Ludhiana, November 27
Nurses at the Civil Hospital have refused to take blood samples of patients. They have even submitted a refusal letter to the Senior Medical Officer, Dr RK Karkara. With the lab technicians posted in the hospital, why they should collect blood samples, they said.

Lovey Kalyan, a staff nurse, said there were around 10 lab technicians in the hospital. But still nurses are asked to collect blood samples. “We are already overworked. We are also asked to do the work of lab technicians. If anything goes wrong, we are blamed for that,” she said.

She said: “We have refused to collect blood samples and submitted a refusal letter to the SMO in this regard. We will not be collecting blood samples of patients from now onwards,” she said.

Dr Karkara said he had received the letter from the nurses and had made arrangements accordingly. “We have nearly 10 lab technicians in the hospital. But sometimes it is not possible for them to leave the laboratory. So, nurses are asked to collect blood samples of patients. Now, I have instructed a lab technician to collect samples at the Mother and Child Hospital. Very soon, I will also make such arrangements for the Civil Hospital as well,” he added.

Patients had to wait for long time to give blood samples. “I am waiting for half an hour to give the blood sample of my baby. But, the person concerned is not in the lab. I came to know that he had gone to the ward to collect samples,” said Shayam Gautam, at the Mother and Child Hospital.

Ludhiana, November 27
Five committees, formed by Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal to probe the deaths of five newborns, today discussed the preliminary reports prepared by each committee.

“We reviewed the comments of the staff, doctors and the patients’ families. We discussed lapses on the part of the staff and what went wrong that day. After reviewing everything, the final report will be prepared and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner within two days,” said Dr Mandeep, a member of the committee probing the case of patient Sarabhjit Kaur of Mangat village, said.

The committees yesterday talked to the staff and doctors at the mother and child hospital.

Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani has asked Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal to submit the report to him by Monday.

Patient Reena Rani’s case is being probed by Shena Aggarwal (SDM), Sumita Sachdev (Medical Officer) and Bahadur Singh (CDPO). The team comprising Navneet Joshi (BDPO), Dr Rupinder Kaur (SMO) and Dr Rajwant Kaur (CDPO) is investigating the case of patient Manjit Kaur. Dr Amarinderpal Singh (BDPO), Dr RP Bhatia (SMO) and Ravinder Pal Kaur (CDPO) are enquiring into the case of patient Vandana.

The case of patient Sarabhjit Kaur is being looked into by Kanu Thind (Assistant Commissioner), Dr Mandeep Kaur (Medical Officer) and Harjinder Kaur (CDPO). The team comprising Kanwaljeet Singh (BDPO), Maninder Singh (District Family Welfare Officer) and Manjeet Kaur (CDPO) is investigating the case of patient Jaswinder Kaur.

Ludhiana, November 27
Nine posts of gynaecologist are lying vacant in the district, which has led to an increase in patient arrivals at the Civil Hospital. Community Health Centres (CHC) at Sanhewal, Samrala, Koom Kalan, Manupur, Dehlon, Manaud, Pakhowal, Sidhwan Bet and Hathoor have been without a gynaecologist for the past few months. One post of gynaecologist is sanctioned for each CHC.

Meanwhile, the deaths of five newborns at the newly built Mother and Child Hospital at the Civil Hospital has put Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in a difficult situation. Now, convincing rural women for undergoing delivery at the Civil Hospital has become a difficult task for them. Rural women are now hesitant in coming to the Civil Hospital for delivery.

With unavailability of gynaecologists at the CHCs and rural women not ready to come to the Civil hospital, the situation has become really tough for the ASHA workers.

Dr Avinash Jindal, district president of the Punjab Civil Medical Service (PCMS) Specialist Association, said nine posts in the periphery areas are lying vacant due to which arrival of patients at the Civil Hospital has increased and the gynaecologists are overburdened. The government should fill these posts before making fresh appointments, said Dr Jindal.

Civil Surgeon Subhash Batta said the government had identified 100 hospitals in the state where all experts such as gynaecologists, paediatricians and other staff should be available. “Except Samrala, no other centre comes under any of these 100 hospitals. The appointment of gynaecologists has been made at Samrala and in case of other stations within the radius of 10 or 15 km, there would be a government hospital with all facilities and doctors,” said Dr Batta.

The Health Minister has admitted that there is a shortage of doctors in the district. He, however, said fresh appointments would be done soon. “The posts of the doctor are filled but the problem is that patient arrival has increased and the sanctioned posts are falling short. We have to increase the number of posts to handle the patient rush,” the minister said. He has asked the Civil Surgeons to identify the hospitals with a shortage of staff and to fill posts on the basis of user charges.

