EDUCATION

Colleges too late to get funds
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — A late receipt of letter from the University Grants Commission to Panjab University has made it nearly impossible for the interested colleges to avail themselves of the fund for education promotion schemes in science and social sciences streams.

This has happened because the UGC signed the letter underlining various proposals in August last, while the university received it on December 16 last. The colleges were expected to send their proposals by September 30. The Dean College Development Office has not yet received any proposals.

The university is making last-moment efforts by getting a list of colleges which are interested in programmes, to pursue the case with the UGC.

Sources in the office said the programmes introduced after April 1999 had financial assistance worth Rs 1 lakh for the College Humanities and Social Science Improvement Programmes (COHSSIP). There was another scheme of Rs 2 lakh under the College Science Improvement Programmes (COSIP).

Dr Deepak Manmohan, Dean College Development, said the late receipt of communication from the UGC was not a fault of the university. He said the university would get a list of the interested colleges and try to make adjustments in the UGC which would be beneficial. He said the UGC could give an extension on persuation.

The "day care centre" decision has been kept in abeyance by the UGC, a letter from the Dean College says. Also in abeyance are decisions on one-time grant for books and journals.

Another important reason why the colleges were unable to receive the grants, was a lack of the knowledge of procedure. Dr Deepak Manmohan said universities were informed that there was little attempt on part of the colleges to avail themselves of the financial facilities because of a lack of knowledge.

Dr Manmohan said the university organised more than two camps with the help of the UGC officials to educate college authorities about the various facilities available. Yet, the results had not been satisfactory.

Another important feature was the release of grants to the border-area colleges. Despite repeated communications to the concerned authorities, the UGC spoke of poor response. The principals and "other seniors" deputed for the job at the commission often turned up without the complete set of official papers.

Submission of fund-utilising certificates remained an important condition for the scheme. These slips needed to be submitted compulsorily, failing which, the UGC could stop financial assistance to a particular institution.

There is also a provision for financial assistance to blind teachers, for payment to readers, purchase of related books and related material.

UT school timings changed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Education Department of the Chandigarh Administration has decided to change the timings of the UT schools. The schools would now start at 8.45 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. in the morning and close at 2.30 p.m. instead of 2.00 p.m. This change is for the single shift schools and would come in effect from January 6 onwards till February 29, 2000.

The decision to change the timings of the UT schools has come in the wake of heavy fog and severe cold prevailing in the city.

The time of the double shift schools of the city has also been changed. There are eight double shift schools in the city, out of which three are senior secondary schools, four primary schools and one high school.

The time of the morning shift in these schools has been changed from the earlier timings of 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. to now 8.15 a.m to 2 p.m. For the evening the changed timings are 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The earlier timings were from 12.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The recess time in this evening shift would be curtailed accordingly.

Meanwhile, a meeting of all the private schools would be taking place on January 7, where the change of timings would also be one of the issues to be discussed. This was revealed by Mr D.S. Bedi, Principal, Shivalik Public School, and also the President of the Association of all Independent Schools of the city. He also added that his school had already changed the timings to 8.30 a.m. to 2.20 p.m. with effect from January 4 till February 26. The earlier timings were 8 a.m. to 2.20 p.m.

According to an official in the Education Department, “The private schools could have a genuine problem in shifting to the changes because of their conveyance problem. Most of the schools do not have their own buses, but have these transport facilities available only on contract, which obviously ply elsewhere after the school hours. So a lot of changes would have to be made”.

Some of the private schools, when spoken to, said that the decision to change the school timings was too sudden and would cause a lot of confusion if announced suddenly. Some also said that they would wait for the circular on the change of school timings to reach them before coming to any decision.

According to Brother D’Abreu, Principal of St John’s School, Sector 26, “For the timebeing we are not planning to change the time of the school, since this is on a very short notice. Our timings for now would stay the same — from 8.15 a.m. to 2 p.m”. The principal of the neighbouring school, Sr Gloria, of Sacred Heart Convent, also said that she would talk to the other schools to decide on new school timings if any. For the timebeing we would stick to the previous timings”.

