Indian Army Dental Corps Recruitment 2012

Indian Army Dental Corps Recruitment 2012 : 36 SSC Officers Vacancies
Nitin Oct 3rd, 2012
Indian Army Dental Corps Recruitment 2012 Applications are invited from Indian Nationals for grant of Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps (AD Corps).
Total No. of vacancies – 36
Eligibility:
(a) Candidates must be BDS (with minimum 55% marks in final year)/MDS from a College/University recognized by Dental Council of India (DCI). (b) Should have completed one year rotatory Internship recognized by DCI by 31 Oct 2012.
(c) Should be in possession of Permanent Dental Registration Certificate valid at least upto 31 Dec 2012.
(d) Should be less than 45 years of age as on 31 Dec 2012.
(e) Should be medically fit in all respects for service in the Armed Forces.
Selection Procedure:
(a) Short-listing for interview: BDS candidates found eligible will be short-listed based on their Final BDS marks and attempts taken in Final BDS. Short-listed candidates will be called for interview. All MDS candidates found eligible & in possession of MDS degree will be called for interview. There will be no short-listing in their case.
(b) Medical Examination: Candidates provisionally placed on merit list after interview by Selection Board will be brought before a Medical Board for ascertaining their Medical Fitness.
Pay Scale:
The candidates on commissioning in AD Corps will be granted rank of Capt in the pay scale PB-3 (15600-39100). They will be granted Grade Pay of Rs 6100/- & Military Service Pay of Rs 6000/-. Non-practicing allowance (NPA) at the rate of 25% of the Basic pay, Grade Pay & MSP and DA as admissible (total emoluments will be appx Rs 60,000/-p.m.). In addition, entitled free ration, subsidized accommodation and allied facilities shall be provided. MDS degree holder will be eligible for PG allowance of Rs.1250/- p.m. or specialist pay after undergoing the laid down procedure. In addition, officers are entitled to 60 days annual leave & 20 days casual leave, LTC, free Medical facilities for self and family including dependent parents, Group Insurance of Rs. 40 lakhs & unit CSD facility etc as per the existing rules.
How to Apply for Indian Army Dental Corps Recruitment 2012:
Candidates should apply to the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS/DENTAL), Room No.12, ‘L’ Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi – 110001, on a separate plain paper giving particulars in the application form click here for specimen format, so as to reach by 31 Oct 2012. Candidates who have applied earlier may also apply if they fulfil the eligibility criteria.
Indian Army Dental Corps Recruitment 2012

Army College of Medical Sciences: Admission Procedure Violates Equality

“Private non-minority colleges can't have 100% reservation” The Hindu New Delhi, May 15, 2011
Private non-minority unaided veteran educational institutions can't have 100 per cent share or a right to acknowledge students of their choice from usually a sold amicable group, incompatible all other students from being deliberate for admission, a Supreme Court has held.

A Bench of Justices B. Sudershan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar was environment aside a process of a Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS), New Delhi, to distribute all seats to wards of stream and late Army crew and widows of Army personnel, supposing they compete in a Common Entrance Test controlled by suitable authorities for acknowledgment to medical colleges in a National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Bench hold that a grant postulated by a Delhi supervision permitting a ACMS to fill 100 per cent seats with wards of Army crew “violates a simple beliefs of approved governance.”
Justice Reddy, essay a judgment, said: “It is now a well-settled component of a inherent jurisprudence that Article 14 does not merely aspires to yield for a adults small grave equality, though also equivalence of standing and of opportunity. The goals of a nation-state are a securing for all adults a companionship assuring a grace of a sold and a togetherness of a nation. If a publicly offering use follows a sold order that achieves a same or identical consequences as a restricted discrimination, and tends to continue a effects of such discrimination, afterwards it would violate a component of concrete equality.”

The Bench said:
“In a box of admissions to colleges, it is an concurred fact that a basement of supposed comprehensive abilities, we would finish adult selecting some-more students from improved amicable and educational backgrounds, thereby foreclosing or almost truncating a probability of people in such disadvantaged groups from being means to benefit entrance to a critical component of complicated life that grants grace to a individuals, and thereby to a organisation as a whole, both in this generation, and in destiny generations.
“If a immeasurable infancy of a youngsters, generally those belonging to disadvantaged groups, is denied entrance in a aloft educational institutions in a private sector, it would meant that a immeasurable infancy of youngsters, notwithstanding a naturally equal placement of talent and ability, belonging to disadvantaged groups, would be left but entrance to aloft preparation during all. That would consecrate a state of amicable puncture with a intensity for flame that would be on an unthinkable scale. The fact that non-minority unaided educational institutions insist on ‘social disadvantages blind’ acknowledgment policies is explanation that they are not recognising a loyal purpose of preparation as an occupation.”

