Ludhiana, November 13
Ludhiana, the industrial hub of Punjab, with a population of 34,87,882, has only 29 government dispensaries. The worst part is that of these 29 dispensaries in the city, only 12 have doctors and the rest depend upon paramedical staff.

For the rural population, there are 33 primary health care centres and 11 community health care centres. Rural dispensaries come are under the Zila Parishad. However their condition is the same as in Ludhiana. These have been running without medicines for the past two years.

While the population of the city has been increasing fast, the number of dispensaries has remained 29 for the past about 20 years.

“In view of the population of the city, more dispensaries should be set up. Ludhiana is growing very fast. A large numbers of migrants also live here,” said Dr Anil Verma, District Epidemiologist.

At most government dispensaries, patients are either attended to by para medical staff or they have to visit the Civil Hospital.

“Doctors hardly show up at the dispensaries. In their absence, I handle patients of simple ailments like fever, headache, cough and cold. The doctor of the dispensary does private practice, due to which he hardly shows up here. Since I cannot handle complex cases, I refer them to the Civil Hospital,” said an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) at one of the dispensaries.

Things are worst at the rural dispensaries. They have not received medicines for the past two years. Earlier, dispensaries in the rural areas were run by the Health Department. In 2006, they were shifted to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. There are 100 dispensaries being run in the rural parts of Ludhiana, which face a shortage of doctors, medicines and pharmacists.

“It has been two years since we last received medicines. There are a total 100 dispensaries. Apart from unavailability of medicines, there is a shortage of doctors as well as pharmacists. Vacant posts of the doctor are never filled. The Rural Development and Panchayat Department seems to be the least concerned about their uplift,” said Dr Harsh, a rural medical officer.

When the dispensaries were shifted to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department in 2006, the government had promised to provide medicines worth Rs 7,500 every month to each dispensary. Initially, the dispensaries were being supplied 60 types of medicines, including analgesics, antibiotics and iron supplements. Now, these have been running without medicines for the past two years.

The MBBS doctors working at these dispensaries are upset that block development and panchayat officers have been authorised to check the rural dispensaries. “Earlier, only officials from the Department of Health and Family Welfare had the powers to conduct checks on rural medical officers (RMOs) but now block development and panchayat officers do the job, which is not acceptable to us,” said another rural medical officer.

Besides, many rural dispensaries are running without pharmacists. Auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and health workers, appointed under the family planning schemes, double up as pharmacists.

There are 107 health pharmacists working at rural dispensaries in Ludhiana district. These pharmacists claim they have been getting very low salaries for the past several years. They said despite getting assurances by the state government, their demands were not fulfilled. They have demanded regular appointment under the government with all other benefits on a par with the paramedical staff of the Health Department.

Ludhiana, November 13
Ill-equipped traffic police have been trying hard to curb traffic violations in the city. During the ongoing drive against traffic violators, the police have issued a large number of challans in the past three days. The traffic police have been facing a shortage of speed guns and alcohol meters to challan drivers indulging in speeding and drunken driving.

According to information, the city police have only 10 alcohol meters to keep a check on drunken drivers. A senior traffic police officer said in view of the population of the city, the police needed more alcohol meters.

Richa Agnihotari, ACP (Traffic), said: “We have 10 alcohol meters in the traffic wing. We issue 15 or 20 challans for drunken driving daily. But, I feel if the government provides alcohol meters to all police stations, then it will help the police in curbing the menace more effectively”.

The police have only two speed guns to check the speed of vehicles. They borrowed one speed gun from the Mohali police yesterday for a month. According to the police officials, they need more speed guns to keep a check on speeding.

Ludhiana, November 13
The court of Additional Sessions Judge Harjit Singh sentenced Kuldeep Kumar of Noorwala Road, Ludhiana, to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for possessing a huge quantity of opium. He has also been slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh. The court also dismissed the Kuldeep’s plea for leniency.

