A Daring Lung Surgery at CMC Ludhiana

Latest device used for the first time

Photo: A happy Mr Birbal Singh with Dr Harinder Singh Bedi

Punjab is now among the very few cities in India where the latest technology is being used to cure lung disease patients surgically without complications.  This was in the form of a new generation bronchial stapler used by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular Endovascular & Thoracic Surgery in the prestigious Christian Medical College & Hospital in Ludhiana.  Dr Bedi explained that in lung surgery for cancer and TB – the air channel (bronchus) to the diseased part of the lung is cut and then repaired. There is a major risk of the sutures giving sway as the suture area is always wet from lung secretions. This complication - called a broncho-pleural fistula - is a dreaded and sometimes fatal complication all over the world. To reduce this risk a new device called a bronchial stapler has been developed by the Ethicon Company of USA in conjunction with Cardio Thoracic surgeons. This has a double row of titanium clips which on deploying securely close the bronchus with an extremely low risk that a leak will occur.
This was used recently by Dr Bedi in Mr Birbal Singh r/o Basti Jodhewal , Ludhiana    . He suffered from a life threatening bleeding from the left upper lobe of the lung. He was referred to Dr Bedi by Dr Mary John – the Head of Medicine at CMC & H.  Mr Birbal was in a critical state and Dr Bedi realized that he would be at high risk of a fistula by conventional surgery. So the new device was used for the first time in Punjab. Dr Bedi has trained in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery with Dr Mark X Shanahan – the former Chairman of Cardio Thoracic Surgery at St Vincents hospital in Sydney. There he had done many complicated cases. In fact Dr Bedi has been invited to give lectures on lung surgery by the Association of Cardio Thoracic Surgeons. But according to Dr Bedi – Mr Birbal presented a special challenge as he had lost blood and was very weak. The stapler was successfully used and Mr Birbal made a remarkable recovery.
The other members of the Heart – Lung Team are Dr A Joseph, Dr S Garg, Dr Paul, Dr Melchi, Dr D Benia, Dr William, Dr Savan, Dr Pearl., Mr William and Mr Jairus and Yoga Acharya Mr Nirmal Singh. Dr Bedi explained that in lung surgery major cardio-vascular repair can be required at any time – so it is important that the team be a fully trained Cardio- Vascular & Thoracic one.  Dr Bedi is a board certified surgeon qualified and authorized to perform cardiac vascular endovascular and thoracic surgery.
Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – said that the CMC was committed to bringing the latest technology to the people of Punjab. He complimented Dr Bedi and his team for this pioneering surgery. Dr Thomas told that under the leadership of Dr Bedi CMC & H is regularly performing minimally invasive lung surgeries and is one of the  few centres in India doing this routinely . Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

Press Conference by IDPD on Nuclear Famine

A Billion People at Risk: IDPD warned 
Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has since long being campaigning for complete elimination of nuclear weapons as these could annihilate not only the man kind but whole the flora and fauna on earth. Even a limited use of these weapons could put crores of peoples at risk. The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) has carried out a study in this regard which is being released internationally now said Dr.L.S.Chawla while addressing the press conference today at IMA House Ludhiana. He said that latest study by the IPPNW has warned that even a limited nuclear exchange could endanger the lives of 100 crorers people in the world.
Dr Arun Mitra – General Secretary IDPD said that Dr. Ira Helfand, the author of Nuclear Famine: A Billion People at Risk—Global Impacts of Limited Nuclear War on Agriculture, Food Supplies, and Human Nutrition, said the new evidence that even the relatively small nuclear arsenals of countries such as India and Pakistan could cause long lasting, global damage to the Earth’s ecosystems “requires a fundamental change in our thinking about nuclear weapons.”
Working with data produced by scientists who have studied the climate effects of a hypothetical nuclear war between India and Pakistan, Dr. Helfand and a team of experts in agriculture and nutrition determined that plunging temperatures and reduced precipitation in critical farming regions, caused by soot and smoke lofted into the atmosphere by multiple nuclear explosions, would interfere with crop production and affect food availability and prices worldwide.
Dr Bharti Uppal- Finance Secretary IDPD gave a presentation.
Among the specific findings:Corn production in the US would decline by an average of 10% for an entire decade, with themost severe decline (20%) in year 5. Soybean production would decline by about7%, with the most severe loss, more than 20%, in year 5.

There would be a significant decline in middle season rice production in China. During the first 4 years, rice production would decline by an average of 21%; over the next 6 years the decline would average 10%.

Increases in food prices would make food inaccessible to hundreds of millions of the world’s poorest. Even if agricultural markets continued to function normally, 215 million people would be added to the rolls of the malnourished over the course of a decade.

Significant agricultural short falls over an extended period would almost certainly lead to panic and hoarding on an international scale, further reducing accessible food.

The 925 million people in the world who are already chronically malnourished (with a baseline consumption of 1,750 calories or less per day), would be put at risk by a 10% decline in their food consumption.

While the IPPNW report calls for further research into the effects on additional crops in additional agricultural regions, Dr. Helfand said this preliminary study “raises a giant red flag” about the danger of nuclear weapons and the urgency of their elimination.

“The death of one billion people over a decade would be a disaster unprecedented in human history,” he said. “It would not cause the extinction of the human race, but it would bring an end to modern civilization as we know it.

“The danger identified in this report requires a fundamental change in our thinking about nuclear weapons. We must now recognize that it is not just the arsenals of the nuclear super powers that threaten all humanity.  Even the smaller arsenals of emerging nuclear powers like India and Pakistan pose a global threat.”

