HEALTH

Health camp for workers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 21 — A medical check-up camp for industrial workers was organised here by the Labour Department and the local ESI Hospital. At the two-day camp, 228 workers were examined and treated for occupational and general diseases.

The camp was inaugurated by Mr Manjit Singh, Managing Director of Akal Springs. Mr M.P. Beri, Assistant Director Factories, said medicines had also been given to the needy patients on the spot. He said such camps were being organised all over the state.

Mr Joginder Singh, General Secretary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, said such efforts for the welfare of workers were rare.

Mr Charanjit Singh Kohli, General Secretary of the Ludhiana Motor Parts Association, said the state government had taken some good steps for improving the health infrastructure for workers. He said adequate funds should be made available to the Departments of Labour and Health, so that, shortage of medicines and essential items in the ESI institutions could be removed.

In this camp, cases of skin, eye, dental and ENT ailments were taken up. X-ray examinations and surgeries were also conducted and 10 cases of ENT ailments were referred to the ESI Hospital. Dr Daljit Singh Kochhar, Assistant Director Factories (Medical), said such medical camps had previously been organised in several large industrial units. This was the 14th such camp in the city and about 11,000 workers have been examined so far in such camps.

Mr S.N. Gupta, Mr B.K. Agarwal, Mr Daljit Singh, Deputy Director Factories, Mr Kashmir Singh, Mr S.S. Chopra and Mr Narinder Singh, Assistant Director of Factories, also visited the camp.

Dr Abraham Thomas honoured
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 21 — Dr Abraham Thomas, Professor and Head of the Plastic Surgery Department and Principal of Christian Medical College, has been awarded the prestigious Dr B.C. Roy National Award in the category of recognition of best talents in the development of specialities in medicine.

Dr Thomas has trained 42 micro-surgeons in a span of 17 years. He has been able to prevent permanent disability by micro- surgery and has been able to prevent permanent disability among many young people.

SPORT

Sport meet inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

DORAHA, Feb 21 — The 2nd Alankar Tony International Kabaddi Cup and Sports Meet was inaugurated by Gurmail Singh Pehalwan, Chairman of the club, and Mr Kirpal Singh Khirnia, member of the SGPC, at the Mangat Waryam Stadium at Kubbe village, here today.

In a press release, Mr Devi Dyal, senior state coach and President of the Alankar Tony Memorial Trust, said the three-day meet would include kabaddi, athletics, bullock cart races and dog races.

The winners would be awarded on the last day by Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, Punjab. The main attraction on the final day would be gymnastics performed by international teams and cultural show by artists from Canada, Australia, Spain and Malaysia.

ADMINISTRATION

Firms evading octroi booked
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 21 — The enforcement staff of the Octroi Department of the municipal corporation has booked several firms dealing in electronic goods, courier business and public transport for octroi evasion and Rs 79,410 were recovered from the defaulters as due octroi and composition fee.

Mr Harjinder Singh, MC Joint Commissioner, said that those found to be bringing goods in the city limits without payment of octroi included Bedi Marketing, Bhairav Air Cargo, Parkash Airfreight and Amritsar Transport Company.

Dr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner of the municipal corporation, has warned the members of trade and industry against evasion of octroi, saying that the relentless drive to curb evasion will continue against the defaulters.