As per the details available, 25 kg of opium was recovered from Kuldeep on March 9, 2013. A case under the NDPS Act was registered against him at the Basti Jodhewal police station on March 8, 2013.

According to the prosecution, a police party, headed by Anti-Narcotics Cell in-charge Sub-Inspector Harbans Singh, flagged down Kuldeep, who was on a scooter, on the Noorwala road. On search, a bag containing 25 kg of opium was recovered from his possession.

However, Kuldeep had claimed that he was falsely implicated. But convinced with the submissions of Additonal Public Prosecutor Amrik Singh Buttar, the court found him guilty and awarded the sentence accordingly.

Ludhiana, November 13
The driver of a manager of an industrial unit allegedly decamped with Rs 6.1 lakh from the latter’s car here yesterday. The driver, Vinod Kumar is a resident of Ganesh Nagar in the Janakpuri area.

The complainant, Sanjay Jain of the Civil lines area told the police that he was a manager with an industrial unit. The firm provided him with a car and a driver.

Sanjay said yesterday, when he, along with his driver, visited the AC market, near Mata Rani Chowk, for the collection of money, he parked his car outside the market.

“I went to meet clients and collected payments for the goods delivered. I came back after about half an hour. I found that my car was not there. I searched for the driver and the car. Then I visited the driver’s residence and found that the car was parked outside his house at Ganesh Nagar,” he added.

“I had left a bag in the car. I searched for my bag, which contained Rs 6.1 lakh, but couldn’t find it. Vinod was not at his home,” he added.

The Division No. 1 police has registered a case against the driver under section 381 of the IPC.

The police have registered a case on a complaint of Sanjay Jain.

Ludhiana, November 13
Pramod Kumar works at a local dhaba. He is a dutiful boy and concerned about supporting his family in their financial needs. His father ho works as a labourer. Pramod knows he has three sisters and his elder brother is already working as a labourer in Delhi. Just at the tender age of 11, when children enjoy the freedom of childhood, he has to toil at the dhaba, serving as attendant, waiter and dishwasher.

Many other children like him continue to work under duress and hostile conditions. Although Children’s Day brings smiles on the cute faces, for the underprivileged children, it is just another hard day. Laws are in place and children are even “rescued” from the shackles of child labour, but the child labour prevails, almost everywhere, in some form or the other. Whether it’s little girls tending to the babies of the “rich, elite-class mothers” or the children toiling in hostile working conditions, it just goes on.

Many residents say there can be no use engaging in the futile activity of rescuing children until action is taken against people who employ children. “The district administration officials often try to grab headlines by the so-called rescue of children from the clutches of child labour but no FIRs are generally lodged against the owners of the places where these children are employed,” said Harjit Singh, a resident.

“There cannot be a solution to this problem until there is a fear among people employing children below 14 that they will be brought to book,” said another resident. “Until there are stringent rules and punishment for engaging children in labour, there can’t be any improvement,” said another resident.

Khanna, November 13
Two policemen were injured when the situation took an ugly turn after a large number of residents of Khanna, protesting against the ‘biased’ anti-drug drive by the police, blocked the National Highway and started pelting the policemen, who reached the spot, with stones.

The protesters, reportedly from Valmiki Mohalla, also broke the windowpanes of some vehicles stranded on the highway due to traffic blockade.

SP (D) Satinder Pal Singh said they were undertaking an anti-drug drive wherein they were conducting searches. After completing their search operation in the Meat Market and Bazigar Basti of Khanna, the police parties moved to Valmiki Mohalla.

The SP said during the search, they came to know that some people of the area had blocked the National Highway and damaged the public property and vehicles. He claimed that they rushed to the spot, pacified the protesters and told them to lift the blockade. In the meantime, some protesters started pelting stones on the police.

The SP claimed that the police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to chase away the protesters. He added that after a struggle of half an hour, they managed to clear the National Highway.

Meanwhile, Madan Lal Balu, a leader of the community, alleged that the police had adopted pick and choose policy and were targeting their community. They were harassing them in the name of search operation.

