Sigh of great relief for poor patients

CT Scan machine at GMC back to job, courtesy German Engineers

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 28: The CT Scan machine installed at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Jammu have start functioning again after a gap of nearly two months after repair by German Engineers hence brought respite to hundreds of patients, who throng the institution on daily basis.

To rectify the fault in CT machines a team of Engineers was specially called from Germany. Even the spare parts were also brought from Germany. But, the hospital administration have miserably failed to search an alternative to German remedy, as it took a long wait of over two months to get the machine repaired, owing to which people were subjected to hardships.

Sources revealed that CT Scan Machines were prone to mechanical defects and possibility of break-out anytime can’t be ruled out, hence it was imperative to an alternative to German Engineers so that machines could be repaired at the earliest.

They said, “Hospital administration should have some alternate way so that they won’t need to call engineers from outside the country, as well as the spare part should also be available nearby.”

Sources revealed that government was spending crores of rupees to provide better health care facilities to the people of the state, but the mismanagement on the part of officers concerned had made the things worst for poor patients who throng government hospital for cheap treatment.

“This was not the first time when patients have to pay for the fault of the hospital but many time earlier patients have to face problem due to one reason or the others” said a insider.

It is pertinent to mention here that during the period there was total chaos and patients were the worst sufferers of inability of the government to repair the machines early. Most of the people are afraid to admit patient in the hospital.

On daily average, around 20 to 30 patients need CT scan who are mostly admitted in emergency ward with head injuries as most of the medical help cannot be provided in such cases with the report of scan. These patients are suffering due to non functional machine in the hospital,

When contacted, principal GMC, Dr Shashi Gupta said they were planning to purchase new CT Scan machines on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode to meet the need.

“As the last year, funds had been lapsed. Now, the administration has submitted the proposal to sanction the said machine” said Dr Gupta.

She further revealed that department was paying annual maintenance charges to company and the latter was bound to rectify the error. On being asked about the time needed to get the repair done, she said, “We don’t have any option but to wait for the German Engineers as there is no other agency in country to repair these machines.”

Dengue alarm

Figure breaches 8 year mark; reaches 50   

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 24: Around 50 cases of dengue have been detected so far in Jammu region, which is the highest among the last eight years, as claimed by the Health Department.

Director Health Services, Jammu Dr B S Pathania informed that most of the cases were from rural areas of the region including Samba, Kathua, Bari Brahmana and Vijaypur.

“About 15 to 20 patients are approaching their primary health centres on daily basis with symptoms of dengue which are being further referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Jammu for blood test,” he stated.

He further said, “After 2006, when 42 cases of dengue had been reported, dengue has been reported only this year. Though sporadic cases have been report in between 2006 to 2013.”

Head, Microbiology Department GMC, Dr Bella Mahajan said their department conducted blood tests of the people who reported dengue symptoms and send the reports to the Director Health Services for further procedure.

She further said that treatment of the patients was going on at GMC, SMGS and Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar besides Accidental Hospital Vijaypur.

Health Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Vinod Sharma said corporation provide the assistance to the health department for fogging in the more dengue prone areas of the city adding that they had deputed employees with the intensive teams across the city. 

Pertinent to mention here that the climatic condition of Jammu is much suitable for 'Ades Egypti', the mosquito carrying the Dengue virus, and the most striking period is from August to mid November", said an expert, observing that since the state witnesses heavy influx of tourists, pilgrims, labourers and paramilitary personnel, the risk of the transmission of the virus cannot be ruled out.

“This disease is also known as break bone fever, an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. The symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles,” expert added.

In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs, he said.

Onion moving away from common man’s reach

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 19: Soaring prices of onions and vegetables have begun to hit the pocket of common man. A visit to vegetable and fruit mandis shows that the rates of vegetables have witnessed a sharp rise and is likely to increase in coming days.

In absence of any mechanism to keep check on the prices and failure of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department to effectively deal with rates fixed illegally by retailers, people are at mercy of vendors, who charge at will. Further vegetable and fruit prices vary from one market to another, which is leading to verbal duel

Having a glance over the current prices of the vegetables in the city, the price of onions is reached upto Rs 70 per kilograms whereas potato is Rs 20 to 25 per kg, ladyfinger which is mostly liked by the people has increased from Rs 20 to 30 per kg, lemon that refreshes everyone have got up from Rs 40 to 50 per kg, tomato a regular item in our lunch and dinner has increased to Rs 40 per kg.

