Jalandhar, November 4
The prestigious project of introducing a dialysis wing in the local civil hospital seems to be hanging fire as the district administration has refused to release the required funds for it.

Sources in the administration revealed that the dealing hand official in the office of the deputy commissioner (DC) had raised objections on the file moved by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation seeking funds from the MPLAD fund.

The corporation had moved the file to the Jalandhar DC office for a sum of about Rs 14 lakh to be paid from the MPLAD fund to the installing agency. The corporation has purchased two dialysis machines that are lying in the civil hospital gathering dust.

Sources in the department disclosed that the machines were purchased with the efforts of Naresh Gujral, a Rajya Sabha member from Jalandhar, and their cost was to be paid from the MPLAD fund, lying with the deputy commissioner office.

With the delay in installation of the machines, the patients suffering from chronic renal diseases in this part of the region will now have to travel to Amritsar or Chandigarh or bear the exorbitant charges of private hospitals.

In the absence of the facility in the government hospital, the private hospitals have been charging exorbitantly, thus making it difficult for the poor patients to bear the treatment cost.

When contacted, medical superintendent-cum-deputy director of the civil hospital Dr Ashok Nayyar said the file had not been cleared by the district administration.

He said the dealing hand officer in the district administration had raised objections regarding the release of the payment.

The hospital authorities have even built separate rooms for setting up of the machines, costing Rs 7 lakh each, and other supportive equipment almost two months ago.

The facility would benefit patients from Doaba region who have to go to Government Medical College, Amritsar, or the PGI, Chandigarh, in the absence of any dialysis machine in any government hospital in the region, he added.

The hospital authorities have already written to the Punjab Health System Corporation for fixing the charges for different categories of patients availing themselves of the facility at the government-run hospital.

According to the hospital records, on an average 10 to 15 patients suffering from chronic renal diseases are being registered daily.

When contacted, deputy commissioner Ajit Singh Pannu expressed his ignorance about the issue.

The DC claimed that he was not aware of the facts if any dialysis machine was to be installed in the civil hospital and the authorities had been seeking release of funds from his office for the setting up of the equipment.

Jalandhar, November 4
It was an ambitious project but left midway. The Safai Sehyog Abhiyan carried out by mayor Rakesh Rathore, which included his ward-wise visit every week, interaction with the councillor and opinion leaders of the area, understanding of peculiar problems of every ward and redressal of some public problems right at the spot, was discontinued almost four months back.

The mayor had then covered up to 23 wards but his visit to 37 other wards remains pending. Officials of the area also accompanied him to the spot. The mayor had then personally urged market associations falling in the wards to keep their areas clean, dump waste at designated sites and withdraw their temporary or permanent encroachments. The requests and subsequent orders had then had an impact, may be short-lived.

Jalandhar, November 4
“Change is the need of the hour. Keeping this in mind All India Radio (AIR), Jalandhar too underwent some significant changes in its programs, content, genres and presentation style. After all, it is the survival of the fittest which matters the most,” said the newly-appointed station director of AIR, B.C. Panwar.

Talking to The Tribune he said, “Earlier the programmes were made with an educational purpose but now the focus is towards youth oriented content. These days, a majority of our programmes consider youth as its target audience and we have been quiet successful in this attempt.”The people of the city witnessed a complete entertainment boom last year with the launch of four private FM channels including Radio Mirchi, Radio Mantra, Big FM and My FM within a short span of time.

On being asked about the stiff competition being faced by AIR due to the private FMs, Panwar said, “Interestingly, AIR has always enjoyed a distinct fan following right from its inception. Initially, there were apprehensions that the private FMs would overpower the popularity of AIR but the brand loyalty is still there. Our programmes are a complete package of education, information and entertainment.

AIR is a two-way medium of communication with maximum live programs. Above all, our programs involve public participation as well”.

Panwar started his career with AIR as assistant editor at AIR, Udaipur. He became programme officer in 1982 and served at Suratgarh, Bikaner and Chittorgarh stations.

Later, he became assistant station director of AIR, Chittorgarh in 1993 and served there till January 1998. From January 1998 he became the assistant station director of AIR Jodhpur. From 1999 to January 2004 he served as the station director of AIR, Nagor (Rajasthan).

Before joining AIR, Jalandhar, Panwar was the station director of AIR Jodhpur. After putting in a service of 31 years he still aspires to learn in this field. “It would be my effort to take AIR to take great heights and bring quality programs for the masses”, he said.

Jalandhar, November 4
A glint in his eyes with a smile intact, this man takes his humourist tag very seriosuly. Listen to what he has to say on being asked about his age: “Aap ji da janam 2 April 1981 vich Amritsar vikhe hoeya. Aap ji bachpan ton hi bade partibhashali san.”

In Jalandhar to catch up with friends, an encounter with Kapil Sharma, the crown-holder of comedy show Laughter Champions 2, doesn’t leave any doubt in one’s mind about his unparalleled wit and humour.

Happy to be with his friends, he speaks about his school days, “Incidentally, the first time I gave a performance on stage was for a group bhajan I sang during the janamashtmi celebrations at our school.”

