Himachal: Scaling new heights
Atma Ram
Himachal Pradesh has done extremely well with regard to literacy. This is now a widely-recognised fact. According to a recent survey, the state stands first in the nation in education development. It started from scratch in 1948, when the literacy rate was a pathetic 7.07 per cent.

Phone-in programmes by Punjabi University
Rubinder Gill
THE Department of Correspondence Courses, Punjabi University, Patiala, will conduct 16 phone-in-counselling programmes from September to November. The programmes will be subject-specific, and experts in the respective subjects will answer questions.

Campus Notes

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Himachal: Scaling new heights
Atma Ram

Himachal Pradesh has done extremely well with regard to literacy. This is now a widely-recognised fact. According to a recent survey, the state stands first in the nation in education development.

It started from scratch in 1948, when the literacy rate was a pathetic 7.07 per cent. By the 2001 Census, literacy rate had risen to 70.13 per cent in general (86.02 per cent for males and 68.08 per cent for females).

The Probe Team (in Public Report on Basic Education in India, 1999) called this "spectacular progress". "The schooling revolution in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most enlightening developments of the post-Independence period in elementary education," it noted.

Of course, the state has certain inherent advantages. It is a tiny peace-loving hill state with a small population (6,077,248). It may be inadvisable to compare it with big states often dogged with insurgency and other pressing problems.

The so-called "Bimaru" states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) have huge population figures. Some districts in UP are larger in population than the entire Himachal Pradesh. Even the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana are more than three times in terms of population. Besides, in 1966, Kangra, Hamirpur and Una, which had a large number of schools and high literacy rates, were merged with the state.

However, that the hill state has made consistent progress in literacy is not a miracle. Here, successive governments have been keen to promote education, which has been a common agenda. The Himachal Pradesh Compulsory Primary Education Act, passed way back in 1953, was repealed in 1997 and replaced the same year with a more comprehensive legislation.

In adjoining Punjab, there has been a consistent decrease in allocations for education during the first seven Five-Year Plans and a marginal increase afterwards. However, HP has all along been spending a lot on education, adding substantial more to the education budget year after year, despite a persistent financial crunch in the state. It now spends the highest amount on education per child in the country.

The state has opened a large number of schools. In 1948, when the state was formed, there were only 261 primary schools; the number had increased to 10,484 during the year 1997-98. Though some regions are virtually inaccessible, schools were opened there, even for a small number of children. At times, it was a question of reaching from peak to peak.

Children of tribesmen were put in school and it was ensured that the walking distance to school was consistently decreased. Consequently, the dropout rate in the state is not high and in some districts, the rate is negligible. One of the Chief Ministers had once assured his officers that the state would contribute an equal share in any amount that came as outside grant. Thus the state could constantly get maximum financial grants from the UGC and other funding agencies.

Everywhere, a school requires three basic things: teacher, building, and teaching material. Himachal Pradesh always took advantage of the Central schemes. It also initiated its own projects, making the best of both worlds.

It adopted in letter and spirit various programmes such as the National Education Policy (NEP), plus two system, CBSE syllabi and NCERT books, Operation Blackboard (OB), District Institutes of Education and Training '(DIETs) programme, Total Literacy Campaign (TLC), District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) in four districts, Minimum Level Learning (MLL), Raja Ramamohan Roy Trust library scheme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyana (SSA) and mid-day meals.

It established 12 Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) centres, 38 National Institute of Open Learning (NOIS) study centres and expanded facilities. It created a separate primary education directorate (in 1984) and offered students a spate of free ships and incentives, free textbooks, free education for girls up to the university stage, a Rs 612 crore Sarsaswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yojana to construct 13,612 rooms in three years so as to have at least three rooms per primary school.

Vikas mein jansehyog (Apna ganv apna kam), special sub-tribal cadre, teachers quarters in tribal areas, integrated text book for each standard; staff rationalisation, and making teachers available to students has been the other pillars on the education policy in the state.

Another important factor is the cooperation and keenness of parents to educate their wards. They were prepared to make great sacrifices for the education of their children. Many of them from the lower regions of Himachal Pradesh, who joined the Amy in large numbers, realised the significance of education and rejected long back the perception that in several regions parents did not like to send children to school.

As Prof. Amariitya Sen remarked, the findings "busted the old bogey that parents don't want to send their children in schools." In Himachal Pradesh, where more than 92 per cent population lives in rural areas and has limited resources, almost all parents have been deeply interested in educating their sons and daughters. Brilliant and industrious former students and devoted teachers contribute have been instrumental in translating into reality various programmes and schemes.

