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Hospital employee manhandled
Gurdeep Singh (wearing a red turban) with members of the health employees’ union in Amritsar
on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar
Railway station sans cleanliness, security
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Patients suffer as pharmacists go on strike
The registration counter of the Civil Hospital wears a deserted look as pharmacists oberserve strike in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Yuletide spirit
Head constable booked
Authentic data on
tourist inflow in city from next year
Cong leader dead
Annual day function organised
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Hospital employee manhandled
Amritsar, December 20 Following the incident, which occurred today, members of the health employees’ association, expressing solidarity with Gurdeep Singh, threatened to go on a strike. However, they resumed work as Principal Dr SS Shergill ordered an inquiry. Gurdeep Singh, a contractual data entry operator, complained that he was manhandled by two MLTs Narinder Singh and Simranjit Singh. Gurdeep Singh demanded that the Principal should initiate a departmental action against the duo. He asked the Principal to get a criminal case lodged against the two. Gurdeep Singh said, “The two dragged me through the corridors and took me to the roof of the building where they beat me.” Gurdeep Singh had retired from the services around four years ago, but was reemployed at the blood bank. Jagdish Thakur, general secretary, health employees’ union, said, “The association condemns any incident of manhandling at workplaces. Dr Shergill has assured us of conducting an inquiry and taking action.” |
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Railway station sans cleanliness, security
Amritsar, December 20 Further those with special needs have a problem in commuting from one platform to other. It is seen that physically challenged passengers are either using the stairs that obviously are difficult for them to climb or commuting an extra distance to go to the other platforms, except platform number one. Pritam Kumar, a physically challenged person, said, “The physically challenged persons have to cross the railway lines from the places meant for ferrying goods at the end of the platforms if the train they are to board is standing at platforms other than the platform number one.” The lack of cleanliness on the tracks between the platforms is putting visitors to a lot of inconvenience. A passenger, Gopal Kishan, said, “I am trying not to look at the fifth that is there on the tracks. No one can bear the stench emanating out of it. The authorities must make some arrangements to get the place cleaned.” Passengers said the garbage at the place was a usual phenomenon. As the usual flow of commuters is towards the entrance of the railway station on the GT Road, which even causes traffic jams, the back gate towards the Gol Bagh is not used by most of the visitors. Passengers said traffic jams on the GT Road could be curtailed if the efforts were made to put the back entry gate to use. Satpal Singh, a private school teacher said, “The biggest and foremost reason why this gate on the Gol Bagh side has proved inefficient in pulling the crowds is that it has no place for parking vehicles.” He added that unlike the front entrance where a sufficient parking space was available, at the back entrance only four or five vehicles could be parked.
Because of the lesser flow of commuters at this gate, even the railways station authorities seems to have forgotten to deploy any security guard there. However, in the absence of security there, the gate seems to be a boon for any miscreants, who fear to enter through the main gate. Amanpreet Singh, a visitor, said, “Anybody with ill motives can enter through this gate. What is the motive to deploy guards on one gate when the other one is open for miscreants.” He added that the passengers were afraid of coming from this side because of the absence of security. Further, the miscreants can gain entry to the premises from a number of places as the outer walls have been demolished at various places to by passengers travelling without ticket. It is seen that passengers jump from the trains even before they reach the platforms to give a slip to ticket checkers. Despite Amritsar being a sensitive border town, the railway station does not have adequate security. While merely a handful of CCTV cameras have been installed, the number of security personnel deployed there is also not enough. Passengers said the ongoing construction works at the railway station was of no use as the tiles fixed only a few days ago had come out. “Look at the tiles, these have come out even as the work is yet to be completed. The quality of construction material at public places should be regularly monitored,” said Harpal Singh Bajwa, another visitor. Railways Area Officer Mohan Singh Sandhu said, “The walls have been mended many times to restrict entry of miscreants, but they are broken soon after. Even we have a shortage of staff to put them on vigil at various places, including the back entrance.” He added that they are committed to provide better services to the passengers. Trains delayed due to fog
As per information, the Tata Jammu Express was late by 10 hours and 30 minutes, Howrah Express by 11 hours, Dadar Express by 3 hours and 40 minutes and Shan-e-Punjab by 3 hours and 20 minutes. Even the DMUs, such as Amritsar-Batala and Amritsar-Jalandhar, were late by 45 minutes.
