De-addiction center at each district civil hospital- Prof. Chawla

CHANDIGARH JUNE 27, 2010

Health & Family welfare Minister Punjab prof Luxmi Kanta Chawla disclosed here today that de-addiction centre in each civil hospital of the district will be functioning by the end of this year. A proposal to establish 20 ten-bedded drug dependence treatment centre in all district civil hospitals of he state was being sent to planning board for inclusion in the annual plan 2010-11.

The Minister said that we reaffirm our commitment towards fighting this scourge collectively through part taking in different activities in combating the drug abuse manner There were three de-addiction centre in state medical colleges i.e Patiala, Amritsar Faridkot & 7 functional Government de-addiction centre at district hospital at Tarntaran , Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Faridkot Mukatsar and Hoshiarpur. 20 bedded de-addiction centre at civil hospital. Talwandi Sabo has been started this year. Two new de-addiction centre at Ferozepur and Phagwara had been functional in this respective hospitals. So ten de-addiction center were functional in Government setup now.

Prof. Chawla informed that 15113 patients were given de-addiction treatment in OPD and 2421 patient were admitted for de-addiction in 2009 in Government setup de-addiction centers. There were22 voluntary de-addiction centre/counseling centers in Punjab being run under the control of Ministry of social welfare, Govt of India out of this15 centre were run by Indian Red cross society and 11 by non Government organizations. There were 26 psychiatrists with in the department working in different Health Institution of the States. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had already trained 20 psychiatrists of the state as trained masters in drug-abuse preventions and also trained 10 health personal from four districts of the state for opioid substitution clinics which were going to be established by the Government of India to prevent Inter Venus drug user. The Ministers said that Health department had already commissioned a study on drug abuse in the border districts of Punjab funded by National rural health mission (NRHM) Punjab at the cost of Rs. 5 lac in 2009 and study had been completed.

The Minister said that Punjab was a border state with the international boundaries. India especially Punjab has become transit state in international drug trafficking. Amritsar, Tarntarn, Gurdaspur and Ferozpur are at increased risk of drug menace.

The Health department started a special campaign to check the said menace. The drug control organizations had launched a specific programme in the form of inspections and joint raids by the teams of drug inspectors, secretly, constituted under the guidance of Director Health services Punjab.

The team conducted 559 joint raids for controlling drug abuse. 20 licenses were suspended due to contraventions relating to habit forming drugs, 200 licenses of chemists suspended due to general contraventions, 55 prosecutions had been launched, a drug worth Rs. 8 crores had been seized since 2007. The campaign shall continue for the forthcoming time to curb the menace of unethical sale and purchase of habit forming drugs by the chemists of the state, said Prof. Chawla.

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BADAL REMEMBERS SARDARNI HARBANS KAUR AS PROGRESSIVE,
HUMANE AND AN INSPIRING PERSONALITY

Chandigarh, June 27, 2010:

People from different walks of the life today join the Antim Ardas of Sardarni Harbans Kaur wife of noted Punjabi story writer Mr. Kulwant Singh Virk at Gurudwara Sant Mandal Lambian phase -8, Mohali.

Punjab Chief Minister's Media advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains shared heartfelt condolences with the daughter of the deceased Mrs Sudeep Bhangu, Prinicpal Government Mahindra College Patiala on the behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal.

Mr. Badal in his condolence message described sardarni Harbans Kaur as a progressive, Humane and an inspiring personality Mr. Badal said that he had close ties with the family of sardarni Harbans Kaur because Mr. Kulwant Singh Virk served to him as Press Secretary. Mr. Badal conveyed regrets as he could not participated in the Antim Ardas ceremony due to his pre-scheduled unavoidable engagements.

Mr. Badal prayed to The Almighty to give courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss and grant peace to departed soul.

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SUKHBIR CONDOLES THE DEATH OF FORMER MP JORA SINGH MANN

Chandigarh, June 27, 2010

Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister and President, Shiromani Akali Dal today expressed profound grief at the untimely demise of former Member of Parliament from Ferozpur, Mr. Jora Singh Mann who expired today at New Delhi after a brief illness.

