Closure of Katra Medical College is unfortunate—IDPD

 Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 9:09 PM  Regarding National Medical Commission Medical College Katra

Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) takes serious notice

Action taken under communal pressure - Honorable President should intervene

Ludhiana: 8th January 2026: (Media Link-K K Singh//Punjab Screen Desk)::

The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) expresses its strongest protest and deep anguish over the decision of the National Medical Commission (NMC) to shut down the Medical College at Katra. This decision is arbitrary, unjust, and deeply troubling, and it strikes at the very foundations of merit, constitutional values, and institutional autonomy.

The medical college at Katra was granted permission last year to admit 50 students, and admissions were carried out strictly on the basis of merit, following all existing rules and procedures. Out of these 50 students, 42 students admitted on merit belonged to the Muslim community. This fact, and this fact alone, appears to have triggered a politically motivated agitation by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, who have openly argued that since the college is run by the Mata Vaishno Devi Trust, admissions should be restricted to students from the Hindu community.

IDPD categorically states that this argument is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and legally untenable. The Katra Medical College does not enjoy minority status, and therefore any agitation or demand based on religious exclusion is illegal and violative of the Constitution of India. Admissions based on merit, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed, are the cornerstone of a democratic and secular education system.

The National Medical Commission is a constitutional, autonomous regulatory body, expected to function independently, guided by law, ethics, and public interest. Its apparent succumbing to sectarian and political pressure in this matter is extremely unfortunate and raises serious questions about the erosion of institutional autonomy. Such capitulation sets a dangerous precedent and may have grave long-term repercussions for medical education, social harmony, and the rule of law across the country.

By closing the medical college, the NMC has not only punished students who were admitted fairly and lawfully, but has also sent a chilling message that merit can be overridden by communal considerations. This is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.

The undersigned office bearers of IDPD:

Dr. S. S. Sudan, Patron, IDPD

Dr. Arun Mitra, President, IDPD

Dr. Shakeel Ur Rahman, General Secretary, IDPD

Dr. G. M. Malik, Senior Vice President, IDPD & Former President, J&K IDPD

Dr. Mohammed Latif, President, IDPD Jammu & Kashmir

strongly demand that the decision to close the Katra Medical College be immediately revoked and that the college be allowed to function without discrimination or political interference.

IDPD also makes an earnest and urgent appeal to Madam Droupadi Murmu, the Hon’ble President of India, to intervene without delay, uphold constitutional morality, protect the rights of students, and ensure that the medical college at Katra is reopened and allowed to operate in accordance with law.

Education cannot be communalised.

Merit cannot be punished.

Constitutional institutions must not surrender to sectarian pressure.

Punjab Agricultural University

PAU on Monday 1st December 2025 at 4:49 PM

PAU Agri-Engineers celebrates Diamond Jubilee  Alumni Meet Moments 2025 

Ludhiana: 1st December 2025: (Media Link-KK Singh//Punjab Screen Desk)::

The Alumni Association of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organized its grand annual alumni meet in which approximately 250 alumni, residing in various corners of India and abroad, participated alongwith with their families. Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, inaugurated the grand event. Former Deans of the College, Dr SD Khepar, Dr SK Sondhi, Dr PK Gupta, Prof VK Sehgal, Dr Jaskarn Singh Mahal, Dr Ashok Kumar and Dr HS Sidhu also graced this grand occasion. Besides, Prof Manjeet Singh Chinnan, Prof of Emeritus, University of Georgia, USA and Visiting Professor PAU alongwith his Diamond Jubilee batch mates, attended the alumni meet. Former presidents of the Alumni Association were among the distinguished guests present on the occasion. Alumni from batch L-1965 and L-1975 attended the meet in good numbers to celebrate their diamond and golden jubilees, respectively.

The main attraction of the Diamond Jubilee Alumni was the homecoming of the special Diamond Jubilee Baton. This baton, released during Moments 2024, was carried by the alumni across the countries like United States, Canada, Australia, and to many corners of India. Later the Diamond Jubilee Alumni Directory- ALMANAC 2025 and Alumni Newsletter ‘The Agrineer’ were released.

