The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Quacks thrive as admn sleeps
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 12
The health authorities in the township seem to have turned a blind eye to a large number of quacks who have mushroomed in the township.

These quacks, who claim to be practising Ayurveda have set up shops on the city’s periphery and near slums and labour colonies. They have erected their tents near such places which are generally thronged by labour class.

Most of them also claim to be exorcists and concede that they are illiterate. However, they claim that they can cure diseases like skin allergies, gastro-intestinal diseases, piles, pain in joints, bone fractures besides cancer, AIDS and even anthrax.

Such tents can be seen at the Sectors 16, 17, 8, 9 roundabouts, in Industrial Area, Sector 19, Panchkula-Zirakpur highway and on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. A number of such quacks are operating in Rajiv Colony, Azad Nagar Colony, Indira Colony, the slum colony in the Mansa Devi Complex and villages of Mahadev Pura, Saketri, Bhainsa Tibba, Devi Nagar, Maheshpura and Railan.

While those operating in the town are practising ayurveda alone, those in the rural belt also claim to be exorcists. The tents are neatly stacked with hundreds of bottles filled with brightly coloured material and the walls of the tents are decorated with photographs of various Hindu gods, goddesses and Sikh gurus.

One such practitioner, Subedar Singh, operating near the Sectors 16-17-8- 9 chowk, informed that he originally operating in Nawanshahr, but after the Punjab health authorities took a stern action against their ilk, he was forced to set up his shop here. “No one bothers you here and clientele is good. People here have more faith in our ability”, he says.

It is learnt that they get raw material for making medicine from the Himalayas and from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. All these practitioners maintained that they have not studied Ayurveda, but knowledge was passed on to them by their forefathers. They charge anything between Rs 10 to Rs 500 for treatment depending on the disease.

In Rajiv Colony, Mian Nazeem, a 50- year-old practitioner, claims to have cured several persons of incurable diseases, like cancer, with his treatment. However, he maintains that exorcism is his field of specialisation.” A large number of people, approach me for getting aid of evil spirits troubling their loved ones. I charge between Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 for the job,” he says.

When asked if the health authorities have ever raided his premises or those of such other “doctors”, he says ‘no’. In May this year, the High Court had come down heavily on quacks practising in the region. Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Civil Surgeons in the states of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh in May this year to conduct periodical raids and surveys on shops and clinics of unqualified medical practitioners for curbing the menace.

PGI union resents delay in bonus payment
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 12
The PGI Employees Union has registered a strong protest with the PGI Director against the delay in the payment of bonus and festival advance to Group B, C and D employees.

The union has also requested the Director to issue the necessary directions in this regard.

The union in a press statement has strongly condemned this delay especially when the central government had issued orders for the payment of bonus on October 16 which the PGI received on October 26.

The union further claimed that no calculation was required as all eligible employees were to be paid a fixed sum of Rs 2467 in view of the maximum limit of Rs 2500 for 31 days.

The last date for the submission of applications for festival advance was November 11, 2001, and the maximum permissible limit in this case was fixed at Rs 1500.

Therefore, no calculation was required, said the union.

SPORTS

Sports meet organised for Sec 15 residents
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, November 12
Residents of Sector 15, gathered in large numbers to watch and participate in a sports meet organised by the Welfare Society, Sector 15, in collaboration with DAV Model School, Sector 15, in the open grounds adjacent to the school. Mr Pawan Bansal, local MP, was the chief guest on the occasion. He first inaugurated the meet and later also gave away the prizes to the winners. Mr Satpal Sewak, president and Mr M.R. Lakhanpal, secretary of the society, thanked the principal of the school, Ms R. Sachdeva, for her contribution in making the sports events possible in today’s function. Mr Bansal was also urged to help allot the ground on permanent basis to the residents. Others who graced the occassion were Mr Prem Sagar Jain, Municipal Councillor, W.R. Rishi, Padmashri and Mr G.K. Chatrath, president, Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association.

A volleyball match was also played on the occasion. It was won by students of DAV Model School spikers. The competitions in 50 metres, 100 metres, relay race, sack race and banana race were also held. Musical chairs race for senior citizens in both men and women section were also held.

The Senior Citizens take part in the musical chairs event in a sports meet organised at Sector 15 in Chandigarh on Monday.

Cricket tourney

The Government College for Girls, Sector 11, eves outplayed Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21 by eight wickets in the final of the Pandit Kidar Nath Memorial Cricket Trophy tournament played here today at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 32. Renuka was the star scorer for winners when she amassed 22 runs. She was also adjudged the best batswoman of the tournament. Anjali was the other top scorer with 10 runs. For losers side, Mamta scored 16 runs, followed by Manju at 14 runs and Vidushi with 11 runs.

Edmund Rice Cricket

Moriseey House beat O’Keeffe House by 81 runs in the under 14-section of the fourth Blessed Edmund Rice Inter House Cricket Tournament played here today at St John’s High School, Sector 26.

Scores : Morssey House: 170 runs for four (Saranjit 58, Abhinav Sharma 47, A Mohanty 17, Ashish 13, Karan Gupta 2 for 12, Rubal Soni one for 22, Ashish Singh one for 22). O’ Keeffe House: 89 all out (Gagandeep 26, Kunal 14, Arjun 12, Karan 10, Abhinav Mohanty 3 for seven, Vishal Jhatta 2 for 10). In other matches of the day, Edmund Rice House beat Crease House by 11 runs . In under-16 section, Morissey House beat O’ Keeffe House by 10 wickets while Edmund Rice beat Crease House by 123 runs.

Nominated

The Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association has nominated four officials for the boxing competitions of the forthcoming National Games to be held at Patiala from November 19 to December 1. These are, Prof C.K. Jerath (jury member), Mr Balkar Singh ( referee/judge), Shiv Singh and Ms Sonia Kanwar.

ADMINISTRATION

Service postage stamps may be replaced
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 12
The Chief Postmaster General, Haryana Circle, has stated that the Union Government is considering the discontinuance of service postage stamps and replacing these with public postage stamps from January 1, 2002.

According to an official release, the Department of Posts has informed the state government that it will extend all possible help to those departments which opt for franking machines for paying postage through franked impressions.

Those who already have a licence for franking machines have been advised to substitute the die bearing the Ashok Chakra by the one used for public usage.

The Haryana Chief Secretary has asked the heads of various departments to switch over to the new system, the release adds.