Noting, however, that even one US Trident submarine has the ability to destroy 100 cities and create a global famine, Dr. Helfand said “Even the most ambitious current proposals for nuclear arms reductions would leave the US and Russia with many times the nuclear fire power needed to create a global disaster on the scale described in this study.”

Dr D P Singh Arora – President IMA Ludhiana while paying homage to victims of Chernobyl Nuclear disaster in Ukraine on 26th April 1986 where 93000 people lost their lives demanded that this accident followed by the Fukhushima Nuclear disaster should be eye opener. Learning lesson from these Government of India should put moratorium  on the nuclear power plants. The electricity produce by these plants is neither safe nor economical. There is no foolproof method to manage the nuclear waste. Moreover the nuclear power plants pose a potential threat for the production of nuclear weapons.

Dr N S Bawa – Vice President IDPD said that the doctors have to realize their duty to save the world from catastrophe. Dr Deepak Prashar was also present on the occasion.  

Dr Arun Mitra
General Secretary – IDPD
Phone: 94170 00360

Cases of unsympathetic to young students

High Court pulls up Delhi Govt.

A Delhi High Court Bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice Shri A.K.Sikri has today pulled up Government of Delhi for being unsympathetic to 700 students of Classes KG to 12 of Government-run  Pandit Vaid Khushi Ram SKV at Nangal Thakran, North-West Delhi who sitting in tented/open classrooms for the last three years. When Advocate Ashok Agarwal, a member of High Court Committee pointed out that despite orders of the Court in February 2012 for construction of porta-cabins as a temporary arrangement pending construction of permanent school building, the Government has done nothing till date and the students continue to sit in tented classrooms, the Court questioned the Government Counsel "what were you doing all these days?" and directed them to submit status report in the matter within two weeks. 
Advocate Ashok Agarwal had visited on 18.02.2012 Delhi Govt School at AT NANGAL THAKRAN and found that all the 700 students of classes KG to 12 were sitting in tented classrooms or in open. The school building which was constructed only about 25 years back has been declared dangerous about 3 years ago and since then the school is run in tents and in open. These facts supported by the photographs were brought to the notice of the Court on 15.02.2012. The Government on 29 Feb 2012 had admitted that the school was run in 21 tented classrooms and informed that the construction of 21 SPS classrooms had been sanctioned and has also assured the Court that the construction would take place soon. 
The High Court in its earlier order dated 25.01.2012 had observed, "In the interregnum from the photographs we find that there is a tent and certain tin shed on site which are insufficient for 390 students and not equipped for the purpose of conducting classes. The tin sheds are open from three sides; it is torturous for students as well as teachers to sit therein in this extreme winter. Since construction of building is going to consume substantial time, the Government would be well advised to erect Porta Cabins so that appropriate classroom to facilitate the proper teaching of the students are available and which is now their fundamental right under Article 21-A of the Constitution".
Next date of hearing is fixed for 25 July 2012.

Failure to admit 1400 students in class VI

HC seeks reply from Delhi Govt.

A Delhi High Court Bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice Shri  A.K.Sikri has today issued notice to Delhi Government seeking reply by 01 May 2012 on a petition by the Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group through Advocate Ashok Agarwal  that highlighted the fact that Delhi Government have again not started the process of admission of as many as 1400 students in Class VI in its 17 Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (RPVVs) in the current academic year 2012-13, though the academic year has already started from 1st April, 2012.
Petition says that the Government appears to be adamant to not to start the process of admission in Class VI in the academic year 2012-13. The Government are not justified in withholding the process of admission in Class VI in RPVVs. This inaction on the part of the Government  is no less a criminal negligence as much as the same would result in non-utilisation of both physical and academic infrastructure available for the quality education of such students in these  Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalayas (RPVVs).  On the other hand, the ordinary Government Schools are not only over crowded but also sans quality physical and academic infrastructure.

“This inaction on the part of the Government is in violation of the fundamental rights of the school aged students as guaranteed to them under Articles 14 (right to equality), 21(right to life with dignity), 21-A right to quality education) and 38 (right to social justice) of the Constitution of India read with the provisions of Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act, 2009”, submitted Ashok Agarwal.

Next date of hearing is 01 May 2012.

Reservation within Reservation

Court's query  25% DG and EVS quota 
Union HRD Ministery seeks more time to answer 
New Delhi, 24 April 2012:Union Human Resource Development Ministry today sought more time to file its response to the query raised by the High Court as to whether Kendriya Vidyalayas can continue to give reservation to the extent of 22.5% for SC/ST category students thereby leaving only 2.5% seats for other disadvantaged groups as well as economically weaker sections in the matter of admissions under 25% seats reserved for the children belonging to disadvantaged group (which includes SC/ST category children ) as well as children belonging to economically weaker sections under RTE Act, 2009. The Counsels appearing for Government of India, Ministry of HRD told the Court that the reply received by them from the Ministry did not answer the query raised by the Court and therefore, they need two weeks more time to file appropriate reply.

On the last date of hearing 27.02.2012, a Division Bench of the High Court headed by the Acting Chief Justice A.K.Sikri directed the HRD Ministry to look into and examine the matter and submit their views on this aspect. The Court has passed these directions while hearing a PIL filed by the Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group through Advocate Ashok Agarwal challenging the Validity and legality of the Guidelines of Kendriya Vidyalayas for admission to Kendriya Vidyalayas in Class-I in the academic year 2011-12 whereby the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan has introduced reservation within reservation in 25% reserved seats for the children belonging to disadvantaged group and economically weaker section under Section 12(1)( c ) of the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. “Such a reservation within reservation is impermissible in law,” argued Ashok Agarwal.