Dr Gosal lauded the achievements and contributions of the alumni from the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping the institution's reputation and success. He remarked that the alumni served as the University’s most valuable ambassadors, carrying forward its legacy of innovation, integrity, and academic excellence into diverse sectors. He encouraged the alumni to remain closely connected with the institution, contribute their expertise, and actively participate in initiatives, aimed at promoting sustainability, and technological advancement for the benefit of farmers and society at large.

The Chief Patron of the Alumni Association and Dean COAET, Dr Manjeet Singh, extended heartfelt congratulations to the alumni for their immense contributions and professional excellence in the field of agricultural engineering within India and abroad. Established in 1964, the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology has produced approximately 2,900 agrineers who have excelled as academicians, researchers, administrators, and entrepreneurs across diverse fields, he added. Further, he shared that the College has taken many new initiatives during the last year which included launch of a new School of Digital Innovations for Smart Agriculture (S-DISA), and that it was leading in the integration of cutting-edge tools viz., AI, drones, IoT sensors, robotics and GIS, into every facet of agriculture. The College has also established a Ministry-approved Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) to train rural youth in UAV operations, he informed. Recently an Agro-processing Complex including a jaggery processing unit has also been established to showcase on-farm processing and packaging of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, jaggery, he added.

Dr Preetinder Kaur, President of Alumni Association, welcomed the esteemed gathering and shared that the Association has gained remarkable momentum through the collective and wholehearted participation of the alumni. She also highlighted that the Association has recently started AA - MS Chinnan Travel grant for students and faculty and Sukhdeep Singh-Jasjeet Kaur Academic Improvement Award for students with generous support of alumni.

Vibrant fun and cultural extravaganza was conducted by Dr Gurnaz Singh Gill along with Dr Preeti Birwal and Dr Maninder Kaur. The alumni also participated in the photo booth session, fun activities and ‘University Geri on tractor-trolley’ with full excitement and vigour.

Dr Vishal Bector, Chief Editor, coordinated the felicitation ceremony and Dr Sandhya, Secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

Citizens demand increase in allocation to health budget

 Dr. AKM on Thursday 27th November 2025 at 5:13 PM

Privatization of State Health care add to impoverishment-IDPD

Ludhiana: 27th November 2025: (Media Link-K K Singh//Punjab Screen Desk)::

Low priority in the spending on health by the government is forcing the population to shelve money from their pocket to catastrophic level. Most of the families have to either sell their assets or borrow for health services. This was said by speakers at an interactive session on the ‘Present Health Scenario in Punjab - The Way Forward’ organised jointly by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD), PAU Employees Union and PAU Pensioners and Retirees Welfare Association. Dr  Arun Mitra president IDPD while initiating the discussion said that India is among the lowest spenders on public health in the world. The NITI Aayog has admitted that the Out of Pocket expenditure on health is pushing  7% population into poverty every year. Our poor ranking of 102 out of 123 in the Global Hunger Index is a cause of concern as a poorly nourished person is more vulnerable to fall sick. Government has failed to meet even its own figures to increase public Health spending to 2.5% of the GDP even though the as per the World Health organisation (WHO) norms it should be 6% of the GDP towards health. Our spending hovers around less than 2%. Peace meal approach to health, more stress on insurance based health care and entry of corporate sector in a big way in the health care ‘business’ has not solved the health needs of the people.

Dr. Indervir Singh Gill member of the central council of IDPD cautioned that Punjab is among the top out of pocket spending (OOP) states on health. Over OOP is 57% against the national average of around 40%. Large number of vacancies of doctors and other health staff are lying vacant. There are only 50 percent general medical officers and specialist doctors both against the sanctioned posts in the state sector to serve the population of more than 3 crore people in the state. Allocation to health in the budget is less than 2%. Our health bending per the State's GDP is only 0.7% against the recommended 2.5% by the Niti Aayog. Now lately the government is planning to privatise the civil hospitals through PPP mode and also to open the new medical colleges in the PPP mode. This will further push the low income group people to impoverishment. This plan should be immediately revoked he said.

As per the government plan the upcoming medical colleges in Sangrur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar will now be opened under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model through the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), and tenders for the same have already been floated. This will make the medical education in the state more expensive. Whereas the annual tuition fee in the government  run colleges is about 1.8 lakh per year the private colleges are charging  up to  12 Lakh per year.