‘Illegal, ultra vires’
The Supreme Court said: “The acknowledgment procedures devised by a Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi Cantonment, for revelation students to a initial year MBBS march from a pre-defined source, forged out by itself and a primogenitor society, are bootleg and ultra vires a Delhi Act 80 of 2007.”
It destined a authorities to acknowledge a command petitioners to a initial year of MBBS march in ACMS “if a command petitioners still so desire, for they have been deprived of their legitimate right of acknowledgment to a march for no error of theirs, notwithstanding a arrange cumulative by them in a CET by formulating supernumerary seats. However, we make it transparent that a admissions already done by a Army College of Medical Sciences are saved and shall not be influenced in any demeanour whatsoever.”
The Indian Medical Association and some students challenged a acknowledgment process of a ACMS. After a Delhi High Court inspected a policy, appeals and command petitions were filed in a Supreme Court doubt a policy.
“Private non-minority colleges cannot have 100% reservation”
Read comments by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh

Modi magic that makes Gujarat tick

The recently concluded fifth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit, the man, described as a "visionary" has roped in investments worth Rs 21 lakh crore, from 7,936 MoUs inked across diverse sectors in the two days. Dedicating the summit to the youth and women, he promised to create over 52 lakh livelihoods and job opportunities with the money. Behind his hardcore Hindutva image is a businessman with hardselling abilities.
India Inc leaders can't stop praising the man for his efforts to make Gujarat a civic and industrial example to follow.
"Gujarat is shining like a lamp of gold and the credit goes to the visionary, effective and passionate leadership provided by Narendra Modi. We have a leader here with vision and determination to translate this vision into reality," Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said.
Tata Group chief Ratan Tata said: "The leadership of Narendra Modi has proved that Gujarat is not only seeing industrial growth but is also witnessing rural development."
Anil Ambani exhorted other states to take a cue from Modi for development. "Gujarat is a role model for other states to learn from ... Narendra bhai has single handedly transformed the state into a power state," he said. Gujarat today is the power capital and power hub of the country and stands out in a sharp contrast to other states in the country, Ambani added.
Several others who have set up shop in recent times in the state vouch for the "corruption-free" and speedy processes. Little wonder, since Mr Modi believes in "minimum government and maximum governance."
Modi’s Gujarat – The dream destination
Comment: Gujarat is a Citizen Safe destination- free of corruption the state is taking gaint strides in all round progress- piped cooking gas to all rural homes and 24 hour electricity to all homes- extraordinary statistics.

Useful Information

Kindly share this valuable information
1. If you see children Begging anywhere in INDIA , please contact:
"RED SOCIETY" at 9940217816. They will help the children for their studies.
2. Where you can search for any BLOOD GROUP, you will get thousand's of donor address. www.friendstosupport.org
3. Engineering Students can register in www.campuscouncil.com to attend Off Campus Interview for 40 Companies.
4. Free Education and Free hostel for Handicapped/Physically Challenged children. Contact:- 9842062501 & 9894067506.
5. If anyone meets with a fire accident or people born with problems in their ear, nose and mouth can get free PLASTIC SURGERY done by Kodaikanal PASAM Hospital. From 23rd March to 4th April by German Doctors. Everything is free. Contact : 045420-240668,245732. "Helping Hands are Better than Praying Lips"
6. If you find any important documents like Driving license, Ration card, Passport, Bank Pass Book, etc., missed by someone, simply put them into any near by Post Boxes. They will automatically reach the owner and Fine will be collected from them.
7. By the next 10 months, our earth will become 4 degrees hotter than what it is now. Our Himalayan glaciers are melting at rapid rate. So let all of us lend our hands to fight GLOBAL WARMING.
-Plant more Trees.
-Don't waste Water & Electricity.
-Don't use or burn Plastics
8. It costs 38 Trillion dollars to create OXYGEN for 6 months for all Human beings on earth. "TREES DO IT FOR FREE- Respect them and Save them"
9. Special phone number for Eye bank and Eye donation: 04428281919 and 04428271616 (Sankara Nethralaya Eye Bank). For More information about how to donate eyes plz visit these sites. http://ruraleye.org/
10. Heart Surgery free of cost for children (0-10 yr) Sri Valli Baba Institute Banglore. Contact : 9916737471
11. Medicine for Blood Cancer! 'Imitinef Mercilet' is a medicine which cures blood cancer. Its available free of cost at "Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai". Create Awareness. It might help someone.
Cancer Institute in Adyar, Chennai
Address: East Canal Bank Road , Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai -600020
Phone: 044-24910754 044-24910754, 044-24911526 044-24911526, 044-22350241, 044-22350241
12. Please CHECK WASTAGE OF FOOD
If you have a function/ party at your home in India and food gets wasted, don't hesitate to call 1098 (only in India)- This is the number of Child helpline.
They will come and collect the food.
AND LETS TRY TO HELP INDIA BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN
Please Save Our Mother Nature for "OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS"
... Forwarded by Lt Gen Yati Panwar (Retd)

Comment: Internet forwarded message. Contents not verified. Information seems very useful.

ECHS reaching out to Veterans and Pension news

A very important input on ECHS is appended below.
Very small percentage of veterans are on email.
Kindly do your best to pass on this information to maximum number of veterans and their dependents.
Take a printout and place it on notice boards at all CSD canteens, community centres, officers clubs and other suitable places. Also keep passing the information on phone and by word of mouth.
THANK YOU.
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
PS – The letter of of ECHS HQ below, has been typed by me from a JPG image. All care has been taken to avoid errors, however some minor error cannot be ruled out.

