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Institutes for disabled fail
to attract students Reforms panel tenure ends without any meeting 
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Institutes for disabled fail
to attract students
Various vocational institutions being run by the Punjab Government for rehabilitation and for inculcating a sense of self-reliance among disabled students have failed to attract them. According to official sources, this is mainly on account of lack of any awareness drive by the authorities concerned. A large number of disabled persons in Punjab are blind, numbering 55,110 as per a survey, but only one institute for the blind was set up in Ludhiana during 1998-2003. Surprisingly, the institute, despite the fact that it was the only one of its kind in the state, did not run to full capacity. It had a limited capacity of taking on its rolls 65 persons against which 49 to 59 persons remained on its rolls during the period. The institute spent Rs 98 lakh on maintenance while a sum of Rs 16 lakh was spent on the inmates during the past five years. This works out to Rs 5,800 per capita per year, taking into account the mean enrollment of 55 students. The number of mentally challenged persons in Punjab is estimated at 23,543. There is only one government institute for them at Kapurthala. The picture here, according to the sources, is even more grim. The Kapurthala institute has a capacity for enrolling merely 50 inmates against which only 12 to 18 remained on the rolls during 1998-2003. The institute spent Rs 61 lakh on maintenance in the past five years and spent barely Rs 7 lakh during the period on activities directly contributing to the alleviation of the children. This works out to be Rs 9,000 per capita per annum, taking the mean enrollment of 15 persons. Rehabilitation measures undertaken by the state are poor, ineffective and wholly unsubstantial. This has become evident from an examination of the working of two main institutes in the state, entrusted with the responsibility of providing rehabilitation measures. A government workshop for the welfare of the disabled established at Ludhiana in 1979 had barely 10 to 12 candidates on its rolls during 1998-2003 against its capacity of 50 candidates. The department attributed poor enrollment to lack of publicity, non-availability of hostel accommodation and most interestingly, training in trades and skills which are no longer viable for a vocation. The trades in which the institute provided training are hosiery and weaving. These were identified in 1979 as viable occupations in Ludhiana, considering pre-ponderance of the occupation in the area. With increasing sophistication in trades, the impact of rudimentary manual training in the training institute requires a review which has not been carried out. Despite the fact that the state government recognised the trades as "non-viable", no action has been taken to either upgrade the technology in the institution or introduce viable trades in the curriculum. The other institute vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Women — established in 1994 is virtually a non - starter. During 1998-2003, barely four to 12 students were on the rolls for tailoring and stenography. No post for instructor for stenography was sanctioned. Thus, in terms of institutional framework, the government provides very little either for the alleviation of the condition of the disabled or their rehabilitation. The four institutions taken together have barely 100 disabled persons receiving any form of rehabilitation benefits in institutional terms for the rest more than one lakh there is hardly any institutional programme.
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Reforms panel tenure ends without any meeting The Punjab Government’s claim to provide the best and latest in education to the young generation seems to sound hollow. A special committee formed to suggest the much-needed education reforms ended its tenure in August without holding a single meeting. The only step the Congress government in the state could take was to reconstitute the committee, adding six more members to the earlier 10. The committee was constituted and re-constituted to evaluate the recommendation of a previous commission on education reforms way back in 1982. The 1982 commission formed under Dr R.N. Dogra completed its job in 18 months. At least Rs 2 crore were spent on the job. The Dogra report has not even been published, let alone being discussed at any level. It is anybody’s guess how many changes have occurred in the filed of education after 1982. While students remain a confused lot over the present methods of teaching and syllabi, which offers them a limited scope in selecting a vocation, the powers that be continue to dither over the issue. Sources within the new committee say that despite the best intentions of the members, all noted academicians, the committee could not hold a single meeting as the government did not provide them any office, infrastructure or staff for the purpose. The members reminded the government several times verbally as well as through letters but all fell on deaf ears. Committee members said bureaucracy did not help matters, ignoring the issue at the state’s peril. The Chief Minister had directed a senior bureaucrat to provide whatever required by the panel members. A government official met Prof R.P. Bambah, committee Chairman, and took the necessary details, but nothing was done. A committee member, Mr T.R. Sharma, an acclaimed academician from Patiala, also wrote to the government reminding it about the urgency of reforming the education process, but his efforts did not bear fruit. The tenure of the
committee lapsed without a single meeting. The government then