Meanwhile, since tomorrow is a holiday some of the private schools of the city might announce change in timings if any. For the timebeing a confusion over the timings exists and wards of the children who are studying in private schools might have to check up with their own individual schools.

The Education Department also said that it would wait till January 7, till the time the meeting of these schools would take a decision on the same and would then take an “action, in case required”.

Attending school outdoors
By Vishal Joshi
CHANDIGARH

Jan 4 — Shivering in chilly weather, students of Government Primary School in Chilla village are forced to sit in the open due to the absence of sufficient space.

A survey in Chilla, Manauli, Chacho Majra and other government schools in the periphery of Chandigarh reveals that students sit on the floor. They sit around small bonfires arranged by labourers near the schools.

When the Tribune team reached the primary school in Chilla in Kharar subdivision, students and staff were sitting outside. The teachers said the school lacked space. The school has only two rooms for 81 students.

A teacher said young children sat in the open as the school building was poorly maintained. The rural school, located in fields, lacks any pucca approach road.

As the area is under thick cover of fog, it becomes impossible to teach inside the school building in the absence of an electricity connection. Though the wiring has been done, the connection is yet to released.

In another school in Pappri village near Sohana, only a few students were present. A teacher said students had gone to their homes for lunch. Students playing on the school campus said not enough students were attending the school for the past few days.

This school, having five classes, is housed in two rooms. Students said only one room was used most of the time. They said a window was broken and had not been repaired. A teacher stated that she had come to the school from an adjoining school to drink tea, while students at her school were sitting idle in the absence of any teacher.

A number of teachers said presence of students decreased during winter each year. "We remain particular about students. As most of them are from poor families, they are without sufficient clothes and we often tell them to go home," said a teacher.

Strike enters second day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The indefinite strike by students of the Department of Physics in Panjab University entered its second day today, while a special committee of the department perused the case of violence on the occasion of the freshers' party, sources said here today.

Rajeev Thakur, a department representative, who was allegedly assaulted on the occasion, said Amarjot, a leader of the campus unit of the ABVP, was involved in the case.

Students who tried to make a forcible entry in the party, were looking for a particular girl, Thakur said. Later, when he requested them to go out, the students assaulted him.

Jagmeet Sidhu, Secretary of the campus unit of the Students Federation of India, said there was no publicity stunt involved here. He said Thakur was assaulted without provocation. He said the attackers were mainly not from the department. He was made to run away in defence," he said.

The ABVP unit of the campus however denied involvement of their leader. The department's decision is expected in two-three days.

Jacob spends time with blind students
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), visited the Institute of Blind, Sector 26, and spent some time with the students this morning.

The Governor presented 100 Braille watches as new year gifts to the students.

The institute today celebrated Louise Braille Day with the Governor. The function began with the visually impaired students welcoming the Administrator and Adviser to the Administrator Vineeta Rai with display of a musical band.

General Jacob and Mrs Rai were taken round an exhibition that was put up to display the various educational aids being used for the teaching of students of the institute. They also went saw the Braille printer room.

When taken round the Braille library, the Governor expressed the desire that Braille magazines be supplied to the students in order to keep them updated on the recent happenings in the country and the world.

The Governor also saw the kitchen and dormitory rooms of the students and then the playground. He was also shown a piece of land which had been donated by the Chandigarh Administration to the institute for the construction of a girl's hostel.

Later the visually impaired students presented a programme of patriotic songs for the guests. The Governor distributed sweets among the students.

Also present on the occasion was Mr Rakesh Singh, Finance Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration.

COURTS

Court notice for Badal
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Jan 4 — Ms Seema Dhillon, Civil Judge of Kharar, today issued notice to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD for January 11, in a contempt-of-court petition filed by Col Jasmer Singh Bala for disobeying the injunction order passed by this court on December 14, 1999.

Col Jasmer Singh Bala has written in his application that a civil suit filed by him is still pending in this court and the next date after notice is fixed for January 11. He has written that the main plea in the suit is that the SAD is a registered political party and the tenure of its general house is two years only, so, a new house is to be elected before the expiry of the term of the previous house.

