Libra/ Samrala (Ludhiana), July 27:

Surprised over the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in their fields, the people of these villages exclaimed that in the last 70 years they have for the first time witnessed this historic moment when the head of the state was amongst them to discuss key issues.

The farmers including Balwinder Singh s/o Harminder Singh, Naib Singh s/o Darshan Singh, Avtar Singh Otala, s/o Sampuran Singh, Mehar Singh s/o Inder Singh, Gagandeep Singh Mann (Sarpanch), s/o Balveer Singh Mann, Balveer Singh, s/o Kaka Singh, Tara Singh, s/o Sadhu Singh, Major Singh, s/o Karnail Singh, Sarwan Singh, s/o Sadhu Singh, Satnam Singh, s/o Hardyal Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Yadvinder Singh Bittu, Avtar Singh Libhra, Manjot Singh Libhra, Dr. Gyan Singh Libhra, Kirandeep Singh Libhra, Akbar Khan, Noni Libhra, Lakhvir Singh Libhra, Harpreet Singh Libhra, Pawan Kang Libhra, Hani Libhra, Kulbir Singh, Harpal Singh Bahomajra, Kuldeep Singh Goh, Jatinder Singh Goh, Lakhvir Singh Goh, Mansa Singh and Malkit Singh Meeta said that it is for the first time in the history of the state that any Chief Minister has came to them, sat in their fields on a cot and interacted with them on various issues pertaining to the state. They also thanked the Chief Minister for ensuring canal waters to their fields adding that for the first this miracle has taken place in the villages. They said that due to the Chief Minister paddy cultivation has taken place with the canal water and the regular supply of power has ensured that they do not face any problem.

The farmers also said that they had already sold their generators used for pumping the water as they are no longer required due to the supply of canal water. They categorically said that no one did this in the last 70 years and Bhagwant Singh Mann has created history by taking several path breaking initiatives. They also hailed the Chief Minister for checking the scourge of drugs with a heavy hand and putting the affluent leaders behind the bars.

They also said that the Old age pensions are being given regularly to the beneficiaries which are a record in itself. They also hailed the Chief Minister for ensuring the live telecast of proceedings of the house so that they are able to see the performance of their elected leaders in the house. The villagers also lauded the Chief Minister for opening Aam Aadmi Clinics which has revolutionized the health care sector by imparting them quality health services free of cost.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the release of canal water to the fields of Balwinder Singh s/o Harminder Singh, village Baudli from Mogha Burji 4500 Khabba Pail. A 2.5-kilometer-long pipeline will be installed at a cost of ₹80 lakhs from this Mogha to supply canal water to 300 acres of land in the villages of Baudli, Bondal, and Dayalpur. The project has already been approved but due to paddy cultivation in the fields, the pipeline will be laid after the paddy is harvested.

Chandigarh, July 27: The Member of Parliament from the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Former Union Minister Manish Tewari had met the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh Shri Gulab Chand Kataria on 3rd of July 2025 to once again impress upon him to resolve the five outstanding issues of Chandigarh namely (a) Share-wise sale of Property, (b)  Need based changes in Chandigarh Housing Board residential dwellings (c) Ownership rights to people living in Relief and Rehabilitation Colonies, (d) abolition of Lal Dora in 22 urban villages of Chandigarh, (e)  Amalgamated Problems of Cooperative group housing  societies in the Southern Sectors of Chandigarh.

At the instance of the Hon’ble Governor Manish Tewari wrote to him again on 8th July 2025 on all these five issues. The said letters exhaustively detailed the problem and the corresponding solution to each of these outstanding issues that have been hanging fire now in case of certain issues going back two and a half decades (Copies of the said letters attached to this press release).

Mr Tewari has earlier also on numerous occasions taken up these issues with the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab  and his  predecessor  Sh Banwari Lal Purohit both in personal meetings and through regular correspondence in this regard.

It would be worth mentioning that Mr. Tewari has taken up all these five issues through Parliamentary Questions, Special Mentions and Zero Hour interventions in the Lok Sabha over the past thirteen odd months.

Mr Tewari has also taken up these five issues with the Prime Minister and Home Minister of the Union of India .