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Patients suffer as pharmacists go on strike
Amritsar, December 20 In the absence of employees at the registration counter, the patients had a problem in visiting the doctors at the Out Patients Department (OPD). However, the doctors came to their rescue as they examined the patients without the slips. Shushant Sharma said, “I had come with my mother. As we did not get a registration slip we requested the doctor who in turn was kind enough to examine her without a slip.” Patients said they also did not get free medicines from the hospital as the pharmacists were on strike. Joginder Lal, a patient said, “The patients at government hospitals cannot afford medicines from the market. Thus they like to get these free from the hospitals.” He added that the patients had not got the medicines from the past one month as the pharmacists had been protesting from a long time. Meanwhile, Ashok Sharma, executive member of the pharmacists’ association, said, “The employees at the registration counter are mostly pharmacists. Later, the hospital deployed trainee pharmacists, but they too are supporting our cause.” He added that in 2006 when dispensaries in rural areas were closed down, the pharmacists there were shifted to other places and were assigned duties that were not in any case related to their study of pharmacology. The pharmacists’ association had proceeded on a mass casual leave a fortnight ago. Ashok Sharma said the association had plans to continue the protest till December 24. Meanwhile, the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Workers) also staged a protest outside the office of the Civil Surgeon demanding pay hike and regularisation of services. |
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Holy city wears Christmas look
Neha Saini Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 20 This very much describes the Christmas celebrations in the holy city, with five more days to go for the festival. While Santa Claus is an all-time favourite, whether it be Amritsar or Amsterdam, the King of the North Pole seems to have made home in the walled city, with most of the shop decorated with X-mas trees, Santa Claus goodies and Christmas specials. While the city malls wear a decorative look, Alpha One has decided to give its customers a Santa Claus surprise. A dozen of its employees dressed up as Santa Claus will distribute gifts among the visitors on Christmas. “We have also made a Santa village inside the mall with snow, sledge and reindeer. Also, a huge Christmas tree would be stationed in the middle of the atrium,” shares Avinish Singh, manager, marketing, Alpha One. To make Christmas Eve entertaining, underprivileged kids will perform at the mall in the evening. Other shopping centres in the city have also made arrangements for Christmas. The Christmas tree have turned blue and white this season. Imbued in silvery, glittering colourful lights and ornaments, Christmas trees are finding a place in most homes this X-mas. Archies Gallery has a list of Christmas goodies like silver balls, bells, miniature Santa Claus, decorative stockings, musical cards and stick candies cut out like X-mas tree. “Christmas has become a global festival now and kids really enjoy it as they love the gifts and Santa Claus. I have bought a Christmas tree for my house as well and my kids are excited to decorate it with whatever they want,” says Geetika Narula, a homemaker who is shopping for gifts for her two kids. Apart from the goodies, cakes and candies, too, mark the Christmas celebrations. Special offers by the city bakeries are gingerbread house, plum puddings, Christmas chocolate tree and homemade chocolates for the occasion. Bansal Bakers has introduced special ice-cream cake that looks snow clad. “We have special Santa Claus icings and toppings for Christmas, but they are on order,” says Rakesh, working at Popular Bakery, Lawrence Road. Christmas carols, too, have gone for a makeover. CDs, animated DVDs and musical cards with Christmas carols and rhymes are a favourite with city kids. Diocese of Amritsar Rev P.K Samantaroy, who is also the head bishop in Amritsar, shares his joy on Christmas as well. “In the church choir, carols are on and we are getting ready for the candlelight service two days before Christmas. This year’s theme is turn to love, connect to serve. True Christmas joy and spirit will be celebrated only when we reach out to people in need.” Well, for others, keep your stockings ready and wait for Santa! |
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Head constable booked
Amritsar, December 20 Veena in her statement alleged that Angelina got married with Kashmir Singh in 1992. However, the couple did not have any children, which became a bone of contention between them. She alleged that Kashmir Singh started living with another “unidentified” woman without divorcing her sister. Kashmir Singh came to their residence at Friends Colony and threatened them with dire consequences if they continued to interfere in his life. He told them that he would not leave the “other” woman at any cost. Following this Angelina fell unconscious due to mental shock. She was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, from where she was referred to Escorts Hospital. However, she could not survive. Sohan Singh, SHO, Sadar police station, said a compromise was reached between the couple a few months back. But, somehow, the differences between them failed to settle. According to the complainant, Kashmir Singh threatened the sisters with dire consequences if they continued to interfere in his life, after which Angelina collapsed. No arrest had been made so far and investigation was under progress, he added.
