The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Herbal treatment for diabetes

Ludhiana, October 11
Diabetes has become a serious problem all over the world. According to the World Health Organisation, every fifth person in the world today suffers from diabetes directly or indirectly. India has the largest number of diabetic patients in the world. According to the WHO, by 2025 the number of diabetic patients in this country will rise from 19.7 million in 1997 to 60 million, an increase of more than 300 per cent.

Allopathic treatment of diabetes entails continuous use of anti-diabetic drugs and the patient has to take these drugs regularly. Encouraging results have been observed if herbal drugs are taken along with dietary restriction and exercise. One advantage of this treatment is that the herbs are locally available and have no side effects.

Dr (Mrs) Anita Kochhar, Assistant Professor, Department of Home Science Extension Education, made a study of this treatment under the guidance of Dr (Mrs) Malkit Nagi, Professor, Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University.

The effect of bitter gourd, (karela), jambu (jamun) and fenugreek (methre) was studied on blood glucose and serum lipid profile in 60 non-insulin dependent diabetics selected from Punjab Agricultural University Hospital. The raw powder mixture of bitter gourd, jambu and fenugreek seed was given in capsule form and also in the form of biscuits at two different levels, one gram and 2 grams. At each level, supplementation was done for a period of one and half months.

The study revealed that the powder could be incorporated up to 2 grams per serving. The mixture given in capsule form was found quite acceptable to the patients and compared with oral hypoglycemic drugs. The glucose level in the blood of the patients reduced significantly. A significant reduction in the intake of glucose lowering allopathic drugs was also noticed.

The study concluded that the use of these medicinal herbs should be encouraged and efforts should be made to commercialise these. (AA)

Sacred Heart win title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 11
Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, defeated Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU, by 4 wickets in the last league match of the PCA Parle-G Inter- School Cricket Tournament (u-16) organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association under the auspices of the Punjab Cricket Association, here today.

Sacred Heart School won all three league fixtures and thus qualifying for the round-robin league stage. The round-robin league will be played at SAS Nagar from October 13 where Sacred Heart School will join the winners emerging from matches held in Chandigarh, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bathinda.

Today in the last fixture, Government Model Senior Secondary School won the toss and opted to bat first but failed to capitalise on this advantage. They were bundled out for a meagre 68 runs after 21 overs. Only Gurvinkal and Rahul could reach the double figure. The main destroyers were Danishbir Tiwana, Rohit and Ishwarjot, who took two wickets each.

Sacred Heart School began their reply on a dismal note, losing wickets at regular intervals. But Pranayvir Singh stood his ground and made 25 runs which steered his team to 72 runs losing 6 wickets, overhaul PAU School’s total and register a victory.

Earlier, Mr Chaman Lal Malhotra, Chairman, Selection Committee, Punjab, inaugurated the last league match of the tournament.

Mr Sat Pal Gosain, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, gave away prizes to winners, while Mr M.M. Vyas, Chairman, Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, presided over the prize distribution function.

Brief scores: Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU, 68 all out in 21 overs (Gurvinkal 14, Rahul 14, Danishbir Tiwana 2 for 18, Rohit 2 for 9 and Ishwarjot 2 for 19)

Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School 72 for 6 in 17.3 overs (Pranayvir Singh 25, Lalit 3 for 21).

Cricket teams announced
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 11
The following boys and girls have been selected to represent Ludhiana in the Punjab State Inter-District Schools Cricket Tournament to be held at different venues of Ludhiana from October 15 to 19, according to Mr O.S. Nagi, in charge (sports), Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Nagar.

Those selected are: boys (under-19): Rahul Kalra, Karamdeep Singh, Gautam Dhanda and Raghav Khanna of Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar; Puneet Gopal, Nipin Loomba and Anurag Ghakhar of Sacred Heart Convent School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar; Deepak Dhir and Satmit Ubhi of CFC School, BRS Nagar; Sandeep Bajwa and Jatin Tondon of AS Model School, Khanna; Kuldip of AS Senior Secondary School, Khanna; Lalit of Government Model Senior Secondary School, PAU, Ludhiana; Hardip Malik of SDP Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana ; Vickey Gupta of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana.

Boys (under-16): Varinder Kumar, Vijay, Parveen and Prince of SDP School, Ludhiana; Raj Rattanbir of SAN Jain Senior Secondary School; Johny of SVM School, Ludhiana; Sandeep Dhand and Rohan Thapar of Sacred Heart School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana; Pranayvir Singh and Danishvir Singh of Sacred Heart School, BRS Nagar; Pritpal Singh of Government High School, Jamalpur; Jaswinder Singh of AS Senior Secondary School, Khanna; Simranjit Singh and Satbir Singh of Anand Ishar Public School, Ahmedgarh; Amir Kumar Singh of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Miller Ganj, Ludhiana.

Girls (under-19): Sharanjit Kaur, Rajinder Kaur and Sukhminder Kaur of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, Ludhiana; Neetu Kalsi, Jaspal Kaur and Jyoti Sharma of Government Senior Secondary School,Gill; Rajni of Government Senior Secondary School, Khanna; Tanu Baljit, Ranjit Singh and Rita Kumari of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Gill; Dilpreet of TSSRS School, Ludhiana; Manpreet Kaur of Government High School ,Jamalpur; Monika of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, Ludhiana; and Mamta of Government High School, Jamalpur, Ludhiana.K R Lakhanpal, Principal Secretary, Punjab will give away prizes to the winners on October 15.

Revenue officials told to work efficiently
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 11
The Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Mr Bhagat Singh, has asked the revenue officials to work efficiently and with complete dedication.

Addressing officials of the Revenue Department during his first visit to the city after assuming charge, he stressed the need for increase in revenue collection in order to improve the overall performance of the government. He urged the officials to motivate their subordinates to show results. ‘‘There is a dire need to cut down wasteful expenditure and to ensure speedy working,’’ he said.

He asked the senior officials of the department to fix one or two days in a month, when they would visit various villages so that title deeds of cluster of villages could be registered on the spot. He also directed the officials to take proper care of shamlat land in villages and towns, which was government property and to make sure that there was no unlawful occupation of the land.

Referring to vacant posts of patwaris in the district, Mr Bhagat Singh suggested to the district administration to engage retired patwaris on part time basis so that routine work of the department did not suffer.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, dwelt upon various measures, initiated to bring about improvement in the working of the Revenue Department in the district.