reconstituted the committee and added six more A government official, preferring anonymity, said the previous committee could not meet as no member-secretary was appointed to call the meetings and make arrangements for recording the minutes. The committee was reconstituted via a notification on August 23, but no meeting has been called yet. Members fear that its three-month tenure may again elapse without any work done. Among the committee members are Prof
R.P. Bambah, Dr R.K. Kohli, Prof Sucha Singh Gill, Prof Gursevak
Singh, Dr J.R. Gupta Gill, Ms Manjit Kaur Sodia, Mr K.S. Aarya,
Principal, Mr R.S. Patial, Prof (retd) T.R. Sharma, Ms Lata
Vaidyanathan, and Mr R. Sharma. |
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Management November 12 Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand-388001 (Guj) www.irma.ac.in 1) PG Prog in Rural Mgt (2-yr) 2) Fellow Prog in Rural Mgt (3-yr) (Mgt of Co-op; Agri/Rural Mktg; Rural Eco & Natural Resources Mgt; Dev Mgt & Water & Irrig Mgt; Micro Fin). Eligibility: For 1) Bachelor's Deg (50%); For 2) PGDRM (IRMA)/ PGDM (GPA 2.60 out of 4.33), 2-yr wk ex or OYP from IRMA (GPA of 2.60) 3-yr wk ex or PG (55%) or GPA 2.60, 2-yr wk ex or MPhil (55%) or GPA of 2.60. Selection: Written Test: 05 Dec '04 (at 25 centres; IRMA's PGDRM Cands applying for FPRM exempted), Interview. Details: Website. November 27 Institute of Public Enterprise, Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad- 500007 (AP) 1) PG Diploma in Bus Mgt (2-yr) Sept 27 2) PhD in Mgt & Allied areas (1-yr) Eligibility: For 1) Bachelor's Deg, For 2) Master's in Social Sc (55%), NET qualified/M.Phil/2 -yr res ex/ 2 articles published in Professional journals in soc sc, Age: <35-yr (on 01 July '04) Selection: For 1) CAT-2004 Score, GD, Interview Application Form: For 1) Send Rs 600/- by DD fvg " Institute of Public Enterprise" payable at H'bad, at above add For 2) D'load from www.ICSSR.org. Details: Contact Tel No.s For 1) 040-27098145/8937/7445 For 2) 040-27098060 December 31 Goa Institute of Management, Ribandar, Goa 403006 www.gim.ac.in PG Prog in Bus Mgt (2-yr, FT) Eligibility: Bachelor's Deg (50%) Selection: XAT: 09 Jan '05; (register at www.xlri.edu/xat); GD; Interview. Details: Website. November 1 Jamia Millia Islamia, (F/o Engg & Tech), Maulana Mohd Ali Johar Marg, New Delhi-110025 www.jmimba.org/ http://jmi.nic.in MBA (3-yr, PT) Eligibility: Bachelor's Deg (50%), 2-yr wk ex. Selection: Written Test: 28 November '04, Interview. Details: Website. December 30 Indian Institute of Finance, Plot 4, Community Centre- II, Ashok Vihar-II, Delhi-110052. www.iif.edu 1) Mgt of Bus Finance (MBF, 2-yr) 2) Fellow Prog in Finance (3-yr, FT) Eligibility: For 1): Bachelor's Deg (50%), For 2): Master's Deg (60%). Selection: MAT/GMAT Scores, GD & Interview Details: Website. November 30 Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Senapati Bapat Rd, Pune 411004 www.sibm.edu MBA (Dual Spcln) MBA (Communications Mgt). Eligibility: Bachelor's Deg (50%; corresp/ PT deg not allowed). Selection: XAT Scores (09 Jan '05), GD, Interview Details: Website. Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Symbiosis Infotech Campus, Plot No.15, Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, MIDC, Pune 411057 www.siib.ac.in Master's Prog (Int'l Bus/ Agri Bus Mgt) Eligibility: Bachelor's Deg (50%) (For Agri Bus Mgt interest/.ex in Agri ). Selection: SNAP Test (online): 12 December '04, GD, Interview, Psycho Test, Written Communication Details: Website. Medicine October 30 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 www.aiims.edu , www.aiims.ac.in All India Post Graduate Medical/Dental Entrance Exam-2005 (For admission under open merit seats in MD/ MS/ PG Dip & MDS in Med & Dental Colleges) Eligibility: Indians, MBBS/ BDS (except from AP & J & K med colleges) Details: Website. Recruitment October 4 Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (GoI Enterprise), PO 17, Head Post Office, Gurgaon 122001 (Har) www.naukri.com/powergrid Recruitment of Executive Trainees Eligibility: BE/ BTech/ AMIE (Elect/ Electron/ Telecomm) (65%) Details: Employment News (18-24 Sept)/Website Scholarships September 30 M/o HRD, D/o Secondary & Higher Educn (External Scholarships Divn), A-2/W-4, Curzon Rd Barracks, KG Marg, New Delhi 110001 www.education.nic.in Commonwealth Scholarship/Fellowship Plan, 2005-Canada: For Masters (2-yr)/PhD (4-yr) in Pol Sc/ Int'l Rel (focus on Canada-India reln), Educn, Arch, Geog, Comp Sc, Socio/ Soc Admin, Eco Planning, Health Sc/ Pharma Sc, Law, Environ Studies, Electron, Biotech. Eligibility: For Masters: Bachelor's Deg for Engg/Arch/Med/Pharma (60%) and Master's Deg for others. For PhD: Rel Master's deg (55%). Details: Employment News (Sept 18 - 24)/ Website Technical Scholarships Project Building, Room No: 215, Dhurwa P.O, Ranchi-834004 www.jharkhandwelfare.com 1) Birsa Munda Technical Scholarship 2) Ambedkar Technical Scholarship Eligibility: .ST students studying outside the state of Jharkhand, Bachelor's / Master's Deg (Medicine/ Engg/ Homeo/ Ayur/Unani Tibbia/ Agri/Vet Sc) or other Tech Courses. Details: Website October 23 SCERT, Solan 173211 Ph: 01792-228135 State Level National Talent Search Exam 2005 Eligibility: Cl 10 from school in HP (60% in Cl 9). Application Form: Send Rs 50/-(Regd Post)/ Rs. 35/- (Book-Post) by DD/ IPO fvg "Principal, SCERT, Solan" by Oct 18. Social Sc. October 12 School of Archival Studies, National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi 110001 Cert in Care & Conservation of Books, Mss & Archives Eligibility: Bachelor's Deg (Sc prefd). Age: < 50- yr Application Form: Send in prescribed format with attested copies of educn quals and Rs 25/- by DD fvg "Administrative Officer, National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi 110001" to the Director General of Archives, at above add. Details: Employment News (Sept 18 - 24) Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING (www.careerguidanceindia.com), New Delhi
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V.P.
Prabhakar