value of the property in dispute exceeds Rs 10 lakh. While the matter is pending before the lok adalat, no party will invoke the jurisdiction of any court in the same dispute. Where the parties fail to reach an agreement, the lok adalat has been empowered to decide on the dispute on merit. The award passed by it would be final in all respects and not appealable, as per the Legal Services Authority Act.

HEALTH

‘Rise in chest diseases’ cause for concern
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, July 25
The alarming level of environmental pollution in the industrial hub, coupled with increased incidence of smoking, is giving rise to a variety of chest diseases and breathing disorders which call for a new approach to management and treatment of these diseases.

These remarks were made by Dr Dinesh Goyal, senior consultant in chest diseases at SPS Apollo Hospital here while speaking at a CME and seminar on chest diseases, organised by National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) here last evening.

Elaborating on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he said it was a smoking related lung disease, although high pollution levels in the urban sector, were also contributory factors. “The COPD has two patterns, with chronic bronchitis and emphysema being its two major components. The disease being irreversible, new molecules in tablet form and inhaler-based medications have revolutionised the treatment of the disease.”

Dr Surendra Gupta, secretary NlMA, while initiating the discussion, said that the CME and seminar was a part of the programme chalked out by the association to update the knowledge of the member doctors. The sole aim of these interactive sessions was to infuse new information and latest developments in the field of medicine and surgery.

He observed that COPD was very rapidly expanding in urban population due to high level of air pollution, bad eating habits, congested inhabitation at living and work places, along with smoking being the major, but avoidable, factor. Due to the fast pace of developments in this field of medicine, NIMA felt it proper to keep the doctors abreast with the latest advances in medical and surgical treatment. He focused on the role of NIMA doctors, as family physicians, which was significant in providing tertiary care to the needy segments of society.

Dr Rajesh Thaper, president NIMA, extended a warm welcome to the guest speaker and delegates. He said it was matter of great satisfaction that CMEs and seminars being organised by the association were fulfilling the desired purpose of creating awareness among general masses regarding the professional competence of integrated doctors.

An audio visual profile of ‘Doxophyline’, the latest molecule to ease out broncho-spasm was presented by Ranbaxy Pharma for the benefit of attending doctors.

Dr M.M. Verma, Dr Pardip Nagrath, Dr Diwakar Sharma, Dr Khangoora, Dr Inder Sharma, Dr Ashok Puri, Dr D.P. Goyal, Dr Sarjeevan Sharma, Dr Sarbjit Singh, Dr Sanjiv Jain, Dr Ranbir Singh, Dr P.P. Singh and Dr K.K. Kohli, among others were present at the occasion

Health session for KVM girls

Ludhiana, July 25
An informal session was organised for the girl students of Class VII and VIII of Kundan Vidya Mandir (KVM) to provide them with information that they should have at the threshold of puberty.

Dr Achla Gupta, medical officer, told them how to turn into beautiful blossoming young women by giving tips on personal hygiene etc. She discussed physical, psychological and mental changes that occur in pre-teens. The girls were curious to know about diet, height, health and grooming. In an endeavour to make the girls of the KVM to be truly dignified and well-groomed young individuals, this session of health was organised. —OC

SPORTS

Meeting of schools tournament panel
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 25
To finalise the schedule for the different games (schools), inter-zonal as well as inter-district games, the meeting of the District Schools Committee was held here yesterday with Mr Yash Pal Mehra, District Education Officer (secondary) in the chair. Around 400 persons, including principals, physical education teachers of various schools from all over the district took part in the meeting.

The meeting resolved to constitute different subcommittees to supervise the preparations to be made for the games scheuled to be organised from the month of August onwards. The meeting also elected unanimously Mr Sukhdev Lal Khullar, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Baddowal, as president of the tournament committee while Mr Gurbachan Singh, Principal of Teja Singh Swatantar Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, as general secretary.

Other office bearers of the tournament committee are: Mr Jaswinder Singh of Government Senior Secondary School, Model Town, Ludhiana- secretary (conduct) and Ms Kanwaljit Kaur- finance secretary.

After the meeting, Mr Mehra (DEO) and Mr Rupinder Singh Ravi, Deputy District Eduation Officer informed that inter zonal sports meet would be completed by the end of August and state level competition would be held in the month of September at different venues in Ludhiana.

Mr Ajitpal Singh, Mr Jagroop Singh Dhandra, Principal, Sikander Singh Jarkhar, Mr Malwinder Singh Sekhon, Ms Paramjit Kaur Sahnewal, Mr Makhan Singh, Mr Dalwinder singh Minhas, Mr Gurvinder Singh Kila Raipur, Mr Avtar Singh Gill, Mr Devinder Singh and Master Shingara Singh Sahnewal were the prominent persons among others who attended the meeting.

Basketball squads for Punjab meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 25
The following boys and girls have been selected to represent Ludhiana district and the Baba Lodhiana Academy (boys) being run here by the Punjab Basketball Association with the help of Sports Department, Punjab, in the Punjab State Subjunior Basketball Championship to be held from July 26 to 29 at Mansa, according to Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, honorary secretary, Ludhiana District Basketball Association.

The academy team members are: Arzoo Kumar (captain), Prabhjot Singh, Dev Mehra, Rohit Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Arjun Prasad, Sameer Sen, Satnam Singh, Harshabab, Dilip Kumar, Loveneet Singh and Vinod. Ashwani Kumar and Dr S. Sumramanian will accompany the team as coach and manager, respectively.

The players of the Ludhiana boys team are: Harjot Singh, Ankit, Kushmeet Singh, Gagandeep Singh, Sorav Sahota, Bharat, Sonu, Raytham, Nirmal Singh, Prakash and Amrit. Ajay Prakash has been named coach of the team.

The girls team includes Nagma Mirza, Sandhya, Laxmi Rani, Anjali, Simran, Reevam, Lovely, Anju, Manju, Mandeep, Sonia and Mehak. Mohan Lal will be the coach of the team.