It has been observed across the world that countries where the government itself provides healthcare services have far better health indicators compared to those where healthcare is delivered through the private sector or insurance companies. Therefore, instead of moving toward privatization, the Punjab Government should increase the health budget and directly ensure healthcare services for the people. D P Maur, President PAU Pensioners and Retirees Association said that the senior citizens who have no income of their own are the worst sufferers. M S Bhatia, General Secretary AITUC Ludhiana said that the government is diluting the ESI which will have serious implication on workers’ health.  Dr Pragya Sharma, compeered the proceedings. Baldev Singh Walia, President PAU Employees Union thanked the participants.  Several participants who gave their inputs include Dr Param Saini, Dr Gurveer Singh,  Dr Suraj Dhillon, Dr Ankush Kumar.

German Prof Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin's Talk at PAU

Received from PAU on 27th October 2025 at12:26 PM Regarding A Talk  By Professor Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin

“Life in a Nutshell: Biotic and Abiotic Chemistry........!

Ludhiana: 27th October 2025: (Media Link Ravinder//Punjab Screen Desk)::

The Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), organized a guest lecture on “Life in a Nutshell: Biotic and Abiotic Chemistry of Natural Complex Systems in Food, Health and Environment.” The session began with the welcome of distinguished speaker Professor Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, Director of Research, Unit Analytical Bio Geo Chemistry, Helmholtz Munich, Germany; and Dr Ashok Kumar Malik, Professor, Former Head of Punjabi University, Patiala, by Dr Kiran Bains, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities (COBS&H).

Prof Philippe delivered an insightful and thought-provoking lecture. He discussed his studies related to analytical chemistry and metabolomics that are important for nutritional and health related issues.  He combined different spectroscopic studies with theoretical modelling techniques that illustrated chemical complexity and diversity of bioactive metabolites. He also cited examples from interfaces in biomes and abiomes of chemical systems across life, after-life, and pre-life stages.

Dr Bains, in her presidential remarks, appreciated the significance of the lecture and motivated the students and the faculty to excel in their field. She also encouraged future academic collaborations for basic and applied research.

Dr Neena Singla, Coordinator of Research, COBS&H, delivered a formal welcome address and highlighted research activities of the college.

Dr Manpreet Kaur, Head, Department of Chemistry, introduced the distinguished speaker, Dr Phillipe who is a science advisory board member of many prestigious European institutes and holds robust research experience as a team member of NASA and JAXA missions.  

The faculty of the Department of Chemistry later had an interactive session with Dr Phillips and Dr Malik and discussed possibilities of collaborative future research.

Life Time Achievement Award to Padam Shri O S Pahwa

Email From Brij Bhushan Goyal on Monday 13th Oct 2025 at 4:32 PM Regarding Onkar Singh Pahwa 

Pahwa’s entrepreneurial journey instills confidence in every youth

Ludhiana: 13th October2025: (*Brij Bhushan Goyal//Punjab Screen)::

Alumni Association of SCD Govt. College, Ludhiana has hailed honoring of Padam Shri Onkar Singh Pahwa by his alma mater where he graduated in the year 1973 with the Life Time Achievement Award, a rare honor. The college got this prestigious opportunity of honoring him at the Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival being held here where teams with their teachers from 24 colleges of Punjab were present. Principal Dr. Gursharan Jit Singh Sandhu said that this was a proud moment for the college as Pahwa’s entrepreneurial journey instills confidence in every youth.

The other befitting honor for Pahwa is his figuring on the title page of the prestigious literary magazine of the college The Sutlej for the year 2024-2025  which was released on the occasion. Pahwa in his address to students felt gratitude for the college which has groomed him. He invoked students to startup ventures saying every first step is small. He was all praise for illustrious teachers. 