The Court while granting HRD Ministry two weeks more time to file their reply adjourned the hearing to 04 July 2012. 

Abolish Capital Punishment

Retired Supreme Court Justice Kuldip Singh
Chandigarh, Apr 22 (Bureau Report) Eminent jurists, academicians, farmer leaders and social activists gathered at a conference here urged the Punjab government to launch a countrywide campaign against the capital punishment and pressurize the centre for abolishing the hanging from the statute book beginning with adoption of a resolution in the state assembly to that effect.
   Speaking at the seminar on “Hanging- a Punishment or Legal murder” organized by BKU (Sidhupur) ,The Punjab Manch and Internationalist Democratic Party (IDP) at Kisan Bhawan Supreme Court retired Justice Kuldip Singh said the capital punishment had not proved a deterrent against the crime as in USA and China which have been sending the culprits to gallows. Rather these countries had witnessed enhancement in the crimes. Besides, it has been found out later on that innocents were often sentenced to death. He said an inquiry into the cases of hanging in the Britain brought out a crude truth that as many as 123 innocents were hanged to death through the legal process. Justice Singh said if the judicial process could be faulty in the USA and Britain then chances of innocents sending to gallows in India are very much there keeping in view the manner of the police preparing the cases and fitting in the witnesses for that. All police process is never been beyond the areas of suspect. Justice Singh said a movement against the capital punishment has cropped up world over and it would not stay on the statute book now.    
   Justice Ajit Singh Bains, a retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge said no human being is criminal by birth but the situations, invariably, force him/ her to commit violence. Minorities and the deprived people in the country are not getting social, political and economic justice, rather they   were being targeted to satiate the repressed mindset of the ruling elite.       

Khalra Mission leader Dalbir Singh observed that Chief Minister P.S Badal efforts to stall the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana had left the issue of capital punishment half-way and unresolved since he was more interested in reaping the political dividends by projecting himself as a champion of the Sikh cause.
 IDP president I D Khajuria said the hanging of the culprit is not a judicial but a political decision since the convict sentenced to death by the court, cannot be executed unless until the Home Ministry or state home department gives green signal to go ahead. Hence, all political parties, social and political activists should come forwards and mobilize public opinion for getting the capital punishment abolished. Senior journalist Hamir Singh said since the Tamil Nadu assembly had already taken the lead by adopting resolution for clemency to Nalini and two others , convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the Punjab assembly should not refrain from adopting such a resolution against the capital punishment.
    Movement Against State Repression (MASR) leader and former MLA Inderjit Singh Jeji said by refusing to appeal for remission of capital punishment and confessing his involvement in the assassination, Rajoana has raised an issue of ‘political morality’ which had never been above board and denying social and economic justice to the minorities and the unprivileged people. Unprecedented protests demonstrated by the people in Punjab and outside against  Rajoana hanging had questioned the veracity of the  very act of legal execution.      
   Former Vice Chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Prof Bawa Singh said Rajoana clearly manifests a minority community’s perturbed psyche against the real or perceived excesses by a majority controlled State where the history is witness to the facts that political parties hardly refrained from playing communal card for political ends. The Rajoana case also exemplifies that the minorities in the country strongly feel that they are being denied political, economic, social and legal justice and its redressing is must for a healthy democratic set-up.
  Punab Manch leader Malvinver Singh Malli and other speakers, unanimously urged the central government that India should become signatory to the UNO resolution to be adopted at the coming December meet to end the capital punishment world over and till then there should a moratorium on all pending executions. Already 402 convicts have been sentenced to death by various courts in the country and 26 such cases including that of Afzal Guru, Devinderpal Singh Bhullar pending for the Presidential clemency.     
 Farmers leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said it had been proved world over that death sentence no way could lessen the crime in any society which invariably is the product of denial of social, political and economic justice perpetrated by the undemocratic practices of a ruling political establishments. BKU (Sidhupur) president Pishora Singh said as many as   97 countries have abolished capital punishment completely, 34 countries refrained from executing the convicts for past ten years. India is one of 57 countries yet to abolish the hanging.
 Noted lawyer Amar Singh Chahal, senior journalist Jaspal Singh Sidhu, Punjab state CPI(ML- Liberation) leader Kamaljit Singh. Prof Lal Singh  and BKU leader Mehar Singh Their and advocate Krishan Kumar Kakkar also spoke.   