Mr Tewari urged upon the Governor that  five separate Empowered Group of Officials  with representation of Stakeholders in each group must be immediately set up without any further delay to resolve these five outstanding issues with dispatch because all of them pertain to the governance sphere of the Chandigarh Administration.

Once again I would like to impress upon the Administrator of Chandigarh  that the lives of the residents of Chandigarh is ‘sheer hell’ for the lack of a better metaphor because of the non resolution of these problems

Mohali, july 27: A Free Cervical Cancer Vaccination Drive for Economically Weaker Section girls was conducted by The Touch Clinic in Association with Rotary – AOGIN (Asia Oceania Research Organization in Genital Infection & Neoplasia) and Rotary Club Chandigarh at Mohali’s The Touch Clinic.
The vaccination drive which was a major step toward preventive women’s healthcare, took place under the expert stewardship of Dr Preeti Jindal, Director The Touch Clinic, Mohali; Senior Consultant Gynaecologist, IVF Specialist, High Risk Pregnancy expert and Robotic Surgeon. Fifty (50) girls from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) benefitted from the camp.
Dr. Preeti Jindal stated: “Prevention is the most powerful tool we have in healthcare. Through this initiative, our aim is to ensure that even the most underserved girls in our community get access to this life-saving vaccine. Every girl deserves protection from a cancer that can be stopped before it starts.”
Dr Preeti Jindal held the drive under a social initiative of the clinic. Dr Preeti provided a vaccine which normally costs Rs. 4000 free of cost to the needy girls.
Dr Preeti informed that cervical cancer which occurs in the lower part of the uterus, called the cervix, is the second most common cancer in Indian women, with more than 120,000 new cases each year. She added that tragically, India accounts for nearly a third of all cervical cancer deaths globally.
Dr Preeti further said that, “The good news is that there is now an HPV vaccine available that protects against the virus and helps prevent cervical cancer. This vaccine works best when given to girls between the ages of 9 to 14, ideally before they become sexually active. Doctors and the government now strongly recommend this vaccine for young girls to build protection early.”
Notably, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common viral infection, is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer. It is pertinent to state here that the HPV vaccine offers effective protection against the most dangerous strains of the virus. When administered before exposure (typically in adolescence), it can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by up to 90%.
Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness and financial challenges, many girls from poor families are not able to get this vaccine. That’s why it’s important for doctors, NGOs, and responsible citizens to come together and provide free or low-cost vaccination for these children. In this regard, The Touch Clinic has set an example worth emulating by other health service providers.
Meanwhile, this vaccination drive was a step toward achieving India’s vision of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030, in line with WHO targets. It also demonstrated how committed collaboration between healthcare providers and community organizations can lead to lasting impact.

Mohali, July 27, 2025: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fortis Hospital Mohali is spreading awareness regarding a new drug, Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) as first line therapy for patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Autoimmune Hepatitis, a lesser-known but serious and chronic liver disease that, if left untreated, can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer.

World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 every year. The theme of World Hepatitis Day-2025 is “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”.

What is Autoimmune Hepatitis?

While giving the information on World Hepatitis Day, Dr Arvind Sahni, Director Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, said, “Unlike viral hepatitis, Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is caused by the body’s own immune system attacking liver cells. The disease is more common in females, though it affects males too, with peak incidence seen in childhood, adolescence, and adults aged 40-60. With an incidence rate of 1.3 per lakh population, AIH often goes undetected. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of patients are already in advanced stages of liver disease at diagnosis.”

Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms range from none at all to severe, mimicking viral hepatitis or drug-induced liver injury. Patients may experience fatigue, jaundice, swelling of the legs, abdominal fluid build-up, gastrointestinal bleeding, menstrual irregularities, and neurological symptoms. Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) is also common, said Dr Sahni.

Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Diagnosis involves specific blood tests for liver function and autoimmune markers such as antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies. A liver biopsy is essential for confirmation.

