Early Opening of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital

29th August 2021 at 2:07 PM

CS Begins Weekly Review for the Project in New Chandigarh

•Asks stakeholders to achieve targets for making Rs 664-crore cancer tertiary care facility operational by November

•Installation of radiology equipment, other machines in 300-bed state-of-the-art centre begins

Chandigarh: 29th August 2021: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

In order to ensure opening of the upcoming Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Medicity at New Chandigarh (Mohali), Punjab Chief Secretary, Ms Vini Mahajan, has started weekly review of the progress of prestigious project, while asking all the stakeholders to ensure that the ultra-modern cancer tertiary care facility is made operational by November.

 

The Chief Secretary was jointly reviewing progress of the project with Director Tata Memorial Centre Mumbai Dr RA Badwe, Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Alok Shekhar and Principal Secretary PWD Vivek Pratap, here. She had visited the project site to review the progress and assess the current status of the ambitious health institution, coming up in the vicinity of Chandigarh PGIMER, last week.  

 

It was decided at the meeting that all pending works in C-wing shall be completed before September 15 in order to enable the installation of radiology equipment at the earliest.

In order to make functional the essential facilities like patient care areas and installation of machines, Ms Mahajan said the installation of the Linac machine in D-wing should begin from September 3. She also enquired about the status of various hospital and office furniture.

 

Dr RA Badwe apprised the Chief Secretary that the procurement of furniture and other equipment was on track and will be delivered onsite within the fixed timeframe.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress, Ms Mahajan asked the entire project executing team to achieve and finish targets as per the schedule as the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has also desired to make available the 300-bed state-of-the-art cancer hospital to the people at the earliest, which would provide tertiary care medical services to the entire northern region.

Notably, the Punjab Government has provided 50 acres of land free of cost for the prestigious project being set up with a sanctioned cost of Rs 663.74-crore. The cancer care center will be equipped with high-end diagnostic and treatment facilities such as two linear accelerators, brachytherapy, PECT CT, bone marrow transplant (BMT), CT simulator, MR simulator, interventional radiology and surgical facilities.

PHSC MD Tanu Kashyap, Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan, Director Medical Education and Research Dr Sujata Sharma, Director HBCH&RC, New Chandigarh Dr Rakesh Kapoor, officer in-charge HBCH&RC New Chandigarh Dr Ashish Gulia, Assistant Medical Superintendent HBCH&RC Dr Nitin Marathe, SPCL head S Dixit, and AGM SPCL Dr Gurpreet Maan also attended the meeting.

 

 Many Services to be available from November 

 The Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, New Chandigarh, will start radiotherapy, radiology, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, x-ray, mammography, medical oncology, chemotherapy, day-care ward, pathology, laboratory facilities and minor OT, besides initiating OPD services such as surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care preventive oncology for the public from November onwards.

Punjab Dear Rakhi Bumper-2021

 26th August 2021 at 8:05 PM

 1st Prize of Rs. 2 Crore goes to ticket number B946267 

2nd prize of Rs 1 crore goes to ticket no A648398

Symbolic Image

Chandigarh:  26th August 2021: (Gurjit Billa//Punjab Screen)::     

Punjab State Lotteries Department on Thursday declared the results of Punjab State Dear Rakhi Bumper 2021.

An official spokesperson of the department said that the first prize of Rs 2 crore has gone to ticket no B946267, while, the second prize gone to ticket no A648398.

He further said that the complete results of the draw have been uploaded on the official website of the Punjab State Lotteries Department.

Revolt:7 Punjab Congress MLAs Deny Clearly

 24th August 2021 at 10:10 PM

We are not the part of alleged move to dislodge Captain as CM

Chandigarh: 24th August 2021: (Punjab Screen India Bureau)::

Seven of the 20-odd Punjab Congress MLAs and ex-MLAs, who were purported to have been party to the demand for the removal of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, have completely and categorically disassociated themselves from any such move.

          Denying outright being part of what they termed as ‘a conspiracy hatched by a section engaged in trying to drive a wedge within the party’, these seven leaders have thrown their weight behind the Chief Minister and reposed their full faith in his leadership.

