EDUCATION

Humanities not favourite with students
From Surbhi Bhalla

LUDHIANA, July 27 — Tell someone that you are taking a course in the humanities and you will get a quizzical look. And before you start explaining, the subject's relevance or rather the lack of it in the modern day world, it will be discussed aloud.

There is a general belief in our society of literate and illiterate that arts is meant for those who habitually get low scores. And students opting for arts do so only after failing to get admission in science and commerce courses.

According to Mr J.R.Batra,a former principal, students prefer science, commerce and other job-oriented subjects as the career graphs of arts rise at a very slow pace.

It is generally believed that science and commerce are meant for the "intellectually superior" and the arts for the average students.

All disciplines have an indispensable element of arts or humanities involved in them. For a scientific discovery, for instance, the scientist has to take recourse to history.

Science requires an objective approach based purely on facts. Whereas, arts calls for a subjective approach. For a country like ours, it is a sad paradox that humanities subjects do not get their due recognition. A strong bias exists against arts.

Anita and Vishali are of the view that arts cannot help youngsters in a better way than other job-oriented courses. Even before they can decide what they want, the students are forced by their parents to go for science and commerce courses. Because, according to them, that is where the future lies. Even if the students are not good at these subjects and have an inclination towards history or English, these interests are nipped in the bud.

India, where the most beautiful conglomeration of language exists and where several cultures and traditions have taken birth, people still look down upon arts subjects. It is equally important to learn about society, nation, the world and its people as it is to know as how fusion takes place.

HEALTH

Health employees stage dharna
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 27 — In response to a call given by the coordination committee of paramedical and health employees union, Punjab, employees staged a dharna in front of the civil surgeon's office here today to press their demands and to lodge protest against the anti-employee policies of the state government.

Speaking on the occasion, the co-convener, Mr Amarjit singh, called upon the state government to concede the pending demands of the paramedical and health employees, which include restoration of LTA, 5 per cent house rent allowance, uniforms for class iv and health assistants and grant of time scale after four, nine and 14 years of service for all employees.

The union activists, Mr Balbir Singh Kalia, Mr Mukhtiar Singh, Mr Buta Singh, Mr Dalip Singh, Mr Gurdip Singh, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Malkhan Singh, Mr Manpreet Singh and Mr Surinder Lal also addressed the protesters.

Aashram providing free medical aid
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 27 — The Nishkam Seva Aashram at Jhujhar Nagar, initially started as a dispensary, has gone a long way. About 150 to 210 patients visit the OPD everyday. Patients suffering from eye diseases are given treatment in the Nishkam's Hospital Vridh Ashram Camps (Daad). It also has an eye operation theatre. Women suffering from various diseases are provided with gynaecology services. Dental services to the needy patients have also been introduced.

The hospital provides free medical service to the inmates of Juvenile Sudhar Centre. The medicines are provided free of cost by Nishkam.

A Sewing School Centre also functions along the Shinghar Nagar, Hospital, for women. More than 40 girls are getting training in cutting, sewing and embroidery.

COURTS

Stamp vendors feel pinch of limit
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, July 27 — About 300-odd stamp vendors in the District Courts complex here have been accused of overcharging as well as black-mailing. But, the vendors deny the accusation and claim they are the victims as they are struggling hard for existence.

According to the complaints of the public it was alleged that for a Rs 15 stamp paper, the vendors demanded Rs 16. The second major complaint is that the vendors blackmail people who have an urgent and immediate need of stamp paper.

It is alleged that the vendors claim that they do not have a Rs 15 denomination stamp paper as required and so, ask the person to take a higher stamp paper. Most of the time, the needy person has no option other than to go for the whatever is available.

However, a number of stamp vendors interviewed by the Ludhiana Tribune here today while admitting that some kind of fleecing was taking place,s said it was done by a few 'black sheep' among them.

According to the vendors, while the prices of all essential commodities have soared high, their earnings from getting commission from the sale of stamp papers have not increased in the same ratio. They say that the constraint of selling only less than Rs 1000 worth stamp papers was the biggest cause of their meagre earnings. The vendors also complain that they are given only 4 per cent commission for every sale which was not fulfilling their financial needs.

According to Mr Manjit Singh Bhikhi, former General Secretary of the local unit of the Stamp Vendors Union said most of the 300-odd vendors are virtually living from hand to mouth. "The government is supplying us stamps only while there is no paper given to us, "he claimed. In such circumstances the vendors have to buy a good quality paper on their own, affix a stamp on it and then sell it.

According to him, while the majority charge only the actual amount, some others who cannot afford to bear the cost of the paper have to charge one or two rupees extra. He said if the government supplies the paper, the cost of which was covered in the stamp cost itself, then such situation would not arise.

Mr Darshan Singh Rai, spokesperson of the vendors, said the biggest problem being faced by the vendors was the limit of not selling more than Rs1000 worth stamp papers. He said the government had recently increased the commission of vendors from 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent but still it was far less than their needs.

According to other vendors, the other major cause of their hardship was the mushrooming of a large number of stamp paper vendors in the recent years. According to Mr. Bhikhi there were less than 50 vendors just a couple of years ago but now the number had gone up to 300.

CULTURE

Painting workshop concludes
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 27 — A free painting-training workshop concluded here yesterday. It was one of the biggest workshops in the northern region so far and was organised in Param Training School at Ranjit Nagar here.

About 350 participants were trained by more than 20 teachers. A painting competition was held on the concluding day of the workshop. In the contest, Manpreet Kaur stood first, Namjot second and Parminder Kaur third. Some consolation prizes were also given to students.

ADMINISTRATION

VC flags off ambulance van
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 27 — For providing specialised veterinary care at farmers doorstep, as well as training veterinary students under field conditions, a new van was flagged off today by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Ludhiana. It will be apt to say that it is a 'veterinary hospital on wheels'.

According to Dr Kuldip Mirakhur, Professor and Head, Veterinary Clinics, the van is an essential component of teaching programme and a much awaited facility.

These mobile veterinary clinical services will be provided throughout the week in the villages adopted nearby.

Presently two villages namely Janhpura and Dolonkalan have been adopted for this purpose.

The van has facilities for treating medicinal and gynaecological disorders and to undertake minor surgical operations in the field. Specialists in the areas of surgery, gynaecology,clinical medicine and preventive veterinary medicine will visit these villages daily along with students of the Veterinary College.

This will be a regular feature and will prove helpful for providing specialised veterinary care for villagers.

According to Ravneet Kaur, a final year student of Veterinary, earlier only three students could go to the villages in the department car. Now it is possible for students to understand the field problems to a greater extent, says Gurdarshan Singh, another final year student.