The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

LETTERS

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

J A L A N D H A R E D I T I O N

SME sector starts crumbling
Jalandhar, November 24
The global meltdown has started taking its toll on the small and medium enterprises (SME) in the country, with the region being no exception. As big houses have already cut down production and started rightsizing of the workforce, the associated ancillary units here are reeling under the ripple effect.

Tech Tale
Now, pension details a mouse-click away
Jalandhar, November 24
The All-India Central Government Pensioners Association (AICGPS) has become the first of its kind organisation in the state to be included in the pensioners’ portal- a unique project under national-e-governance plan (NeGP).

Great expectations: City’s stress graph soars
Jalandhar, November 24
A postgraduate lecturer of a top educational institute of the city has recently decided to proceed on a long leave. Reason: She had believed that her job would primarily be teaching but instead her employer’s expectations were far too higher.

Fun, frolic & festivity: All at ‘Gyan Manthan’
Jalandhar, November 24
Scientific contests, technical presentations, followed by an entertaining evening, marked the final day of the annual technical festival of Lovely Professional University ‘Gyan Manthan 08’ here on Monday.

EARLIER STORIES

	11 yrs, 7 cases later, she’s yet to get her due November 24, 2008
	Notorious Rajan gang member collared November 23, 2008
	Nephew arrested in Raj Rani murder case November 22, 2008
	Woman killed, daughter hurt November 21, 2008
	Kidnapped kid is back home November 20, 2008
	GPO theft was waiting to happen November 19, 2008
	4 Doaba College boys suspended November 18, 2008
	Lieut-Col misuses medical facilities, faces action November 17, 2008
	Suicide bid in police lock-up November 16, 2008
	Paddy MSP: Farmers hold rail traffic to ransom November 15, 2008