Harbhajan Singh a vegetable seller said that my daily sale has tremendously decreased, people prefer buying lesser quantity of vegetables, than they used to buy earlier or shifting to commodities having low rates.

Several times people also staged protest demonstration against the state government at different locations of the city, whereas the administration is not taking any heed to their grievances.

Similar is the condition of other commodities that a common man has to think many times before buying.

Sheela Devi a housewife, said that the price that the vegetable sellers charge from a common man is very expensive, people has to alter the items in their lunch and dinner.

Besides the rising of the rates in the vegetables, they are made artificially healthy by injecting chemicals to gain maximum output at the cost of health of people.

This unhealthy way of life is damaging the immune system of the people. Due to this many cases have been registered as a result of the intake of chemically injected vegetables.

Meenakshi Sharma, who is working in a private company, said that there is very little impact on the budget of the rich but the middle class is affected the most. We have to alter the items in our food thali day by day.

She requested the government to control the price rise adding that even the fruits have vanished from our diet, now the health of our families is only in the hands of the government which only can regulate the price rise.

CAPD have no funds to repair its godowns in J&K

Tonnes of ration being lost to rats, insects

Tahir Mushtaq  

JAMMU, Sept 18: Funds shortage has forced the Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department to stop all the plans to repair renovate its godowns and storage facilities, which are in dilapidated conditions and major reason for the loss of food grains and infections.

Official said that the most of the godowns have been constructed about 40 years ago and they need major repair but the adequate funds are not been provided to the department, which is a worrisome situation.

Recently, an animal carcass were found in an old godown of warehouse, which generated public debate over upkeep of space meant for storage facilities and exposed the hollow claims of the CAPD department in keeping its facilities clean.

Sources said that since the beginning of the monsoon season most of the godowns are under threat of leakages from ceiling and it become breeding grounds for rats and other insects, which infest food grains posing health risks for consumers.

Sources said that though the directions have been passed to maintain the hygene and monitor the quality of the food grains being supplied to the people in the wake of repeated complaints about poor quality of ration being supplied in the state, but shortage of funds have crippled these efforts.

Talking to TNI, Minister for CAPD, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan said that the centre only provides Rs 50 to 60 lakh annually for repairing work of the godowns.

He maintained that there are hundreds of storage facilities across the state and it is not possible to renovate all the godowns in one time neither to repair one godown completely adding that if the department repair the godown of warehouse it will cost nearly Rs 70 lakh.

He further said that the department has floats tenders for new godowns and Food Corporation of India (FCI) will take them on lease for 20 years, as the construction of a new godown will take around Rs 8 crore which is very costly.

“As far as maintenance of ration quality is concern, it is the job entitled to the Food Corporation of India, the chief supplier of ration to the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Sources said, earlier, the FCI had directed the CAPD to improve the quality of the ration being supplied to the consumers in the state, but the department did not undertaken any concern to  the directions of FCI.

Police solves murder of Doctor in 24-hours

Unnatural relationship led to death

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 13: A middle aged doctor whose decomposed body was found in secluded place at Ban Talab area on September 10 was killed by a 23 year old man Sanjeev Kumar alias killer because he was fed up with the unnatural relationship with the victim.

Police informed that the accused told the interrogators that the deceased was mentally harassing him and he was fed with the relationship.

On September 10, his body was recovered from bushes at Rajinder Nagar, Ban Talab. It was shifted by police to the GMCH mortuary for identification. Later his family identified the body in the mortuary last evening.

The Ford Figo car of the victim which was missing has also been recovered while the mobile phone has been destroyed by the accused. A case under RPC 302 has been registered against the accused in Police Station Domana.

“It is clear case of personal enmity which led to the death of the victim. During investigation we got some clues and arrested Sanjeev Kumar, who spelled the beans”, said Vijay Choudhary, Station House Officer (SHO), Domana.

It is pertinent to mention here that the doctor, Dr Anil Arora who was missing from his residence at Gandhi Nagar here since September 8 last, was found lying dead in bushes at a secluded place at Ban Talab on the city outskirts here.

Dr. Arora, a physician, who was posted at primary health centre (PHC) Bhalwal, left his residence at Gandhi Nagar on September 8 last in his Ford Figo car (JK02AP/6141) but did not return home.