Former municipal councillor Somesh Batta alleged that the police were knowingly harassing the residents on the pretext of the anti-drug drive. He said they would meet the higher authorities against the police action.

However, the SP said they were acting on the directions of the higher authorities and the state government to keep a watch on drug trade.

He said the police would register cases against the law breakers for injuring policemen and an appropriate action would be initiated against anti-social elements.

Later, the police organised a flag march in the city to instill a sense of security among the residents.

Ludhiana, November 13
Ramgarhia Girls College commemorated the centenary of World War I and paid homage to the innumerable sacrifices made by the Sikh martyrs in it.

Charanjit Singh Atwal, speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly, presided over the event as the chief guest. Illustrious Sikh historians and scholars such as Bhupinder Singh Holland and Anurag Singh were the speakers on the occasion. Principal Dr Narinder Sandhu said the event had been organised to save a significant chapter of the Sikh history from falling into the abyss of forgetfulness.

Bhupinder Singh Holland, author of the book titled ‘Sikhs in World War I’, talked about the first landing of the 15 LDH Regiment at Marseilles, France, on Sept ember 26, 1914, and the incessant struggle of Sikh soldiers that ensued. He emphasised on the need to disseminate knowledge about the sacrifices of Sikh martyrs who had so far been subalternised in the mainstream history and also shared images and video clips concerning the soldiers with the students.

Anurag Singh acknowledged the endeavours of Bhupinder Singh Holland who has left no stone unturned in unraveling the history of Sikh soldiers and said the European countries could not repay the Sikh race for what they had done for them.

Charanjit Singh Atwal observed that the Sikh community was known for its valour and fearlessness and the World War I was one such prominent event in which the Sikhs laid down their lives for the well-being of others.

Ranjodh Singh, president, Ramgarhia Educational Council, said it was important to remember the heroic deeds of our forefathers but also to remind others that Sikhs were the guardians of humanity and they do not relent to sacrifice their lives for the same.

Jagtar Singh, general secretary, Ramgarhia Educational Council, said if we want to conserve the dignified history of Sikh race, we must keep reminding our forthcoming generations about the sacrifices and bravery of their predecessors.

Ludhiana, November 13
A guest lecture was organised for the students of classes XI-XII on financial market management at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School. Harish Nagpal, director, Prabhu Consultants (P) Limited and SEBI faculty member, was the resource person.

Harish began with an ice-breaking session on portfolio management and asset allocation which inspired the students to inculcate the habit of saving and investment at a very early age. He inspired the students about the changing trends in financial market and the need to make modifications to different investment instruments. “The need of the hour is to conceptualise strategies to know the Indian economic behaviour and future aspects of the Indian Industry.

Valuable information was imparted on various career avenues that are available for students in the financial sector. Queries of the students were taken up satisfactorily.

Ludhiana, November 13
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Supreet Singh Gulati has directed the officials of the Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab, that the students and children of the Ludhiana district should be educated about the week-long ‘Bal Swachhta Mission’, which will be launched tomorrow.

The week-long campaign will be launched on Children’s Day (Bal Divas) and its main aim is to motivate children in keeping themselves, their homes, schools and surroundings clean.

Gulati issued these directions during the monthly review meeting of officials from all government departments held at Bachat Bhawan here today. He said the drive was the next phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2. Gulati said the campaign would be a nationwide sanitation initiative focusing mainly on children.

The ADC said there would be six main themes for the Bal Swachhta Mission, including clean schools and aanganwadis, clean surroundings, clean self, clean food, clean drinking water and clean toilets.

During the meeting, Gulati also directed the officials that all projects initiated for the welfare of residents should be completed on time and that he would not tolerate any delay. He also directed the District Agriculture Officer to educate the farmers for not burning paddy straw by organising camps in different villages of the district.

Ludhiana, November 13
As the country will be celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, tomorrow, city youths feel that the nation is yet to see leaders who are as tall as him in stature and vision. Many youngsters say as far as the statesmanship was concerned, Pandit Nehru was not just the first Prime Minister of the country but was also a leading light in the world.

