Dehradun, December 7
With neither checks nor legislation in place, substandard pathological laboratories have sprung up in every nook and corner of the city, doing brisk business.

A major risk to health, compromising on quality, several of these laboratories are being run by technicians instead of pathologists.

The diagnosis and line of treatment for a patient depends on these laboratories. It is little wonder then that several tests go terribly wrong. The patient may be forced to undergo tests over and over again, all because a substandard laboratory has messed up a test.

Of the close to 100 laboratories being run in the city, about 80 per cent are not up to the mark, providing substandard services.

“My set-up is clean. I use disposable syringes, so why bother about accreditation? at the end of the day, my patients go satisfied,” said Mohan, a technician at Vikas Nagar.

Such nonchalant attitude stems from lack of awareness. It is strengthened by the lack of stringent action by the authorities.

The state government has chosen to steer clear of the problem, despite the central government setting up Quality Control of India (QCI) that monitors quality of scientific and clinical laboratories.

The state health department is sitting pretty on the issue. It has yet to wake up to the need for accreditation of pathology laboratories.

Unlike a nursing home or hospital, the pathology laboratories can pretty well be run by quacks as there is no monitoring agency to curb the practice.There are no laid-down standards for running these labs.This can be dangerous.

“The guidelines of Quality Control of India (QCI), set up by the ministry of science and technology, clearly state that every pathology laboratory in the country should be registered and headed by a pathologist. Since health is a state subject, the ball is in the government court.

“Already, the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have made it mandatory that only QCI- approved laboratories are to be allowed to function, but we seem to be sleeping on the issue,” said Dr Alok Ahuja, who runs a pathology laboratory and diagnostic centre here.

The lackadaisical attitude is reflected in the recent decision by the Doon Hospital (District government hospital) authorities and it’s pathology department. As the department is unable to carry out special tests, it has to rely on private laboratories.

Till date, it has not selected an accredited laboratory that could have been done by calling for tenders. Instead, the choice is left to the patients. “How can a patient be expected to pick up a pathology laboratory about which he has scant knowledge, especially when there are only a few good ones in the city,” asked a patient.

That’s not all. Some doctors, for monetary considerations, conduct blood tests from their nursing homes, even when they are not qualified pathologists. The major input comes from a technician, who again is ill-equipped for the task.

Even social organisations, in the garb of charity, hold camps conducting tests at half the cost, attracting patients in droves, earning praise and goodwill.

“There are two kinds of patients, those that are quality conscious and those cost conscious. These substandard laboratories will always draw clients who want to cut costs, we cannot blame them.

“The government needs to bring a law to streamline these laboratories,” said Dr Rajeev Sikund of Sikund Diagnostics.

Dehradun, December 7
Chief Minister Major-Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd) has sought a detailed report regarding the problems faced by people with respect to water, roads, education and health services in Rikhnikhal and Dhumakot areas of Pauri Garhwal.

He has asked the officials concerned to submit a report within 15 days so that necessary steps can be initiated to solve the problems.Khanduri represents the Dhumakot constituency.

The Chief Minister laid the stone for the 6km Sislidi-Aasankhet-Majhol road in Rikhnikhal, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore on December 5. He directed the officials to ensure that work was completed within the stipulated period.

Later, addressing ‘Janta Milan’ programmes in Rikhnikhal and Dhumakot, he instructed officials to lay special emphasis on the quality of developmental works.

Announcing approval of EMRI 108 service in Rikhnikhal, he directed officials to speed up road construction work in different parts of the state. He instructed officials of the Public Works Department to submit a detailed report on road construction in the area.

“It has been observed that despite provision for disbursal of old-age pension and pension for the disabled at the tehsil level, the beneficiaries have to approach the state government for the same,” said Khanduri, directing the officials to ensure that people did not face any such problem. Chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey said there was unnecessary delay in kick-starting several developmental works in many districts because of mandatory forest clearance.

He said in order to prevent road accidents, an action plan was being prepared.

“A joint enforcement team of the transport department, the police and the district administration will submit a report. Subsequently, recommendations of the committee will be enforced,” he said.

Dehradun, December 7
Apple plantation in surrounding areas of Dehradun is bound to get a boost with American hybrid varieties. These are not only rich in taste but are also virus and disease-resistant.

Procured from the USA by the Horticulture Directorate, the varieties include the Star King and Top Red grown at a height of 6,500 ft and Red Chief, Organ Spur, Scarlet Gala, Red Fuji and Vale Spur, suitable for cultivation at the elevation of 5,500-6,000 ft.

These varieties bear fruit after two years. The Horticulture Directorate had managed to multiply the saplings to 40,000 plants on 10,000 acres of nursery at Chobatia. These were then distributed free to farmers for plantation, that usually begins in the month of December or January, depending on the first spell of snow. The state has already received the season’s first snowfall.

Apple is grown in adjoining areas of Dehradun, comprising a total area of 4,600 hectares. In Tyuni, Chosal, Koti Kansar, Sahiya, and Kalsi (Chakrata area), 300 hectares is under apple cultivation.

Besides distributing saplings, the Horticulture Department gives fertilisers and nutrients free of cost to be added to the soil.

And 75 per cent subsidy (on the project for apple plantation) is extended to farmers under a centrally funded scheme called the Horticulture Technology Mission.

“The farmer can get a sum of Rs 22,500 as subsidy that is given in installments for three years,” informed district horticulture officer Amar Singh.

Apples in the state were introduced in the pre-Independence era and the most popular was the Red Delicious, a hybrid variety that was also introduced in Himachal Pradesh by the British.

Unlike HP, in Uttarakhand the apples could not become the mainstay of economy or change the fortune of the farmers as they did not take to growing apple in a big way.

