Truckers can be 'run over' by STDs
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 19 — For safeguarding truckers against HIV/AIDS effective intervention strategies are needed.
A study has held low level of information about sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), non-use of condoms and absence of counselling services among truck drivers, their wives and sex workers responsible for spread of HIV AIDS in the vulnerable group.
These are findings of a research team of the Family Planning Association of India, Mohali branch, which has just completed an in-depth study to assess the need for an STD and HIV prevention project, sponsored by the Truckers' Interim Coordination Unit, Health and Population Office, British High Commission. The report has been compiled by project coordinator, Mr Naresh Bhardwaj and Dr Surjit Kaur Sandhu, study team's project consultant.
The study was conducted in and around Mohali. It encompasses the urban slum area, the truck union office and villages where truckers' families lived: Balaungi, Kajheri, Ballomajra, Khanpur and Palsora. The urban slum colonies were Indira and Peer.
The availability of sex workers was the major factor in the spread of the disease. A majority of sex workers were truckers' wives, mostly in the age bracket of 18-35 years, who earned between Rs 2,000 and Rs 8,000.
Out of 75 truckers (43 per cent were unwed), sex workers and owners and workers of dhabas; the owners of dhabas were semi-literate and workers illiterate. Only 12 per cent of the truckers were Matriculate or above.
While the truckers stayed away from home for weeks and indulged in sex, the wives did so to either "financial needs or overcome loneliness", the report says.
Interestingly, the husbands (truckers) were aware of their wives' indulgence. Yet both husband and wife had normal life pattern and sexual relationship but for some skirmish over husband's gambling and drinking.
The study brought into focus how the truckers perceived their STD problems, lived by misconceptions about sexual health, little they knew about HIV etc and how health workers were unhelpful. Moreover, despite awareness seldom did the truckers use condoms, available at a vending machine or at the truck union office. However, the union stoutly denied truckers' indulgence with sex workers, maintaining, such cases, if any, were barred from the union.
The majority of the truckers believed that if they cleaned and washed their member with urine, liquor, soap and Dettol, there was no danger of any STD. Even intercourse with a "changi" woman was "safe" for them.
Over 50 per cent truckers interviewed were unmarried and regularly visited sex workers. After returning from long hauls, 27 per cent stayed at the dhaba or the union office for "recreations". These persons had limited knowledge about variant sexual acts.
Over 70 per cent perceived they had an STD. They visited private practitioners of doubtful credentials.

Sirhind overbridge soon
By Surinder Bhardwaj
FATEHGARH SAHIB: Work on all the development projects in the district is in full swing.
The Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan is likely to be completed soon at a cost of Rs. 1.16 crore. According to Mr T.R. Sarangal, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting of all DCs paid special attention to the development of the district and directed the minister concerned to allocate adequate funds. He said work on about 40 development projects estimated to cost Rs 40 crore was in progress. The major achievement was the sanction of a railway overbridge at Sirhind. The Ministry of Railways had cleared the project and the foundation stone would be laid soon.
Construction work on the judicial complex was also in the last stage. The building was almost ready except furnishing and sanitary work. It would be completed at a cost of Rs 6.37 crore. The government would notify an urban estate at the Sirhind-Chunni road, which would be developed on the Chandigarh pattern. The project had been sanctioned and land was likely to be acquired soon. Work on a district level sports stadium having all modern facilities had started. It would cost Rs 1.77 crore. The government had also demarcated 25 acres of land for the district jail at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore.
The government had sanctioned a new polytechnic institute and a circuit house. Work on Sainik Rest House was also likely to start soon. The land for these projects had been earmarked and the funds had been sanctioned. The government had set up industrial focal points in all five blocks of the district. On each focal point Rs 10 crore would be spent. Work had started and 17 departments of the government would be involved in providing all facilities for these focal points.
The administration had also written to the department concerned to open the head post office and the LIC office at Fatehgarh Sahib at the earliest. The capacity of the telephone exchange at Fatehgarh Sahib was also being upgraded. It had also prepared a survey plan for four-laning of the Sirhind-Bassi Pathana Road. A plan had been prepared to construct three memorial gates — Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Gate, Diwan Todar Mal Gate and Baba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh Gate.
A plan for the disposal of sewage and storm water of Fatehgarh Sahib, Sirhind, Bassi Pathana, Amloh and Gobindgarh town had been prepared and sent to the government for approval. For a central library to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore, six canal of land had been earmarked in Shakti Bagh.

Tohra criticises Tandon
AMRITSAR, July 19 (PTI) — The SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today criticised the Akali-BJP alliance Punjab Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, for his reported statement that Punjab’s interference had sent "wrong signals" on Udham Singh Nagar issue of its inclusion in the hill state of Uttaranchal.
Reacting sharply, the SGPC President talking to newsmen here said that the BJP minister should have shown respect to the sentiments of the Punjabi people, particularly the Sikhs settled in Udham Singh Nagar.
Mr Tandon is also reported to have said that his party was not in favour of interference by the Akali Dal on the issue.
Justifying the interference of the Akali Dal and its government, Mr Tohra said that Akali Dal was formed basically for the protection of the rights of the Sikh community. Since most of the affected people in Udham Singh Nagar were Sikhs, the Akali Dal could not remain a silent spectator.