From: Cdr V Vaidyanathan
Sent: 14 January 2011 19:25
Subject: TAC - ECHS
A good news for all travelling veterans with in India. They need not take any TAC from the parent polyclinic. I am attaching the Central Org letter No B/49711/AG/ECHS dated 16 dec for your info. Please note that the order is valid for OLD as well as NEW Smart cards.
Regards
Vaithy
Cdr V Vaidyanathan IN (Retd)
OIC ECHS Polyclinic Chennai

Re: Circular 449
Dear Sir
As per GOI MOD Dept of ESW letter 17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Pol) letter dated 21 May 2009 the Family pension of Lt Col and Equivalent is fixed as Rs 15420. As per the latest Circular 449 family pension for Lt Col and equivalent is fixed as 8760. Why this reduction and the justification for the same? The 60% of max pension of Lt Col is 15420 whereas 8760 is much less. This is a typographical error in the GOI MOD Dept of ESW letter 17(3)/2010/D(Pen/Pol) letter dated 15 Non 2010.
It is requested that the error be corrected on an urgent basis before the PDA act on the same and start recovery process.
Brgds
R W Pathak
Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak

Mosquito bites at CWG Village bigger concern than terror attacks

Melbourne: Australia's swimming coach Leigh Nugent says hygiene at the Commonwealth Games Village in Delhi is a bigger concern for him than the terror threats to the October 3 to 14 event.

"You can go to a Western-style country and still get sick, but on the subcontinent they have bugs we have no resistance to," Nugent was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"Things like vomiting and diarrhoea can run rampant through a team, wreaking havoc on months of preparation and destroying medal chances. So you have to be extra vigilant and make sure you have as many preventative measures in place as you can."

Nugent said all the Australian swimmers have been given hand-sanitising gel, probiotics to boost immunity and long-sleeved shirts, long trousers and bug repellent plus mosquito zappers to guard against diseases such as dengue and malaria.

"And even when you're having a shower, you should keep your mouth closed," Nugent said. "We're living in the village with probably 7000 or 8000 other people and not everyone has good hygiene, and you don't know who's touched the door in front of you," he said.

"Touching things, you can pick up bugs that you're not used to in our normal environment and next thing you're sick and out of action. All of these bugs are invisible, so you have to be ultra-careful."

Nugent said the swimmers have already instructed about personal hygiene during the October 3 to 14 event. "They're well educated in it, but it needs to be habitual," Nugent said.

"When we're in our strategy camp in Kuala Lumpur we'll be really ramming that message home hard and prompting our athletes and our staff so that they stay fit and healthy. It's easy to forget, but you really can't afford to forget in this environment," he added.
Hygiene at CWG Village bigger concern than terror
Kalmadi's Challenge: Can he beat the Mosquitoes?
Dengue: 72 new cases in Delhi; total No. at 2296

CWG: Indian Army asked to fight mosquitoes

Dengue fever is a febrile illness caused by an RNA flavivirus that is spread by the bites of mosquitoes. The symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, rash, severe pains in the muscles and joints, and pain behind the eyes. The severe muscle pains have led some to call the disease "break bone fever".
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi has sought the help of Indian Army personnel for specific tasks to ensure a successful conduct of the 2010 Games.

Suresh Kalmadi seeks Indian Army’s assistance for Common Wealth Games 2010

Commonwealth Games: Army asked to work for free by Rajat Pandit, TNN, Aug 21, 2010, 12.44am IST

New Delhi, Sept. 8: With dengue cases in the city crossing the 1,400 mark, the Indian Army will be drafted to fight mosquito menace near the Commonwealth Games Village, where athletes and delegates will stay during the Oct-3-14 mega event, an official said Wednesday.

A decision to deploy the army was taken at a meeting of health officials held by Delhi health minister Kiran Walia and Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna has accorded it his approval, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi's
Public Health Committee chairman V.K. Monga.

A letter will soon be sent to the army authorities, and army personnel willin a day or two start working with the help of MCD staffers, who apparently are finding it difficult to drain out water from the Village surroundings.

The services of the army's engineering department are being secured to help in this task, officials said.

Due to massive construction work in and around the Games Village, which has been built on the Yamuna's river-bed in east Delhi, and ar other venues for the mega sporting event, Delhi has witnessed a surge in dengue cases.

Monga told IANS that the Army will drain out water from water pools near the Games Village, spray anti-larval chemical in the area, and clean and level pools flooded with incessant rains and Yamuna water.

He said the Army's help has been sought as it is better equipped to deal with such situations and its pesonnel can go down in the water.

"They also have all the equipment required for the work," Monga added.

At least 24 Commonwealth countries have made inquiries about the status of dengue in the capital.

Mosquito breeding will be at its peak during the hot and humid October and the Yamuna banks are likely to be the main breeding ground for mosquitoes responsible for dengue and malaria, an official said.
Delhi asks Army to fight mosquitoes September 8th, 2010

Citizen comments
Submitted by Pasupathy on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:36am.
The Indian Army organized the International Military Games in Hyderabad with aplomb. Probably if the Army was tasked to coduct CWG four years ago they would have done it in a professional and economic way and the funds that has been spent/ going to be spent could have been utilised to equip the Army to meet their critical shortages. It is an irony that Indian Army has been called to fight mosquitoes in Delhi. What image we are projecting for the Country and the Army? May be some international players may withdraw from competing due to the mosquito menace.

Submitted by AKC on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 11:51pm.
Why should Indian Army get involved in this filth that our politicians created. This clearly shows that there was no proper planning done either by Common Wealth Games Organization Committee that is conducting the games and the Govts at the center and Delhi UT. Army should outrightly reject this request. There are other things that the Army can take care of. This (cleaning) needs to be done with the help of other departments as well as with the help of social organizations. Don't we have NCC cadets and other people from surronding muncipalities who can take care of this mess. As a last resort, para-military forces can be used but certainly NOT Army. Personally, I feel that these games will project India in bad-light and will bring bad name. It is too late to call it off now, anyway. Possible Corrective measures need to be taken at the earliest and save some pride.

