Bathinda, November 8
Private hospitals and laboratories in the state are not coordinating in transmitting data of cancer patients needed for the ongoing cancer registry atlas mapping in Punjab, said the project officer of the National Cancer Registry Programme, Dr A Nandakumar.

While talking to TNS at the one-day orientation-cum-training workshop held here for the medicos of six districts, Dr Nandakumar said Rs 60 lakh would be spent annually on this five-year-long project.

"Keeping in view the high incidence of cancer in Punjab, the Centre has directed us to conduct a mapping and come out with an atlas so that policies and treatments can be planned keeping into account facts and figures," he said.

He said the information technology had a major role to play in this project wherein data is being transmitted from various centres to the main server. After the project is completed, the data will be made available in public domain also.

"Though government hospitals, laboratories and other health institutes are regularly reporting the data related to their cancer patients, private hospitals and laboratories are yet to start responding," he said.

Dr Nandakumar said the matter had been taken up with the chief secretary, Punjab, who further directed the deputy commissioners and the civil surgeons to motivate private players in the health sector for acting responsibly.

He added that the project was facing problem in the state due to lack of dedicated staff.

"The pace of work is a little tardy due to lack of staff needed to feed data into computers. But the Punjab Government has assured us of overcoming the problem," he added.

Dr Nandakumar said in India, north-eastern states had taken the lead in maintaining cancer registries, which proved very useful in charting out treatment and strategy to deal with the deadly disease.

"The states of Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya have been maintaining cancer registries since 2002, which was instrumental in giving relief to the area. In Punjab, population-based cancer registry work is going on at Patiala, but its ambit is limited to the Patiala district only," he added.

The state programme officer, cancer control cell, Dr Deepinder Singh, said vide its orders dated October 18, 2011, the state government made it mandatory for every kind of health set-up to report the number of cancer cases received by them.

Though government hospitals, laboratories and other health institutes in the state are regularly reporting the data related to their cancer patients, private hospitals and laboratories are yet to start transmitting the data, which is needed for the ongoing cancer registry atlas mapping in Punjab.

Bathinda, November 8
The district health department also observed the World Cancer Day wherein awareness programmes were held at the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Clinic.

Also, a special awareness programme was held at Des Raj Memorial Secondary School, local railway station and the bus stand. Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni and his team members organized these awareness programmes. The team made people aware of the 12 signs that can signal the onset of cancer and distributed pamphlets containing relevant information.

The students of Adesh University took a pledge against consuming tobacco, cigarettes, pan, gutka and bidi to mark the National Cancer Awareness Day that was observed today.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-chancellor of Adesh University, Dr GPI Singh said about 40 per cent of all cancer cases and 90 per cent of oral cancer cases are attributed to the consumption of tobacco. Therefore, it is important to create awareness among the students and the general public to reduce the consumption of tobacco.

Dr Avtar Singh Bansal, who administered the pledge, said India's tobacco consumption is the second largest in the world, surpassed only by China. An estimated one million Indians die annually of tobacco related diseases and the projection is that by 2020, tobacco will account for 13 per cent of all deaths in India.

Children, during their formative years and the youths, are especially vulnerable to peer pressure and other allurements that glamourise smoking. It is this group which requires education and motivation to refrain from using tobacco in any form.

Dr JS Bahia and Dr PD Bansal, while dwelling on the ill effects of tobacco, said over 35 per cent of the Indian adults use tobacco, primarily for smoking. Health conditions like stroke, heart attack, oral cancer and cancer of the lungs are in large measure attributed to the use of tobacco, the doctors said.

Dr Tanvi Sidhu, while highlighting the various measures undertaken by the Government of India, informed the audience about the Tobacco Control Act, 2003, and said Adesh University has implemented the provisions under the Act.

Pictorial health warning on posters has been displayed at strategic locations within hospitals, colleges and hostels. A nodal officer has been empowered to impose fine on anyone found consuming tobacco products within and around the premises of Adesh University.

Bathinda, November 8
A daylong training-cum-orientation programme for the development of a cancer atlas for Punjab was held at Dunes Club, Bathinda, yesterday.

The workshop was held for the six most cancer afflicted districts of Punjab, including Bathinda, Amritsar, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali. Civil surgeons from all these districts participated in the workshop and showcased the implementation of the project in their respective districts.

Project in-charge, National Cancer Registry Programme, Dr A Nandakumar, discussed the overall progress of the Punjab cancer atlas in the state.