It was as a student at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, that his professional growth began. “I remember I used to rehearse for my own items during the day and in the evenings I used to direct theatre items for a girls’ college.

At 22, Kapil was the youngest director to have made his debut at the national youth festivals.

Talking about Laughter Challenge,, he says, “It was a wonderful experience. I had first auditioned at Amritsar but didn’t get through. It was only at the Delhi auditions that I got my big break and since then there has been no looking back.”

Talking about the transition from performing in Punjabi to Hindi, he says, “In the beginning I used to be very nervous and confused. It was very taxing because I had always had the habit of thinking only in Punjabi.”

“I remember once on stage, I couldn’t get the Hindi word for a punch, so I said mai isko ghasunn mar dunga (laughs).”

The funny bone also loves serious stuff. “I would love to do serious roles. Sometimes it feels strange when people associate you only with comedy and fail to see the other side but as far as my fans go, I will go on making people laugh as long as they don’t get bored.”

Talking about Punjabi theatre, he says, “There’s not much theatre happening anywhere in Punjab except Amritsar which is very sad. The other cities also need to wake up to it.”

“At my level, I have been approached to cut comedy videos by companies but I am not sure about that because even if the VCDs get released, the company incurs a loss due to so much piracy happening,” he rues.

So many Punjabi performers in Laughter Challenge, is there a bias? “As far as I remember, I just clicked with the audience and it was always Shekhar ji who used to give me higher marks, so at least as far as I am concerned, I don’t see any bias.”

Talking about his various projects, he says, “I have been doing a show Chak De Punjabi on Star One and Raju Hazir Ho which is being aired on NDTV Imagine.”

His upcoming movies include, Bhavnaon Ko Samjho, under Sunil Pal productions and It’s My Life, a movie under Boney Kapoor productions, directed by Anees Bazmee. The cast includes Nana Patekar, Genelia D’Souza and Harman Baweja.

“I am also doing a Vidhu Vinod Chopra movie,” he adds.

Jalandhar, November 4
Over 400 students from more than 13 colleges affiliated with Punjab Technical University participated in various events during a two-day zonal youth festival (zone - II) that took off at DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology here today.

The theme of the festival is freedom struggle. Opening the festival, mayor Rakesh Rathore recalled his collegs days as a student of DAV College.

The festival kicked started with a classical dance. Participants gave Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Kuchipudi dance performances. This was followed by a group song performance and folk dance.

Rangoli participants prepared beautiful patterns. The topic for elocution was “Role of women in freedom struggle of India” and “India and China as emerging superpowers of the World”.

Clay-modelling was also based on the topic of freedom struggle. Cultural coordinator of PTU Jaspal Singh said Prof Balram Dogra of principal Apeejay College, CL Kocher, director of DAVIET and Prof RK Dhawan, principal of Ramgarhia College of Engineering had been appointed as members of jury.

Results:

Classical Dance

I - Asmita of DAVIET, Jalandhar

II- Ramgarhia Institute of Engineering and Technology (RIMT), Phagwara

Group Song (Indian)

I - Lovely Institute of Technology (LIT), Phagwara

II - DAVIET, Jalandhar

Light Vocal (Indian)

I - Amanpreet Kaur of DAVIET, Jalandhar

II - Amandeep Singh of CT Institute of Engineering, Management and Technology (CTIEMT), Shahpur

Classical Instrumental Solo (Percussion)

I - Jagdip Singh of CTIEMT, Shahpur

II - Satinder Pal Singh of DAVIET, Jalandhar

Classical Instrumental Solo (Non - Percussion)

I - Satnam Singh of RIET, Phagwara

II - Varsha of DAVIET, Jalandhar

Rangoli

I - Mukul Aggarwal DAVIET, Jalandhar

II - Lovely Garg LIT, Phagwara.

Jalandhar, November 4
The students of HMV College, Jalandhar, bagged the first runners-up trophy in the zonal youth festival (Jalandhar ‘C’ Zone) held at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, from October 24 to 27. The college won 12 first positions, 12 second positions and 7 third positions.

In group items, the college won 5 first prizes, 4 second prizes and 3 third prizes. The college bagged first prize in folk orchestra, debate, group, shabad, Vaar singing and Giddha while second prize in quiz, skit, one-act play, western group song and secured third position in mime, group song and installation. Similarly, in solo items, the college won 7 first prizes, 8 second prizes and 4 third prizes. The students won first prize in sketching, cartooning, poster-making, semi classical vocal, ghazal, solo bhajan and folk song.

HMV also won second prize in creative dance, classical instrumental (non-percussion), rangoli, phulkari, poetical symposium, elocution, histronics and classical vocal while third position in mimicry, painting (still life), collage and clay-modelling. Principal J. Kackria and dean youth welfare, Kulwinderdeep Kaur, congratulated the students on their victory.

Jalandhar, November 4
The district health authorities today conducted a surprise raid at a chemist shop and seized huge quantity of illegal drugs.

The officials raided Sri Shakti Traders in Dilkusha Market and found drugs worth Rs 1.50 lakh stocked up without proper license.

Sources in the department further disclosed that the raiding party also seized 730 injections, 577 bottles of syrup, 15,000 tablets and 3,80,000 capsules. The department has initiated action against the owner.