Marx was quoted on Lenin's birthday by Comrade Anil

Birth of man is not creation of any divine power

A society based on  equity and justice is the only way for sustainable development to the benefit of whole mankind. The present day imperial powers led by the USA are imposing neoliberal economic policies on the developing countries in connivance with the elite in these countries. This has led to unprecedented inequality in the society, job freeze, cut on the rights of working people and essential services like health & education have become out of reach of common people. This has to be changed through mass movements. This was said by Shri Anil Rajimwale,  a  philosopher and Marxist thinker  while addressing a seminar organized by the Communist Party of India on “INDIA’S PATH OF DEVELOPMENT BASED ON JUSTICE AND EQUALITY”  on 22^nd April, the birthday of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin the founder of socialism in Soviet Union. Incidentally 22^nd April is observed as World Earth Day.  Life on earth has evolved through evolution in contradiction to the earlier concepts about creation of world. He said that Darwin, through his research proved that life has evolved through certain laws of nature. Birth of man is not creation of any divine power but evolution after millions of years of existence of life on earth. Mr Rajimwale told that taking clue from his work Karl Marx applied the theses on human society and searched about the problems in our society. Marx reached conclusion that vast majority of problems lay in inequalities created as a result of exploitation of man by man. These anomalies can be removed by man’s own efforts. He explained the industrial revolution and its impact on society, based on the studies of various new subjects from natural sciences and social sciences. He was the first to discover the laws of change in nature as well society. He explained the central role of labour in the creation and development of various stages of society. Mr Rajimwale emphasized that Marxist theory is revolutionary because according to it nothing in the world and society is stationary and everything changes. Therefore Marx drew logical conclusion that the capitalist society also must one day leave the stage of world history to be replaced by socialism and communism. Lenin applied this theory in Soviet Union and was successful in achieving a society based on justice to a large extent. The Soviet state supported all the progressive movements worldwide and helped the movements for liberation from the colonial powers. Many freedom fighters in our country drew inspiration from the Soviet revolution. The scientific theory of society’s development serves as a guiding force for these movements. 

Dr Arun Mitra

Assistant Secretary, CPI District Ludhiana

Mobile: 94170 00360

PM in Guwahati,

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being presented a memento by the Speaker, Assam Legislative Assembly, Shri Pranab Kumar at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Assam Legislative Assembly, in Guwahati, Assam on April 20, 2012. The Governor of Assam, Shri J.B. Patnaik and the Chief Minister of Assam, Shri Tarun Gogoi are also seen. (PIB photo)  20-April-2012

India launches New Generation Strategic Missile AGNI-V

AGNI-V (A-5) successfully flight tested today

India successfully flight-tested the Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) Agni-V (A-5) 
from wheeler’s island, in Odisha on April 19, 2012.   (PIB photo)   19-April-2012

Setting a new milestone in the country’s Integrated Missile Development Programme, India’s maiden Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) AGNI-V (A-5) was successfully flight tested today. 

The flawless auto-launch of the missile started at 08:04 hours. Piercing the thin cloud cover, the missile took off from the launch pad at Wheeler’s Island in Odisha at 08:07 hours and started rising exactly the way it was designed for. The missile, with a range of more than 5000 kms, followed the entire trajectory in copybook style perfection as the three stages of Propulsion dropped and fell at appropriate intervals into the Bay of Bengal. The three propulsion stages, developed completely indigenously by DRDO, performed exactly the way they were intended to. The indigenously developed Composite Rocket Motors performed well, signifying the country’s stride and complete self-reliance in this complex propulsion technology. 

Ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the Vehicle and witnessed the final event. Radars and electro-optical systems along the path monitored in real time all the parameters of the Missile. 

A number of new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in this A-5 Mission. The redundant Navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) ensured the Missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy. The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the Missile flawlessly. 

The Vice-President Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and National Security Advisor (NSA) Shri Shiv Shankar Menon have hailed the launch of the Agni-V. Dr Singh and Shri Antony spoke to DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat and Programme Director Shri Avinash Chander and greeted the DRDO Scientists on the A-5 success. Air Marshal K.J. Mathews, Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command (C-in-C, SFC), who witnessed the launch, said that the success of Agni-V is a historic event for India. Dr V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Dr S.K. Chaudhari, Director, Research Centre IMARAT (RCI), Shri A.K. Chakrabarti, Director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Shri S.P. Dash, Director, Interim Test Range (ITR), Shri Guruprasad, Director, Research & Development Engineers (R&DE Engineers, Pune) were present during the launch operations. Shri R.K. Gupta, Project Director guided the team of Scientists and employees of DRDO during the launch activities. (PIB) 19-April-2012 16:15 IST

Election to the Punjabi Sahit Academy

Mrs.Gurcharan Kocher honored by BJGVJ
The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ), Ludhiana in a meeting honoured Mrs.Gurcharan Kocher for her election to the Punjabi Sahit  Academy with record margin of votes. Maj.Sher Singh Aulukh – President of the Jatha said that she is a versatile personality working for the social cause. She is not only an acclaimed writer but also a crusader for the rights of women for gender equality. Dr Arun Mitra – General Secretary said that her contributions for the cause of sustainable development, promotion of healthy environment, equality of women and for socio economic equity and justice are reflected in her writings and day to day practices in real life.
Others present on the occasion
 include  Sh.Krishan Lal Malik, Dr.Rajinder Pal Aulukh, and Dr.Gurpreet Singh-Finance Secretary honoured Mrs.Gurcharan Kochar. 
The BJGVJ will soon organize a seminar on Clean Energy options & nuclear safety. World Environment Day will celebrate in June.
   
Maj. Sher Singh Aulukh
PresidentMobile: 98768 49618
BHARAT JAN GYAN VIGYAN JATHA
DISTRICT LUDHIANA
Mass   Action   For   National   Regeneration   (MANAR)
(139-E, Kitchlu Nagar, Ludhiana)
Phone : 0161 2300252, 2304360, 2408906, 2560112, 2550787
Fax : 0161 2300252                                                                                    Date: 18.04.2012 

