Tahseen bags declamation honours
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
In the memory of late Ram Lal Bhasin, a freedom fighter and philanthropist, the SDP College for Women organised a declamation contest here today on the college premises. Mr R.C. Chopra, Director, Small Industries Service Institute, was the chief guest while Ms Saroj Chopra was the guest of honour.

In his welcome address, Mr Balraj Bhasin highlighted the remarkable achievements of Mr Chopra as an entrepreneur. The function began with jyoti prajvalan, a ritualistic ceremony and a dance performance by Ms Reena.

Teams from 15 women colleges of the district took part in the contest. They spoke on topics like ‘Responsibility and accountability of media towards society’, ‘Senior citizens-Where should they go?’, ‘Modern women’, ‘Human values and commercialisation’, ‘Media: Invasion on Indian culture’, ‘Media and images of women’, ‘Men have achieved a lot: Let women come forward’ etc.

The first prize was bagged by Ms Tahseen of the Khalsa College for Women, second prize was given to Ms Hina Bedi of Guru Nanak Khalsa College.

From Schools
Physics Olympiad held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 6
Guru Nanak International Senior Secondary School organised Inter-School Physic Olympiad here today as a part of its 'silver jubilee celebrations. The competition was conducted for students of Classes 10+1 and 10+2 as per the CBSE syllabus. There were two catagories A&B.

Category A was meant for +2 students and category B was for students of +1. Around 100 students participated in this Olympiad. The main aim behind the competition is to prepare the students for competitive examinations like CET, PMT, IIT, AIEEE.

Gurpurb celebrated: A small function was held in SKN Model High School on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. Students recited shabads and the Head Mistress told them that Guru was a brave warrior and a great poet too. He sacrificed all his family for the sake of country and religion.

HEALTH

Staff up in arms against Civil Surgeon
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
The Punjab Health Department Subordinate Offices Clerical Union has urged the Chief Election Commissioner, Punjab, to check and control the working of Dr Yash Pal Singla, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, for allegedly using his political sources for his benefit.

Mr Rajesh Kumar Mishra, Finance Secretary of the union, in a press statement today alleged that Dr Singla used to "threat staff members" that the Health and Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Kumar Singla, was his close relative and he could do whatever he wanted. Mr Mishra said due to that, the image of the state government was tarnished in the eyes of the public and the staff was facing mass transfers out of the district as well as in the office.

The union members also alleged that Dr Singla, being a Deputy Director, could not claim the non-practising allowance (NPA), but he claimed the same till October 2006. Apart from this, there was another recovery amounting to Rs 1.62 lakh on account of the over payment of salary due to wrong fixation under 4-9-14 placements. The recovery was pointed out to Ludhiana office from his previous office at Ropar. Total amount of the NPA from November 20, 2003, to October 31, 2006, was worked out to be approximately Rs 2.5 lakh. The same will be recovered from his gratuity as he was going to retire on March 31, 2007, said the union members.

The members further added that Dr Singla got Mr Ganesh Kumar Bansal, Assistant Controller, F and A, transferred to Pathankot as the latter had started recovering the excess payments of salary and the NPA from him. Mr Mishra alleged that though Dr Singla managed to get Mr Bansal transferred on December 28, 2006, the transfer orders were passed after the imposition of the Code of Conduct on January 2, 2007.

Moreover, he was forcing the staff to vote for the Congress candidate in the coming Assembly elections. "Not only this, he was threatening the employees that if they went against him, they will be transferred to some border area," said Mr Baljit Singh, General Secretary of the union. The members demanded that he be transferred to some other district for the smooth functioning of the Health Department.

DMCH doc awarded national fellowship
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 6
Dr Manish Munjal, Professor, Department of ENT, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has been awarded the National Karnik Fellowship for his work in the field of vertigo by the Neuroequilibriometric Society of India (NES).

The NES is a national body constituted by otologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons who are involved in research in the field of vertigo.

The fellowship is awarded to a doctor from the country and the selected doctor can work with senior scientists at research centres of repute.

Vertigo is an incapacitating ailment which may manifest as imbalance, dizziness, feeling of rotation, falling forwards or backwards. It may or may not be accompanied by heaviness of head, buzzing or hissing sound in the ears, vomiting or even total loss of hearing.

SPORTS

Saraswati boys romp home in cricket tourney
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, January 6
Fine bowling by Jatin Joshi ( 6 for 16) helped Saraswati Modern High School to score an easy seven-wicket win over Nightingale Public School in the second match of the PCA Parle Inter-School Cricket Tournament being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association under the ageis of the Punjab Cricket Association at Arya College ground here today.

Batting first, Nightingale Public School were shot out for 79 runs in 24 overs. The main scorers were Paramjit Singh (8), Vivek (15) and Jaspreet (15). For Saraswati Modern High School, Jatin Joshi excelled with the ball capturing six wickets for 16 runs. Manik grabbed two wickets for 25 runs while Gaurav took one for 15.

In reply, Saraswati Modern High School consumed just 13.4 overs and surpassed their rival's total after losing three wickets. Harjeet and Abhinav contributed 11 runs each while Gaurav and Nikhil remained unbeaten on 20 and 11, respectively.

Ram Raj declared best athlete
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 6
Ram Raj, student of Class IX, bagged four gold medals and was adjudged the best athlete in the annual sports meet of SKSK Educational Institute, Salem Tabri, here today. Ms Amarjit Kaur, former Principal of Sargodha Senior Secondary School was the chief guest at the inaugural function.

In hurdles, Sahil Batra proved his mettle and clinched the title while Rawinder and Arpit secured the second and third positions, respectively.

In long jump, Naseem won the gold while the silver and bronze medals were bagged by Pankaj Gaba and Akash, respectively. Ms Rajinder Kaur and Mr Binder Mohan Singh, Principal and Director, respectively, of the school gave away the prizes to the winners.