The ASHA workers act as a bridge between the heath system and rural population.

“There is a shortage of gynaecologists at the community centres. Wwe motivate women to go to the Civil Hospital for delivery. If they are not properly cared at the civil hospitals, then who will trust us?” said Sukhdeep Kaur, president of the Ludhiana unit of the ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union.

Ludhiana, November 27
In a joint effort, the traffic police and the Municipal Corporation installed multiple speed humps on 250 metres on the elevated road leading to Jargon Bridge, an accident-prone stretch. A few days ago, traffic officials had written to the Municipal Corporation to install speed humps to prevent accidents on this stretch.

Richa Agnihotri, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), and Satwant Singh, Zonal Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, visited the elevated road and decided to install the speed humps.

This stretch had claimed several lives in the past due to its faulty design. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation had installed iron grills on the road as a safety measure.

“I visited the stretch along with MC officials. Though the design of the road is faulty, we observed that speed is one of the causes of accidents occurring on this stretch. So, we decided to install speed humps on both sides of the road”.

“We will install reflectors on the same stretch,” she added.

The traffic police officials said they had identified more accident-prone stretches in the city where they will install speed humps and reflectors.

“There have been a number of accidents on the Ferozepur road due to speeding. So, we also wanted to install speed humps on the highway. But, as per the court orders, we can’t install speed humps on a highway. So, we are going to make traffic lights functional again,” said Richa Agnihotri.

Ludhiana, November 27
Residents of Ward Number 32 have alleged that owing to apathetic attitude of the authorities towards repairing sewers and covering open drains, many people are falling prey to disease as deadly as cancer. Sewage gets mixed with water supply at many points, they have said.

Anita Kharbanda, councillor

The ward is represented by an Independent councillor, Anita Kharbanda. It consists of areas, including Chawni Mohalla, Dhirubanda and Manna Singh Nagar.

Kharbanda said the open drains was a major problem in the area. During a survey, 16 major points, which pollute the Budha Nullah, were identified. One of these points is in Ward No. 32.

“The Supreme Court had asked the authorities to plug the points, which polluted Budha Nullah. A writ was filed in the Supreme Court a few years ago. The authorities were asked to plug these points. But nothing has been done by the authorities in this regard to date,” she alleged.

Ludhiana, November 27
Two motorcycle-borne snatchers were nabbed by residence of Ghumar Mandi while they were trying to escape after snatching a purse from a woman this afternoon. Seema, a resident of Dyal Nagar, was targeted by the snatchers while she was shopping in the Gumar Mandi area. The snatchers’ motorcycle collided with a vehicle and they fell down. They were not too far from from the victim when the accident occurred.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim raised the alarm. Soon, the local residents and passersby nabbed the snatchers and thrashed them.

Meanwhile, the police reached on the spot and took the snatchers in its custody.

The victim told the police that the purse contained Rs 4,000 and a mobile phone. She said her purse was also snatched two months ago.

Harjit Singh, in charge of the Ghumar Mandi police post, said: “We will resister a case after investigation”.

Ludhiana, November 27
A 16-year-old rape victim allegedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance at her house in the Barewal area this evening.

The victim was alone at house in the evening. When her mother returned home, she found her daughter lying unconscious. She was rushed to the hospital where she died.

According to her mother, the victim was in depression as she was threatened by the accused in the rape case and his friends during a court hearing on Wednesday.

She said three years ago, her daughter was abducted by the accused. The case was sub judice and the verdict was expected shortly.

The victim’s mother alleged that the relatives and friends of the accused were pressuring them to withdraw the case.

Meanwhile, the Haibowal police said the body was sent to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem. We have recorded the statement of the girl’s mother. We are investigating the case.

Ludhiana, November 27
A 25-year-old married woman was allegedly raped by his father-in-law in the Jodhewal area. According to the complainant, her husband and mother-in-law forced her to develop physical relations with her father-in-law and brother-in-law. The accused has been identified as Balvir Sood (father-in-law), Raj Kumar, husband of the victim, and her mother-in-law.

The rape victim told the police that she got married to Raj Kumar one year ago. Soon after the marriage, her in-laws started harassing her. A case of divorce is sub judice. A few days ago, her husband persuaded her to come back. When she returned home, her husband forced her to make physical relations with her father-in-law and brother-in-law, she added.

According to the complainant's statement, on August 24, her father-in-law entered her room and raped her. He was in an inebriated condition. She informed that her mother-in-law about the matter.

Ludhiana, November 27
Employees, officials and engineers of State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today staged a dharna at the main gate of the administrative headquarters on Ferozepur Road.