Treatment

Autoimmune Hepatitis needs lifelong immunosuppressive treatment which includes steroids and azathioprine. Recently Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) is a new drug which has been approved as first line treatment in autoimmune hepatitis. MMF is more effective and better tolerated than traditional drugs like azathioprine, though it is contraindicated during pregnancy due to teratogenic risks. Liver transplantation may be considered in cases with decompensated cirrhosis”, he added. Incidentally, MMF is also used in Kidney and Liver Transplant recipients.

Dr Sahni emphasized, “Awareness about autoimmune hepatitis is critical. While it is less common than viral hepatitis, it is potentially more dangerous if undiagnosed or mismanaged. Early detection and timely intervention with newer therapies like MMF can significantly improve outcomes.”

About Fortis Healthcare Limited

Fortis Healthcare Limited – an IHH Healthcare Berhad Company – is a leading integrated healthcare services provider in India. It is one of the largest healthcare organizations in the country with 27 healthcare facilities, ~4,750 operational beds (including O&M facilities), and over 400 diagnostics centers (including JVs). The Company is listed on the BSE Ltd and National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India. It draws strength from its partnership with a global major and parent company – IHH, to build upon its culture of world-class patient care and superlative clinical excellence. Fortis employs over 23,000 people (including Agilus Diagnostics Limited) who share its vision of becoming the world’s most trusted healthcare network. Fortis offers a full spectrum of integrated healthcare services ranging from clinics to quaternary care facilities and a wide range of ancillary services.

Mohali : As many as 50 bariatric surgery patients took part in a weight-loss champions meet at Max Hospital, Mohali today. During the occasion, the participants shared their inspiring transformational journeys from being obese to the healthy person post successful bariatric surgery.

Many people who are overweight or obese spend years trying to take-off the weight through diet and exercise but have no success, says Dr. Anupam Goel, senior consultant gastro-intestinal & robotic Surgery at Max. In those cases, weight-loss surgery can be life-extending, he informs.

Chandigarh Congress has urged the Union Government not to give clearance to the proposed India-Pakistan matches during the upcoming Cricket Asia Cup in September, as the terror and the sports cannot go together.

Expressing deep concern at the media reports to the effect that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has agreed to hold India-Pakistan Cricket matches during Asia Cup tournament at a neutral venue, Rajiv Sharma, the Chief Spokesperson of Chandigarh Congress stated that the people of Chandigarh and India are extremely upset over this unwarranted agreement to resume cricket ties with Pakistan. 

The Congress spokesperson said that on the one hand, the operation Sindoor initiated to teach Pakisan a lesson for its acts of terror has not been called off, on the other hand, the Cricket Boards of both the countries have decided to foster friendly sporting relations with each other. Expressing his anguish that not a single killer of Pahalgam has been nabbed so far, the Congress spokesperson stated that in such circumstances, India can not play cricket matches with Pakistan.  He expressed concern that  during the match, a huge amount of money invested by Indian sponsors will go to the coffers of the bankrupt Pakistani Cricket Board, which could be used to perpetrate further terror attacks in India. He warned the BCCI that it must not do anything that increases the capacity of Pakistan to hit our country.

Further, the Congress spokesperson questioned the rationale of going to a neutral venue in order to please Pakistan, when India already possesses the right to host all matches. 

Stating that the decision of Indian Cricket Board to hold matches with Pakistan amounts to an insult to the self-respect of the people of Chandigarh and India, he urged the local Member of Parliament Manish Tewari to raise this issue in the Parliament.

The Congress Spokesperson condemned the President and other office bearers of the UT Cricket Association Chandigarh for keeping mum on this matter of National interest and added that their silence shows that they have no hesitation in compromising national dignity and self respect for petty gains.

Chandigarh, July 27: Marking World Hepatitis Day, Paras Health highlighted the urgent need for early screening and greater public awareness around hepatitis and liver health. The hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is actively working to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes through advanced technologies and expert-led care.

“Hepatitis often progresses silently and may only be detected once severe damage like cirrhosis or liver failure sets in. Timely testing is critical to prevent long-term complications,” said Dr Rakesh Kochhar, Director – Gastroenterology, Paras Health. He added that the hospital uses advanced diagnostic tools like Fibroscan, liver function tests, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and liver biopsy for early detection and effective management.

