Mental disorder: a disease not a stigma
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 15
With more and more advancement in the world of medicine, more so in fields of neurology and psychiatry the myths surrounding various mental disorder, are being fast exploded. According to Dr Shakti Kumar Prabhakar, a reputed neuro psychiatrist, who recently retired from the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, the mental illness should not be stigmatised.

Dr Prabhakar, who after his retirement has returned to India and joined the SAS Mediscan Hospital, Gurdev Nagar, here pointed out, given the social stigma erroneously attached to mental illness in our country most of the time it is concealed which complicates the problem. “It is best to approach an expert than to conceal the illness”, he advised.

The reputed neuro psychiatrist explained that mental illness was like any other biological problem in the body and should be treated as such. “Medical science has made great strides forward and there are medicines for almost all mental ailments and these can be easily afforded even by the poor in India”, he disclosed.

The doctor pointed out, “Each one of us at one point of time comes under stress for various reasons. But most of us come out of it within a specific period of time and this is normal stress but if it comes on for longer periods say for more than two or three weeks then it is definitely a disorder which should be referred to an expert”.

Quoting various studies conducted internationally on the subject, Dr Prabhakar revealed, stress has been found to be a worldwide phenomenon. In fact more and more people tend to come under stress. “It appears mental stress is directly proportional to the rapid pace of development”, he observed, while adding, “There are no exceptions anywhere in the world with three per cent people suffering from depression world over”.

Dr Prabhakar advised that the best way to deal with the problem is to bring it to the knowledge of the doctor at the earlier stages only lest it becomes chronic. “And it is very difficult to treat and cure a chronic disorder and more so the mental disorder”, he cautioned.

DMCH employees to hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 15
The striking employees of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) will hold a state-level rally on August 16 and 17 to intensify their ongoing agitation.

Mr Chander Mohan Kalia, president, and Ms Navraj Kaur, general secretary of the DMCH union, in a press statement today said that the adamant attitude of the management was responsible for the failure of negotiations. The leaders alleged that the management was making every effort to break the unity of the union leaders.

Mr Kalia said the administration had registered false cases against employees in the jail at the behest of the management.

Representatives of more than 45 organisations will take part in the protest rally on August 17.

Leaders of unions, including the PAU Employees Union, the Punjab Khet-Mazdoor Union, the Bank Employees Federation, The Lok Morcha, the Inqlabi Kendra, the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, the Kirti Kisan Union, the Democratic Teachers Front, the Bharti Kisan Union, the Women Welfare Organisation, the Democratic Employees Front, the Fourth Class Union and the Agri Technocrats Acting Committee will take part in the rally.

Healthy baby show
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 15
A function was organised by the Charity Medical Trust and the SOSVA, Chandigarh, at BD Memorial Free Dispensary, Chet Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, on the occasion of Independence Day. As many as 250 children between the age group 0 and 5 participated. Dr R.S. Maheshwari, president of the trust, honoured kids. Free medicines were also distributed among poor patients. Twelve parents were honoured with the Indira Vikas Patra by the District Health Administration.

Dr Maheshwari stressed that female foeticide should be condemned by all citizens and sections of society. Dr Manjit Singh Baja, Dr Sonica Jawa, staff members of the Janta Nagar Dispensary and local citizens were present, among others.

SPORTS

BCM Model School win title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 15
BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, defeated Shree Guru Harkrishan Public School 60-55 to win the basketball title (u-19) in the Ludhiana Zonal School Games, which concluded yesterday.

In the u-14 group, BCM Model Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh road, beat their Shastri Nagar branch team 16-8 to bag the trophy.

The finals in different age groups were organised by BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar. In the u-19 group, Shree Guru Harkrishan Public School lads fought valiantly before going down 55-60. Rattandeep and Umesh of BCM school contributed 25 and 16 points, respectively. Vijay scored 26 points for the losers.