          The Punjab Congress leaders who have distanced themselves for the so-called festering revolt in the party are: Kuldeep Vaid (MLA), Dalvir Singh Goldie (MLA), Santokh Singh Bhalaipur (MLA), Ajit Singh Mofar (ex MLA), Angad Singh (MLA), Raja Warring (MLA) and Gurkirat Singh Kotli (MLA).

          Their denial came within hours of a list of party MLAs/ex-MLAs being made public by a section of the Punjab Congress, which claimed that these leaders wanted the replacement of Captain Amarinder Singh and intended taking up the matter with the high command. These seven party leaders have, however, washed their hands off any such decision and declared that they continue to stand firmly with the Chief Minister.

          All seven of them said the closed door meeting held at Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa’s residence, after which their names were fraudulently released along with others, had been convened to discuss party affairs. Some of the participants tried to raise the issue of the Chief Minister’s replacement but, contrary to claims, no unanimous resolution was passed or agreed upon.  Taking strong exception to the misuse of their names in this manner, these seven made it clear that they do not subscribe to any such move against Captain Amarinder.

          Mofar, in fact, said he did not even attend the said meeting and had merely gone to meet one of the cabinet ministers present there. He said he was shocked to see his name being touted as one of those seeking Captain Amarinder’s removal. Vaid made it clear he was “not part of any such conspiracy against the Chief Minister,”, while Goldie firmly put his might behind Captain Amarinder. Angad said he had gone to the meeting to discuss cooperative elections in his constituency, and Warring said he was not even aware of any such discussion being held during the meeting. Bhalaipur and Kotli also denied any talk of the Chief Minister’s replacement taking place at the meeting, and added that there was no question of being party to such a demand.

          All seven of them condemned the attempts by a section of the Punjab Congress to trigger revolt in the party ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, especially when the high command had already resolved the differences between Sidhu and Captain Amarinder. With the polls just months away, the party needs to work unitedly, as one integrated whole, and not fritter away its political advantage by indulging in petty politicking to promote personal vested interests, they said.

          They urged the party leadership to take immediate steps to quell any attempts to divide the party

More than 71 lakh e-cards generated for free treatment

 24th August 2021 at 5:05 PM

 13,940 Heart surgeries have been conducted free of cost 

Free treatments worth Rs. 912 cr. provided to 8.06 lac beneficiaries 

Disclosed by Health Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu

Mohali//Chandigarh: 24th August 2021:

Free treatments worth Rs. 912.81 crores provided to 8.06 lakh entitled beneficiaries in 2 years under the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna (SSBY). It was disclosed by Health Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu during a state-level function held at Kisan Vikas Chamber, Mohali to mark the beginning of the scheme's third year.

While speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that SSBY had successfully completed its 2 years of implementation under which Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has made unstinted efforts for building a healthy Punjab. He said that SSBY is an initiative to move from a sectoral and segmented approach of health service delivery to a comprehensive need-based health care service.

Giving details regarding treatment services provided to patients, Mr. Sidhu said that Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna was launched in the state to holistically address the healthcare needs at the secondary & tertiary level and more than 8 lacs beneficiaries got free treatment. Of these, heart surgeries of 13,940 patients have been conducted free of cost. Similarly, knee replacement and hip replacement surgeries of 4,964 patients, treatment of 12,133 cancer patients and dialysis of 2,03,175 patients and treatment of other diseases have been provided free of cost.

Revealing further, Mr. Balbir Sidhu said that e-cards were issued to more than 71 lakh beneficiaries under this scheme in last 2 years. 898 hospitals were listed for providing treatment to entitled beneficiaries, including government hospitals as well as large private hospitals. In these empanelled hospitals the entitled beneficiaries can avail the cashless treatment under the scheme for indoor hospitalization for around 1579 treatment packages.

He extended heartiest congratulations to all the 23 District teams and SHA team for their committed efforts and hard work for ensuring the scheme’s success in reaching out to the poorest and most vulnerable population in the State in less than two years since its launch. He emphasized that the focus this year will be on expanding the reach of the SSBY network and services to other left-out population groups.

The Health Minister also said that benefits were being provided to the families listed in Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, farmers holding J forms and sugarcane weighment slips holders, registered construction workers, small traders and yellow cardholders or accredited journalists. He appealed to the eligible beneficiaries under the scheme, who have not yet made their cards, to check their eligibility at the nearest empanelled hospital, CSC center, service center or visit the department's website www.sha.punjab.gov.in.