Civil surgeons discussed the project district-wise. Their discussions also included data from civil hospitals, cancer deaths and the CM Cancer Relief Fund.

Dr MS Bal, the principal investigator of the Population Based Cancer Registry Programme, discussed the contribution of the registry to the cancer atlas of Punjab. Dr T Ramnath discussed the international standards in cancer registry reporting.

The participants shared the experience of the respective centres, which are registered and transmit data timely. These included doctors from the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, from Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), Mittal Labs and Hormone Centre, Dr Sheena's Path Lab, Kanwal Lab and Diagnostic Centre, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dr Monika's Lab and Bansal Hospital and Cancer Care Centre.

The experience of the registered but non-transmitting data centres was also shared. Participants at the session included KK Clinical Lab, Wadi Hospital and Bikaner Clinical Lab. KL Sudarshan spoke at the session on online data entry into Punjab cancer atlas wherein he also gave a demonstration. 

Bathinda, November 8
Overloaded tractor-trolleys and trucks, a serious threat to commuters, have led to the rise in number of accidents on the city roads.

More than 15 people sustained serious and minor injuries during the past just 10 days in mishaps involving overloaded vehicles, including tractor-trolleys, trucks and other vehicles used for commercial purposes.

Further, nine persons lost their lives in different accidents in the city and surrounding areas during the past just 15 days.

The accidents took place near the traffic lights on the Power House Road Chowk, on the Dabwali Road, the Barnala Road, the Goniana Road and Bir Talab. In most of the cases, commuters on two-wheelers and four-wheelers collided with overloaded vehicles.

Neither the office of the District Transport Office nor the traffic police are taking serious view of the problem.

One can notice a number of overloaded trolleys, trucks and other vehicles plying on the city roads, creating chaos on busy intersections and posing serious threat to the lives of commuters.

Interestingly, the cops deployed on the duty turn a blind eye to such vehicles.

Two cops from a police patrolling party, who were at the traffic lights on the Power House Chowk yesterday, said whenever they stop a tempo, tractor-trailer or any other vehicle, the drivers would take out their mobile phones and make them speak to either some local SAD leader, village Sarpanch or someone who commands influence.

"We do not dare to take action against such violators as we are told over the mobile phone - 'saada banda ae, chhad deo'," said a traffic cop, pleading anonymity.

A traffic cop deployed near the local bus stand said the violators take out their mobile phones as if it is AK-47.

"People are so adamant that they do not care about the warnings issued by us and boast about their links with political personalities or senior government functionaries," said a lady constable deployed at the Fauji Chowk.

She said one day, a government official entered into heated argument with her for not allowing him to take a wrong turn. "Instead of apologizing, the government servant misbehaved and dared to issue a challan slip to her. The matter was brought into the notice of senior police officers and a case is being prepared against the violator," she said.

Bathinda, November 8
The cracking of a blind murder case of a woman, who got killed after a bullet hit her on the rooftop of the BR Inn, has rekindled the hopes of the family members of a watchman, who was found murdered three years ago in the office of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

Rajesh Kumar (30), one of the two sons of the slain watchman Charanjit Pal, said his family members now hope that the recently-posted SSP Ravcharan Brar would also trace out the perpetrators of his father's murder.

Recounting the murder incident, Rajesh said his father was found murdered in the office of the erstwhile PSEB situated in Street No. 12 of the Power House Road. The office, he said, was now shifted to near the Grid on the Power House Road.

He said an amount of Rs 5.86 lakhs was found missing from the office of the PSEB, which was evidently taken away by the assailants. He said nearly Rs 1 lakh was, however, saved as the accused fled in a hurry after his father offered resistance. The money, he added, was kept in the lower drawer of the chest in the office. Rajesh said the body of his father was found lying in the adjoining room.

The deceased watchman's son also accused the state government and the electricity department of not fulfilling their promise to provide job to one of their family members. "The PSEB officials and senior government officials had promised to provide a job in the PSEB but the file is still gathering dust in the office," Rajesh said.

An FIR dated January 9, 2010, was lodged against unidentified persons at the Kotwali police station and since then, no initiative has been taken by the police to arrest the culprits.

The wailing son of the watchman said the police had got some clues. His father had fought with the assailants and their hairs were found in his nails. The police had also collected finger prints and other vital clues from the spot but did not investigate the case, Rajesh alleged. "Since the new SSP succeeded in tracing a blind murder case by taking personal interest, our father's murderers can also be traced,” he said.

Rajesh said the Punjab Government had given his father a certificate of commendation posthumously during a district-level function organised to mark the Republic Day. The deceased had left behind his wife, two sons and a married daughter.