	SME sector starts crumbling Jalandhar, November 24 The global meltdown has started taking its toll on the small and medium enterprises (SME) in the country, with the region being no exception. As big houses have already cut down production and started rightsizing of the workforce, the associated ancillary units here are reeling under the ripple effect. “The big fish, having adequate backup, can still manage to stay afloat, but what about us,” says Vipan Mahajan, CEO of Omsons International, a major exporter of hand tools. Slowdown in the auto industry has spelled doom for associated industry like forging, says Mahajan, who is also an active member of Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) and is associated with Federation of Indian Exports Organisations. Another such example is the bicycle industry, which according to reports, has lost over Rs 175 crore in the month of October, he points out. As per the director general foreign trade, the exports have dipped by 15 per cent in October alone, the lowest in last five years. The figure can come down further in the coming days, say sources. According to EEPC, the export of engineering goods is going to see a decline of around 30 per cent this year. “Sports industry in Jalandhar has already brought down its production by 50 percent, as orders have dried up,” says Mahajan. To make matters worse, the insurance sector has announced a steep hike of 25-30 pc in the premium of export credit insurances. “The insurance firms have restricted the pre-shipment schemes to avoid losses because the orders to USA and Europe are being cancelled in the wake of current economic crisis,” further said the industrialist. Anil Chadha, another exporter from the city, says the business has come down by 50 pc in the last two months. “The situation is so critical that if some concrete measures are not taken fast, the small entrepreneurs may be forced to tread on the dangerous path taken earlier by the frustrated farmers,” he added. “As the deputy chairman of the planning commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia has already made it clear that the present crisis could extend for the next two years, SMEs need to be looked after by the financial institutions to tide over the tough period. The banks need to be given instructions for liberal credit-lending policies. There’s adequate security in terms of mortgaged property of the industry which the bank can fall back on,” suggested Chadha.
	Tech Tale Now, pension details a mouse-click away Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 24 The All-India Central Government Pensioners Association (AICGPS) has become the first of its kind organisation in the state to be included in the pensioners’ portal- a unique project under national-e-governance plan (NeGP). The government has identified 24 pensioners associations in the country and AICGPS is one of them. A novel step to redress the grievances of pensioners, the initiative has been taken by the department of pension and pensioners’ welfare in collaboration with National Informatics Center (NIC). To accomplish the task, NIC would be organising a half-day training programme through “video-conferencing” for the members of various associations. The ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions, has issued a letter to the secretary general of the association VS Jolly in this regard. Giving details, Jolly said, “The training programme for the four representatives of AICGPS would be held on Tuesday in room number 205 and 206 at the district administrative complex (DAC), Jalandhar.” The portal would enable scores of people across region to access details pertaining to sanctioning and disbursement of pension and gratuity, including other benefits like paying of dues and redressing grievances. added. Jolly, along with three other members of AICGPA, would attend the training programme. The programme would also include a live demonstration of pensioners module of Centralised Web-enabled Pension Grievances Readdress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS).
	Great expectations: City’s stress graph soars Deepkamal Kaur/TNS Jalandhar, November 24 A postgraduate lecturer of a top educational institute of the city has recently decided to proceed on a long leave. Reason: She had believed that her job would primarily be teaching but instead her employer’s expectations were far too higher. She was expected to maintain a good liaison not just with the students, staff, faculty of other educational institutes, but also with heads of some corporate offices, hold meetings with them, prepare presentations and offer new ideas each day. It was not a 9 am to 5 pm job that she had believed it to be. She often returned home late, getting more brickbats than bouquets from her employer for her efforts that she put the whole day through. With the education sector fast getting “corporatised,” the profession has become far more demanding. “A teacher’s job is not just limited to taking classroom lectures and conducting examination. He is also expected to carry out all those creative activities that can help in the development of overall personality of his students, analysing their skills, brushing up their talent and bringing about career awareness in their minds,” maintains owner of Eklavya School Seema Handa. “To cope up with an increasing work pressure, mental conditioning has assumed a far more importance, especially for women. To ensure a better performance at work, one needs to manage home in a better way, may be by getting a domestic help. One needs to understand priorities and learn work management to make job a satisfying experience,” suggests commerce teacher of Apeejay School Loveleen Bagga. Manhar Arora, head, corporation relations and placements, CT Institutes, believes, “Professionalism in educational institutes has also helped in taking up various new challenges. Whenever an institute recruits a person, he is asked as to how he could be an asset to the organisation. Unless he is able to offer some innovative techniques and solutions, he will not be able to get a job at the first place. We are a part of the intellectual society and we need to reflect a better thought process.” Offering a solution to those who indulge in a hanky panky with the employer, he added, “It is always difficult to meet the boss’s expectations. You may feel satisfied that you have achieved your targets but the employer will feel that you could have also attained beyond it. But when one is not able to make it, one needs to have the capability to make the boss understand the situational problems or give it up and say to oneself that boss is always right.” Pallavi Khanna, a psychologist, revealed, “The cases of occupational stress have been on a rise recently. Job insecurity is one major reason. Men start showing symptoms of hypertension and diabetes while women often suffer from fatigue, body aches and migraine. In people from academic circles, lower pay packages and frequent admonishing from the administrators is also a common problem. Occupational stress is also common in senior staff, especially when the employers have youngsters knocking at their doors and ready to work more on lower packages. Older people, nearing retirement, also sometimes turn up for help complaining that they were unable to learn computers and often found employers comparing them with youngsters on effort levels and use of modern techniques.” “To cope up with all this, the best and the only way out is to have a positive attitude,” she suggested.
	Fun, frolic & festivity: All at ‘Gyan Manthan’ Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 24 Scientific contests, technical presentations, followed by an entertaining evening, marked the final day of the annual technical festival of Lovely Professional University ‘Gyan Manthan 08’ here on Monday. The last day witnessed many interesting events like ‘Khauff 22/11’, ‘Grill the Thrill’ and ‘Goonj’, which saw huge participation. Another major event of the day was the “Junkyard” where the teams created new products from the waste matter. A working robot model created by a team from Jalandhar was declared the best. Many other items, including ‘Beat-d-Height’, ‘Time to Trigger’, ‘Electro Quiz Buzz’, ‘Hug-d-Bug’, ‘Code Slam’, ‘Science Tambola’ and ‘Giggle Poetry’, were also part of the show. The fun module comprised RJ hunt which was won by Lakhwinder, a BBA student, of the host institute. The fashion show demonstrated the innovative designing skills of the participants with models setting the ramp on fire. The highlight of the evening was ‘Rock on’ where music bands from different colleges competed for the best rock band title.
	DSWO gets devp grant from Vajra GOC Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 24 The GOC 11 Corps Lieut-Gen VS Tonk today visited the district sainik welfare office (DSWO) and met the students undergoing various training courses in the institute. During his maiden visit, the GOC donated Rs 25,000 for the development of DSWO. He also met senior army officials. Deputy director of DSWO Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh said the institute has been providing employment opportunities to the youth in armed forces, paramilitary, central and state government. Deputy commissioner-cum-president of DSWO Ajeet Singh Pannu lauded the contribution of the institute in instilling the qualities of discipline and dedication among youth.
	Bal Vigyan congress draws huge rush Our Correspondent Nawanshahr, November 24 The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology and the district education department organised a district-level “Bal vigyan congress” on “Planet Earth: Our home - explore, share and care”, at Government Senior Secondary School here. A large number of school children took part in various contests held on the occasion. . In the senior category, Government Senior Secondary School, Kirpal Sagar Academy, Rahon, Government High School, Jhingeran, and in the junior category, Government High School, Jhingeran, Government Senior Secondary School, Bharta Kalan and Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Rahon, won the first three positions, respectively. These teams would participate in the state-level bal vigyan congress, Balihar Singh Bains, district science supervisor, said.