CPI has decided to contest the MC elections

The city unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to contest the municipal corporation elections as a part of the Sanjha Morcha of CPI, CPI (M) and PPP. In a press release after the meeting of the city committee of CPI held under the chairmanship of Com.Gurnam Singh Sidhu, it was decided that the party will strive to cooperate and support the progressive candidates in the MC elections. The meeting expressed grave concern at the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and demanded that the police personnel engaged to provide security of the so called VIPs should be put on duty for the security of the public instead. Meeting further cautioned against the failed water samples from the nearly all the tube wells and warned that this could lead to serious illnesses in the time to come. It was demanded that the high water tanks should be utilized properly and water should be supplied after filling them rather than supplying directly from the motors. This can ease the situation of low pressure in many areas. The damaged water pipes should be replaced. Civil hospital should be upgraded to meet the needs of common man for advanced health care. Traffic situation should be properly managed through traffic education and effective  control. More and more flyovers should be built. Master plan of the city should take care of the interest of the small shopkeepers and small scale industries. Com.Ramesh Rattan – Secretary clarified that Sarabjit Lal who had won the election from Salem Tabri last time on the CPI ticket and has now joined the BJP ceased to be member of the party for over two years for his anti party activities. Com Kartar Singh Bowani – Secretary Distt. Unit, Dr Arun Mtra – Asstt. Secretary and Com Gulzar Goria gave a report of the party congress.
Com Ramesh Rattan
City Secretary CPI
Mobile: 98142 73870

Betrayal by BJP and Congress

Toxic waste-to-electricity incinerators reveals truth
Citizens Must Defeat anti-environment and anti-people forces
Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 8:04 PM
NEW DELHI: Residents, environmental groups and waste recycling workers are protesting against Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP)'s manifesto that promises bring municipal waste incinerators to generate electricity by burning waste in the national capital region in contravention of a Supreme Court order putting a stay on use of incinerator technology. Delhi’s waste recycling workers and environmental groups are demanding the scrapping of the waste-to-energy policy which was not only polluting but also affected their livelihoods. 
Earlier opposition party leaders of the BJP had also expressed apprehension over the location of such a plant in a densely populated areas of South Delhi. “This plant would release various types of harmful gases which will certainly pose serious helath threat to the lives of surrounding residents,” said Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP M.P. in a letter dated June 27, 2008 to the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Tejender Khanna. The U-turn by BJP is an act betrayal.
The toxic emissions from plants of this type have been known to cause birth deformities, caners, respiratory ailments and hormonal problems. 
This proposal of the BJP in collusion with the Indian National Congress will turn Delhi into a health and environment disaster zone. Residents, environmental groups, waste recycling workers and left and socialist parties have joined hands to oppose the hazardous municipal waste incinerators in Delhi's Narela-Bawana, Ghazipur and Okhla.
The minutes of the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority for the NCR (EPCA) reveal that Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was asked about the actions taken to improve Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management in Delhi. "To this MCD replied that individual waste to energy projects have been already given to Jindal, Ramky and GMR, which will result in minimal inert residue for landfilling along with the generation of electricity," the minute reads. This is factually deceptive and scientifically incorrect.
As per the Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management, Union Ministry of Urban Development, physical composition of Indian waste shows that inert material constitutes from 43.59 % to 53.90 % and compostable matter constitutes 44.57 % to 30.84 %. Thus, the total inert residue from waste to energy incinerator projects will be significantly higher after the incineration of waste which will produce toxic ash as well that requires disposal in engineered landfills.
This grave situation has emerged due to evidently flawed waste to energy policy of central government, state government and the MCD which are providing incentives to hazardous incinerator and co-incineration incineration technologies like Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).
Political parties other than BJP and Congress must promise to work for abandonment of this harmful policy to save irreparable damage to sustainable and sane municipal solid waste management practices. It may be noted that besides being an emitter of Persistent Organic Pollutants, as per Annexure A of Kyoto Protocol, waste incineration is a green house gas emitter. The Ministry of Power can vouch for the fact that the energy from municipal is inconsequential compared to the colossal public health concerns.

The "White Paper on Pollution with an Action Plan" of the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests that the ministry’s wisdom is opposed to such municipal waste incinerators. The relevant part of White Paper in paragraph 4.1 reads: "The NEERI studies show that the treatment of solid waste not reduces the quantity requiring disposal but also reduces its pollution potential thereby preventing its adverse impact on environment. Some treatment methods also yield a product which can be recycled. Thermal treatment methods such as incineration or conversion of waste to briquettes and its subsequent use as fuel are not feasible due to the low heat value of the municipal solid waste in MCD area. The experience of the incineration plant at Timarpur, Delhi and the briquetting plant at Bombay support the fact that thermal treatment of municipal solid waste is not feasible, in situations where the waste has a low calorific value. A critical analysis of biological treatment as an option was undertaken for processing of municipal solid waste in Delhi and it has been recommended that composting will be a viable option. Considering the large quantities of waste requiring to be processed, a mechanical composting plant will be needed." Unmindful of this both Congress party led Delhi government and BJP led MCD are promoting such toxic power plants which emit chemicals like Dioxins which were used in US-vietnam war.
Residents, environmental groups and waste recycling workers appealed to the citizens of Delhi to ensure that both BJP and Congress do not get their support else they turn Delhi in to a gas chamber for the present and future generations.  - Gopal Krishna 

For Details: 
Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance, Mobile : 9818089660, E-mail: krishna1715@gmail.com, Web: toxicswatch.blogspot.com
Anant Trivedi, Member, Technical Evaluation Committe, Central Pollution Control Board
Dharmender Yadav, Gen. Secretary, AIKSM, Mob: 8826588482, 9968005632
Surender Panchal, Member, State Committee, CPILML, Mb: 9968616715