Submitted by blaze on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 8:17pm.
ha ha ha mosquitos are more harmful than maoists. Politicians are money eaters and should be given the highest punishment for their crime.

Submitted by Ravi Shendarkar on Wed, 08/09/2010 - 7:58pm.
Either the Delhi government needs to be admitted to a mental hospital or the Army Authorities who will sanction troops to such unnoble cause.

Ahead of CWG, Kiran Bedi's Book on Civic Sense

Outlook India New Delhi | Aug 26, 2010
Moved by the 'not so good' image of civic sense of Indians among foreigners, India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi has brought out suggestions for laymen to improve their civic behaviour ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

"There are article after article in foreign nations calling Indians unhygienic and dirty. Being a true Indian, I wanted to change the scenario," says Kiran Bedi who has collaborated with socio-political thinker, Pavan Chaudary for the book Broom and Groom.

With an introduction by former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the hardbound book suggests globally accepted manners and etiquette and features a muppet and other illustrations on its pages.

"Foreigners hug and hold hands in public. We should not stand and start staring at them, else they will carry a bad impression of us back home," Bedi told PTI while releasing the book here last evening.

Co-author Pavan Chaudary says the government should stop tweaking and wake up before the games to provide good sanitation and hygiene conditions.

"India was the first cradle of civic virtue in the world as Indus and Mohanjodaro civilisations had irrefutable evidence of good sanitation and code of conduct," he says.

Invoking Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he said,"Gandhi ji said our Swaraj will stink if we do not clean our backyards. But, post-independence our governments have failed to provide education and infrastructure for good hygiene."

According to the authors, the idea to write the book came due to the appalling living conditions in our country and from their desire of not seeing India lag behind other nations in terms of civility.

"The book tells that we are not giving up. We are starting a revival and revolution of civility. The book is for civil responsibility," says Bedi.

The book focusses on civic sense issues such as not spitting paan at public places, ogling at female co-passengers in an elevator or quarrelling in front of a guest at home.

Catering to a variety of sections ranging from the elite to government servants and domestic help, the book covers such issues such as restaurant and banquet manners, auditoria or airplanes must dos, gymnasium and sports field behaviour, greeting properly as well as being a good host or house guest.

Anu Anand, publisher, Wisdom Village(Publication Division) says, "We are happy to introduce the book just before CWG. We hope our readers will learn and put their best foot forward before our guests from 54 countries during the Delhi CWG."

The publisher has started a website and blog to get feedback from readers whose suggestions will be included in the next edition of the book. The book would also be released in Hindi and other regional languages soon.

"Keeping a good hygiene has been brought out very nicely. Each page in the book is useful to improve the way of life," says Kalam in his foreword.
Ahead of CWG, Kiran Bedi's Book on Civic Sense

World Tobacco Day focuses on Protecting Women Worldwide

Sunday, May 30, 2010
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Globally, every year, May 31st is observed as World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). This year the focus is on Gender and Tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women. In commemoration of World No Tobacco Day this year, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India with support of World Health Organisation (WHO), and in collaboration with Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) and other partner organization including Voluntary Health Association of India(VHAI), India Cancer Society (ICS), Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY), and Consumer Online Foundation (COF), is organizing an event at Lady Hardinge Medical College auditorium, N.Delhi. The activities include an exhibition and panel discussion on the theme, skits by school students. Ms. Barkha Singh, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women will be the chief guest for the function.

Tobacco is the most common preventable cause of death in the world today. Globally 5.4 million deaths can be attributed to tobacco use, and it is expected that by year 2030 about 80% of these deaths will be in developing countries where tobacco use continues to grow in a healthy manner. Roughly 10 % of the tobacco smokers live in India, and if we include the chewers the data will more than double. Currently India accounts for a sixth of world tobacco related deaths.

According to a study published in ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ in Feb, 2008 smoking alone will cause one million deaths every year in India during the 2010’s. As per the estimates from the latest round of National Family Health Survey-3 (2005-06) 57% males and 10.8% females reportedly consuming tobacco in some form , smoked or chewed. More than a third of Indian men and about 8% of the Indian women chew tobacco in form of gutkha or paan masala, the prevalence is more in rural areas than urban areas. Among women, 0.5% in urban areas and 2% in rural areas use the smoking form of tobacco products and about 6% of urban women and about 12% of rural women use smokeless tobacco.

Further, in India about 6 million farmers are involved in growing tobacco and it provides employment to 36 million people. Likewise, more than 4.4 million people are engaged in bidi rolling, and majority of them are women and children. These are conservative estimates as bidi rolling is mainly a household activity, and the entire family is engaged.

Tobacco and Women
The adverse health effects of tobacco on men and women exhibit sex-specific differences and women have specific health issues due to its use and exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS). The adverse effects on reproductive health, including those on unborn child and the newborn are issues of grave concern for women.

Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of health and behavioral problems including: abnormal blood pressure in infants and children, cleft pallets and lips, childhood leukemia, infantile colic, childhood wheezing, respiratory disorders in childhood, eye problems during childhood, mental retardation, attention deficit disorder, behavioral problems and other learning and developmental problems.