The ancient village patterns, the peculiar life-style, socio-economic conditions of the state create a congenial environment for studies. The state may still have "miles to go", but in terms of quantity, it has certainly scaled great new heights.

In the words of William: "Great things are done when men and mountains meet; it is not done by jostling in the street."

Phone-in programmes by Punjabi University
Rubinder Gill

THE Department of Correspondence Courses, Punjabi University, Patiala, will conduct 16 phone-in-counselling programmes from September to November. The programmes will be subject-specific, and experts in the respective subjects will answer questions. Students of the Department of Correspondence Courses, Punjabi University, Patiala, can ask questions related to their subject/s during these programmes. These programmes will be aired by AIR Patiala FM band from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The schedule:
Sept 30: Commerce (B.Com., M.Com.)
Oct 4:  Punjabi—all courses (Gyani, Punjabi Perveshika, B.A., B.Com., M.A., M.Phil)
Oct 10:  Journalism and Gurmat Sangeet (Diploma & Masters) (Diploma & Parveshika)
Oct 11: English—all courses (B.A., B.Com., M.A., M.Phil)
Oct 14: Hindi—all courses (B.A., M.A., M.Phil)
Oct 18: Pol. Science—all courses (B.A., M.A.)
Oct 21: Sikh Studies & B.E. (M.A.)
Oct 25: Defence Studies & Sociology (B.A.)
Oct 28: Economics—all courses (B.A., M.A.)
Nov 4: M.Ed., B.A., Education & Diploma in Translation
Nov 8: Public Admn. (B.A.) & Philosophy (B.A.)
Nov 11: Religious Studies & Diploma in Divinity (M.A.)
Nov 15: Psychology (B.A.) + Maths (B.A.)
Nov 18: Library Science & Diploma in Business Insurance (Diploma & Bachelors)
Nov 22: History (B.A., M.A.).
AIR Patiala from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the FM band.

PAU has always maintained a lively relationship with farmers. While there is regular interaction between the farmers and scientists round the year, the annual kisan mela remains a special attraction for thousands of farmers from across the state, who converge on the PAU campus to interact with the scientists and amongst themselves.

This year the mela was organised on September 22 and 23, with the conservation of water table as the main theme. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K. S. Aulakh, and a former Vice-Chancellor, who is now the Chairman of the Punjab State Farmers’ Commission, Mr G. S. Kalkat, emphasised the need for diversification so that to break the paddy-wheat routine.

Ms Wendy Zaman, Information Resource Officer, American Embassy, New Delhi, while addressing the faculty and students of the university said the American Information Resource Centre (AIRC), known as the American Library, offers wide range of resources, programmes and services. She said its mission was to provide timely, reliable and comprehensive information on contemporary American politics, government, economics, trade, foreign affairs, defence, rule of law and a wide range of global issues, including human trafficking, human rights, drug and environment.

Ms Wendy said the AIRC is an integral part of the Public Affairs Section of the embassy, which undertakes a variety of activities to promote a better understanding of the culture, history, institutions, value and policies of the USA. She also explained the procedure to get the membership of the library.

Even as the issue of termination of three members of the teaching community still remains unresolved, another controversy has arisen over selections on the campus.

The issue of appointment of a Reader in the Sociology Department has snowballed into a major controversy. It is learnt that the post of Reader is now being downgraded to that of a Lecturer to favour a woman candidate, having political connections. All the 10 candidates who appeared for interview on May 21 for the post of Reader were declared ineligible.

The matter is likely to be placed before the Executive Council meeting scheduled for September 30, so that a final decision can be taken on the issue.

The issue reportedly led to heated exchanges between the Vice-Chancellor, Prof L. R. Verma, and the Head of the department, Prof S. K. Sharma, who objected to any appointments being made in violation of the rules. Prof Sharma who took the matter to the Teachers Union`A0has already been issued a show cause notice by the Registrar.

Compiled by Vimal Sumbly at Ludhiana, Sanjay Bumbroo at Amritsar and Pratibha Chauhan at Shimla.