“Politics these days is about politics and not about leadership, vision and statesmanship, that Pandit Nehru gave to the country,” says Arshdeep, a college student, adding, “Pandit Nehru ensured the country overcame teething troubles after the Independence.”

Some youngsters feel that the voice of India is now lost, despite its rising economic clout. This is where Pandit Nehru’s importance in history remains high for the country. “Although Indian leadership now kowtows to the West and other countries, Nehru’s leadership of non-alignment was inspirational,” says Ritika, a political science student. “The country needs leaders like Nehru, who not only put the country on the path to equitable progress but also provide leadership at the international level,” she added.

The present politicians should have built on the legacy of vision and statesmanship, said another student.

Ludhiana, November 13
Although Children’s Day is celebrated every year at almost all schools, not many children are completely aware of who Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was.

When asked why the day is celebrated, some children said it was Chacha Nehru’s birthday. “Why was he called ‘Chacha’?”. Pat came the reply from a Class VI student, “Because his name was Chacha Nehru.” Some children could not tell who Chacha Nehru was. Many did not know why Nehru’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Children’s Day.

“We dance on this day,” said a Class V student, while another said his parents dressed him as Chacha Nehru to take part in an event at his school, but he did not know why it was done.

Most schools hold activities and organise contests like fancy dress and poem recitation. However, students were not told anything about the life of Pandit Nehru, said Ravneet, a parent.

The importance of Children’s Day should be told to children as it is their day, said another parent.

Ludhiana, November 13
The investigation wing of the Income Tax Department today conducted a survey on two groups.

The surveys were conducted on the directions of HS Sohi, Director, Investigations, and under the supervision of joint director Sanjeev Kaushal.

Surveys were held at offices of Ganga Acro Group, yarn manufacturers, located in Doraha, Industrial Area-A, Civil Lines, and Purana Bazar. The other survey was conducted at Paras Spices Group, Moga.

The surveys began in the morning and were on till the filing of the report.

Ludhiana, November 13
To spread awareness on traffic rules and road safety, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ludhiana Chapter, in association with the police, today launched a “Reflector Sticker Promotion Campaign 2014”. Nearly 1,000 specially designed reflector stickers were pasted on to bicycles and old two-wheelers.

Dr Richa Agnihotri, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic), who pasted reflector stickers on bicycles of workers, said, “Obeying traffic rules and consciousness about the road safety helps in saving not only the person’s life but others’ lives too. Many fatal mishaps occur on foggy days, especially at Focal Point and industrial areas.”

Ajay Nayar, chairman, CII, Ludhiana Zone, said, “The CII, Ludhiana, took the initiative a couple of years ago with the support of the Ludhiana Police Department and now it is one of our important annual events. In a city like Ludhiana, where factory workers and migrant population contribute to a good percentage of total population, it is important that they should be sensitised to traffic rules and road safety. We believe that this kind of initiative will definitely help in lowering the number of accidents, particularly during winters.”

“The CII will also start an awareness campaign on providing first aid to accident victims. As a part of the campaign, banners and boards will be placed at prime locations in the city,” added Nayar.

Ludhiana, November 13
To redress public grievances, a police-public meet was organised at the Police Station Division No. 1 (Kotwali) here today.

The representatives of various associations of shopkeepers, the area councillor and prominent persons attended the meeting. Assistant Commissioner of Police Dhruv Dahiya listened to the problems of shopkeepers and assured early redressal to the problems.

Surinder Mohan, SHO, Police Station Division No. 1, said, “The representatives of various shopkeepers associations from Akalgarh Market, Electronic Market and Chaura Bazaar were present in the meeting. The major issues of the area were encroachments and traffic in the congested markets.”

Ludhiana, November 13
The Punjab Government has constituted a state-level consultative committee for environment and committee for specific major industries of importance to enable the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and the Industry join hands and collectively tackle the problem of pollution.