His family lodged a missing report in this regard with Gandhi Nagar police station on September 9.

Only 31 pets registered in 2 years

JMC’s pet registration campaign fails miserably

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 11: The two year-long campaign of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for registration of pets has yielded sorry figure as only 31 pet dogs have been registered so far. Even, the warnings issued by JMC have failed to produce desired result. Now, the civic body has once again initiated the campaign in order to push the campaign further.

JMC has started registration process of all the pet dogs falling under 71 wards in September 2011 but after the passage two year only a merge population has been registered.

Official said that the after the registration, the owners are liable to keep them legally otherwise they will be fined as per the act. For the registration the owners have to fill the application form and deposit two photographs of the pet with its name, sex, breed, age, immunization record, color and identification mark.

Officials added that if anyone found keeping a pet dog without registration he or she will be fined.

When contacted, Municipal Veterinary Officer, Dr Zaffar said that the corporation has registered only 31 pet dogs as the people are not much aware about the registration of their dogs.

He further said that the corporation has notified several advertisements regarding the registration of the pet dogs, and now we are getting the response from the people side as compared to the last years.

“After registering their pets the registered dog gets free medical treatment for year by the corporation,” he added.

He maintained that the registration fee is Rs 500 and the renewal fee every year would be charged as a sum of Rs 300 adding that a metal badges will be issued by JMC for the dog.

“Two years have been passed but not even a single person who keeps a pet dog in the city has been penalized for not registering their canine with the corporation” said a social activist Naveen Kumar.

Shanti Sharma, a local resident said leaving aside the problem of the stray animals, this move is nothing but to force the people to pay for keeping pets. Corporation should give more consideration to other issues.

No home for mentally retarded mother and her child

For four months living at SMGS hospital

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 10: A mentally retarded lady beggar and her newly born baby, who were found abandoned on roadside and subsequently taken to Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital by people four month ago, are still been lying at the Hospital as none of the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) or individual has come forward to take care of mother-son duo. Owing to public apathy, the Hospital administration is compelled to look after the both.

Though, the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ajit Kumar Sahu is also pursuing the case to find a suitable arrangement for mother-son but nothing has yielded so far. Reliably, a Chandigarh branch of “Mother Teresa Home” has agreed to take both but still the things have not been materialized.

The duo was brought to SMGS Hospital by people when they found the mentally challenged woman lying with her just born baby on roadside near Kachi Chawni.  The baby boy was suffering from acute infection, and owing to his critical condition he was admitted in Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). His mother was also admitted in the hospital.

Talking to TNI, Medical Superintendent SMGS Hospital, Dr Dara Singh said, “The hospital administration provided every possible treatment to the baby and, now his condition is stable. For the last more than four month the child and his mother are in the hospital and no one from any NGO came forward to adopt them.”

He said the administration took up the matter with DDC, who assured that suitable arrangement would be made for mother-son through some NGO, but till date nothing had been done.

“The hospital administration is providing everything to mother-son duo, but we also have some limitations, how long we can take care of them.   People are willing to adopt the baby but they are not ready to take the responsibility of mentally challenged lady. We want someone who could take responsibility of both and that is not happening” he added.

He expressed that while living in hospital the duo was prone to several infections and need special attention. Although, the mother is showing signs of mental stability owing to motherhood and we don’t want to separate them, in case we do this there are chances of her going mentally extreme, he explained.

He informed that administration had approached Mother Teresa Home, but they also show unwillingness to adopt the mother.

Pertinently, Court had ordered that if any person who wants to adopt the child should take care of mother as well besides, he has to transfer half of his/her half property in the name of the child as security.

When contacted, Ajit Kumar Sahu confirmed that none of the NGO was willing to take both of them so the administration approached a Chandigarh branch of Mother Teresa Home which agreed to take the possession of child as well as his mother.

Sahu further said that some legal formalities were pending after which the duo would be shifted.

Sexual exploitation of girls

Govt. appointed committee to look after children home at Channi Rama

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 09: To supervise the existing management committee of the Home for Mentally-Retarded Children at Channi Rama, the district administration has constituted a six member management committee.