In a condolence message Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal described Mr. Mann as dedicated and loyal soldier of the party who worked throughout his life for the welfare of oppressed and deprived classes of the society. He said that void created by his untimely death was difficult to be filled.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to them to bear this irreparable loss.

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Harsimrat calls on President of India

PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL APPRECIATES NANHI CHHAN PROGRAMME TO
PROTECT THE GIRL CHILD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Chandigarh, June 27, 2010:

President of India Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil has appreciated the Nanhi Chhan initiative of Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member Parliament from Bathinda describing it as a novel experiment for protection of girl child and our fragile environment.

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today called on President of India at Rashtarpati Bhawan inviting Her Excellency to inaugurate the National Conference on ‘Missing Girl Child Phenomenon’ to be held at Amritsar in October-November and President has agreed to become part of this novel campaign to check skewed sex ratio in northern states of India.

The National Conference on ‘Missing Girl Child Phenomenon’ had to be deferred from last year to this year when Mrs. Badal had taken ill.

Mrs. Badal explained to the Hon’ble President that Punjab has the most unfavourable child sex ratio in the country due to attitudinal problem of preference for male child. She said that last ONE and half years have saw marginal improvement in the sex ratio due to awareness initiatives launched by state government, Aanganwari workers, health department and civil society organisations like Nanhi Chhan. She informed the President that Nanhi Chhan was a unique experiment for protection of both our environment and girl child. She said that this programme recognised the strong parallel in the bonds between the mother and child on one hand and trees and the earth on the other. She said that an effort is being made to bring change in the mind set of the people by using the symbols of nature as both are the embodiments of life and nurturing. She informed the President that this programme was aimed at generating awareness regarding preservation of tree cover and protection of girl child in Punjab, both of which are essential for sustenance and existence of human life itself.

Her Excellency The President sharing the concern of Mrs. Badal regarding distorted sex ratio in Punjab and other northern states hoped that this programme would be adopted by other affected states to tackle this demographic and social problem creating multiple tensions in the society. She endorsing the programme expressed her willingness to contribute maximum for the success of this unique initiative.

Mrs. Badal giving the detail of the programme informed the President that during last one and half years in Punjab this project has built strong network with religious organisations like SGPC, colleges, schools, teachers, students, CII, medial professional associations and NGOs and this initiative has brought synergy between various institutions and social activists for change. She informed that during last one and half years over 12 Lakh saplings have been distributed as BOOTA PARSAD to people visiting various religious places endorsing their participation to protect mother earth and girl child. They are motivated to nurture and protect that sapling and their daughters throughout their life as God’s gift.

Member Parliament cum social activist also informed President about the scourge of cancer in the Malwa belt of Punjab and work being done by her for early detection and treatment of cancer especially amongst the women. She said that CANCER ROKO camps were organised by her to create awareness about breast cancer in 48 villages detected 22 new cases of breast cancer.

She requested the President to lead this campaign against female foeticide and guide and bless the various social organisations by inaugurating the national level conference.

It may be added that leading women activists, young MPs and leaders across all political parties, international donors, education institutions and medical professionals, people and workers across party lines would also participate in this National Conference.

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CM mourns the sad demise of former MP Zora Singh Mann

Chandigarh, June 27, 2010:

Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of the former member parliament from Ferozpur Mr. Zora Singh Mann who passed away at Delhi in a private hospital due to massive cardiac attack this morning.

In a condolence message the Chief Minister described Zora Singh Mann as a disciplined soldier of the Shiromani Akali Dal who worked relentlessly for the up liftment of the disadvantage sections of the society, besides ensuring over all development in the border area of Ferozpur district. The Chief Minister further said that the Shiromani Akali Dal had been deprived of a visionary leader with the qualities of head a heart who always stood like a rock especially during the difficult time in the party.

In the death of Mr. Zora Singh Mann, a void has been created with in the political circles of Shiromani Akali Dal which was impossible to be filled.

Mr. Badal expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved family and prayed to The Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to them to bear this irreparable loss.

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