The ceremony was attended by another industry stalwart Surinder Singh Bhogal, a mid-1960s alumni besides many other alumni. O P Verma, K B Singh, Brij Bhushan Goyal, P D Gupta, Navdeep Singh, Gurmit Singh, Geetanjli Pabreja, Dr Sajla Kalra, Harish Kaura, Gurmit Singh, Ashok Dhir,    Dr Vikas Loomba, Dalbir Singh Mouli, Paramjit Chander, Dr Sourabh (All alumni) and former college principals praised college’s alumni bonds. Goyal informed that Pahwa has already given sizeable help in his philanthropic pursuits for the college.

 *Brij Bhushan Goyal is Organizing Secretary, Alumni Association, SCD Govt. College, Ludhiana 

Free Camp by Holistic Homeopathic Clinic

Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:06 AM, Regarding Medical Camp

Camp in Behrampur (Gurdaspur) Benefited Public

Behrampur: (District Gurdaspur): (Gurdaspur Screen):

To increase health awareness among the public, Holistic Homeopathic Clinic Mukerian, in collaboration with Grazitti Interactive IT Company, Panchkula, organized a free homeopathic medical camp. The camp was held at Radha Krishna Mandir, Behrampur.

During the camp, a team of experienced doctors and health workers, led by Dr. Aman Pathania and Dr. Deepak Thakur, examined over 100 patients and provided them with free homeopathic medicines. Patients were also provided with detailed information on lifestyle, diet, and mental health.

Dr. Aman Pathania stated that homeopathy is a natural and safe method that balances the body from within. Meanwhile, Dr. Deepak Thakur explained that such camps are proving helpful in making healthcare accessible in rural areas and motivating people to seek appropriate treatment.

The camp was organized and managed by Pawan Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, Pandit Ajay Shastri, and Subhash Chandra Ji. They stated that such efforts facilitate access to healthcare in rural areas.

Local residents thanked the team of doctors and expressed their gratitude for such camps. The organizers stated that similar camps will be held in other nearby areas in the coming months.

Surprises Galore In Twenty First Century

Received From B B Goyal Ludhiana on 26th September 2025 at 6:13 PM

Guest Article by *Prof PK Sharma

Ludhiana: 26th September 2025: (Media Link Ravinder//Punjab Screen Desk):: 

Brij Bhushan Goya is very known for his creative works, articles and reports etc. Today he sent an special article by *Prof PK Sharma.

Every era, time and century brims indeed with its own varied hues,innovations and distinctive contours."Change is the law of nature"is a time tested and popular saying,why not it be so with the present century too unfolding many of its queer surprises on the world scene in sharp comparison to the past ones?

Ruminating over the nuances of twenty first century, one stark reality of life haunts off and on that nothing is hard and fast in life.It reminds of William Shakespeare's famous play"Macbeth" in which at the very outset of the drama three witches chant,"Fair is foul and foul is fair" making it very candidly clear that words,concepts and definitions go on changing their connotations with the passage of time.In today's foxy a world, no one knows and is certain when "fair" turns "foul" and "foul" turns"fair"within the twinkling of an eye.

Never ever imagined that things will undergo bizarre an alteration in the present century so swiftly in all the four directions north,east,west and south of the globe.A bird's eye view ironically bears testimony to this fact that there are sharp contrasts and contradictions tangible on the today's world scene studying quite raptly the yore too.

First of all, the word DEMOCRACY comes to my mind.The famous quote of Abraham Lincoln erstwhile US President in his1863 Gettysburg address claimed it as"government of the people,by the people,for the people,shall not perish." Democracy in India drummed as the"mother of democracy" virtually is now "government of the few,by the few, for the few." The word people evaporates because of a yawning gap between the rich and the poor and inequalities unabated at various levels in "We the people of India...." pointing out evidently towards the same where A1 and A2 in terms of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in addition to the Supremo reign supreme,not at all the people of India. 

Democracy is treated these days so whimsically and instinctively in India as a fiefdom as the Lok Sabha has been pulling on sans the post of Deputy Speaker for the past over six years.Mr.Jagdeep Dhankhar Vice-President  of India-cum- Chairman Rajya Sabha on July,21 conducts too cheerfully the proceedings of the House of Elders on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon session but by the evening either he quits his office mysteriously on health grounds in reality or made to do so  unceremoniously after completing half of his term deemed to be the blue eyed boy of "the powers that be".What a new norm of democracy did take everybody by surprise in June,2024 when the BJP's parliamentary party did not dare to convene a meeting to elect its leader in Lok Sabha but instead it was the National Democratic Alliance which completed this ritual of electing NDA leader to offer the Supremo a hassle free and safe passage to be sworn in for the third time as the Executive Head of the nation.Israel too is having democracy only in the name as PM Benjamin Netanyahu is calling the shots ruling the roost turning out to be a symbol of the devilish dance of destruction, devastation,displacement and death- only and ultimately the people and mankind the casualty.

