Rural doctors’ lot better, dispensaries in a shambles
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, November 11
Conceding some of the major demands of the service provider doctors in rural dispensaries in the state, the Punjab government has re-designated them as rural medical officers. Further, the demand for grant of maternity leave with pay to women doctors has also been accepted.

Stating this, Dr Aslam Parvez, president of Rural Medical Services, Punjab, told Ludhiana Tribune here today that the positive attitude of the government towards doctors serving in rural dispensaries would boost their morale and they would be able to serve the rural population with greater zeal and dedication.

He said earlier the state labour commissioner, through his office letter dated July 7, 2007, had denied maternity leave to women doctors but persistance had yielded results. During maternity leave for women doctors, the additional charge of that particular rural dispensary would be given to some other doctor working in the nearest dispensary.

The president of the association expressed his satisfaction over the steps being taken by the government to streamline the mechanism for release and disbursement of funds while at the same time involving the rural medical officers in evolving priorities and spending the money on need basis. "It has now been decided that the money to be spent for rural dispensaries will be sent to the combined account of rural doctors and sarpanches.

Moreover, to do away with the common complaint of delay in the disbursement of salaries, all the BDOs have been directed to release necessary funds before the fifth of every month."

The government had also accepted the demand that rural doctors will not have to get their attendance verified from the sarpanches and further those doctors who had taken admission in postgraduate courses like MD or MS will not have to forgo three months' salary, added Dr Aslam.

Commenting on the condition of rural dispensaries, Dr Aslam said shortage of medicines and medical equipment was a matter of concern as it was having an adverse effect on the delivery of medical services. "Supply of medicines throughout the state has dried up and in the absence of medicines and equipment, it is increasingly becoming difficult to run the rural dispensaries."

With sheer hard work and drive to serve the people by the rural doctors, the number of OPD patients had increased by more than five times after the rural health institutions were handed over to zila parishads. "But at present, these dispensaries are not being supplied any medicines required for paediatric and gynaecological diseases whereas nearly 70 per cent of the OPD patients come with these problems. In such a situation, the working of rural dispensaries is bound to suffer and in due course, the people might lose faith in these institutions," said Dr Aslam.

Cycling Meet
Sachneet, Ravika excel
Our Sports Reporter

A participant in action during the Ludhiana District Cycling Championship held at Punjab Agricultural University’s cycling velodrome in Ludhiana on Sunday. — Tribune photo by Sayeed Ahmed

BSF men, Ludhiana eves score victories
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 11
The BSF and Ludhiana district came out winners in the men's and women's section, respectively, on the second day of the third leg of the Major Kuldep Singh Memorial Punjab Annual Basketball League being played at Sujapur village near here today. The BSF outnumbered Punjab juniors 56-47 while Ludhiana eves survived many anxious moments against Kapurthala before emerging victorious with a wafer thin margin of one point 66-65.

BSF men took full advantage of their height and experience to nail down their opponents. For the winners, Virinder and Gurvinder played the pivotal role netting 15 and 12 points to script the win. For the Punjab juniors, Parminder and Kuldeep with 18 and 10 points, respectively, played well.

In the women's section, Kapurthala, after enjoying the lead till half time (31-28), found the things going against as Ludhiana cagers got their rhythm in the third quarter to wipe out the deficit and surging ahead 52-45. Ludhiana women managed to hang over to the lead and eventually wrapped up the cliff hanger 66-65.

In another match (men), Punjab Police handed out a defeat to PSEB 57-32. The winners were leading by three points (31-28) at half time.

For Punjab Police, the main scorers were Deepak (22), Harvinder (11) and Gurkirpal (12). Sukhpal (12), Ravinder (11) and Gurpreet (9) fought well for the losers.

In the fourth match of the day, PSEB outclassed Punjab juniors 67-61 to register their first win in the league.

Shakun bowls Amarjit Club to final
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 11
A devastating spell of bowling by Shakun Verma (5 for 10) and an equally valuable contribution with the bat by Tarun Passi (74) fashioned an easy 85-run victory for Amarjit Club against Anand Ishar Singh Senior Secondary School, Chhappar, to enter the final of the second Ludhiana District Twenty20 Cricket Tournament being played at the Government Institute of Knitting and Textiles, Rishi Nagar, here today.

Amarjit Club won the toss and opted to bat first. They were all out for 156 in 19.2 overs. Tarun Passi played the anchor role with an innings of 74 runs. He faced 49 deliveries and hit 6 sixes and four hits to the fence. Rahil made 34 with the help of five boundaries and two sixes while Pawan contributed 11 runs.

For Anand Ishar Singh Senior Secondary School, Inderjit and Gurmandeep were the pick of bowlers claiming four wickets each conceding 15 and 24 runs, respectively. Gurpinder grabbed one wicket for 40 runs.

Chasing the target, Anand Ishar Singh School’s innings folded at 71 runs in 13 overs. Only two batsmen, Pankaj and Gurpinder, could reach the double figure. Pankaj made 18 runs while Gurpinder scored 17.

Amarjit Club’s Shakun Verma tormented Anand Ishar School’s batting line up. He sent down four overs and consumed five wickets for just 10 runs. Ranbir captured two wickets for eight runs in three overs.