Sources inside the administration disclosed that the six members included Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sushma Chauhan, District Social Welfare Officer, Jammu Kulraj Singh, Red Cross Society District Secretary, Jammu Suresh Sharma, Advocate, Rohit Kapoor, Psychiatric, Dr Manu Arora besides Non Government Organization Child Line Representatives Jammu, Manjari Singh.

Official said that during the first visit of the team to the Home for Mentally-Retarded Children they observed that there is immediate need to improve the sanitation condition, security and nutrient food in the home.

The management committee further observed that there is requirement to replace the existence employee of the home with the new one.

Talking to TNI, Sushma Chauhan said that the existing management committee will work on the supervision of the new management committee constituted by the Jammu district administration.

“The committee has submitted a list to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, citing the undersigned facilities that were required in the home, which are at present priorities” she added.

Chauhan further said that the committee in the meeting also drafted a roaster for the members who visit the home on daily bases.

It is pertinent to mention here that few days ago the case of sexually abused with five mentally challenged girls of the Home for Mentally-Retarded Children Channi Rama came in limelight after which the police arrested the director and a watchman of the home in connection with the rape and exploitation of five mentally challenged girls. The victims had said they were being exploited for the last one year. The police and the administration were investigating the case and two more persons were arrested in this regard. Whereas, a team of Rotary International from Chicago will visit the state to inquire about the happenings.

4000 daily wagers in Samba fooled by PHE department

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 6: Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has turned its back on 4000 youth of Dabhu area of district Samba who were engaged as daily wagers in the department. Most of them have not been paid salaries for last four years.

This issue came into light recently when a delegation of youth, met PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma and urged him to release their salaries. But to their shock, Minister told them that department has not received any files or order regarding their engagement in the department as daily wagers.

Sources said that it is a case of fraud and the people sitting at the helm of affairs have played with the career of youth, who are working for the department thinking that they will get salary.

Most of them are working day and night to earn bread for them and their families but due to casual approach of some of the officials future of thousands of youth are on stake.

One of the youth said that about four year back the then Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) asked to submit their documents in the department for their appointment as daily wagers but till date they did not get a penny from the PHE department.

People maintained that whenever they approached the concerned officers they were assured that the documents have been forwarded to the higher authorities for recommendation and verification.

When contacted Chief Engineer, PHE K K Gupta said the department is getting some documents from Samba district for verification purposes but only 700 people would be considered.

“I don’t have any knowledge about engagement of 4000 daily wagers and if these people have been engaged even without being paid any salary till date, still they should have received the appointment letter with them atleast”, Gupta said.

Gupta further said that if anybody appoints them with giving proper appointment letter from the department, then it is a crime and the culprit should be punished.

Till now government has failed to come up with a mechanism to pay the salary of these workers who are backbone of the department for keeping the water supply functional.

Sexually abusing of mentally retarded girls

More arrests on cards as arrested duo reveal names of other accused  

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Sept 06: Following the sustained questioning of arrested director and guard of the Home of Mentally Retarded Children, Chhanni Rama, the arrest of few more persons is on cards for their involvement in sexually abusing the girl inmates, highly placed sources said.

According to sources, both the arrested persons have made startling disclosures about their nexus during their interrogation at Trikuta Nagar Police Station. The interrogation was done in the presence of SP South Rajeshwar Singh. Sources disclosed that both the persons mentioned the name of four people who were involved in sexually abusing the girl inmates.

The people whose name has surfaced in the interrogation believed to be some influential owing to which police is moving ahead cautiously, sources added. Pertinently, the girl inmates were taken outside the home on number of occasions, on behest of some people by the two arrested persons.

However, Police have not revealed the names which have surfaced during the interrogation. SP South said, “Interrogation of both the arrested persons is still on. Though they revealed some names but their statements are being verified and nothing can be shared at this moment.”

Meanwhile, a six-member team of Management Committee paid visit to the Home for assessing the situation in the aftermath of scandal exposure.  One of members disclosed that all the inmates were traumatized and not been able to narrate their horrid experiences.

It is pertinent to mention here that he centre houses 34 mentally-challenged children, out of which 17 are girls of between 14 and 16 years. A medical board comprising an IAS officer, two gynaecologists and a psychiatrist examined the girls and confirmed they had been repeatedly raped.

When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Atul Goel said soon more people will be arrested in this connection. He further said that administration have already initiated enquiry in this regard, and after the committee submit its report further course of action will be decided.