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Authentic data on
tourist inflow in city from next year
Amritsar, December 20 Manager, statistics, Urmil Ji Khosa, talking to this correspondent over telephone from Chandigarh said so far only two field officers were appointed and that too only for the holy city. She said Amritsar has the maximum number of hotels in Punjab. At present the city has 200 hotels and SGPC runs six serai (inns) with 654 rooms collectively. On the other hand Ludhiana has 60 and Jalandhar 55 hotels. Earlier, there was no mechanism to record the exact number of tourists visiting the city. So far, the Punjab government has been quoting the number that was made available by the SGPC, said District Tourism Officer Balraj Singh. These figures could not be relied upon as there is a distinction between a pilgrim and a tourist. Balraj Singh said a pilgrim might stay here for four nights but generally would not go out or eat outside the Golden Temple complex. He said a person is called a tourist when he stays on a paid accommodation for over 24-hours. He said the Board got information from the BSF authorities, who look after the retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post, that about 15,000 people daily visit the place and on Saturday and Sunday the number usually goes up to 20,000. However, many tourists do not visit the check post besides the crowd visiting the border includes locals as well. The statistical wing of the Board was constituted in November 2010 with the appointment of a Manager and Deputy Manager. These developments show government’s dedication to develop tourism in Amritsar. With the completion of the survey the government and the hospitality industry would know the exact number of rooms in various categories of hotels, number of inbound tourists, areas from where the maximum number of tourists arrive, types of hotels that attract more tourists, high and lean periods and other facts, said Khosa. However, the success of the survey would depend upon the cooperation of hotels, resorts and lodges spread across the city. The Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association General Secretary APS Chattha said his association would fully cooperate with the Board.
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Cong leader dead
Amritsar, December 20 Bhatia had gone to meet senior congress leaders in Delhi after his name featured in a clash between youth congress leaders recently. The District Congress Committee (Urban) held a condolence meeting today. Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh has also condoled Bhatia's untimely demise. The District Congress Committee (Urban) President, Jugal Kishore Sharma, said Bhatia would be cremeated in Amritsar tomorrow.
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Annual day function organised
Amritsar, December 20 School Principal Kusam Malhotra felicitated Brig AK Goyal, Chairman Commandant 15 Infantry Division, who presided over the function. She subsequently read the annual school report. Cadets of the NCC and scout volunteers presented salute to Brig Goyal.
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Alleging manhandling by two medical laboratory technicians (MLT), Gurdeep Singh, a data entry operator at the blood bank of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), filed a complaint with the Principal of Government Medical College today.
The general public at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital faced a lot of problems because of a protest by pharmacists demanding hike in their grade pays. The patients could not even get the registration slip from the entrance as the employees at the counter, too, had supported the protest.
