Amritsar, June 26
The inquiry committee investigating the allotment of shops located on the premises of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) has found many glaring shortcomings that caused huge financial losses to the hospital exchequer.

The hospital authorities failed to recover rent and other charges from shopkeepers, said the report.

The three-member committee, headed by Dr K.D. Singh, Principal, Government Medical College, Patiala, in a communication to the Medical Superintendent, GNDH, has sought several clarifications and comments from them along with necessary documents before completing the final report.

Though the committee shot the letter to the hospital authorities in April, it was still waiting for a response from them.

Dr K.D. Singh, while talking to The Tribune, confirmed that they were waiting for comments and clarifications that they needed before compiling the final report.

“As soon as we get the response from the hospital authorities we will incorporate it in the final report,” said Dr K.D. Singh.

It is pertinent to mention here that after receiving a number of complaints regarding bungling in the allocation of shops to private persons, the Directorate of Research and Medical Education constituted a three-member team to investigate the issue.

The inquiry committee in its interim report pointed out that a total sum of about Rs 1.43 crore was still pending with number of shopkeepers who had failed to pay the rent as per the agreement besides giving any electricity, water charges. They also raised a finger that why the hospital authorities did not initiate any action against the defaulters.

Dr S.S. Shergill, Principal, Government Medical College, said they had sent the clarifications and comments sought by the inquiry committee as per the records about a couple of days. He said he took over much after the allotment of shops. Now it was up to them to take action, he added.

Jalandhar, June 26
The district health authorities organised a seminar and a rally on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the District Training Centre in the Civil Hospital here today.

The rally startedat the training centre and passed through Jyoti Chowk and Nakodar Road before culminating at the Civil Hospital.

Civil Surgeon Dr H.K. Singla said around 70 per cent youth of Punjab had fallen prey to drug addition in the past many years and if timely efforts were not made, the future of the nation would be in danger.

District Health Officer Dr R.L. Bassan spoke on the use of syringes by the youth, which was a major reason behind the cause of deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS. The seminar was attended by the president of the IMA, Punjab, Dr Rakesh Vij, and its former president Dr G.S. Gill.

Amritsar: Widows, children and students belonging to Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir, a school for children of victims of drug addiction, today organised a rally against the rampant drug addiction in order to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Students of various schools of the city also participated in the rally.

Wearing black badges, they raised slogans against drug addiction and urged people, especially youth, to do away with all types of drug abuse. They distributed pamphlets spreading awareness against the social evil.

Speaking on the occasion, Brij Bedi and Master Ajit Singh, founders of Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir, said, “There is sixth river of drug and liquor flowing in the state, Punjab, which is named after five rivers passing through it. Punjab and country is loosing its young generation to rampant drug addiction and it is high time for people to wage a battle against this menace.”

The participants called upon the people of Punjab to start a movement and build a new Punjab. They also urged the government to increase the widow pension from Rs 250 to Rs 2,000, besides providing some employment for their rehabilitation. The speakers pointed that with ever rising inflation it had become difficult for them to survive.

Jalandhar, June 26
On a joint call given by the CPI (ML) (Liberation), CPI (ML) (New Democracy) and the Punjab unit of the CPM, a convention against the imperialist designs of the USA was organised at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here today. Hundreds of Left parties’ activists gathered there and raised their voice against the imperialist designs of the USA.

Bhagwant Samaon condemned the aggressive and interventionist designs of the imperialist forces, especially USA, in the internal affairs of the Third World countries.

The speakers demanded an immediate withdrawal of imperialist army from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as an end to the bombardment by the NATO forces.

They highlighted the atrocities being committed by the imperialist forces on various countries and the arm-twisting designs adopted by them to browbeat the people of underdeveloped and developing countries.

The speakers also decried the aggressive drone attacks on Pakistan, which amounted to compromising the sovereignty of the country in a big way.

The convention was addressed by Darshan Khatkar, Mangat Ram Pasla, Rajwinder Singh Rana, Sardara Singh Mahal, Harkanwal Singh and Kanwaljit Singh, besides advocate Darbara Singh Dhillon, president of the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Trust. The speakers urged upon the people to unite in a big way so as to thwart the designs of the imperialist forces in the world.

Tarn Taran, June 26
25 employees/officials were found to be absent from their duties in a surprise checking of different offices conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh here on Thursday.

A press note said not even a single employee/official was present at Veterinary Hospital and the Health Centre of Bharowal village, 18 km from here.

Office Superintendent Chamkaur Singh, Lalit Kumar, Harjinder Singh, Jatarnjit Singh, Hardeep Singh, Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Bawa, Satnam Singh, Surinderjit Singh, Surjit Singh, Nirmal Singh and Gurlal Singh were found to be absent from the office of Executive Engineer, Public Health, here.

Gurinder Kaur, Tejinder Singh, Satwant Kaur, Dr Amandeep, Barinder Singh, Surinder Kaur, Gurpret Kaur, Satinder Kaur, Jagwant Singh and Mandeep Singh were found absent at the health centres of Goindwal Sahib, Fatehbad, Bharowal, etc.

The ADC said the report would be sent to the department concerned for action against the absent officials.