Travel plans off track

Amritsar: Passengers travelling in AC coaches of trains will have to bring along their blankets as the Railways has stopped providing these as a precautionary measure amid threat of Covid outbreak. The Railways authorities say till the distribution of blankets in AC coaches is resumed, temperature in such coaches will be increased accordingly. Nights in the northern parts of the country are still relatively cold and people require blankets to keep themselves warm. The development has certainly added to the burden of passengers, who are already in a dilemma over whether to travel or not. The prolonged winter following the recent rain has only added to their burden.

Dedication pays

Abohar: Surinder Kumar Jakhar IFFCO Trust last week organised an event to honour women for their contribution towards social welfare. Among them was Dr Sarla Sethi who joined as gynaecologist when 100-bed Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital here was passing through a difficult time following gunning down of 31 people of a particular community by five armed militants in March 1990. After restoring faith in state’s health services, she joined a private hospital that had so far hosted 23 free surgery camps. She has performed about 200 operations during these camps, besides participating in numerous events organised by NGOs.

Not taboo anymore

Chandigarh: Nineteen-year-old Garima Johar decided to share her experience in combating anxiety and clinical depression with other teenagers and young adults. And what better way to do it than by writing a book. So this student of computer engineering at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, penned her thoughts, using a combination of prose and poetry. Each part in her book, “Colour Outside the Lines”, begins with a small poem, which gives a reference to the topic being discussed. Johar’s book was released in Patiala last month. “I wanted to share my story of recovery, especially as mental health is not discussed openly in our society,” she says.

Their initiative motivates others

Abohar: A traditionally attired woman who had accompanied a patient for medical consultation at Civil Hospital on Saturday attracted attention of participants of a blood donation camp organised by Sewa Bharti. Saraswati Devi (60), who belongs to Dangarkhera village, 8 km from here, too offered to donate blood, saying she felt motivated by the initiative. After a medical check-up, she was allowed to donate blood. Sewa Bharti had started organising such camps in 1997. The organisation also runs free kitchen for indoor patients and their attendants. “Abohar is surrounded by two national and a state highway and the number of casualties in road mishaps is higher. Our effort is to keep the blood bank updated,” Sewa Bharti chief Satpal Gilhotra said.

Gatherings amid virus scare

Chandigarh: The government seems to preaching one thing and practising the opposite. Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu gathered more than 50 journalists this week apart from his staff and public relation team besides waiters for “jal-pan” to announce a ban on gatherings. The Chief Minister is also following the suit by holding a series of programmes this week to announce the achievements of his government on the completion of three years of government. A journalist wrote on social media that it seems politicians and journalists are naturally immune to the virus and thus can happily get together despite the virus threat.

Showing the way

Fatehgarh Sahib: Jasanpreet Singh (23) of Nadiali village in the district has set an example for the foreign crazy youth to follow. At one point, he too wanted to go abroad but learnt that both his kidneys are damaged. He was fortunate enough to get the kidney of an accident victim at the PGIMER. After recovering, he set up three biofloc fish tanks made of polyfibre tarpaulin, PVC sheet and wire mesh at his residence. Jasanpreet adopted biofloc technology after getting training from Hisar.” It is an innovative and cost-effective technology in which toxic materials to the fish and shellfish such as nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia can be converted to proteinaceous feed,” he says.