Student unions flay hike in fee
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
Akhil Bharatiya Vidayarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Punjab Students’ Union (PSU) and the Government College Students’ Association today held a dharna at Government College for Boys against the government decision to increase fee.

At the onset of the dharna, activists of the Government College Students’ Association were reluctant to join as they felt that they were not informed well in time about it. But Ramaninder Singh of the PSU and Sandeep Kapoor of the ABVP said they had tried to contact them but somehow could not. Later the matter was amicably settled. A spokesperson for the Government College Students’ Association said they would not allow colleges to function if the fee hike was not revoked. The students shouted anti-government slogans.

Subhash Sharma, state secretary of the ABVP said the government by hiking the fee structure had shown that it was not student-friendly. He urged the government to roll back the fee hike immediately.

Ramaninder Singh Punjab, president, PSU, said all students had joined hands on one issue of fee hike and had decided to fight the cause on a common platform. He said a meeting of all the student bodies would be held on July 1 at Ludhiana. A common line of future action to be taken by the students will be decided at the meeting.

Sandeep Kapoor (Ludhiana, president of the ABVP) asked the government to yield immediately to the demands of the students or face the consequences. He said students had already submitted three memorandums against the hefty increase in fees.

Harpreet Singh Zeerakh (Ludhiana, President of the PSU) said that the government must start implementing the scheme of imparting free education to girls. Gurpreet Singh Pahalwan, president of the GCSA was also critical of unprecedented fee hike.

After a ‘dharna’ at the Government College, the students submitted a memorandum to the Principal, Mr V.P. Gaur, Govt College for Boys. They requested him to hand over the memorandum to the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh.

Where education means business
Lovleen Bains

Sahnewal, June 28
With the number of coaching centres increasing schools and colleges have been reduced to mere examination-conducting branches. They have been to made to take a back seat as the tuition centres have gained immense popularity. The increasing number of teachers and housewives engaged in the tuition business have changed the entire meaning and scope of education.

While only the weak needed coaching in the past, now-a-days almost every student feels handicapped in the absence of private coaching. The need to excel and peer pressure among students have made the business of coaching centres profitable.

Monica (not her real name), a student of a local school, who has joined one such coaching centre says, “Tuitions have become a necessary evil for us. We simply can’t do without them. Without tuitions we are unable to understand the intricacy of the problem . Our class teachers round up the chapters by merely hinting at the issues. Moreover, as we get personal attention our doubts are clarified in a better way. Also the regular testing and evaluation at these coaching centres keep us on our heels.”

Sukhjeevan, another class IX student says,“ We can easily manage with our tuition centres but we have to go to school for regular attendance. Personally speaking I value the time at tuition centres more. I want marks, not only to be on the top but to get into a professional or degree college.”

Similar thoughts also come to the minds of the parents who want their wards to achieve success through every possible mean. They simply don’t want to leave anything to chance, especially the ones who monitor their child’s progress.

Parents of one such student says, "We can’t afford to see our child lag behind. We encouraged him to join one of the best coaching centres in the city as we know that only a tutor can give him the right help at the right time.”

A working couple admits, "As we both are working a tutor became a necessity for our child. He had it from class I. Now he is in class VII and has become so habitual that he hardly studies anything independently.

Parents feel proud that their child goes to a coaching centre and the children are also not far behind in boasting of these “teaching shops”.

Students display creations
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
An exhibition and prize distribution function marked the end of a week-long summer camp organised by the Paradise School of Arts at Punjab Mata Nagar here today. Students displayed the work done by them during the week. Sceneries made with water, oil, dot and nib paints were put up. Wall hangings made of jute, and metal embossing were also displayed. Various kinds of flower arrangements were also exhibited. Bags and mattresses made of jute, soft toys, thermocol work, thread work, painted pots and sculptures were on display. Students also displayed candles made of different shapes, sizes and colours, and tie and dye work done by the students on suits, dupattas, shirts and bed sheets.

All participants were given certificates for having completed the course. Other students who had completed their diploma course were given certificates. Mr Lucky Rai, Principal, said all participants took keen interest in the various activities they pursued.

Mr Harminder Singh, organiser of the camp, said all classes were conducted free of cost.

Training programme for CMC students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
A basic community health training programme for the third batch of students ended at the Christian Medical College and Hospital here today. The 21-day workshop also aimed at imparting basic health care knowledge to social and religious workers hailing from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Ludhiana, Jammu and Himachal Pradesh, so that they could spread knowledge to the remotest areas of the country.