Hepatitis—caused by viruses such as Hepatitis B and C, alcohol use, long-term medication, or metabolic disorders—is increasingly becoming a public health concern in India. Doctors at Paras have also cautioned against the rising cases linked to some herbal and ayurvedic supplements.

According to WHO’s 2024 report, India has the highest global burden of viral hepatitis, with nearly 40 million people living with chronic Hepatitis B and 6–12 million with Hepatitis C. Yet, testing and treatment remain limited—less than 3% of Hepatitis B patients are diagnosed, and treatment rates for Hepatitis C are below 20% in many areas, including tier-II cities.

Paras Health is preparing to launch liver transplant services soon, with successful cases already conducted at its Gurugram centre. With a focus on prevention, timely care, and public education, the hospital continues to expand its specialised services for liver and digestive health in the region.

Chandigarh, July 27:

In a major step towards ensuring the dignity and welfare of senior citizens, the Punjab Government has disbursed an amount of ₹1347 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme up to June 2025. This was stated today by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development.

Sharing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that as many as 22.75 lakh senior citizens have benefitted from the pension scheme till June 2025. She further informed that a budgetary allocation of ₹4100 crore has been made under the scheme for the current financial year.

Dr. Kaur emphasized that the Mann Government is fully committed to the upliftment and care of the elderly population. “Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is working tirelessly with the motto ‘Our Elders, Our Pride’. Timely disbursal of pensions is a top priority,” she said.

The Minister also issued strict instructions to departmental officials to ensure that pension amounts are credited on time without any delay. “Our elderly citizens are our most valued asset, and any lapse or negligence in disbursing their pension will be viewed seriously,” she asserted.

Dr. Kaur further warned that any official found guilty of negligence in the implementation of the scheme, regardless of their position or influence, will face strict disciplinary action.

She concluded by saying that the government’s social security schemes are a vital support system for the elderly, and all efforts are being made to ensure that every eligible beneficiary receives their entitlements in a timely and respectful manner.

Chandigarh, July 25 – A vibrant celebration of Hariyali Teej took place on Friday evening at the residence of Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. The event was filled with traditional folk songs, and glimpses of rich cultural heritage. Women from across the state participated with great enthusiasm. Amid the greenery of the monsoon season, the colourful sarees, hands with mehndi, folk music, and dance created a truly beautiful and memorable atmosphere. Haryana Governor, Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh’s wife Smt. Mitra Ghosh,  Health Minister Kumari Arti Singh Rao, MLAs, Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma and Smt. Bimla Chaudhary, State BJP President MohanLal Badoli, BJP leader, Smt. Banto Kataria and several other dignitaries graced the occasion.

The event presided over by Vice-President of the Haryana State Council for Child Welfare  and  wife of the Chief Minister, Smt. Suman Saini. During the programme, she also visited the exhibition set up on the occasion of the Teej festival.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister extended greetings to the people of the state and said that Teej is not just a festival—it is the soul of our culture. It represents family values, social bonding, and our traditions. He especially appreciated the presence of young girls and said it is our collective responsibility to keep the new generation connected to their cultural roots.

Haryana is proud of its rich traditions and folk culture. Our folk songs, dances, music, and art are carriers of our cultural identity. Through them, the youth remain connected to their culture. It is the need of the hour to preserve and promote this heritage, he added.

Reiterating the state government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, the Chief Minister highlighted various initiatives and achievements aimed at improving the lives of women. He said that women form half of our population, and a Viksit Bharat can only be built when they play an equal and active role in shaping our society and nation. 

He also appealed to all the women present to go beyond rituals and use the occasion of Teej to draw inspiration for environmental protection. He emphasised that the greenery of Sawan (monsoon) will return only when we plant more trees and protect nature.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister extended greetings to the people of the state and said that Teej is not just a festival—it is the soul of our culture. It represents family values, social bonding, and our traditions. He especially appreciated the presence of young girls and said it is our collective responsibility to keep the new generation connected to their cultural roots.

Haryana is proud of its rich traditions and folk culture. Our folk songs, dances, music, and art are carriers of our cultural identity. Through them, the youth remain connected to their culture. It is the need of the hour to preserve and promote this heritage, he added.