A miracle of loving care by 5 daughters

CMC Saved a woman suffering from massive blood lots

In a  happy mood Mrs Amrit Kaur and family with Dr Harinder Singh Bedi

Ludhiana, 6th April, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) Mrs Amrit Kaur–a 65 year old lady - W/o S. Gurcharan Singh of Janakpuri was in a serious condition. She had developed a large clot in her left leg which was in imminent danger of getting loose and blocking her lungs. She was seen in the Emergency by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – head of Cardio Vascular Endovascular & Thoracic Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Ludhiana. On examination and investigation Dr Bedi found that she already had previous episodes of pulmonary embolism. As it is – she suffered from a lung disease called Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis for which she was already under treatment. Her lung functions were very low because of the ILD and any further pulmonary embolism would have been potentially fatal. After a thorough check up she underwent a new procedure called catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) with a strong blood thinner – tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) . Dr Bedi explained that this clot buster is given directly into the clot so that it can dissolve the clot faster. As she already had pulmonary embolism so before the therapy – a filter called IVC filter was placed in her vein to trap any small clots and prevent them from entering the lungs. The CMC & H is one of the few centres doing endovascular surgery . Dr Bedi is trained in this specialized advanced therapy and holds Limca Book World Record on a different form of vascular surgery too .
According to Dr Bedi, chronic venous disease is quite common in India as most of our population works in the standing position, leading to pressure on the veins which dilate. It is estimated that over a lakh die due to venous disease (DVT and PE) each year is the equivalent of the disappearance of a city the size of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Dr Bedi told that the Obese and elderly are at greater risk of DVT while women who take birth-control pills are 10 times more likely to develop blood clots . Long distance flights are another risk factor. Those taking multiple flights over a short period of time are also at a higher risk. This is because the risk of DVT does not go away completely after a flight is over, and the risk remains elevated for about four weeks. It is interesting to note that the famous tennis player – Serena Williams - suffered from the same condition some time back. Even the research of World Health Organisation on DVT shows that the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) doubles after travel lasting for over two hours. The study of the WHO Research Into Global Hazards of Travel (WRIGHT) project, which was conducted by scientists from Britain, Switzerland and Netherlands, said the risk of developing blood clots during any form of travel longer than four hours was one case for every 15 fully-booked jumbo jets.
The symptoms of DVT include pain or cramp in the calves and swelling of the leg.
DVT and PE are often silent conditions – they can occur suddenly and without symptoms. Pulmonary embolism has a very rapid and deadly progress unless detected and treated in time.
The month of March has been allocated as the DVT Awareness Month in memory of Mr David Bloom – a NBC reporter in Iraq who died of DVT. His widow Melanie Bloom has started the Coalition for Prevention of DVT. The Vascular Society of India and the Venous Association of India - of which Dr Bedi is an integral part - have been very active in this regard.
Mrs Amrit Kaur is now well – her leg is back to normal. The other members of the Heart team are Dr A Joseph, Dr S Garg, Dr Melchi, Dr Paul, Dr Deepak, Dr Vaishu, Dr Sarah and Dr Amrutha. Dr Avinash Kumar – Asst Prof Radiology – helped with the Radiology part of the therapy.
Dr Bedi was especially impressed with the loving care given to Mrs Amrit Kaur by her husbanCMC Saved a woman suffering from massive blood lots

In a  happy mood Mrs Amrit Kaur and family with Dr Harinder Singh Bedi

Ludhiana, 6th April, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) Mrs Amrit Kaur–a 65 year old lady - W/o S. Gurcharan Singh of Janakpuri was in a serious condition. She had developed a large clot in her left leg which was in imminent danger of getting loose and blocking her lungs. She was seen in the Emergency by Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – head of Cardio Vascular Endovascular & Thoracic Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Ludhiana. On examination and investigation Dr Bedi found that she already had previous episodes of pulmonary embolism. As it is – she suffered from a lung disease called Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis for which she was already under treatment. Her lung functions were very low because of the ILD and any further pulmonary embolism would have been potentially fatal. After a thorough check up she underwent a new procedure called catheter directed thrombolysis (CDT) with a strong blood thinner – tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) . Dr Bedi explained that this clot buster is given directly into the clot so that it can dissolve the clot faster. As she already had pulmonary embolism so before the therapy – a filter called IVC filter was placed in her vein to trap any small clots and prevent them from entering the lungs. The CMC & H is one of the few centres doing endovascular surgery . Dr Bedi is trained in this specialized advanced therapy and holds Limca Book World Record on a different form of vascular surgery too .
According to Dr Bedi, chronic venous disease is quite common in India as most of our population works in the standing position, leading to pressure on the veins which dilate. It is estimated that over a lakh die due to venous disease (DVT and PE) each year is the equivalent of the disappearance of a city the size of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Dr Bedi told that the Obese and elderly are at greater risk of DVT while women who take birth-control pills are 10 times more likely to develop blood clots . Long distance flights are another risk factor. Those taking multiple flights over a short period of time are also at a higher risk. This is because the risk of DVT does not go away completely after a flight is over, and the risk remains elevated for about four weeks. It is interesting to note that the famous tennis player – Serena Williams - suffered from the same condition some time back. Even the research of World Health Organisation on DVT shows that the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) doubles after travel lasting for over two hours. The study of the WHO Research Into Global Hazards of Travel (WRIGHT) project, which was conducted by scientists from Britain, Switzerland and Netherlands, said the risk of developing blood clots during any form of travel longer than four hours was one case for every 15 fully-booked jumbo jets.
The symptoms of DVT include pain or cramp in the calves and swelling of the leg.
DVT and PE are often silent conditions – they can occur suddenly and without symptoms. Pulmonary embolism has a very rapid and deadly progress unless detected and treated in time.
The month of March has been allocated as the DVT Awareness Month in memory of Mr David Bloom – a NBC reporter in Iraq who died of DVT. His widow Melanie Bloom has started the Coalition for Prevention of DVT. The Vascular Society of India and the Venous Association of India - of which Dr Bedi is an integral part - have been very active in this regard.
Mrs Amrit Kaur is now well – her leg is back to normal. The other members of the Heart team are Dr A Joseph, Dr S Garg, Dr Melchi, Dr Paul, Dr Deepak, Dr Vaishu, Dr Sarah and Dr Amrutha. Dr Avinash Kumar – Asst Prof Radiology – helped with the Radiology part of the therapy.
Dr Bedi was especially impressed with the loving care given to Mrs Amrit Kaur by her husband and 5 daughters . Both Mrs Amrit Kaur and Sardar Gurcharan Singh were of the firm opinion that daughters are as good or even better than sons.
Dr AG Thomas – Director of CMC - told that CMC was one of the very few Institutes in the region dealing with the successful management of this disease entity.d and 5 daughters . Both Mrs Amrit Kaur and Sardar Gurcharan Singh were of the firm opinion that daughters are as good or even better than sons.
Dr AG Thomas – Director of CMC - told that CMC was one of the very few Institutes in the region dealing with the successful management of this disease entity.

