Appeal to help 7 year old Nagma

Help Nagma for successful stem cell transplantation 
Ludhiana, 15th June, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) 7 year old Ms Nagma (Hospital No: -C-7372377) is diagnosed to have severe Aplastic Anemia, a disease in which all her blood cells stop their production from the bone marrow. Patients with aplastic anemia require multiple blood transfusions and may have life threatening infections and bleeding as the cells to protect the body from these are absent.

            Her only hope for cure is Haematopoietic stem cell transplant with cure rate of 80-90 % is done at the right time. She is fortunate to find a full house HLA match in her younger sister. The estimated expense of a stem cell transplant is approximately cost Rs. 8 to 10 Lakhs. Her father is a truck driver and is unable to meet the daily needs let alone bear the cost of transplant.
Parents who have 3 daughters is keen to proceed with the treatment of their eldest daughter. Christian Medical College is providing free bed charges and is arranging some free facilities and medication. However, the added expenses need to be met. This is a request to all the well wishers to donate for this young girl and give her a second chance to live. If any one is willing to contribute for the same please contact Clinical haematology office – 0161-5037957 (cmcbmt@gmail.com) or All drafts/Cheque may be taken in favour of “Christian Medical College Ludhiana, Society” and please write  Nagma - C-7372377 at the back of the cheque.  All your contributions would be acknowledged.

Panetta Tells Senators

NATO is Crucial to U.S. Security By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 13, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told a Senate panel today the NATO alliance is crucial to American security, but that NATO countries need to spend more on defense. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta testifies before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense, June 13, 2012. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett "We can't do it alone. We've got to be able to have alliances like NATO be able to work with us in confronting the many challenges that we face in the world," he said, during testimony on the 2013 defense budget request at the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense. U.S. defense officials have repeatedly raised concerns that some NATO nations are not investing enough in their militaries. NATO's goal is for members to spend roughly 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. Most have not met that goal. NATO nations must continue developing their capabilities and improving their defense postures, the secretary said. At NATO's summit in Chicago last month, leaders agreed to develop greater capabilities in missile defense, in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and in air-to-air refueling, among other things. But with Europe going through an economic downturn, the United States has concerns that many European nations will "constantly go back to defense and seek further savings there, which I think would be dangerous," Panetta said. This has already eroded some capabilities. Panetta said that during last year's Libya operation, the United States provided roughly 60 percent of the support, and that NATO officials told him if the mission were today, the United States would have to pick up about 80 percent.

Biographies: Leon E. Panetta

In the Rafale Aircraft

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne after a one hour sortie in the Rafale Aircraft at St. Dizier Airbase on May 23, 2012. The Commander of the Rafale Squadron, Commandant (Squadron Leader) Kubiak Thierry and the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, General Jean-Paul Paloméros are also seen. (PIB photo)      24-May-2012

Allen Anticipates

Much Summer Activity in Afghanistan

By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 23, 2012 - The commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan candidly told reporters today his assessment will largely set the course for operations there after the drawdown of U.S. surge forces and before the end of NATO's combat role in 2014. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, briefs reporters at the Pentagon, May 23, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley "I owe the president some real analysis on this. We're going to need combat power; I don't think anyone questions that," Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, International Security Assistance Force commander, told reporters at the Pentagon. Allen said significant events will occur in Afghanistan this summer, including the withdrawal of some troops, reposturing the battle space, inserting advisors, and moving Afghan forces increasingly into the lead. "We've got about 30 months left on the campaign, 31 months or so," the commander said. "The ANSF has yet to be fully recruited. It'll be done soon, but the deadline on it was 1 October." The general noted Afghan army and police numbers have grown over the past year from 276,000 to 340,000, and they will reach their full strength ahead of the scheduled deadline in October. After the 23,000 remaining U.S. "surge" troops leave Afghanistan by the end of September, Allen said, he will take "a very hard look" at the state of the insurgency, the Afghan forces' success in planning and leading combat operations, and the operational environment he anticipates in 2013. "The aggregation of those factors will generate ultimately an assessment of what U.S. and non-U.S. ISAF combat power I'll need ... to continue the process of moving the ANSF into the lead in '13 and '14 and giving them the kind of support that they need so that they'll be successful," he said. "We're going to make that analysis in the aftermath of the fighting season and the recovery of the 23,000 troops," the general added. Afghan forces augmented by International Security Assistance Force advisory teams will fill in as NATO troops thin out, the general said. "While, in absolute terms, eventually our numbers come down, it is not our intention to cede the ground ... to the Taliban," he said. Afghan forces will concentrate in the eastern and southwestern areas of Afghanistan to maintain security gains in the hardest-fought areas, Allen said. At the Chicago NATO summit that ended Monday, coalition members noted the ISAF commander will regularly assess operational conditions and the capability of Afghan forces, Allen said. "Right now we're planning every six months, so that we can adapt our plan ultimately for the final size and structure of the [Afghan army and police forces] in the post-2014 period as conditions require," he added. Allen said NATO's campaign in Afghanistan has been long, difficult and costly, but he believes it is on track. "I see it every day -- tangible evidence of progress," he said. "And we're making a difference. We're fulfilling the Lisbon road map of transition, and the international community is standing with the noble people of Afghanistan and Afghanistan now and into the decade of transformation."

Biographies: Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force Related Articles: Allen Explains Priorities in Afghanistan

Gen. V.K. Singh with Gen. Sankar Roy Chawdhury

The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. V.K. Singh with the Retd. COAS Gen. Sankar Roy Chawdhury and the GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt. Gen Bikram Singh during his visit to HQ Eastern Command, Kolkata on May 19, 2012.  (PIB photo)    19-May-2012

A special Postage Stamp

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil releasing a special Postage Stamp to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Karmayogi M.B. Appasaheb Kadadi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 17, 2012. The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal and the Union Power Minister, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde are also seen.  (PIB photo)
17-May-2012

The former President releasing the NCDC Anthem

The former President of India, Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam a releasing the NCDC Anthem at the National Conference on Cooperatives for the celebration of International Year of Cooperatives, 2012, in New Delhi on May 15, 2012. The Union Minister for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Shri Sharad Pawar, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Food Processing Industries and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Harish Rawat and the Secretary, Agriculture & Cooperation, Shri P.K. Basu are also seen. (PIB photo)      15-May-2012