In the u-14 category, the final between BCM school, Chandigarh road, and BCM school, Shastri Nagar, turned out to be a low-scoring affair in which the former emerged victorious 16-8. For the winners, Rahul excelled with 10 points, while Tavreen with 6 points fought well for the losers.

The final in the u-17 group was played between Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, and DAV Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar.

Sacred Heart School beat their rivals 20-19. Rahul of Sacred Heart School scored 16 points. For the losers, Ankush scored 8 points.

Softball team: The Ludhiana District Softball Association conducted trials on Thursday to select the boys and girls teams for the Punjab State Championship to be held here on August 16 and August 18.

According to Mr P N Passi, general secretary, Ludhiana Softball Association, the names of the players are (boys) — Satish, Nirmal, Rahul, Baljit, Kulbir and Maninder (Ramgarhia School), Lakhbir and Mohit ( R S Model School), Veer Eklav, Mandeep, Vikas, Puneet and Ankur (SDP Pracharak School) and Navtej (Guru Nanak Public School).

Girls — Navdeep, Amandeep Bhagat, Rohini and Rajni (R S Model School), Amanpreet, Sunayna, Palvinder, Aastha, Arvinder and Pritpal (Ramgarhia School and College), Bhajpreet, Husanpreet, Maninder and Anjana (Guru Nanak Girls College).

Mandi Gobindgarh
A three-day inter-school badminton tournament was inaugurated at the Gobindgarh Public School’s (GPS) indoor stadium by Mr Bahadur Singh, Principal of the school, which concluded on Wednesday.

Eleven CBSE schools of the Ludhiana region participated in the tourney.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Mr Swaranjit Singh Bagli, president of the school trust. Mr Khanahya Lal, a known social worker, and Mr R.P. Bhatia chairman of the school committee, were also present at the function.

The overall trophy was bagged by GPS, they were also winners in the girls and runners-up in boys’ categories. The overall runners-up trophy went to Alpine International School, Ludhiana, while BCM Ludhiana was placed in the third position.

Final results: Girls singles final: Nandita (GPS) beat Nitika (Greenland Public School) by 2-0

Doubles final: Vijita and Nitika (Greenland Public School) beat Mishi Jindal and Monica Puri (GPS) by 2-0

Mixed doubles: Nandita and Aditya (GPS) beat Gurbaksh and Nitika (Greenland Public School) by 2-0

Final singles: Mishi (GPS) beat Vijita (Green Land Public School) by 2-0

Boys: Singles final: Ashutosh (Greenland) beat Piyush (GPS)

Doubles final: Gurbaksh and Ashutosh (Greenland Public School) beat Aditiya Mittal and Vinay Jain (GPS).

Aryan club victorious
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 15
The Aryan Hockey Club outclassed PAU Juniors 1-0 to begin their campaign on a sound note in the First PAU Gold Cup Six-A-Side Hockey Tournament being organised by the PAU Hockey Players Welfare Association at the astroturf grounds of Punjab Agricultural University, here today.

The lone goal was scored by Sukwinder Singh in the 14th minute off their captain Pargat Singh’s parallel pass. In the second half, PAU Juniors’ players earned two penalty strokes but Yadwinder Singh and Palwinder Singh wasted these scoring chances.

Earlier, in the inaugural match, the B Baker Club defeated the Friends Club, Doraha, 4-2. The Baker Club went into an early lead when Jasved struck in the second minute. In the 9th minute, Inder found the target to increase the lead 2-0.

The very next minute Sukhjit of the Friends Club scored a fine field goal to reduce the margin 2-1. Jasved again struck in the 29th minute to enhance the lead 3-1.

In the 38th minute, the Friends Club’s captain, Baljit Singh sounded the board to make it 3-2. Jasved pumped in another goal in the 39th minute to help his team to win the match 4-2. The third match between Kila Raipur Academy and the Sudhar Club ended in 2-2 draw.

The Vice-Chancellor, PAU, inaugurated the tournament, which is being held in the memory of Narinder Singh Laddi, a national-level hockey player, who died recently.