The Red Delicious was mainly grown in Chobatia, Munsiyari, Chakrata, Uttarkashi, Harsil and Joshimath, during that period.

“However, after the creation of Uttarakhand, serious efforts are on to revive old orchards and also encourage farmers to embrace new varieties.

“Our farmers are still way behind in collection and plucking methods. They lack knowledge of the grading system. On our part, we have given them the timeline. At times they pluck immature apples that may not fetch a good price.

“ But things are changing in certain areas of Chakrata where farmers are emulating their neighbours in Himachal,” said Amar Singh.

Growing and plucking apples is not easy. Unexpected rain and hailstorm can upset calculations of a bumper harvest. “The quality of apples gets affected if there is unexpected hailstorm. The apples not yet ripe, start rotting then. Several things need to be taken care of. We have no storage unit. All this requires money,” informed ther officer.

The apples grown in Chakrata are sold in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai markets. 

Dehradun, December 7
Conquering adversity comes naturally to 17-year-old Kamla and 18-year-old Karan, inmates of Cheshire Home. A never say-die-attitude has seen them cross several hurdles with poise.

Kamla was attacked by a leopard in a village in Almora in 2002 when she had gone to fetch grass. She received several injuries on her body and face. Twelve surgeries later, shegot back her face but lost a leg.

“I was a carefree village girl, but the attack changed everything. I began to dread meeting people and suffered from low self-esteem. I looked in the mirror and could not recognize myself. It was a long ordeal for me and my family running from one hospital to another, waiting for the doctors to perform a miracle,” informed Kamla.

The hefty hospital bills left her family physically and financially drained. The doctors at Almora Hospital expressed their inability to do any more operations.

Then, a meeting of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan in Dehradun caught the attention of Mamta Gupta, superintendent, Cheshire Home.

“Since our organisation takes care of mentally challenged children, it was a tall order convincing the managing committee of Cheshire Home to take in Kamla too,” said Mamta. Kamla has been at Cheshire Home since 2005. She has undergone surgeries of the nose and face at Jolly Grant Hospital

“She is naturally talented and has a positive disposition, which has been of great help. After completing formal education, I want her to be independent ,” said Mamta.

Karan’s story is not much different from Kamla’s. Polio-stricken and bound to a wheelchair, “his condition was very bad when he came here. He had already witnessed several doors closing on him when in Delhi and had asked a social organisation to provide him night shelter.

“But he did not give up and make friends with strangers who helped him locate Cheshire Home,” said Mamta.

His dreams big too. He wants to join a bank and then appear for the IAS exams. “ I want to take a shot at the examinations, who knows I may it,” said a confident Karan.

Dehradun, December 7
Field workers of the Jal Sansthan Mazdoor Union will hold a protest rally at Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s residence and jam the gates of the Jal Nigam headquarters tomorrow in protest against non-acceptance of their 11-point charter of demands.

“We will be intensifying our stir, as we have not received any favourable response from the government. The government has already absorbed 3,200 field employees of the Jal Sansthan”, said state president Pitambar Datt Lohani of the union. The filed workers want 1,450 field employees absorbed in the department and arrears from 1986-1995 as per the Samta Committee recommendations, besides other things.

The state general secretary of the Jal Sansthan Mazdoor Union, Chandi Prasad Sharma, said a bilateral agreement was reached on September 14 last year after talks with water resource minister Matbar Singh Kandari. But the government did not meet the demands.

The union has been agitating since December 10, 2007. “We communicated with the bureaucrats, but got no response. Therefore, we have decided to intensify the agitation from tomorrow,” informed Ravinder Singh Solanki, secretary (publicity)of the union.

Dehradun, December 7
With an aim to inculcate the values of Sikhism, a Punjabi play titled "Eh Mor Agaya" was staged here last night by Shree Guru Harkrishan Sahib Academy.

The play was a satire on the effect of pop culture on Sikh youth that is driving them away from their own culture. It was aimed at creating awareness among Sikhs about the importance of keeping hair (kesh).

“The youth today are attracted to the world of glamour. They think that by not cutting their hair and beard they will not be accepted in society. We are trying to spread the message that everything in this world can be achieved by following one’s religion,” said Sukhchain Singh, the director of the play.

The play was staged by the students of Kirtan Academy. "I acted in this play because I felt that my friends, who have cut their hair for the sake of fashion, should be made aware," said Jasjeet, the main actor of the play and a student of class XI.

Dehradun, December 7
With Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id) round the corner, goat sellers from different parts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are arriving in the Doon valley with their animals.

Goats of different sizes with distinctive names are attracting Muslim buyers in large numbers. Their starting price is Rs 5,000 while well-fed goats are being sold for more than Rs 10,000.

The goat sellers are flocking to the Innamullah building area here which has a sizeable Muslim population. "I am here from Najibabad in Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh and have sold two goats for Rs 11,000," said Tasleem Ahmed.

The sale of goats usually starts 15 days before the festival. However, the more faithful ones keep these goats throughout the year, feed them and take care of them.

"I have been selling goats for the past 20 days and now I am left with only eight of them," said Suhaib Khan.

The rise in inflation has had its effect on sales this year. “I have got eight goats but I am sure that by tomorrow, almost all would be sold, said Imran.

This year, it is a subdued Bakr-Id. "If the number of buyers is more, we end up making a good profit. But till now, the response is lukewarm," said Suhaib Khan.

But there are exceptions too. “It is celebration time and I have purchased four goats," said Fazal Khan, a businessman. The centre of attraction is Seru Sultan, a huge he-goat. But “it is not for sale,” said Faiz Ahmad, its owner.