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Troubled Waters
Jaundice relapse: Govt caught on wrong foot, again
Phagwara, June 17
Jaundice is back in Phagwara. But it doesn’t seem to bother government much. Over a dozen cases have been reported from Rattanpura and new model town areas.

B.Ed teachers hold rally, burn minister’s effigy
Hoshiarpur, June 17
Unemployed B.Ed teachers front burnt an effigy of Punjab education minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur at Government College Chowk here today.

Needed: A good Samaritan
Nawanshahr, June 17
For Madan Lal, a resident of Balachaur, the disease ‘muscular dystrophy’ has proved nothing short of a dreaded devil. The disease not only gulped one of his sons but has also taken his second son in to its clutches.

Teenage boy run over by train
Phagwara June 17
In a tragic incident, a teenager Shiva was crushed to death after he fell under the moving Amritsar bound Shan-e-Punjab Express at Phagwara railway station last evening.

EARLIER STORIES

	Students in a fix as PSEB withholds result June 17, 2007
	Unmanned crossing claims motorist’s life June 16, 2007
	Grocery outlets asked to display price list June 15, 2007
	Police shielding accused, alleges rape victim June 14, 2007
	Now, teachers to peep into history June 13, 2007
	Hardliners plan inroads into dera strongholds June 12, 2007
	Jobless B.Ed teachers lathi charged, 5 hurt June 11, 2007
	Complete bandh in Nurmahal June 10, 2007
	Couple dies as car rams bike June 9, 2007
	Women beat empty tins to demand cheap atta, dal June 8, 2007

Troubled Waters
Jaundice relapse: Govt caught on wrong foot, again
Our Correspondent

Phagwara, June 17
Jaundice is back in Phagwara. But it doesn’t seem to bother government much. Over a dozen cases have been reported from Rattanpura and new model town areas.

While people are dreading another outbreak, the health department and local administration, unfortunately, have not able to quell their fears.

According to sources, the vacant SMO post, has virtually made the health department headless and hit its smooth functioning.

The post has been created after transfer of Dr Adarsh Sood last month.

Interestingly, it has been over two months since the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced a grant of Rs 8.5 crore for Phagwara sewerage overhauling.

But the municipal council authorities have not received a single penny yet. “In absence of funds, we can’t so much,” said an MC official, pleading anonymity. Notably, at that time Badal had summoned a high-level meeting, which was, among others, attended by local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia and principal secretary D.S. Bains.

The CM had even rushed his OSD Parveen Kumar to the town for taking stock of the situation.

However, nothing concrete has been done till date to end the plight of hundreds of residents who are sitting atop an epidemic bomb.

Lack of proper sanitation and drainage system coupled with overflowing pipes and mixing of drinking and sewerage water have made the town vulnerable to water-borne diseases.

Acting SMO Dr Gurdit Singh told The Tribune that doctors have been deputed in the affected places.

“I have personally visited the areas. Water samples have been taken. The health staff is examining the residents and chlorine tablets are being distributed,” said Singh.

As a preventive measure, people are being advised to take boiled drinking water.

MC president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra said tankers were being sent to provide clean drinking water to the residents.

A special sanitation campaign has also been launched in the area. Executive officer Gurwinder Kaur said the main big drains of the town would be completely cleaned.

Kaur said during her visit to the affected areas she found some water connections in a bad shape.

“They would be replaced and separate pipes would be laid to prevent any mixing of water,” she added.

B.Ed teachers hold rally, burn minister’s effigy
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, June 17
Unemployed B.Ed teachers front burnt an effigy of Punjab education minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur at Government College Chowk here today.

Earlier, they staged a rally at local Shaheed Udham Singh Park. Surjit Raja, district president of the front, said the SAD (B) had made promise to give jobs to all unemployed BEd teachers within three weeks after forming the government.

But the state government has not done anything even after four months, he added. “If jobs not provided, then we would intensify our agitation.”

Meanwhile, Activists of district unit of Berozgar B.Ed Adhiyapak Front held a protest rally and took out a protest march at Baradari Garden at Nawanshahr.

They burnt effigy of the education minister, Upinderjit Kaur, at Chandigarh Chowk against non-fulfilment of pre-poll promise of filling up 45, 000 vacant posts of school teachers by the SAD-BJP government.

Addressing the rally, district president, Jujhar Singh, Gurdial Singh, Veena Agnihotri, Taranjit Kaur and DTF leader, Mukesh Kumar, among others, condemned the SAD-BJP government for adopting dilly-dallying and repressive attitude towards the unemployed B.Ed teachers on pattern of the previous Congress government.

“The state government is running away from fulfilling its promise of filling up vacant posts but it has also started using police force against the unemployed teachers,” alleged the leaders.

Needed: A good Samaritan
Parmod Bharti

Nawanshahr, June 17
For Madan Lal, a resident of Balachaur, the disease ‘muscular dystrophy’ has proved nothing short of a dreaded devil. The disease not only gulped one of his sons but has also taken his second son in to its clutches. Madan Lal, lost his elder son Sanjiv Kumar, about 13 years ago due to muscular dystrophy. He was only 24 years old then. Now, his younger son Sarabjit Kumar (28) is also suffering from the dreaded disease, which has made him unable to move. Madan Lal, who has been running from pillar to post to save his son from the jaws of death, desperately needs liberal monetary help from the philanthropists and NGOs. Madan Lal says his sons treatment from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has reduced him to penury. A panel of US doctors has advised five bone joint operations of his son. He requires at least a sum of Rs15 lakh for the same. But, to make arrangement of such a huge amount is an uphill task for him, says Madan Lal with tears in his eyes.

He has sold almost everything for his sons treatment and is left with nothing. He is holding on to the hope of finding financial help from philanthropists and NGOs. Last year, he wrote a letter to the president, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and the then chief minister, Capt Amarinder Singh for help. A sum of Rs one lakh was given to him as financial assistance from the government. Former deputy commissioner, Krishan Kumar, also provided him some financial help. Present DC Bhawna Garg, has also assured help from the Red Cross. She has appealed to NGOs to come forward to help the family. Madan Lal can be contacted on phone number 01885-503539.

Teenage boy run over by train
Our Correspondent

Phagwara June 17
In a tragic incident, a teenager Shiva was crushed to death after he fell under the moving Amritsar bound Shan-e-Punjab Express at Phagwara railway station last evening.

According to the GRP authorities, Shiva, accompanied with his mother, was coming from Delhi. During the halt at railway station, Shiva went to purchase some eatables from the platform. However, seeing the train moving away from the platform Shiva tried to board the train, but, slipped and fell in the track below the train. As the passengers raised alarm, the train was immediately halted. Unaware of the mishap, Shiva’s mother was still awaiting his arrival. However, when the passengers drew her attention toward the incident she fell unconscious. The dead body has been sent for the postmortem.