In addition, the industry also engages a large number of women in tobacco farming and manufacturing and thus exposes them to a multitude of adverse health effects. Women working as tobacco workers suffer from numerous health hazards and various kinds of exploitation from the employers. Tobacco workers are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, exploitation and helplessness. Low wages, poor returns, lack of alternatives and exploitation at the hands of middlemen keep them in perpetual poverty and debt. Bidi rollers handle tobacco flakes and inhale tobacco dust as well as volatile components of tobacco which put them at a high risk of cancer, chronic lung diseases, tuberculosis, asthma, eye problems, pains in neck and back, gynecological problems.

In order to protect the youth and women from the adverse harm effects of tobacco use and Second hand Smoke, Govt. of India enacted “Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) in 2003. The Act also bans all forms of advertisement (direct and indirect), promotions and sponsorship of tobacco products.

In the report “Women and Health: today’s evidence, tomorrow’s agenda,” Director-General of WHO, Margaret Chan wrote “protecting and promoting the health of women is crucial to health and development – not only for the citizens of today but also for those of future generations”. Hence, recognizing the importance of reducing tobacco use among women, and acting upon that recognition, would save many lives. DS
‘World No Tobacco Day’ focuses on Protecting Women from Tobacco Use and Tobacco Marketing

Incredible India, can we have a Clean India?

Peeing and spitting has become the National Hobby- You cannot miss or mask it
“Are you on the side of those who make India hang her head in shame or those who raise her head in pride,” asks Aamir Khan in an ‘Incredible India' advertisement. I am as big a patriot as is the next person, but sometimes, queries buzz about inside my head querulously. Is there any harm in talking about those aspects of our country that could be wished away!

Do you need that big gob of spit that just misses your big toe on your way to an important appointment? Or that red-flecked liquid spewed out so casually in a traffic snarl? What could be worse than that giant phlegm-filled hawk that begins from deep inside a champion ‘spitter', making you wince and shut your eyes and ears in anticipation of the actual event? And those artistic red squiggles on pristine walls, winding staircases, and ironically, below signs which scream “Please do not spit here!”

What about the male members of the human species with undoubtedly canine habits, when they sight a vacant wall, and proceed to let loose in public? The movie Three Idiots has a funny yet effective way of dealing with this, where the culprit receives a gentle jolt, just enough to bring him to his senses, yet does no permanent harm! Pedestrians are often caught between the devil and the deep blue sea; is it safer to sink into excreta, or step off the pavement and be hit by a bus! Tread on mush or turn into mush, as it were!

The tagline of Lays Chips (no one can eat just one!) rings true as one perceives bright wrappers forming part of the vast garbage dump that our roads have turned into. Plastic bottles, cans, fruit peels and groundnut shells turn the picture murkier! On one memorable suburban train ride from Guindy to Chetpet in Chennai, I walked in confidently to a deserted corner in the ladies' compartment, only to be assailed by a stench that made my insides churn. Someone had let her child squat on the floor and left the evidence behind! ‘Incredible India', anyone?
Forget about Incredible India, can we have a Clean India? by DEEPTI MENON: The Hindu
Related news:
Expanding cities, vanishing space for citizens by T. R. Bhat: The Hindu

Operation clean-up: govt decides to dissolve MCI

Seemi Pasha , CNN-IBN Posted on May 13, 2010 at 22:31
New Delhi: The Union government has decided in principle to dissolve the scam-hit Medical Council of India. In its place there will be a seven-member doctors panel which will carry out the functions of the MCI till the Indian Medical Council Act is amended.

The Health ministry will identify the doctors on the panel that will include former AIIMS chief Dr Venugopal and Dr Deka. The medical council is to be dissolved through an ordinance.

The panel, empowered with the approval authority of medical colleges for now, will also submit a blue print to the Prime Minister on constitution of a new body to replace the Medical Council of India.
Operation clean-up: govt decides to dissolve MCI

Indian Military: Medicines purchased from unregistered sources

‘Tainted’ Brigadier asks for promotion
He is facing trial for procuring medicines worth Rs 9 cr illegally
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1
While the Army has convened a general court martial (GCM) to try the commandant of a military hospital on charges of corruption, the accused Brigadier in turn has moved the Armed Forces Tribunal challenging his trial and demanding that he be promoted to the rank of major general as approved by a selection board earlier.

Brig Anil Kayastha, who was head of the Military Hospital, Jalandhar, is facing six charges, including three involving moral turpitude. He is alleged to have purchased medical supplies worth more than Rs 9 crore from the unregistered dealers with intent to defraud during November 2006 and January 2008.

The trial, presided by Maj Gen T.K. Das, Chief Signal Officer, Western Command, commenced at Ferozepur on April 29. Brigadier Kayastha has submitted a plea before the GCM, challenging its jurisdiction on the grounds that no charges are made out against him and there is no due application of mind by the authorities concerned while deciding his case.

As per rules, medicines are to be procured through local purchase only from registered dealers selected by a board of officers. According to sources, when board proceedings containing names of 60 dealers was put up to him for approval, he allegedly asked the board’s head to include the names of 20 more dealers. He is also alleged to have cancelled, with intent to defraud, the rate inquiries prepared by the officer in charge of the hospital’s medical store to be issued to vendors for procurement.