Easter Program Organized by CMC Hospital

An experience how Lord Jesus Christ lived,died and resurrected

Ludhiana, 3^rd April, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) 90 students and doctors of CMCL organized a special performance on 3^rd and 4^th to reflect on the life of Lord Jesus Christ during this Passion Week. The one hour pageant coordinated by the Fellowship department and patronised by Dr. Abraham G Thomas, Director, CMCL prepares the audience to experience the how Lord Jesus Christ lived,died and resurrected. He reminded all the Significance of Easter- of love, peace, tolerance, care of the poor and upliftment of society while welcoming the congregation to scommit themselves to be Christ-like.

Father Stanley in his Prayer asked for world peace along with happiness for the CMC &H staff and their families. He wished that the year ahead be one of professional contentment with the spirit of service worthy of the Healing Ministry of Christ.

18 songs was sung as solos, duets and choir along with choreography, shadowgraph and acting enlivening the audience experiencing the same life of the time when Jesus Christ lived.

The program concluded with a prayer. Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Dr.S.M Bhatti, Principal Medical College,  Principal College of Nursing Prof. (Mrs.) Ponnamma R. Singh, Principal Dental College Dr.Abi. M Thomas, Medical Superintendent, Dr.Kanwal Masih, Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr.Nitin Batra and Dr.Valsa Abraham were also present on the occasion.

Educations: New achievers of Ludhiana

DD Jain Students got 100% results

Ankita, Neha and Rimple  with  staff  members of DD Jain college for women Ludhiana [The Spis News photo]

The Students of Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women got 100% results in Msc(IT) 1st semester. Neha Narula got 2nd position in Panjab University by securing 86.16% marks, Ankita got 2nd  position  in college  by securing 82.16% marks, Rimple  got 3rd  position in college by securing 82% marks.
Congratulating the students, Chairman Samaj Rattan Shri Hira Lal Jain, President Sh. Kedar Nath Jain, Sr. Vice President Sh. Shanti Saroop Jain, Sr. Vice President Sh. Raj Kumar Jain, Secretary Sh. Bipin Jain, Manager           Sh. Surinder Kumar Jain and Principal Smt. Surinder Khurana said such a result is possible because of the hardwork and determination of both teachers and students. Rector Kathuria

IDPD welcomes the statement Dr.Manmohan Singh

Asking for a nuclear free world
Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) welcomes the statement Dr.Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India asking for a nuclear free world. India has always been a champion for nuclear disarmament. Keeping the tradition of non aligned movement our country should take lead in various international forums for abolition of nuclear weapons as well as check on proliferation of small arms through confidence building measures between the nations. 
According to a statement issued by it's President Dr L S Chawla General Secretary Dr Arun Mitra even if a single country has the nuclear weapons, the chances of their development by other countries will always remain as the nuclear weapons possessing states looses the moral right to ask other countries desist the same. The fear of these weapons falling into the hands of non state actors will always remain. The stand of IDPD and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in this regard has been vindicated by the Seoul meet. IDPD also appeal to the Prime Minister to pay heed to the people movements and put moratorium on the nuclear plants for power generation as the nuclear energy is neither safe nor economical. Moreover the nuclear plants cloud any time is used for production of nuclear weapons.  

2nd National CME of ACOIN held at CMC

There was also a scientific poster competition

Ludhiana, 29th March, 2012(Shalu Arora  and Rector Kathuria): The Deptt of ophthalmology, Christian Medical College and Hospital conducted 2nd National CME of Association of Community Ophthalmologist of India in association with Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Eye Hospital, Jalandhar, Slum doctor project U.K and vision 2020, India on Pediatric Ophthalmology and strabismus.
The chief guest for the occasion was Dr.A.G.Thomas, Director CMC and Hospital, who also released the souvenir. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Dr. S.M Bhatti, Principal Christian Medical College, Ludhiana , Associate Director, Dr.Kim Mammen, Dr.Kanwal Masih, Medical Superintendent, Dr.Nitin Batra, HOD Ophthalmology and organizing Chairman of the CME. .
The guest faculty and Course director of the event was Dr.Tony Aguire, consultant ophthalmologist Caldudale Huddersfield NHS foundation trust U.K, Augenklinik teufen, Switzerland and an adjunct associate clinical professor, University of Texas at Houston, who delivered keynote address on update in Pediatric Ophthalmology. Prominent strabismologists  from various parts of the country delivered lectures on pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.
The occasion was also graced by eminent physicians and ophthalmologists from different parts of the country and abroad.
Along with scientific sessions there was a workshop conducted in Department of Ophthalmology on evaluation of squint and pearls of squint surgery.
There was also a scientific poster competition for undergraduate students engaged in research in the field of ophthalmology.

