EDUCATION

Discipline brought them success
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR June 18 — "If you are disciplined in life, success comes your way," says Ms Ranjit Bedi, Principal of Gian Jyoti Public School, Phase II, here. The discipline culture of the school has produced 100 per cent results ever since the first batch of Class X students passed out in 1983.

In the school, stress is laid on inculcating the spirit of competitiveness among students in studies, cleanliness or extra-curricular activities. "Past year, an experiment to award students who had the best-maintained school bag led to a better spirit of management among students," says Ms Bedi. She said helping the students plan their daily routine made the difference between failure and success. "Though most students are from average-income families, we provide a friendly atmosphere to them. A healthy interaction between students and teachers is encouraged. We want to change the notion that best students go to Chandigarh schools," she said.

"Grooming teachers and equipping them with latest teaching techniques was an important part of the school schedule. Teachers had to maintain a handbook of all minute details of the academic session. If it was found that a certain teaching session had not been productive for students, the teacher concerned was asked to repeat the lesson," she said.

Established with just two students and three teachers in a rented accommodation in 1974, the school has come a long way. Today, it has 1,623 students and 55 teachers on its rolls.

Parents of toppers attribute the success of their wards to the efforts of the school authorities in ensuring that every student got his or her share of knowledge.

Ms Veena Garg, mother of Neha Garg who topped in SAS Nagar by securing 89 per cent marks, says, "The performance of my girl was regularly monitored by her teachers. Regular attendance and regular tests played an important role in her success."

Ms Amarjeet Kaur whose daughter Sumeet secured 87 per cent marks, said the guidance her daughter received from teachers about planning her schedule, made the difference. "I was never bothered about her performance. Stress on cleanliness and extra-curricular activities gave her a lot of confidence."

Theatre workshop concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 18 — The drug abuse is on the rise. Not only the youth, the young children are also lured by it. The after-effects are fatal. This message was conveyed through a musical skit by the students participating a theatre workshop which concluded at St. Stephen’s School today.

A play ‘Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja’ was also staged by the students. They also performed dances on ‘Ding-a-Ling’ and Bhangra pop.

As many as 96 students from various schools, including Sacred Heart, St. Xavier’s, St Anne’s, and Bhavan Vidayalya participated in the workshop which started on May 20. The students were in the age group between 6 to 14.

PU Syndicate to meet on June 29
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 18 — A Panjab University Syndicate meeting is scheduled for June 29, highly placed sources said here today. The university did not have a Syndicate meeting last month.

The agenda is yet to come. However, there seems every likelihood of protest by a section of members over the “unfaithful recording of the proceedings” of the previous Syndicate meeting. While voting on an issue last time, it is being said, that one vote was ignored to be recognised even in the recordings.

A written representation highlighting the issue was earlier forwarded to the authorities.

The university’s reply on the issue is expected in the coming meeting. Among the signatories against the said proposal included the DPIs of Punjab and the UT.

Also the likely item on the agenda is views of the house on the university budget.

COURTS

Fined for deficient services
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 18 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum ordered Overnite Express Limited, a courier agency in Sector 11, to pay Rs 20,000 to Dr Samir Anand, a resident of Sector 23, for mental agony and harassment and Rs 1,000 as cost of proceedings on account of deficient services.

In a complaint filed before the forum, it was stated that Dr Anand approached the company on March 6, 1999, for the delivery of his application form along with requisite enclosures for admission to the MD-MS course of the PGIMS, Rohtak, by March 8 before 4 p.m. He was assured that the needful would be done at over three times the normal charges.

However, the receipt given after delivery showed the form reached on March 9 and his form was not entertained since it reached after the last date of submission. This caused him mental agony and harassment since he was well prepared for the examination.

Upon notice, a field officer of the courier company put in an appearance on November 5 the same year after which no one appeared and the company was proceeded against ex parte during which the complainant gave evidence by way of affidavits and certain documents.

The bench comprising Mr R.C. Taneja, Mr B.S. Badhran and Ms Nirmal Kaur observed that the company had indulged in deficient services ''by not delivering the form with requisite enclosures of the complainant to its destination on or before the due date''.

In another case the forum ordered Sterling Tea and Industries Limited to transfer the allotment letter of shares to Ms Radha Dutt, a resident of sector 6, and pay Rs 2,500 for mental agony and cost of proceedings.

In the complaint she said that she purchased two allotment letters representing 100 shares from the company and sent the same with a bank draft and a photocopy of the letters along with transfer deeds for their transfer on January 6, 1996, which went unattended.

After the presentation of the complaint, a notice was issued to the company but it refused to accept the service of the notice and was proceeded against ex parte in July, 1999.

The bench observed that in spite of the fact that the complainant furnished all documents and papers to the company, it did not bother to do the needful. ''Resultantly, we are of the opinion that by not transferring the allotment letters in favour of the complainant within reasonable time, the company had indulged in deficient services,'' the order added. 

CULTURE

A mismanaged dance show
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 18 — The CEN Dance Dhamaka, a home-grown version of popular TV serial Boogie Woogie turned out to be a damp squib at Tagore Theatre here this evening.

The programme started well past the scheduled time. The chief guest, Mr Chander Mohan, MLA from Haryana, arrived late and spent precisely half an hour at this dhamaka.

He said such programmes helped preserve the culture and heritage of the country. He presented Rs 21,000 to Citi Entertainment Network, organisers of the dance competition.

However, the show was mismanaged, with the sound system packing off just after the third participant had finished performing. The organisers blamed the Tagore Theatre management for this technical fault.

Later, the schedule was hurried up and each participant given less than three minutes to show his/her talent on the stage.

The organisers said there were more entries than they had expected. There were 68 participants in three categories.

Group A had participants from the 5 to 10 age group. Boys and girls of the age group 11 to 20 participated in the group B. Group C consisted of group dances.

It was a moment of glory, however, for the participating youngsters and their parents. For most of them, it was possibly their very first time on stage, before such a big audience.

Rano telecast from today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 18 — Rano, a Punjabi TV serial, shot in and around Chandigarh, is all set for telecast on Lashkara channel. The first episode of this serial will be telecast on June 19 at 9 p.m.

Featuring Gurkirtan, Shavinder Mahal, Rimpi Gill, Bharat Bhushan Verma, Gick Grewal, Pinki Saggu, Dr Surinder Sharma, B.N. Sharma, Devinder Daman, Jaswant Daman and Rozy, eight episodes have already been shot and completed. The serial will have 104 episodes. The shooting of second schedule will start in first week of July.

According to Narinder Grewal, writer and director of Rano, the serial is about the struggle of a woman who fights for her rights in society. She is forced to take to the gun to fight the tyranny in the system.