In his petition before the Tribunal, he has claimed that he was screened for promotion in 2008-09 and had reasons to believe that he was approved for promotion to the rank of Major General. He was expecting formal orders to this effect in May 2009 but those junior to him were promoted in June 2009. He has contended that he was denied promotion due to pendency of disciplinary proceedings whereas there were no disciplinary proceedings against him at the time he was approved for promotion.

He has claimed that he was due to pick up his rank on May 1, 2009, while the tentative charge-sheet following the court of inquiry was issued only on June 23, 2009. He had taken up the matter of denial of promotion with the Director General Medical Services, but got no response.
Tainted Brigadier asks for promotion
Local Purchase Scam
Brigadier Under Scanner In Jalandhar Medicine ‘Scam’

Comment: Local Purchase of sub- standard products for the soldiers is a common phenomenon. Commission in the range of 10% to 20% as bribes exchange hands and travel up the ladder. The local purchase syndrome should be curbed as Junior Officers too get involved in commissions even on minor purchases- (A vendor in Chennai confirmed an Officer from the Army wanted 20% commission for purchase of dry fruits- the vendor wondered how such an officer is going to defend the Nation?) The disease is cancerous and soon bound to degrade Military Profession in general. Promotions of Officers are based on ACR's which are generally biased and skewed. How come corrupt and tainted officers are recommended for promotion? Is the MS branch also in the corruption loop one wonders!

2 million under five Indian children die every year: Report

Despite India's economic prosperity, nearly two million children under the age of five, die every year in the country, the highest number anywhere in the world, a media report said on Sunday.

More than half of them die the month after birth and 400,000 in their first 24 hours, The Observer said based on a report by an international NGO 'Save the Children'. Even in the national capital, Delhi, where an estimated 20 per cent of people live in slums, the infant mortality rate was reported to have doubled in a year, it said.

"The difference between rich and poor is huge. In a city like Delhi it is more stark because we have got state-of-the-art hospitals and women giving birth under flyovers. The health services have failed to deliver," Shireen Miller, Head policy and advocacy of the NGO in India said.

The report also revealed that the poor are disproportionately affected and accused the country of failing to provide adequate healthcare for the impoverished majority of one billion people.

Malnutrition, neonatal diseases, diarrhoea and pneumonia were identified as the major causes of death. "For many poor parents and their children, seeking medical help is a luxury and health services are often too far away," Miller said

The report said nearly nine million children die worldwide every year before the age of five. India has the highest number of deaths, with China on the fifth place.
2 million under five Indian children die every year: Report

Physical fitness and Low Medical Category

Ref: click me

Incentives and corrective action are important tools in maintaining physical fitness. Officers and Jawans who are physically fit should be commended for performance. Those who repeatedly fail the stipulated physical standards should be barred from further promotions. A repetitive failure occurs when a record test is taken and failed, the soldier is provided adequate time and assistance to improve his or her performance, and failure occurs again.

Staying physically fit provides Officers and Jawans with benefits in addition to staying in the Armed forces. It will increase each one's quality of life, help one maintain weight and reduce risk of certain health problems.

Although the Physical Proficiency tests is an annual event, physical fitness remains the foundation for individual and unit combat readiness. It begins with our officer, Junior commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer leadership and must be an integral part of every one's life.

There are many senior officers who are physically unfit and manipulate ways to cheat the system (medical and physical). This is likely to reduce the combat readiness and effectiveness of units. Low Medical Category officers must be boarded out graciously instead of promoting them as an incentive. Most of the LMC officers seek a plum peace posting at the expense of officers serving in field areas. A retrograde step indeed!

Good Health Do's and Dont's

The benefits obtained from the tips below are an enjoyable day, good appetite, complete digestion, feeling fine all times; high energy levels, de- stressed day and good precious deep sleep every night.

Answer the phone by LEFT ear

Do not drink coffee TWICE a day

Do not take pills with COOL water

Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm

Reduce the amount of TEA you consume

Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume

Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night

Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS

Do not use headphones/ earphone for LONG period of time

Best sleeping time is from 10 pm at night to 6 am in the morning

Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping

When battery is down to the LAST grid/ bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times more

Brig SK Rathee (Retd)

ECHS

ECHS is indeed a very welcome facility for us. A much needed requirement for all especially retired ex- servicemen. Hopefully the authorities are seriously considering the following 'human' failings which are negatively affecting the quality of the service.
ECHS polyclinics are getting more and more crowded with the patients. A sick person in pain can hardly wait endlessly and go around collecting queue coupons.
The Specialists, overcrowded with patients, do not give enough time to examine the patient properly. Medicines are prescribed without checking the root causes for them.
The prescribed medicines are sometimes not available. The person at the distribution counter summarily issues a substitute without clearly marking it as a substitute. Medicines issued have different brand names furthur confusing the patient
Majority of the patients are 60 years or older. Specialists trained in treating old persons ailments are required.

