B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Dearth of docs in Abohar hospital
Abohar, October 15
The state government is going ahead with its plans to utilise the Rs 6 crores received from the Central Government to remodel the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here but has not bothered to fill up the vacancies.

SGPC may get control of edu institutions in R’than
Abohar, October 15
To bring to an end the five-year old legal and administrative battle over managing the affairs of Sri Guru Nanak Khalsa College and School in neighbouring Sriganganagar, the governing council has resolved to hand them over to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Dist-level sports tourney begins in Muktsar sans spectators
Muktsar, October 15
Despite knowing that spectators play an important role in boosting the performance of the players in any sporting event, the organizers of the two-day district level sports tournament for women, which was inaugurated today at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here, "forgot" to invite the spectators.
A sports event underway during a district-level sports tournament for women being held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Muktsar on Monday. Photo by writer

Farmers, arhtiyas protest against slow lifting of paddy
Gidderbaha/Muktsar, Oct 15
Annoyed over the slow pace of lifting paddy from the grain market, a large number of farmers and commission agents today blocked the NH-15 at Gidderbaha for almost one-and-a-half hours.

Girls’ college students condemn attack on Malala
Ferozepur, October 15
Hundreds of girl students belonging to the Critique Ferozepur Chapter and the Philosophical Society of the local Dev Samaj College for Women condemned the brutal attack on the child rights activist of Pakistan, Malala Yusufzai.




College girls hold placards deploring the attack on Pak child rights activist Malala Yusufzai. A Tribune photo

Showers spring surprise

A view of a city road as showers lashed Bathinda on Monday evening. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Dearth of docs in Abohar hospital
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, October 15
The state government is going ahead with its plans to utilise the Rs 6 crores received from the Central Government to remodel the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here but has not bothered to fill up the vacancies created during the last six years thereby raising doubts over the quality of healthcare that will be provided at the hospital.

The then Health Minister Satpal Gosain had been informed about the vacancies when he visited the complex to inaugurate the maternity ward and the OPD complex but nothing could be done

The Health Department has conceded in its reply to the information sought under the RTI Act by Satpal Khariwal, chairman, Consumer Movement and district president of the RTI Activists Federation, that the total number of doctors in the 150-bed Civil Hospital, including specialists, is 11 against the sanctioned strength of 22 doctors and 14 specialists.

The posts of psychiatrist, anaesthesist and ENT specialist have been lying vacant since July 1, 2011. The gynaecologist Dr Kanchan Lata and the anaesthesist Dr Manpreet Kaur Dhillon have been away for long. The skin specialist and pathologist were promoted as senior medical officers but no substitute was provided.

The reply reveals that just a single cardiac monitor is available for heart patients as the state government is yet to supply a new monitor.

It is difficult to run the intensive care unit (ICU) in the Civil Hospital owing to the shortage of the paramedical staff and other necessary equipment, the department concedes.

A copy of the letter from the senior medical officer addressed to the Civil Surgeon at Ferozepur on January 18 this year made it clear that of the 13 doctors, some remain busy with VIP duty, training, deputation emergency and postmortem work.

The hospital has got a maternity wing but no gynaecologist. There is a surgeon but he is unable to conduct surgeries. Only 17 staff nurses are working against the sanctioned strength of 26 while the number of women coming for deliveries has gone up 10 times owing to the incentives offered by the state government.

The hospital has just one lab technician and radiographer.

SGPC may get control of edu institutions in R’than

Abohar, October 15
To bring to an end the five-year old legal and administrative battle over managing the affairs of Sri Guru Nanak Khalsa College and School in neighbouring Sriganganagar, the governing council has resolved to hand them over to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Interestingly, the SGPC has no control over the Sikh religious places and institutions in Rajasthan under its Act.

The factions, one headed by SGPC member and Rajasthan Akali Dal president Surjit Singh Kang and the other by the dissidents, have been keeping their fingers crossed.

The dispute was referred to Jathedar Gurcharan Singh of the Akal Takht thrice but to no avail.

Now, a meeting of the governing council was convened. Shamsher Singh Lalbai presided over the meeting. Akal Takht representative Paramjit Singh briefed the members about the efforts made during the last year to end the stalemate.

The members finally endorsed the resolution by raising their hands to hand over the control of the institutions to the SGPC in the interest of the Panth. — OC

Dist-level sports tourney begins in Muktsar sans spectators
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, October 15
Despite knowing that spectators play an important role in boosting the performance of the players in any sporting event, the organizers of the two-day district level sports tournament for women, which was inaugurated today at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here, "forgot" to invite the spectators.

The event, in which nearly 1,100 girls from various schools, colleges and youth clubs across the district are participating, is being organized by the Sports Department of Punjab in association with the Sports Authority of India.

The venue of tournament wore a deserted look. Hardly any spectator was found watching the performance of the girls or motivating them.

The players told TNS they were shocked to see the huge stadium lying empty. "The organisers could have invited some school students, which would have not only motivated us but also encouraged them to take part in tournaments," said a player.

Another player added, "The arrangements made by the authorities are good, but they forgot the most important thing-to invite the spectators. The spirit of the participants has been dampened."

When contacted, Balwant Singh, District Sports Officer, said, "We had invited the representatives of all sports associations and they came to see the performance of the girls."

On being asked specifically about the reason behind the stadium lying empty, he failed to give any satisfactory reply.

Athletics, kabaddi, basketball, kho-kho, badminton, table tennis, handball, volleyball, hockey and gymnastics are part of the tournament.

Farmers, arhtiyas protest against slow lifting of paddy

Gidderbaha/Muktsar, Oct 15
Annoyed over the slow pace of lifting paddy from the grain market, a large number of farmers and commission agents today blocked the NH-15 at Gidderbaha for almost one-and-a-half hours.

Demanding the speedy lifting of paddy, the protesters raised slogans against the state government. The local MLA, Amrinder Singh Warring Raja, also joined the protesters and squatted on the road.

The protesters said the produce was lying in the grain market for two weeks but the officials were not purchasing it citing various reasons.

The blockade lasted till about 2 pm, which caused inconvenience to the commuters.

Later, the local Tehsildar RK Jain and SHO Davinder Singh pacified the protesters saying their demand had been conveyed to the senior officials and action would be taken in the next 24 hours. — TNS

Girls’ college students condemn attack on Malala

Ferozepur, October 15
Hundreds of girl students belonging to the Critique Ferozepur Chapter and the Philosophical Society of the local Dev Samaj College for Women condemned the brutal attack on the child rights activist of Pakistan, Malala Yusufzai.

Expressing solidarity with Malala, the girls said it was a cowardly act to target an innocent girl just because she had raised her voice for the education of the girls. Later, the girls participated in a discussion forum where the issues related to the education of the girl child were discussed.

Ambuj Sharma, president of the society, said Malala, who was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize, has become an icon and a source of inspiration for millions of girls around the world. The students prayed for Malala’s speedy recovery. — OC