Bathinda, November 8
The benefits given to labourers involved in construction work under various government schemes would soon be doubled. They should get themselves registered with the Labour Department to avail of the benefits.

This was stated today by Principal Secretary, Labour Department, RC Nayyar while inaugurating a camp held on the Multania Road to register beneficiaries for the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers' Welfare Board.

About 518 workers were registered at the camp.

ADC (D) Mohammad Tayyab, the MD of the Mittal Group, Rajinder Mittal and assistant labour commissioner Gulshan were present on the occasion.

Nayyar said the welfare board was formed in 2009 and so far, nearly 70,000 labourers had been registered with it. It is targeted that 55,000 more such registrations would be done in the coming two years.

The board has got approved funds for the welfare of labourers under various schemes.

Nayyar said under the Bathinda Circle, Rs 3.62 lakh had been distributed among 297 workers.

It is decided to lay special emphasis on creating awareness among labourers as there were still a large number of labourers who are unaware of the benefits that the labour department was offering to their class.

The village sarpanches should spread the message among the labourers for registration of their names and other basic information with the labour department.

He said an amount of Rs 305 crore was deposited with the department and it was meant to be disbursed among labourers. But since the number of labourers coming up to avail of the benefit was quite low, the amount was not completely disbursed.

Bathinda, November 8
The makers of “Sadda Haq”, a Punjabi movie based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that moved the nation, today alleged that the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was trying to gag the Punjabi cinema and raising obstacles in its growth by rejecting the movie.

The producer of the movie, Kuljinder Sidhu from the OXL Multi-media, said the movie had been rejected as it presented the true picture of Punjab. "The first committee of the CBFC rejected our movie, which was to release on October 26. We requested the board to review its decision. As per the laws, a panel of nine experts, which will include Punjabi experts, was to review the movie. However, we are yet to hear from the board about the review," Sidhu said.

He added that by rejecting this Rs 2.5-crore movie on true events, the Censor Board was infringing upon the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression.

"Before starting the movie, we took legal advice from a panel of four advocates. One of the members of the panel, Navkiran Singh, a practising lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, even has a role in the movie. The Censor Board has not given us any objection in written and has preferred to keep mum over the issue," he said.

Actor Dinesh Sood added that the realistic Punjabi cinema was being trashed and discouraged.

The film's team has even sought the support of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the issue that concerns Punjabis. They also planned to meet deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal requesting him to intervene and lend support to their project.

Sidhu said had the movie been in Hindi, it would have been passed without deletion of even a single scene. "When the Censor Board can pass Chakravyuh - a movie based on Naxalite movement, why not Sadda Haq? While Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh glorifies and encourages Naxalism, our movie presents a balanced work on true depiction of events that took place over 20 years ago," he said.

He said the strong message of the movie had perhaps stirred the Censor Board, which may have found it against the present Central Government.

Bathinda, November 8
Dentists lay more emphasis on aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry rather than useful dentistry that actually does wonders for the patients, said biometric dentistry expert Dr Manminder Singh Sethi.

Dr Sethi, who is the director, Clinical Institute of Research and Education, Milwaukee, USA, said this during his visit to the Adesh University where he delivered a lecture.

Indian dentists are only practicing aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry without caring about the oral health of patients undergoing dental treatment and trauma, he said.

Dr Sethi said dentists don't keep mastication in mind before and after the treatment and go for superficially restoring the teeth. "Mastication is a collaboration of breathing, swallowing, eating and speech. As many as 57 per cent of the brain's tissues are dedicated to mastication wherein the mouth has the most important role to play," he added.

"In India, we are practicing dentistry as a mechanical thing. From carpenters, we have to graduate to being architects of oral health," he said while laying emphasis on the use of biometrics in dentistry.

The biometric dentistry enables a dentist to gauge the biological details of the patients before carrying out a dental procedure or going for implants. It gives accurate measurement of the biometrics reducing the trauma as well as the expenditure of the patient.

"Sadly enough, not even our medical syllabus teaches mastication physiology, which is must. In a country like India, biometrics dentistry is the need of hour to save people's resources," he said. The system is in practice in technically advanced countries like Japan, Germany and Latin America.

He said the need was to create awareness among the dentists and give them the exact methodology of accurately diagnosing the problem of a patient.

Dr Sethi, a native of Bathinda, moved to the UK to study biometrics dentistry around five years ago. This year, he is conducting awareness lectures and seminars. 