V K Ahuja
Brig (Retd)
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ECHS- A Failed Concept- A Point of View
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn". Alvin Toffler

Ex-Serviceman Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) was a noble concept to formulate a comprehensive health care scheme to cater to the needs of pensioners of the Armed Forces, and reduce the load on the service hospitals. However from the very inception I held a different view - While curtailing the teeth to tail ratio of the services we should not have curtailed in case of the AMC but in a phased manner increased the Doctors, staff and support services keeping in line with the increasing strength of our Ex-Servicemen (ESM). Few years back, before the ECHS was born I had gone to call on some officer. There I met a serving Maj Gen who was involved in the Study to introduce the concept of ECHS for the ESM. Having had few drinks the General officer started talking about his involvement in this yeoman project. I bluntly and frankly told the General "You will be doing greatest dis service to the ESM of the rural far-flung areas", I also told him about the problems and corruption likely to set in due course. The General did not appreciate my views. He said the concept must be tried out before such comments are made. I told him "this is the problem". We start certain projects because some one wants to implement a new idea without taking the views of a cross section of the environment. Truly playing to HMV (His Masters Voice). As I did not further want to be a spoilt sport for the evening as he was also to have dinner there. Some of the problems I had visualized prior to the ECHS having been established:

The ECHS would only help the creamy layer of the towns, especially the officers and not the ESM of remote areas. How do you replace the trust and faith our serving soldiers and the ESM have in the armed forces doctors. ESM will prefer to visit MHs rather than ECHS Polyclinics.

The salary offered to the doctors may not attract the best of the talent for the ECHS to be established in remote, rural areas especially when the aim of ECHS would be to extend Health Care arm to distant remote areas and not focus in metros, big cities and military stations.

I had also forecast certain malpractices, likely to set in based on experience with reimbursement of medical bills of serving/ retired personnel of other departments. Post ECHS concept having put in place, Over the period I have had extensive opportunity of interacting with a large number of ESM while serving in CI/ CT environment and also while I was on leave in my village. The feedback on ECHS is not encouraging. In the words of the DGAFMS Vice Admiral VK Singh "ECHS is a big failure". ECHS I believe was conceived to be run, somewhat on the lines of the CGHS. However ECHS in the present form is no where near the CGHS. Now without going into history I would like to bring to the notice of those who refuse to see the problems of ECHS:

The concept of ECHS as I view it, was primarily to extend the medicare arm to remote distant areas and secondly to decongest the existing service hospitals. I feel the focus has been reversed . The ESM of military station and metros are drawing maximum benefits and the ESM of remote areas are undergoing added harassment.

Station HQs with re- employed officers are not geared to meet the additional load of work involved in processing the ECHS membership. Becoming a member of the ECHS by an ESM from a remote area involves a minimum of 10 trips to become a member due to babugiri and related hassles at the station HQs. Problems are well known to all. Problems of conveyance of senior retired ESMs for repeated visits for getting the ECHS card. Who bears the burden? It may cost an ESM of remote areas upto Rs 2000/- just to get the card made not counting days wasted! OPD accommodation problems at empanelled hospitals if not admitted and the related financial burden on the ESM. ESM get themselves enrolled only on contacting serious diseases. ESM go to empanelled hospitals for a specific disease whereas these hospitals carry out investigations not only related to the disease, leading to highly inflated bills. This is sometimes done by ESM in connivance with these hospitals. ESM visit empanelled hospitals posing an emergency case and put up inflated bills thereafter.

The investigations be it laboratory or radiological investigations are ordered to suit the need of the hospital (monetary) rather than to suit the case. The normal investigation which we can get for Rs 50 will normally be available at Rs 100 or so just because it is not paid by the consumer but by the Government. The treatment given is also very expensive and do not corroborate with the disease per se, for e.g. the antibiotics prescribed are the costliest ones available in the market. Colossal amount of money has been spent in a great hurry on buying modern tech medical equipment without the support staff to handle. At certain ECHS co-located with MH and minimal load of ESM such equipment was not essential are presently lying idle! Why the government should pay to the private hospitals for the investigation and treatment which is available in service hospitals. Our armed forces are continuously modernizing its hospitals by continuously acquiring the latest medical and diagnostic equipments.

"ECHS is a big failure", Surg Vice Admiral VK Singh, DGAFMS & Sr Col Comdt AMC in his inaugural address for Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) at ALC, Pune mentioned on 23rd Nov 2006.

To arrest the malpractices existing in the present ECHS concept and revert back to the old system a few suggestions :

ECHS in remote areas should be made responsible to look after the serving soldiers dependents and also the soldiers when on leave for optimum utility. ECHS doctors should also be empowered to refer such patients to specialists of the nearest service Hospitals. Stop further expansion of ECHS infrastructure and have a re- look.

Merge the existing ECHS infrastructure resources with the nearest service Hospitals and existing ECHS there by becomes an OPD outlets for the nearest Service Hospitals. Specialists visits these ECHS say once a month.

Enhance the existing facilities of Service Hospitals with Doctors and support staff.
Fd Ambulance concept needs to be revisited in view of the road infrastructure available upto the forward most posts. Future wars are likely to be intense and of short durations. The surplus Fd Ambulance staff need not be curtailed but merged into the nearest MH or of an ECHS of a military station. Fd Ambulance on need basis be only authorized to a offensive formation duly modified.

Compulsory membership by paying instalments of the membership fee through the PPOs/DSSAB/Banks. Details of parents be recorded in the service record book and in the discharge book to avoid the malpractices to get treatment for elderly relatives in the name of parents. The family dependents need to be clearly indicated with photographs in original documents from AHQ/ Record Offices, which should be tallied with documents made for ECHS. The dependents number should be curtailed. You cannot have a dozen dependents for a ESM.

The article needs to be read with an open positive mind by the authorities who matter and the issue be seriously deliberated and discussed in house before any remedial steps are considered to be taken to improve the existing system. Views of the cross section of the senior retired ESM especially from remote and rural areas be obtained to confirm to the feed back views of the writer to launch a Damage Control Mission if considered appropriate.