The 15-member committee has been assigned the task of implementing the recommendations of Punjab Governance Reforms Commission (PGRC).

According to an official spokesperson, the Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment, Punjab, and the PPCB Member Secretary will be the chairman and convener of the committee, respectively.

The general manager, Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, the executive director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, SP Oswal of Vardhman Industries, Ludhiana, Rajinder Pal Singh of Turbo Scaffolding, Dhandari Kalan, Ludhiana, Anil Kumar of Shreyansh Paper Mills Ltd, Ahmedgarh, Rajat Sood of Oriental Dyeing, Ludhiana, Vikram Vehmbi of National Electroplaters, Ludhiana, Vinod Vashist of Steel Re-rolling Mills, Khanna, IS Paul of Drish Shoes Pvt Ltd, Jalandhar, a representative of Jagatjit Industries Ltd, Hamira, and VK Goyal of Saluja Exports Ltd, Rahon, are among the members of the committee.

The newly formed committee would regularly deliberate on advising different industries to install best available and techno-economical technologies to contribute towards preserving the environment.

Ludhiana, November 13
Congress workers today protested against the Central government for raising the rates of medicines. They held a march from the CMC Chowk to the Civil Hospital.

Member of Parliament Ravneet Bittu, who participated in the protest march, flayed the Centre for increasing the prices of medicines for treatment of diseases like cancer. Party workers threatened to launch a large-scale agitation against the hike. — TNS

Ludhiana, November 13
A 35-year-old man allegedly committed suicide in the Urban Estate Dugri area this morning. The deceased has been identified as Manider Singh Raja. He was reportedly upset as one Satnam Singh had been threatening him with an intention to exact money.

The police have registered a case of abetment of suicide against the accused, Satnam Singh.

According to information, Manider Singh used to work with a multinational firm in the city. He had a property deal with the accused. The police found an SMS in Manider’s mobile wherein Satnam threatened him.

His family members said Manider was upset due to some reason but he did not disclose the matter to them. Today, Manider went to a room on the first floor of his house and when he did not return after a while, his father Didar Singh went upstairs and found the body hanging.

Gurveer Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), said, “Manider did not have enmity with anyone. Satnam Singh has been harassing him for money for the last some months. He was under the extreme pressure. On the basis of the SMS on Manider’s mobile, we have register a case of abetment to suicide against Satnam Singh.”

No arrest has been made so far. The body was handed over to the deceased’s family after post-mortem.

Ludhiana, November 13
Government Senior Secondary School, Kum Kalan, lads today triumphed in the 6th Junior Baseball Championship for boys and girls being played at Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women in Model Town here.

In the final, Kum Kalan boys survived some anxious moments before coming out victorious 4-3 against Guru Nanak International Public School, Ludhiana. In another match for the hard-line cup, GMT Public School fought hard to outplay BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point branch, 1-0 to secure the third position.

In the semi-finals, Guru Nanak International Public School prevailed over BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point, 4-3, and Government Senior Secondary School, Kum Kalan, drubbed GMT Public School 11-1.

Sukhdev Singh and Harbir Singh, secretary and organising president of the Ludhiana District Baseball Association, respectively, distributed the prizes.

Ludhiana, November 13
Hosts Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS), Mullanpur, emerged champions in the under 14 and 16 categories of the Ludhiana Sahodaya School Complex (West) Football Championship 2014-15 for Boys that concluded today. Eastwood International School, Mullanpur, annexed the title in the under 19 category.

In the under 14 group, Sacred Heart School, Jagraon, stood second while Sobha Singh Public School, Raikot, finished third. The schools secured similar positions in the under 16 category.

Guru Nanak Public School, Mullanpur, bagged the runners-up trophy in the under 19 category and Sacred Heart School, Jagraon finished third in the event.

Dr Bhupinder Singh Saran, president, Guru Nanak Education and Social Welfare Trust, gave away prizes to the winners. Charanjit Singh Gahour, secretary of the trust, and Prabhjot Grewal, officiating principal of the host school, were among those present at the prize distribution function.