Bathinda, November 8
A lecture on sustainable buildings was organized today at the Punjab Technical University Giani Zail Singh (PTUGZS) campus here today.

Vice-president, Indian Institute of Architects, Mumbai, Jeet Kumar Gupta, who has also served as the chief town planner in the union territory of Chandigarh, delivered an expert lecture on sustainable buildings and cities to the students of the department of architecture.

Gupta emphasized on the development of green buildings to make the cities sustainable. He also discussed the main features of the divergent green buildings across the world and laid emphasis on the maximum use of sun, wind and geo-thermal energy to make the buildings self-sustainable.

He said there is need to save the environment and preserve the natural resources for the future generations. Emphasis was laid on the role of an architect and the planners in making buildings and cities, at every level.

The expert also highlighted the demand for architects and planners in view of the multi-faceted development globally.

The coordinator for the lecture series, Bhupinder Pal Singh Dhot, extended a warm welcome to the expert and introduced him to the audience.

Head, department of architecture, Ranjeet Kaur, presented the vote of thanks. Jatinder Kaur, Avinash Singh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shelly Mittal, Timsy, Amandeep Kaur, Taranjeet Singh and other members of the faculty and staff were present on the occasion.

Director of the PTUGZS campus, Dr Jasbir Singh Hundal, appreciated the efforts of the architecture department in organising expert lectures to give need-based exposure to the students.

Bathinda, November 8
An eight-member team of military officers of the Corps of Signals from Bathinda today participated in the seminar on tactical communication systems that is being held at New Delhi.

The two-day seminar was inaugurated today by Defence Minister AK Antony. Defence officers, representatives of the industry and officers of the R&D wing discussed the relevance of communication related issues in the tactical battle area.

Bathinda, November 8
The winners of the regional youth festival were felicitated at the Government Rajindra College today.

Principal Vijay Kumar presented the certificates at a specially convened ceremony. Youth coordinator Dr Gurjit Singh Mann said teams from the college secured the first positions in ten events, second and third positions in 44 events and fourth place in two events at the regional youth fest. The college team bagged overall trophies in music and theatre. — TNS

Bathinda, November 8
The students of Government Polytechnic College, who won the inter polytechnic technical colleges badminton championship, were felicitated at a specially convened ceremony in the college today.

The Bathinda team won all the matches and bagged two gold medals at the championship held at Pandit Jagat Ram Government Polytechnic College, Hoshiarpur.

Rajat Gupta of the Bathinda team won the title of the best player in the state.

Principal Yadwinder Singh honoured the team members. Sports officer Amarjit Singh said the college has won different sports championships at the zonal level. The basketball team of the college was the winner in Bathinda zone and the college's cricket team secured the second place in Bathinda zone.

Bathinda, November 8
Barnala district was declared the champion in the under-17 category for boys at the 58th Punjab School games in the handball event.

In the super league match for boys in the under-17 category, Mansa defeated Muktsar 12-5 while Barnala defeated Tarn Taran 14-9. Barnala district secured the first position in the state followed by Tarn Taran and Mansa.

In the under-19 category for boys, Bathinda defeated Tarn Taran 32-30 in the super league. Tarn Taran was declared first, Bathinda second and Barnala third in the state. In the pre quarter-finals for girls in the under-17 category, Bathinda defeated Gurdaspur 9-1, Ludhiana defeated Faridkot 8-1 while Barnala defeated Sangrur 13-2. In the quarter-finals, Muktsar defeated Faridkot 9-1, Bathinda defeated Sangrur 29-3 and Barnala defeated Gurdaspur 8-3. In the super league, Barnala defeated Ludhiana 14-6, Bathinda defeated Ludhiana 19-5 while Bathinda defeated Muktsar 11-10.

Bathinda, November 8
Ambuja Cricket Championship (North Zone) started at the Ambuja Cement stadium grounds here today.

In the first match between Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, the Nalagarh team from HP won. In the second match, Chandigarh won over Bathinda. In the match between Ropar and Uttarakhand, Ropar won. Rajasthan won over Darlaghat from Himachal. The semi-final and final will be played on Friday. — TNS

Cash, jewellery stolen from house in Amarpura Basti
Cash and jewellery worth nearly 39,000 was stolen from a house situated in Amarpura Basti. The complainant, Karnail Singh, said some unidentified persons entered his house and took away cash worth Rs 8,000, an LPG cylinder, a wrist watch and other household material. The total cost of the stolen material is Rs 39,000. A case has been registered at the Canal Colony police station.