Special Convocation

The President of Brazil, Ms. Dilma Rousseff and the Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari at the Special Convocation of the University of Delhi, in New Delhi on March 28, 2012. {PIB photo} 28-March-2012

Seven Day Protest fast in Delhi

In solidarity with fasting activists in Idinthakarai

Nationwide Protests in support of Anti-Nuclear struggle in Koodankulam

March 26, New Delhi : National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), Lok Rajniti Manch and Delhi Solidarity Group, is  organising a protest and fast from today 26 March 2012 till 1st April 2012, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in solidarity with ongoing fast by activists of the anti-nuclear movement at Idinthakarai, Tamil Nadu against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant.NAPM National Convener and noted Social activist Sandeep Pandey is sitting on a seven day fast.

In Chennai too people are fasting in support of anti-nuclear movement in Koodankulam. In Mumbai, noted film-maker Anand Patwardhan is leading a protest in front of Dadar Railway Station. 

On 27th March, 2012, one day fasts will be organised at many places in support of the local people protesting against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant. NAPM Andhra Pradesh is organising a protest demonstration and candle light vigil between 6 to 8 pm on 27th March at Ambedkar Statue, near Tankbund, Hyderabad.

It is ironical that India has raised the issue of atrocities on Tamil people in Sri Lanka at UNHRC but is not relenting its nuclear power pursuit which potentially puts its own Tamil people at grave risk of nuclear tragedy in times to come.

We strongly condemn the undemocratic manner in which nuclear energy is forced upon us. Not only Indian government has used a strong hand to snub the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) in Koodankulam, Tamil Nadu, but also is trying to intimidate and stifle resistance by misleading allegations of a ‘foreign hand’. Dr Udayakumar who leads PMANE has declared his personal assets and he has no FCRA account to receive foreign money. Whereas it is clear that Indian government is working hands-in-glove with bigger ‘foreign hands’ of USA, Russia and other countries in its joint military operations and expanding nuclear programme.

The latest attempt by the CM of Tamil Nadu to brand S.P. Udayakumar as a naxal clearly shows the desperation of the government. We condemn such underhand tactics and attempts by government to mislead general public.

It is the people in Europe and America that have forced their governments by coming out in large numbers on street to abandon nuclear energy. But Indian government is trying to stifle such people’s initiatives to have their say. Our claims of being the largest democracy prove to be hollow.

Recent nuclear emergency in Japan leaves no doubt that this world needs to renounce nuclear power for military and civil/ energy purposes, as soon as possible, to put an end to any further catastrophe in the name of 'energy', 'security' or 'technology'. Nuclear power is clearly the most dangerous options for civil or military use. Countries that have been using nuclear power such as Germany have resolved to abandon nuclear energy by 2022. Japan, USA, and many such nations who were earlier pursuing nuclear energy option are having second thoughts now.

We believe that India should adopt the futuristic energy policy like Japan and the European Union (EU) relying on renewable sources of energy which are non-polluting. Like EU and Japan, India too should aim for a low-carbon energy production system. India’s future energy policy should be low carbon and no nuclear.

We appeal to the Indian government to support dialogue on nuclear energy in a democratic way and until there is a consensus on whether India should go ahead with nuclear programme or not, should stall all nuclear programmes.

National Alliance of People's Movements, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, Lok Rajniti Manch and Delhi Solidarity Group.

For more details contact : P.K. Sundaram, 9810556134, Ramesh Sharma, 9818111562, Madhuresh Kumar, 9818905316 and Vijayan M J 9582862682.
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Medical camp by BJGVJ//188 patients were examined

20 Patients fitted with free hearing aids 

The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ) Haibowal Branch Ludhiana in collaboration with Indian Medical Association Ludhiana and coordinated by Voice of Youth Foundation  held a Free Medical Checkup Camp dedicated to the memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their 82nd martyrdom day at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Public School, Haqiqat Nagar, Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana. 188 patients were examined by Dr Arun Mitra ENT Surgeon and Dr.Anakhveer Singh Gill. 20 patients were fitted the free hearing aids after checking their hearing levels. Addressing the gathering Dr.Arun Mitra said that the real tribute to the martyrs is to create a society based on justice and equality to all citizens. He said the quality health care and education is the right of all citizens. Such camps are a miniscule contribution in that direction. He also gave health education about prevention of diseases related to Ear, Nose and Throat. Other who addressed the gathering include Sh.M.S.Bhatia, Maj.Sher Singh Aulukh, Mrs.Gurcharan Kocher, Shri.G.S.Narula, Sh.Harbhajan Singh Bhatia, Sh.Ashish Moliry – Vice President of Voice of Youth Foundation. Mrs.Rajinder Kaur Bhatia – Principal of the school in her thanks giving address appreciated the help extended by Punjab Bank Employees Federation Ludhiana and assured that such like camps will be organized in the future also.
Others who make the function success included Sh.Bhajan Singh, Sh.Avtar Chibber, Sh.Rajesh Verma, Sh.B.D.Saini, Sh.Sunil Grover, Sh.Gulshan Gaba, Sh.Harvinder Singh Obrai, Sh.Prem Grover, Sh.Ramadhar Singh,