EDUCATION

Scholars asked to refund money
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — A circular of the University Grants Commission refusing funds has come as trouble for a number of research scholars who have worked for more than four years on their projects.

This has affected several cases recommended for one-year extension by the university to the UGC. Earlier, the UGC granted extension for one year to the scholars in June, following which the university paid them fellowships.

Surprisingly, the UGC issued a letter in September this year, withdrawing the extension in research work given in the earlier letter.

The circular led to the university stopping the scholarship aid to these students. In another surprising letter, the university has issued a letter to the research scholars, asking them to return the amount they received for scholarship in the fifth year.

Research scholars complain about the sudden change in provision. "We plan according to a five-year provision. The last year was a year of maximum script work or documentation of the findings. The change, if any, should have been informed at least a year or more before its introduction," a senior research scholar said.

The scholars are complaining about the amount to be returned as a result of the notice. One scholar in the Chemistry Department has been asked to return Rs 51,313. Another JRF student will have to pay Rs 32,245 to settle the accounts.

The Panjab University Research Scholars Association has submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor. His reply is awaited. The Panjab University Teachers Association has passed a resolution asking for a solution to the problems of research scholars.

The secretary of the PUTA, in a press note, said ,"As a conscientious teacher and scientist, it can be added that this step by the UGC was extremely detrimental to the quality of research work in PU. The average number of years for securing Ph.Ds in the USA was six years for sciences and about 8 years for societal research work."

Informed sources said that the notice was not followed in certain nearby universities. "The affected research scholars are going through mental tension as they were at a very advanced stage of research," a letter said.

Night classes begin today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 31— The plan announced by the Chandigarh Administration to start night classes in the government schools to provide basic education to slum children would get underway tomorrow afternoon at the Government School, Sector 25, in the Kumhar Colony.

Earlier, the UT Administrator, Lt Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, had announced his plan to start night classes in the government schools to provide basic education to slum children. Mr D.S. Saroya, Director of Public Instructions (DPI), Schools, had informed that a total of five or six schools would be identified as centre of night classes. The DPI (Schools) had also called a meeting of 41 government schools of the city and had asked the principals of these schools to motivate their teachers to volunteer themselves for this programme, and also to include various volunteer organisations working in this field.

For one of the first classes that would begin tomorrow, the project has been taken up by the Indian Council of Social Welfare (ICSW), Chandigarh Chapter, for about 21 students in the age group of seven years to 14 years. These students have been identified by Mrs Shrestha Mehta of the ICSW, who would be working in collaboration with Zulfiqar of the Theatre Age. All these 20-odd students are either school-dropouts who have not been attending school for the last three years and more, or have had no school education at all.

COURTS

Threat to move court
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 31— Mr H.S. Anand, whose farmhouse in Mani Majra was partly demolished by the enforcement staff of the Estate Office on December 29, has threatened to move court for payment of damages.

Talking to reporters here today, Mr Anand denied the claim of the Estate Office that the farmhouse was being used for such commercial purposes as holding marriages and other functions. He produced the permit of the Estate Office for erecting poultry farm, cattle shed and farmhouse given in 1972.

Alleging discrimination by the office, he claimed that while his farmhouse was demolished, other farmhouses, where building byelaws' violations were rampant and which were owned by influential persons, were spared.

CULTURE

Gargi honoured
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 31 — Balwant Gargi, renowned theatre personality, was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academi award by the President of India recently.

A press note today said that the prominent theatre personality was more known as a playwright.Born in 1916 in Bathinda, Gargi did his masters in English and was involved in theatre at an early age.He is more eminent as a Punjabi playwright. His Loha kutt , ‘kanak di balli’, ‘Sultan Razia’ , and ‘Mirza Sahiban’ have been staged in India and abroad.

A recipient of the Padma Shree, Gargi, was honoured by the Punjab Government in 1958 and the Gypsie Theatre of Moscow in 1962. He is also a former chairman of the Department of Indian Theatre of Panjab University.