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Armed Forces

Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2006
For admission to:
1) Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
2) Naval Academy, Goa
3) Air Force Academy, Hyderabad
4) Officer’s Training Academy, Chennai

Eligibility: Unmarried Indian males For 1: Bachelor’s degree, DoB: 2 January ’83 - 1 January ’88
For 2: BSc (Phy & Maths)/ BE. Dob: 2 January ’85 - 1 January ’88
For 3: Bachelor’s degree (with Phys & Maths in 10+2) / BE. Dob: 2 January ’84 - 1 January ’88
For 4: Unmarried/ graduate married Indian Male; DoB: 2 January ’82- 1 January ’88

Exam: 19 February ‘06

Application Form: Available at designated H Po’s/ Po’s on payment of Rs 20.

Details: Employment News (17-23 Sept) / Website

Application Deadline: 17 October 2005

Eligibility: Indian unmarried males, 10+2 (PCM, 70%). DoB: 1 Jan ’87 - 1 Jan ’90.

Selection: SSB Interview, Medical Test.

Application Form: Send in prescribed format to above address, superscribe "APPLICATION FOR 10+2 (TES) COURSE SER. No. 15, JUL 2006" on envelope

Details: Employment News (17 – 23 September)/ website.

Application Deadline: 31 October 2005

Engineering

Admission to 2nd Semester 2005 – ’06:
(Off-Campus Distance Learning & Collaborative Programme)

A) Integrated First Degree Programmes (6 Semester)

1) BS Engineering Technology

2) BS Information Systems
B) Higher Degree Programmes (4 Semesters)

3) Ms Software Systems
4) MS Manufacturing Mgmt

Eligibility: For 1 & 2: Employed with Bachelor’s degree / Technical diploma holder with at least 2 years work experience.
For 3: Employed with at least 1-year relevant work experience in software development or allied areas with integrated first degree of BITS eg BE (Hons), MSc (Hons), BS Information Systems
For 4: Employed person with at least 1-year relevant work experience in software development or allied areas with integrated first degree of BITS like BE (Hons), BS Engineering Technology

Application Form: Download from the website.

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 31 October 2005

Management

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (50%)

Selection: XAT-2006

Application Form: Send Rs 750 by DD favouring "LIBA, Chennai" payable at Chennai with Payment Advice Form (Register online by 18 February ‘06 with your XAT ID and DD details. Take a printout of the Payment Advice Form) to the Admissions Office at above address.

Details: Website

Application Deadline: 25 February ‘06

National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Vihar Lake, PO NITIE, Mumbai 400087 (Mah)
www.nitie.edu

Eligibility: BE / BTech (1st Class)

Selection: CAT 2005 Scores, GD & Interview: 7-10 March 2006.

Application Form: Send Rs 1000 by DD favouring "NITIE, Mumbai" payable at SBI, Vihar Lake, Mumbai-400087 with 4 self-addressed stickers (7.5 cm x 3.5 cm) to Deputy Registrar (Academic) at above address or download from website.

Details: Website

Application Deadline: 18 November 2005

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (50%).

Selection: Academic records, work experience, ECA, GD, Interview & Psychometric Test.

Application Form: Send Rs 850 by DD favouring "Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai" payable at Mumbai to the above address.

Details: Website

Application Deadline: 25 September 2005

1) PG Diploma in Business Mgmt (2-year, FT)
2) PG Diploma in Rural Mgmt (2-year, FT)

4) PG Diploma in Business Mgmt (3-year, PT)

Eligibility: For 1: Bachelor’s degree
For 2: Bachelor’s degree (50%)

Selection: For 1: XAT-2006
For 2: IRMA Admission Test (Dec 2005)

Application Form: Apply online

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 10 December 2005

Mass Communication

1) Postgraduate Programme in Mass Communication (Journalism / Audio-Visual Production)
2) Postgraduate Programme in Communication Mgmt (Advertising / Public Relations)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (45%)

Selection: SNAP scores

Details: Website.

Application Deadline: 06 January ’06

Medicine

Selection: Written Test (6 November 2005).

Application Form: Send Rs 625 by DD favouring "Registrar, University of Delhi, Delhi", payable at Delhi to the Assistant Registrar at the above address by 15 October 2005. In cash at Counter: Rs 600/-.

Application Deadline: 25 October 2005

Eligibility: MBBS

Application & Details: Website

Application Deadline: 24 October 2005

Protective Service

Recruitment of Temporary Women Constables (1026 posts)

Eligibility: 10+2 Height: 157 cms Vision: Both eye 6/12 without glasses

Selection: Physical endurance & Measurement Test, Written Exam & Interview.

Application: Available at the above address from 3 October 2005 at a cost of Rs 50/-

Application Details: 14 October 2005