The programme that saw about 65 lectures by 42 medical professionals from the CMCH was designed by the Deputy Director, Dr T.M. Jaison, Dr Betty Chacko, Dr Alex Abraham, Dr Phillip Alexander, Dr Molly Paul, Ms Sudesh David and others. It was coordinated by Mr Emmanuel.

The workshop also included field tours and practical sessions. Basic knowledge of human anatomy and first aid to be provided in cases of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, dengue, malaria, filaria and other common infections was imparted to people. Care in cases of stroke, convulsions in children, cardiac arrests, limb amputation, fractures, poisoning and bites etc was also elaborated during the sessions.

Dr Silas Charles, Director, CMCH, conveyed good wishes to the 22 participants who had come forward with a mission to propagate knowledge on health problems to the communities in remote areas. First aid kits and books on basic health care were distributed among the participants. The CMCH will conduct two more such workshops in September and November.

School named after freedom fighter
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, June 28
Efforts by Master Manohar Lal, a social worker, yielded results when after a lot of struggle he was able to persuade the state government to name the local Government Senior Secondary School after the name of a Machhiwara born freedom fighter, late Shankar Dass, who had also received a “tamarpatar” from the Government of India. A resolution in this regard was sent to the state government by the Nagar Panchayat, Machhiwara, on October 28,1994.

Master Manohar Lal said Shankar Dass was born in 1889. He joined the British army as a Captain, but joined the freedom struggle after quitting the British army. He participated in the Parjamandal Andolan and was imprisoned for one year for joining a movement launched against the ban imposed on havanas in South India by the Nizam of Hyderabad. His wife Hardesh was also jailed for nine months during the Quit India Movement. She had also received a “tamarpatra” in this regard.

After Independence he went to Hardwar in 1960. He died in 1997.

Problems of primary teachers discussed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
Representatives of Primary Elementary Shiksha Bachao Front , Punjab, met Mr Jagtar Singh Khattra, Director, Primary Education, in his office to discuss their problems. Present at the meeting was Deputy Inspector, Ms Inder Varsha too. Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, Mr Baldev Krishan Moudgil, Mr Pritpal Singh, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Jaswinder Singh represented the front.

The representatives wanted to bring to the fore the problems that had arisen because of the notification issued on April 1 under which the Directorate of Primary Education was dismantled and Elementary Directorate came into existence.

The DPI agreed with the demands of the representatives and agreed to send these to the government.

Rajeev Logani tops in BCA (III) exam
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
Rajeev Logani, a final year student of BCA, the Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE), has bagged the first position in the examination conducted by the Punjab Technical University this year. Rajeev has scored 92 per cent marks (644 marks out of 700). Aman Sethi, another student of the same college, has obtained the third position in the university with 91 per cent marks.

With these results, PCTE has achieved a rare distinction of holding the first positions in the university in BCA first, second as well as third year examinations this year. Earlier, Gurjot Kaur had topped in the first year examination, Sunny Bansal had topped in second year examination and now Rajeev has stood first in the third year examination.

Talking about their success, Rajeev and Aman said that IT job scenario had become more competitive and they could not afford anything less than the best. Asked about the secret of their success, they said, ‘‘We had the will and our teachers showed us the way.’’

Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director PCTE, congratulated the students. He said he was happy as his students had made a clean sweep of the top positions in the BCA.

PU BA(I) results out
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
The results of BA (I) were declared today by Panjab University. The pass percentage has improved this year as compared to last year’s. It has jumped to 53 per cent as compared to last year’s 46 per cent.

Shelly Jain of Government College for Women (GCW) has bagged second position in Panjab University and is positioned first in the district. Sonia Goyal, another student from the GCW, has stood second in the district. The third position, too, has gone to a GCW girl, Amarjeet Kaur.

Shelly Jain secured 683 marks our of 800 marks. She said hard work combined with consistency helped her succeed. She said she was regular in her studies and hence felt calm and composed when she took her exams.

Sonia Goyal, the second position holder in the district, secured 667 marks and said hard work and regular study were the key to her success. Amarjeet secured 644 marks to bag third position in the district.

Workshop for students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 28
A joint workshop on computers and fashion designing was organised at the D.D.Jain Institute of Computer Sciences. The workshop was organised for students seeking admission to various courses of DOEACC (Department of Electronics Accredited Computer Centre) O and A-levels and other short-term courses on fashion designing and computers. At the workshop classes on jewellery, shoe, dress and textile designing were also organised.

The Director, Mr Naresh Puri, said response to the workshop was excellent. The students showed interest in fashion designing, he said.