Speaking on the occasion, PSH, Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Alok Shekhar, IAS, said, “SSBY along with the Health & Wellness Centres will accelerate State’s progress towards achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Universal Health Coverage by providing access to both primary and secondary as well as tertiary healthcare to around 40 lakh entitled families of the State that constitute 65% of the population. These Health & Wellness Centers along with Health Insurance Cover for indoor hospitalization together will extend the continuum of care by bringing essential and critical services closer to the beneficiaries and by addressing the needs of the most marginalized.”

Reflecting and assessing the journey of SSBY so far, Shri Kumar Rahul, Chief Executive Officer, State Health Agency said, “Today, as we mark the two years of SSBY, One of the State’s biggest Schemes has achieved several milestones, including 8 lakh hospital admissions. This was achieved in 24 months since the launch of the scheme. I am pleased to report that 8.06 lakh hospital admissions, worth Rs 912 crores have been provided through a network of 898 hospitals across 23 Districts. The scheme has generated a savings of approx. Rs. 900 crores to its beneficiaries.

Ms Amaninder Kaur Joint CEO SHA, representatives from the Participating Departments (PMB, ETD, BoCW, Punmedia), SBI General Insurance Company Ltd were present on the occasion. Apart from the above-mentioned dignitaries, Dr. GB Singh Director Health Services, Mr. OP Gojra Director ESI, Senior Deputy Mayor Mohali, Deputy Mayor Mohal Kuljit Singh Bedi, OSD to Health Minister Dr. Balwinder Singh, OSD Sh. Harkesh Sharma, Chairman District planning committee and others were also present.

PSIEC had no role to play in the auction of industrial land

10th August 2021 at 10:00 PM

Govt Clarifies the situation on land of 31 acres located in Mohali

Chandigarh: 10 ਅਗਸਤ 2021: (Gurjit Billa//Punjab Screen)::

Reiterating that the auction of industrial land plot measuring 31 acres located in Phase VIII, Mohali had been auctioned by Assets Reconstruction Company of India Ltd (ARCIL), which is an agency duly registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the provisions of SARFAESI Act, 2002, the Industries department spokesperson on Tuesday clarified that state government had no role to play in the process. 

PSIEC had no role to play in the conduct of said auction, the spokesperson said adding ARCIL had taken over the possession of the property as per law after JCT Electronics, the allottee of the plot, had been liquidated as per order of Hon’ble Courts after defaulting in making repayment of loans extended by various financial institutions/ banks. 

Responding to media reports published in a section of media today, the spokesperson further pointed out that subsequently in the online public auction conducted by ARCIL under the provisions of the SARFAESI Act in an open transparent manner, the plot was auctioned at the price of Rs. 90.56 crore in February 2020. Thereafter, PSIEC had submitted claim of unearned increase in pursuance of the provisions of the lease deed executed with JCT Electronics amounting to Rs. 45.28 crores i.e. 50% of the sale value. PSIEC had obtained advice of Senior Advocate in this matter before submitting the claim with ARCIL.

A tripartite agreement was executed between PSIEC, ARCIL and M/s GRG Developers& Promoters LLP, in order to safeguard the financial interests of the Government/ PSIEC, which had bound the auction purchaser to clear the dues of PSIEC in a timely manner. 

It was further clarified that PSIEC has not even issued NOC for effecting transfer of property in favor of auction purchaser. In fact to protect its interests, PSIEC had categorically conveyed to ARCIL and auction purchaser that NOC for transfer will be provided only after the matter is decided by the Finance Department, Govt. of Punjab. Neither PSIEC has issued NOC for transfer nor possession of the property has been given to the auction purchaser.

Now the said advice of Finance Department, Govt. of Punjab has been received in this matter. In compliance, Government at the level of Industries & Commerce Minister, Punjab has ordered the termination of the above mentioned Tripartite Agreement. It was further informed that the matter is sub-judice and is listed for hearing in the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court on 24.08.2021.