He has written that it has been stated in the suit that the working committee cannot exist beyond the tenure of the party general house itself. He says that according to the law the term of the working committee expired in June 1999, and that any order passed by the working committee after June 8, 1999, is without jurisdiction and void. He has written that since the committee has out lived its tenure, its meeting dated December 15 is void and illegal.

He has written that along with the suit, an application has also been moved to restrain the holding of the meeting dated December 15. He said this court has passed the injunction order on December 14 and an injuction had been served on the defendants. He has written that the defendants have moved an application in this court for the withdrawal of the order and that the court has passed the second order of injunction, besides explaining the meaning of the first order of December 14.

He alleged in his application that in spite of the injuction order, the “illegal” meeting was held as scheduled under the presidency of Mr Parkash Singh Badal where many controversial resolutions were passed. He has written that by disobeying the injunction of this court, Mr Badal has committed a contempt of the court and has made himself liable to be punished under Order 39 Rule 2A of the CPC.

He said it was for Mr Badal to prove in this court that the meeting held on December 15 was valid according to the constitution of the party and the law. Col Bala said Mr Badal should be asked to disclose his immovable property.

Witness was told of Beant's killing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh's assassination case resumed today, with prosecution witness Kuljeet Singh stating that accused Balwant Singh had informed him regarding the killing after visiting his house on September 1, 1995. Deposing before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi, in the make-shift courtroom at Model Jail in Burail, the witness said according to Balwant Singh, the RDX was procured through accused Jagtar Singh Hawara.

The chief minister was killed in an explosion outside the Civil Secretariat here on August 31, 1995. While the believed-to-be human bomb also died in the blast, other accused in the case are facing trial.

Continuing with the deposition, the witness stated that he was taken away by CIA staff from Patiala for assistance on September 6, 1995, after they were informed by Balwant Singh's brother regarding the possibility of his being of help in the investigation. The assassination case will now come up before the Sessions Judge on January 6.

SI gets bail in murder case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — Punjab Sub-Inspector Arvinder Bir Singh was today granted anticipatory bail by a city court in Ropar advocate Kulwant Singh's murder case.

The case pertaining to the advocate's alleged murder dates back to January, 1993. Kulwant Singh's father had reported to the police that the advocate, his wife and their two-year-old son had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The police had, however, failed to trace them.

The CBI was subsequently directed to investigate the matter by the apex court. Meanwhile, trial was initiated against Harpreet Singh, alias Lucky. The investigating agency stated that Lucky was innocent and DSP Jaspal Singh, Inspector Balwant Singh, Sub-Inspector Arvinder Bir Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector Darshan Singh were responsible for the fabrication of evidence against him.

CULTURE

Panth teachings ‘more relevant today’
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 4 — “The ideology and principles of the Khalsa Panth are more relevant in today’s times since it preaches secularism, which is very important for the unity of the country,’’ Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, said while speaking at a function organised to celebrate the 300 years of the formation of the Khalsa by the Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi.

Mr Bhagwan said that the teachings conveyed the mesage that all must rise above caste and colour and present a united front irrespective of one’s religion. He was full of praise for the efforts put in by the academy for promoting the Punjabi language.

Earlier, he honoured three storywriters of Punjabi in Haryana. While Mr CR Modgil of Kurukshetra was awarded Rs 1000 for his story titled “Apna Apna Shimla”, Mr Devender Mohan from Ambala was awarded Rs 700 for “Jeewandeep” and Mr Surinder Kamboj got Rs 500 for “Nahin Bhay Manat Aan”.

The guest of hounour at the function, Mr Gurbachan Singh Bhullar, Editor of Punjabi Tribune, said that stories were the first step in the making of history.

The Director of the academy, Mr SS Arshi, highlighted the activities being undertaken by the organisation in bringing up the Punjabi language in the state. He announced that the academy would start the Bhai Santokh Singh award comprising a cash prize of Rs 5100.