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Bacchus lovers on a high as vends clear liquor stocks
Muktsar, March 25
As the current financial year (2011-12) is about to end, liquor contractors are offering huge discounts on various brands to clear their old stocks.

A liquor vend with its notice announcing a huge discount on prices in Muktsar. A liquor vend with its notice announcing a huge discount on prices in Muktsar. A Tribune photograph

Patients suffer due to staff crunch at Fazilka civil hospital
Fazilka, March 25
The 101-year-old local civil hospital, having a sanctioned strength of 50 beds operating as 75 beds, is facing an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and other para-medics. The hospital, deemed to cater to the needs of a district hospital, has virtually been reduced to a community health centre in the last six months.

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	Bacchus lovers on a high as vends clear liquor stocks Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, March 25 As the current financial year (2011-12) is about to end, liquor contractors are offering huge discounts on various brands to clear their old stocks. Almost all brands of the country liquor and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) are available at much cheaper prices in violation of the rules of the Excise and Taxation Department. A visit to the various parts of the city revealed that a number of liquor vends had even displayed the discounted price lists. As per the prices listed outside the vends, a full bottle of ‘Santra’ is available for Rs 60. It was being sold for Rs 100 only a few days ago. Similarly, the half of same brand is available at Rs 35, while earlier it was Rs 60. The quarter is available at Rs 20. It was earlier available for Rs 30. A bottle of 'Khasa' is available for Rs 80, against Rs 110 earlier. The half of the same brand is available for Rs 45 against Rs 65 earlier. And the quarter is available for Rs 25 against the fixed price of Rs 35. Some other brands, including IMFL liquor bottles are also being sold below the prices fixed by the department. When asked about the reason behind offering huge discounts, a liquor vend owner near the bus stand said he had no other option but to offer discounts to clear the stock by March 31. "The quota cannot be carried forward to the next year, so this is the only option to clear the stock at a discounted price," said the contractor, adding that if he failed to clear the stock, he would have to start an offer of buy one, get one free. GS Tiwana, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Muktsar, said that liquor cannot be sold at prices below the fixed minimum prices by the department and action would be taken against those violating the rules.
	Patients suffer due to staff crunch at Fazilka civil hospital Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, March 25 The 101-year-old local civil hospital, having a sanctioned strength of 50 beds operating as 75 beds, is facing an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and other para-medics. The hospital, deemed to cater to the needs of a district hospital, has virtually been reduced to a community health centre in the last six months. The hospital has sanctioned posts of 12 medical officers, of which eight are vacant. About six months back, eight doctors were there on the roll but the only medical specialist, Dr Davinder Bhukkal, and the skin specialist Dr SK Parnami, were promoted. Thereafter, the only surgeon, Dr Rajesh Sharma and child specialist Dr Hans Raj, were also promoted last week. Different welfare programmes started by the state and the central governments such as family planning, NRHM, school health, and RNTCP, have been hit hard following the shortage of medical officers. There is a daily turn-out of about 400 patients in the OPD. A large number of family planning cases also pour in for surgery. During this peak season, over 200 delivery cases are also conducted in the hospital. Of these, around 20 per cent are obstructed labour cases. Besides, a large number of general patients and medical emergencies remain unattended. Many needy patients who cannot afford costly private treatment are the worst-hit. Hundreds of patients remain hovering in the OPD and emergency complex awaiting treatment. The doctors are burdened with the tardy job of maintaining the emergency services round-the-clock in the the absence of any emergency medical officer. Along with this, these doctors remain involved in different compulsory programmes of the Health Department. They have to conduct post mortems and attend courts for evidence as legal obligation. Similarly, of the 24 sanctioned posts of staff nurses, 11 are vacant. Of the nine sanctioned posts of sweepers, seven are vacant. The blood bank of the local hospital, which is supplying around 250 units of blood per month, three times more than its fixed target, is without a blood transfusion officer. Senior Medical Officer SP Garg said, “At least two surgeons, two medical specialists, two gynaecologists, three emergency medical officers and one radiologist, skin specialist, child specialist and blood transfusion officer are urgently required.” Besides, the vacancies of nurses need to be filled up. Twelve more ward servants and six sweepers, three laboratory technicians for blood bank are also required. More budget for emergency and general patients is required because the user charge collection has fallen due to the government scheme of providing free delivery and Caesarean section services. He also pleaded for installation of CT scan machine, a new ambulance, a digital X-ray equipped with the C-Art facility, an auto refractor meter for vision testing. “The hospital should be upgraded to a district-level hospital with 100-bed facility to cater to the need of over two lakh population of Fazilka. The health authorities have submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani,” he added.
	Gangaur festival celebrated in Abohar Our Correspondent Abohar, March 25 Gangaur festival was celebrated on Sunday with fervour and gaiety at Abohar and adjoining towns in Rajasthan. Women, most of them from the Maheshwari community, dressed up in their best attire anf performed Gangaur worship and then took out processions carrying the idols of Isar and Gangaur. “The festival concludes after 18 days. Started by the rulers of the state of Rajputana, the celebrations continued with the same devotion and glory,” a lecturer Dr Suman informed. Another participant said married women worship Gauri, who epitomises marital bliss for the well-being and prosperity of their husbands. Unmarried girls also observe fast seeking blessings from the god for a good match as Gauri got Shiva as her perfect consort.
	Fazilka lad clinches Awaz-e-Punjab title Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, March 25 Gurnam Bhullar of Fazilka has again proved his mettle by winning another title of Awaz-e-Punjab. The programme was organised by TV channel MH 1, in which about 12,000 youths had participated. Notably, Bhullar had won his first title ‘Nikki Awaz Punjab Di’ in the year 2008 also which was oragnised by the same channel. Gurnam Bhullar, who is a Plus One student of the local Sarv Hitkari Vidya Mandir, was accorded a rousing welcome at the local Malout chowk by the activists of different NGOs after returning here on Saturday evening. President, Municipal Council, Anil Sethi, general secretary, Graduate Welfare Association, Navdeep Asija, president, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sports Club, Parmjit Singh, representative of the Cricket Association (Fazilka), Pankaj Dhamija and members of the Eco Club honoured Bhullar at the Malout chowk. “My parents, Baljit Singh Bhullar and Lakhwinder Kaur, always inspired me to achieve the goal.” said Bhullar, adding that the school principal Madhu Sharma also guided him. The first round of the programme Awaz-e-Punjab was initiated in November last year. About 12000 young boys and girls had participated in it. But in the grand finale, only four participants were shortlisted after dozens of rounds and finally, Gurnam Bhullar bagged the top slot. Famous Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann and Malkeet Singh were the judges in the final show.
	Melody queen honours village-based writer Our Correspondent Sriganganagar, March 25 Village Parlika-based prolific writer Dr Satya Narain Soni was among the three litterateurs, who were honoured by the melody queen Asha Bhonsle and Jhalanath Khanal, chairman, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and former Prime Minister of Nepal during the first convocation of the Jodhpur National University last evening. The others are Prof Kalyan Singh Shekhawat and Lakshman Daan Kaviya. Notably, village Parlika that is sans basic amenities has produced five eminent writers. Akhil Bharatiya Rajasthani Bhasha Manyata Samiti international organiser Prem Bhandari was also present at the convocation. The veteran guests presented a citation of commendation to Dr Soni. The university also awarded the first Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) to Asha Bhonsle.