An active journalist of more than four decades, journalism for me then in past century and now in the present one deserves deep peep into as well as a sharp analytical look.Journalism as I have comprehended so far, implies digging out truth but is it so in the letter and the spirit in India now?The spot reporting, human interest stories,first page editorials and exclusive symbolic photojournalism by and large seem to be the casualties, bidden a go bye these days also from the style sheet of journals and electronic media.The print and electronic press barring few exceptions have a penchant for concentrating and focussing unduly on the duo of ruling party "supremos" more, overlooking the opposition party bigwigs off and on.

The September 17 editions of various TV channels, English and Hindi dailies did abound with many birthday stories, ads and snaps of the supremo very unusually almost on most of the pages, making no photojournalism sense when nation on the whole had been passing through very odd, trying and tough times in wake of the fierce fury of floods in the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Bihar,Jammu Kashmir and Haryana.On  keen observation,it was found that a reputed 150 year old English daily carried eleven photographs of the "supremo" in its 12 page edition on this particular day making a mockery of photo journalism. Quite often in routine too,some dailies display at least half a dozen snaps of the "supremo" offering too much space in one edition on a given single day whereas the enough space if so saved can be utilised optimally for either disseminating some other important information or more exclusive stories.

The "Number One"and "Number Two" of the nation still do not entertain any difference between the ruling party and opposition suffering from paradoxes in abundance though in the driving seat for more than eleven years. Both do not feel shy of blaming Congress for all the ills and blemishes in the nation to sustain in power for long.Recently in a poll rally in Purnia of Bihar, the Supremo made Congress Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal scapegoat for protecting the infiltrators in Bihar posing a grave threat to India on many accounts forgetting that it is PM and Home Minister's duty to arrest this problem staring the nation in the face as both are holding the reigns of power for more than eleven years .Come polls anywhere in the nation,far flung-futile issues never ever bothered or cared,are in the forefront and vogue  pressed as the poll campaign stuff to befool the masses !

The word "peace" too has assumed very startling semiotics in the present day world.Some of the five Veto Powers too have been resorting to amusing antics. The Russian President Vladimir Putin whose country is involved in long drawn a war with Ukraine strangely proposed himself for mediation of ceasefire between Israel and Palestine forces.US President Donald Trump has been yearning for Nobel Peace Prize on account of claiming time and again mediation in seven peace missions including the cease fire between Pakistan and India claimed almost forty five times but not dittoed by India, who at one time did not refrain from attacking Iran on one or the other pretext,then Russia and Ukraine stance too did not please Trump who did strive in vain to put a full stop to their war despite his repeated efforts in this regard.The big powers of the world wish to sell modern dreadful weapons of war just to the developing nations but at the same time yearn for Nobel Peace Prize decoration too,how paradoxical a wish !

All in all,the nineteenth and twentieth centuries did leave their remarkable as well dismal footprints on the sands of time but the twenty first century has so far been replete with its dreadful,awe-inspiring and traumatic times be it Gujarat Riots, Corona Catastrophe,Coup In Afghanistan,Change Of Guard In Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, Russia Ukraine War,Indo-Pakistan Conflicts on borders,Sino-Indian Skirmishes,Israel-Palestine  Tug of War Still In Progress, Manipur Mayhem With Climatic Dangers looming large playing havoc over the world scene.The world in the 20th Century becoming a global village owing to technological advances and revolution is standing on the brink of grave impending dangers and disasters swayed by hollow,petty egos and arrogant mindsets at the international level hence peace,amity and harmony alluding the world badly.

*Prof PK Sharma Freelance Journalist & Associate Professor of English(Retired) has been an alumnus of SCD Govt. College, Ludhiana