The war on nuclear weapons is far greater than Corona

 Prominent Speakers Warned During the Webinar

Ludhiana: 8th August 2021: (Kartika Singh//Punjab Screen)::

A seminar on "Forward to Global Nuclear Disarmament" was organized by IDPD, CNCP, AIPSO and NAAM to pay tribute to the victims of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The international level webinar was run live on Facebook by Dr. Arun Mitra, Senior Vice President, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development. Speakers at the webinar included Dr. Subrata Raju, Dr. Tilman Ruff, SP Uday Kumar and Plubsen Gupta. They demanded that the world be free from these nuclear weapons. The speakers lamented that neither the governments nor the people were serious about it. Nuclear warfare is far more dangerous than the Corona epidemic. We have seen that our health services have deteriorated during the Corona epidemic and have failed to deal with it. But the nuclear weapons epidemic is much larger. All peace-loving people should put pressure on governments to get out of this unnecessary race and spend this money on providing health services to the people. Dr. Arun Mitra conducted the webinar in a very smooth manner. At the end Dr. Shakeel Ur Rehman - General Secretary IDPD concluded the discussion and IDPD President Dr. SS Sudan thanked everyone. The webinar was attended by doctors from IDPD and IPPNW, as well as people from other sections of the society, who expressed their views, including  Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress. She expressed her views in detail about the adverse effects of nuclear weopen race on the workers.

DGP Dinkar Gupta Launches Mobile App in Ludhiana

6th August 2021 at 9:22 PM

 Mobile App For online Verification of Servant and Tenant 

DGP Punjab Directs Police Officials to Intensify Checking at Nakas 

Also Launches A Rule Book for Disposal of Vehicles Lying in Police Stations

Punjab  DGP Holds Crime Review Meeting in Ludhiana

Ludhiana: 6th August 2021: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

Starting from Friday, landlords and owners would no more be required to visit Saanjh Kendras for verification of their servants and tenants as the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police has developed a Mobile Application for entire Punjab, which will allow the owners to register for the verification and pay fees using mobile phones, said Director General of Police Punjab Dinkar Gupta here. 

The DGP, who was in Ludhiana on Friday to inaugurate a series of police development projects, also launched a Mobile platform for quick and timely verification of servants, tenants and employees by owners as part of aggressive steps to control crime in the state.

With this dedicated application, people won’t need to visit Sanjh Kendera or police station for this purpose and they can do it at the comfort of their homes using their mobile phones, the DGP said urging people to get the police verification of the domestic helps done to ensure that some deterrence is there for the servants. He said in case the servant commits some crime and absconds, the details submitted during verification can help the police to trace the accused.

Giving further details, Commissioner of Police Ludhiana Rakesh Agrawal said the app has been specially developed keeping in view the recent theft cases by the servants. The app also has an additional and special feature for the verification of servants from Nepal, he added.

The CP said that this App would require owners to submit details of both employer and the servant including Applicant details along with Photo and ID proofs, Domestic help details along with Photo, ID proof, residence proof and other details whether he resides on or off premises besides information about Family members of domestic help and information of at least two referrals of the domestic help.

He said that after filling details, the applicant will get an OTP for authentication and then the latter will be redirected to the payment page. He disclosed that a very nominal fee of Rs 200 will be charged from the public for this service of police verification of the servants. Similarly, employers can also use this application for the verification of their employees, he added. The App can be downloaded from Google Play Store by searching PPSAANJH.

On the occasion, DGP Dinkar Gupta also held a crime review meeting with the police officials of Ludhiana Commissionerate. Ludhiana police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal apprised him about the crime pattern in the city area. He told him about various measures undertaken by police to control crime.

Citing that ahead of the State Assembly Elections,  the next six months are very challenging for the police, the DGP asked all the officers to be vigilant in wake of plans of inimical forces to disturb peace and communal harmony in the border state of Punjab.

He directed them to deploy round-the-clock Police Nakas and intensify checking of persons and vehicles. The DGP also asked the officers to go to the field and do human intelligence by developing sources, mapping police stations and keeping a tab on history sheeters, criminals out of Jail and other suspected persons.

Meanwhile, to dispose off the vehicles lying in Police Station compounds for years, DGP Dinkar Gupta also launched the Rule Book, which will guide in disposing off of the case property for disposal of such vehicles by following the respective CrPC and Punjab Police Act. The rule book has been compiled by PPS officer Gurdev Singh, the DGP said.