They opposed the proposed transfer of 32 acres of the PSPCL to the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for commercial exploitation. The PSPCL employees from the central zone consisting of Ludhiana city, Lalton, Jagraon and Raikot participated in the protest organised under the banner of coordination committee of PSEB employees.

Trade union leaders and engineers flayed the Punjab government and the PSPCL management for the ill-conceived decision, which they said would dislocate a large number of offices of the PSPCL, thereby causing inconvenience to the general public. More than 500 families of the PSPCL employees and officials, residing in the two power colonies located at the site, will also be rendered homeless.

Alleging that the down town project of GLADA was a ploy for taking control of the land of the PSPCL while in fact, certain high-profile political leaders were eyeing the prime land with huge potential, the speakers pointed out that change of land use would also be bad in law because originally the particular chunk of land was acquired for public purpose.

Pointing an accusing finger towards the PSPCL management, the trade union leaders said the down town project was planned in a total area of 100 acres while the PSPCL land proposed to be transferred to GLADA was just 32 acres. Even from out of this land, 7 acres was to be utilised for construction of towers to provide accommodation for offices and dislocated residents of power colonies as per directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

They made a fervent plea with the state government and the PSPCL management not to go ahead with the transfer of land, lest it should lead to serious repercussions and an intensified agitation by the power employees.

Among speakers at the dharna were Harbhajan Singh, Parkaash Mann, Swarn Singh, Rajinder Singh Virk, Balwinder Bajwa, Jagir Singh, Gopal Singh, Racchpal Singh, Hardev Singh, Nihal Singh, Dilbag Singh, Ramesh Kumar, Harjit Singh and Kaur Chand from Employees Joint Forum as well as Bhupinder Khosla, Sukhbir Singh, Raminder Singh and Jaswant Singh Zaffer from the PSEB Engineers Association.

Ludhiana, November 27
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today stated that people would get around 250 citizen-centric facilities online and they would not have to visit any government office by July 2015. He said the state government was setting up 2,174 unified civil services centres in villages and towns where residents would be able to avail of different services in a hassle-free manner. All administrative reforms would be completed within next two years time, he added.

Addressing a function organised by the Muslim community at Tibba Road on Wednesday, he expressed his displeasure over the shoddy work being performed by the private company deployed for solid waste management in Ludhiana. He said the government had already given the company a long rope and if it failed to work in the desired manner, the state government would cancel its contract.

Terming the recent deaths of five children at Ludhiana’s “Mother Child Hospital” very unfortunate, Sukhbir said the government had already taken strict action against the erring staff.

Claiming that there was no financial crunch in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister maintained that legal action was being taken against a vernacular daily published from Jalandhar which had misreported a statement of Cabinet Minister Tota Singh to this effect a few days ago.

In an apparent bid to woo the members of the Muslim community, the Deputy CM said due representation would be given to the Muslim community in all government boards and corporations, especially the Parvasi Board, the Punjab Welfare of Scheduled Castes Corporation and the Milkfed.

He said panchayats would be directed to provide land free of cost for burial grounds in Muslim dominated villages within next six months and the Punjab government would provide necessary funds on demand for setting up educational institutions (Madarsas and Islamia Schools). Sukhbir was conferred “Fakhar-E-Punjab” by the Punjab Haj Committee and members of the Muslim community.

Ludhiana, November 27
The United Front Group won the non-teaching staff union elections held at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University today.

Rajinder Singh, who has been the union president for the past five years, once again became the president, defeating the group led by his namesake, Rajinder Kumar.

Manga Ram got elected as the senior vice-president, Kulwant Singh became the general secretary and Didar Singh the new treasurer. Santosh Rani, Karam Singh, Ashok Kumar and Sukhwinder Singh were elected as secretaries of the union.

Talking about his priorities, the president said emphasis would be laid on getting the seniority list prepared. He said the team would press the authorities to expedite the promotions.

“There are other small issues we will work on to ensure maximum benefits to the non-teaching staff,” said Rajinder Singh.

The elections of the non-teaching employees of GADVASU are held every two years. Of the 300 non-teaching employees working at the veterinary varsity, nearly 285 voted today.

Ludhiana, November 27
In response to a call given by the National Joint Action Committee of Non-Executives, employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), owing allegiance to the BSNL Employees Union and National Federation of Telecom Employees, today observed a one-day strike.

They also took out a rally. Work at cash counters, customer care centres and other public dealing counters came to a halt, causing inconvenience to the public.