Col RC Patial, SM
11GR
12 Jan 2008

How to reduce visits to ECHS by Monitoring Health Parameters

Age is catching up for many Ex- Servicemen and many are battling adverse health versus longevity. Here are some tips which will brighten up one's future and open up new vistas to maintain one's health in ship shape! A sound body in a sharp mind.

The following aspects assume importance
Health risk factors
Body Mass Index
Waist to hip Ratio
Blood Pressure classification chart
High Cholesterol related to heart attacks
Diabetes
Osteoporosis due to old age
Eating Right
Keeping Active
Guide to Physical Activity
Basal Metabolic Rate and total calorie requirement
How many calories does your body require?

Risk Factors
high blood pressure (hypertension) above 76/120 mg/mm
total Cholesterol above 100- 200 mg/dl
high LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) above 100- 130 mg/dl
Very LDL-cholesterol between 5- 30 mg/dl
low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) between 35- 70 mg/dl
high triglycerides ("rogue") above 25- 160 mg/dl
high blood glucose (sugar) fasting: above 70- 100 PP: above 100- 120 mg/dl
family history of premature heart disease
physical inactivity
cigarette smoking
high alcohol consumption over 3 pegs a day

Body Mass Index BMI Formula- Metric
BMI = Weight in Kilograms / {(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)}
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Waist to Hip Ratio Chart
Male, Female Health Risk Based Solely on WHR
0.95 or below, 0.80 or below - Low Risk
0.96 to 1.0, 0.81 to 0.85 - Moderate Risk
1.0 or above, 0.85 and above - High Risk

High Blood Pressure
Normal: 120/ 76
Prehypertension: 120- 139/ 80- 89
Hypertension: 140- 159/ 90- 99
High Hypertension: 160 or higher/ 100 or higher

High Cholesterol
Too much cholesterol can clog your blood vessels and is a major cause
of heart disease. Normal total Cholesterol level should be between 100- 200 mg/ dl

Diabetes
Diabetes, or high blood sugar, is a major cause of blindness, kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and amputation of the lower legs and feet.

How Many Calories Does Your Body Need?

ages 45 and below, weight in Kgs:
For sedentary people: Weight x 35 = estimated cal/day
For moderately active people: Weight x 42 = estimated cal/day
For active people: Weight x 50 = estimated cal/day

ages 45 and above, weight in Kgs:
For sedentary people: Weight x 30 = estimated cal/day
For moderately active people: Weight x 35 = estimated cal/day
For active people: Weight x 45 = estimated cal/day

What is Master health check up?
It is "Head" to "Toe" physical examination by ECHS Medical Officer. Insist on this check up once a year.

Brain Exercises keep Ex- Servicemen Ship Shape

Tease your brain
A child being teased responds with an increased energy and flow of adrenaline. Likewise, brainteasers increase the flow of energy to the brain, exercising short-term memory. Teasers force concentration, converting long-term memory into a library of information. Puzzles, riddles, word searches, Sudoku, and even a good mystery book can stimulate the brain's ability to reason and calculate.

Use it or lose it
Anxiety and stress drain the mind. Boredom and repetition put the mind into a state of suspended animation. Deep and deliberate breathing, much like that of yoga, reduces stress.

Working a crossword puzzle each day has limited benefits. Cross-train your brain much like you would your body. Alternate a word puzzle with games for senior citizens and computer games. Seniors try a fun game that wakes up the mind, so when your brain becomes gridlocked, take a walk. Sitting up straight in your seat increases alertness, concentration, and the level at which your brain functions.

The brain is a giant computer that shuts down under extreme stress to avoid loss of pertinent data. Simplify problems and encounter them as a general leads his army into war - one battle at a time. Exercise/ walk to release negative energies and to improve memory.

Food for thought
Simple carbohydrates have a lethargic effect. As the body absorbs foods like sugar, white flour nan, potatoes, and rice, insulin is released into the bloodstream and the combination depletes energy sources. Fish and nuts (high in omega-3 fatty acids) are considered brain foods. Alcohol and beverages consumed in right quantities can be beneficial, overdoses become addictive.

Health and Happiness

Health and happiness are two sides of the same coin. You can't be happy, which is everyone's ultimate aim, without sound health. Though health is one of the many factors for achieving happiness, but is very important one.

Health depends on many factors like: solid-food intake, liquid-food intake, air intake, thoughts, exercise, rest, sunshine, stress management and Body Mass Index.To achieve good long-lasting health one has to deal with all these and many more factors (like emotions, relationships, prestige, honour and so on) in balanced manner. Excess and deficiency are both not good for the long-lasting health.

Knowledge is power, and at times we have to pay for our ignorance. Therefore the first step to fight with a disease is to know about it. Moreover, whatever we do should not have any negative or side-effects. We will discuss all these factors, without being too technical. Aim is to provide its members, all the possible information about how to keep healthy and than remain happy till the very end of life.

If you are having any material which you consider worth reading by others and meet the basic requirement - Health and Happiness, you are welcome to share it. You are welcome to join the group, and encourage others, whose welfare is in your mind, to join the group. We will be regularly updating the material on the site. Your comments and suggestions to improve the Group are welcome.

Kindly visit my Group at : http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HnHgroup/

HARISH NAGPAL
Lt Col (Retd)