The BSNL Employees Union circle secretary, Balbir Singh, said: “The lowest cadres of BSNL — regular labour and group D — have reached the stagnation point and they are not getting annual increments. Thousands of BSNL employees recruited on or after 01-01-2007 are losing a substantial amount of their pay every month due to wrong fixation of pay,” he said. Charging the BSNL management with pursuing anti-worker policies, he said leave travel concession had been frozen, fixed medical allowance for the treatment of self and families had been stopped and productivity linked incentive was not being paid for the past four years.

Balbir Singh said the joint action committee had submitted a demand charter containing as many as 30 pending issues of the non-executive employees on October 8, 2014 along with a notice for the one-day strike. However, the BSNL management chose to ignore the charter of demands and notice for strike. A meeting convened with the representatives of trade unions on November 25, 2014 also remained inconclusive. Balwinder Singh, convener of the committee, claimed that 1,86,000 non-executive employees had observed strike all over the country.

Ludhiana, November 27
The traffic police today announced that the railway overbridge at Dholewal would be not closed from the Manju Cinema side.

All other roads will be closed to traffic from tomorrow. Expansion joints are being replaced on the overbridge. One side of Dholewal overbridge up to Cheema Chowk will be closed.

Police officials and some traffic volunteers met the company officials to chalk out a new plan.

Rahul Verma, a traffic volunteer, said: “To avoid chaos, the Manju Cinema road will not be closed for one week.”

Richa Agnihotri, Assistant Commissioner Police (Traffic), said: “We have identified alternative routes for a hassle-free commute.”

Sahnewal, November 27
Crop diversification should be encouraged more and more to achieve diversity as well as economic stability, said Punjab Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon today while inaugurating the 29th crushing season at Budhewal Sugar Mill.

He said the increasing interest of farmers in sugarcane sowing indicates that they were moving towards crop diversification, which was the need of the hour.

Those farmers would be accommodated as much as possible who show inclination for change and resolve to shift the cropping pattern to more advanced and diverse modes, Dhillon said.

The peasantry not have to wait now or in the future for their payments under the consideration policy of the Punjab Government, the minister said.

He said the mill would crush over 6 lakh quintal of sugarcane this season. The farmers have showed great interest in sowing of sugarcane. This is primarily due to the timely payments made to them in the previous season.

The rates fixed by the Centre are Rs 220 whereas the Punjab Government has enhanced the rates and fixed the same to Rs 295, Rs 285 and Rs 280, respectively, for advanced crop, mid-timed crop and delayed crop, the minister said.

Chairman, Budhewal Sugar Mills, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, said on the very first day of the crushing season they had received a total of 100 trolleys.

These farmers would be free within six hours and the payments should also be made alongside. They should assure that all their payments would be made at the time of crop arrival at the respective sugar mills, Lakhowal said.

“As we have got the second best award at the national level, we will now strive for the best in times to come, he added.

The farmers who brought their produce in the first five trolleys were honoured. Chariman, Zila Parishad, Ludhiana, Bhag Singh Mangarh; chairman, Verka Milk Plant, Ajmer S Bhagpur; chairman, DCU, Dharamjit S Gill; director, Manmohan Singh; director, Satpal Singh; and Sharanjit S Mehlon were among those others present.

Samrala, November 27
An urgent meeting of the Bar Association, Samrala, was held under the chairmanship of the Bar Association president Lakhvir Singh regarding the imposition of professional tax by the state government upon persons doing professional jobs and providing professional services.

The meeting was of the view that advocates are already catering to the state exchequer in the form of court fees, stamps and welfare stamps. The lawyers are providing social and welfare services to society.

The said proposal to impose the professional tax upon advocates would go against the welfare state as most of their work is for social cause.

The advocates of the state strongly opposed this proposal about three years ago. Afterwards, the proposal was shelved.

Advocate Jaspreet Singh, former president of the association, said the Bar Association, Samrala, abstained from work today and further resolved to urge all bar associations in the state to abstain from work on December 1 against the proposal of the state government to impose professional tax on lawyers.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 27
Recognising his outstanding contribution in the field of education, culture and economic development, the Bhutta Group of Educational Institutes management committee felicitated Dr SS Johal, an internationally acclaimed agricultural economist and former Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University and Punjabi University, Patiala.

Former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha presided over the felicitation function and renowned Punjabi poet Surjit Patar was the chief guest.

Mandeep Bhullar, convener of the function, said the management committee led by Garcha conferred the Headmaster Niranjan Singh Memorial Award for Excellence in Education and Culture on Dr SS Johl.

The organisers recollected contributions made by Dr Johl as the chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Process and a member of the economic advisory council of four prime ministers.

Earlier, during the maiden function of the Headmaster Niranjan Singh Memorial Lecture Series, eminent scholars including Dr Sonu Grewal, Dr Nazar Singh, Pirthipal Singh Kapoor, RPS Brar, Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, Surjit Singh and Balkar Singh expressed their views on the subject “Colonial Education Policy in Post Independent India”.

Speakers discussed the nature of Education in the historical perspective relating it to its relevance in the present context and said that the shortcomings of colonial education policy could be compensated by liberalising local information tradition.

Khanna, November 27
A widow who was residing alone in her house at Narotam Nagar, Khanna, was found murdered last night at her house. The deceased was identified as Harinder Kaur (57). The Khanna police has registered a case of murder in this regard against unidentified persons.

As per information, a resident of her locality informed Ishwinder Singh, a brother of the deceased, who is staying in another house, that his sister was lying in a pool of blood at her house. Ishwinder rushed to the spot. She was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where she was declared dead.

The deceased was running an education centre in Khanna while her son is residing abroad. After getting information, police officials, including SP (D) Khanna Satinder Pal Singh, visited the spot and directed the officials concerned to look into the matter.

While talking to The Tribune, the SP (D) said the body had wounds of sharp-edged weapons and the police were probing the case from several angles.

He said the police had found some clues and a special team comprising the CIA staff in charge, Khanna, and the SHO (City) are working to crack the case.

Khanna, November 27
The Khanna police claimed to have arrested a person and recovered 5 gm of heroin from his possession. The accused was identified as Jasvir Singh (37), a resident of Malakpur village, near here.

As per information, a police party of the CIA, Khanna, led by ASI Baljinder Singh, was on patrolling in the area. When the officials were going towards Malakpur from Lalheri, they spotted a person going on foot near Malakpur.

When the police officials signalled him to stop, he tried to flee away. Later, was overpowered. During the search, the police party recovered 5 gm of heroin from him.

CIA in charge Baljinder Singh said the arrested youth was presented in a court at Khanna which sent him to 14-day judicial custody to a Ludhiana jail.

Ludhiana, November 27
More than 10 thieves struck at a factory in the Focal Point area of the city. The thieves decamped with goods and a vehicle. A watchman and a driver were in the factory at the time of the incident.

The accused tied the two and fled with the goods.

The police has registered a case against the miscreants.

Ludhiana, November 27
Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club, Jarkhar, has been reconstituted. A team of new office-bearers was unanimously elected during the annual general meeting of the club today.

Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, chief organiser of the club, said the incumbent, Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was re-elected chairman of the body while advocate Harkamal Singh and Jagdeep Singh Kahlon were made president and general secretary, respectively. Besides, Rajdeep Singh Gill, former DGP, Punjab, and president of the Basketball Federation of India, was elected chief patron. Chief sewadar of Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Jarkhar, and Namohan Singh Jodhan were made patron and president of the NRI wing of the club, respectively.

The names of the other office-bearers are Dapinder Singh Dimpy, sarpanch, Balbir Singh, vice-chairmen, Paramjeet Singh Neetu and Ranjit Singh Deol, senior vice-presidents, Daljeet Singh Jarkhar and Harmail Singh Kala, organising secretaries, Master Shingara Singh and Jasmel Singh, finance secretaries, Tejwant Singh, Ajit Singh Ladhian and Sanjay Sharma, secretaries, Prabhdeep Singh Nathowal, media adviser, Harpinder Singh Gaggi and Baljit Singh Gill, media co-ordinators. The NRI committee of the club was also reorganised with Manjeet Singh Chahal, Barjinder Singh Latala, Satwinderjeet Singh Gill (Australia) and Sukhwinder Singh Toor (Canada) as its members. After the meeting, Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu and Harkamal Singh said it was also resolved to hold the annual sports festival from January 15 to 18. Famous Punjabi artists Daljeet Dosanjh, Kanwar Grewal, Harjit Harman, Happy Jassowal and Lovey Dhindsa will entertain spectators during the course of the festival.

Ludhiana , November 27
Blossoms Convent School won the overall championship in the Sahodaya School Complex Inter-School Volleyball Tournament held at Saint Kabir Academy, Talwandi Khurd, Ludhiana, yesterday.

The first match (girls) was played between Blossoms School, Sidhwan Bet, Jagraon, and Guru Nanak Public School, in which the former came out victors. In the final, Blossoms Convent School and the host school team fought a pitched battle in which Blossoms Convent School emerged winners.

Ludhiana, November 27
Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna, and Ryan International School, Ludhiana, registered victories on the opening day of the Ludhiana East (Khanna) Sahodaya Inter-School Cricket Tournament which began at Mehta Gurukul Public School, Doraha, today.