The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

VC rescinds his own order
From Surbhi Bhalla

LUDHIANA, Sept 6 — Strange are the ways of functioning of Punjab Agricultural University. Things are apparently done and undone at the personal whims and fancies of the authorities here. The moment one gets into power in PAU, he seeks to undo all that he does not like.

In a classic case, the Vice-Chancellor rescinded his own order, reportedly at the instance of Pro-Vice-Chancellor within two months. Dr G S Sidhu, presently working as Associate Director of Research, Sugarcane Research Station, Jalandhar, was given additional charge by the Vice Chancellor, Dr Kalkat, in May 2000. But the appointment reportedly upset the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, who allegedly got it cancelled.

It proved to be case of PVC proposing and the VC disposing. Dr Kalkat had earlier issued orders asking Dr Sidhu to supervise the ongoing research work on rice on the recommendations of the Director of Research, Dr M. S. Bajwa.

Dr Aulakh, who reportedly did not favour the appointment of Dr Sidhu, wrote a letter to Dr Sidhu on July 7, telling him that the VC’s orders stood revoked.

The tone and tenor of the letter written by Dr Aulakh, to Dr Sidhu, betrays the mind and the intentions of the writer. The letter while intimating Dr Sidhu of the cancellation of the orders accused him of “pestering and cheating”.

It reads, ‘’you had been pestering me for the last about two years to make you the technical leader of the rice improvement programme. I had explained to you that as per the university policy, a scientist working in a particular project/programme should only work as technical leader. So I did not agree to your proposal and requested you to concentrate on sugarcane improvement programme. After I shifted to this position, and without my knowledge, you have manoeuvered to get the orders issued for technical leadership for rice improvement programme in addition to your own duties. You have, therefore, bypassed verbal decision taken by the undersigned which amounts not only to breach of faith of your seniors but also cheating. This sort of arrangement does not only bring frustration and demoralisation among the scientists concerned but also casts aspersions on their competence. We have a highly dedicated and experienced group on rice improvement programme, which is doing excellent work and the results are before us. It has, therefore, been decided by the VC to withdraw the orders as per endst. No. SVC/2000/4607-12.’’

Also Dr Aulakh does not appear to be satisfied by Dr Bajwa, Director Research, for having bypassed him. But it is interesting to note that according to the rules of the university, the Director Research is not required to route such papers through PVC. In fact, according to the Punjab and Haryana Agricultural Universities Act there is no post of PVC.

Sources in PAU disclosed that Dr Sidhu had written a letter to the VC, in response to the letter written to him by the PVC. Dr Sidhu took serious objection to the words like “pestering” and “cheating” used by Dr Aulakh. Dr Sidhu also maintains that he had not bypassed anybody, as he had routed his application through proper channel, the Director of Research.

Earlier, Dr Sidhu’s seniority was allegedly ignored. In a different letter written to VC in 98, Dr Sidhu had alleged that he possessed administrative experience in the capacity of Station Director since 1980 and managed the affairs of Rice Research Station Kapurthala up to 1993.

Dr Sidhu also maintained that he had maximum experience of working with international organisations and made contributions to basic as well as applied rice research.

Senate election fever grips teachers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 6 — With elections to the Punjab University Senate just 10 days away, the teaching community in the city is in the grip of the election fever these days. The city which has the maximum number of the university’s affiliated colleges is infact witnessing much vigorous campaign than Chandigarh itself as about 37 per cent of the voters belong to this place. For the Principals’ constituency, nine contestants will be contesting for eight seats. Of these, four hail from Ludhiana colleges. These are Mr Tarsem Walia, Principal, A.S. College, Khanna, Ms Harmeet Kaur, Principal, Ramgarhia College, Mr Jaswant Gill, Principal, Guru Nanak College, Doraha, and Mr B.D. Budhi Raja, principal, Kamla Lohtia College. Of the remaining five, two belong to Chandigarh and one each to Moga, Abohar and Hoshiarpur. For the Principal’ constituency, the voters are only the principals of the affiliated colleges. Thus there will be 81 voters of which 25 belong to Ludhiana. For the lecturers’ constituency, 19 contestants will compete for eight seats. Of these, four are lecturers in affiliated colleges of Ludhiana. Of the rest, eight are lecturers in Chandigarh, three in Moga, two in Hoshiarpur and two in Ferozepore.

Annual function of SVM School
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 6 — The annual prize distribution function of Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School was held today. Prizes were given away to the students for their outstanding achievements in academics, sports and cultural activities.

Before the prize distribution, cultural items were presented by students. A dance item by girls on the song Ek charkha gali de wich dah laya enthralled all those present. Students of the middle section performed a qawwali, Muje kaun jaanta tha teri bandagi se pehle. Senior section girls presented Rajasthani dance. Tiny tots sang an animal song.

Ms Sadhana Sharma, Principal, read the annual report in which she highlighted the students performance in sports, especially cricket and kho-kho. Mr Mohan Lal Sharma, Minister of Higher Education, was the chief guest. Also present on the occasion were Mr P.C. Gupta, President of the school management, Mr C.L. Sachdeva, Manager, and Mr Subhash Singla, an industrialist.

Kids learn healthy food habits
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 6 — Yesterday, pre-KG students of DAV Public School brought stuffed paranthas in their tiffins to school. Today, they had paranthas with lady’s finger. Tomorrow, they will have paneer. The menu for all days of the month has been fixed by the school authorities. This has been done to inculcate healthy food habits in children.

The menu includes paranthas with various vegetables like capsicum, brinjal, lady’s finger and palak paneer, besides pulses and gram. The practice will soon be extended to other classes as well.

Mr R.S. Patial, Principal, said the purpose of the move was to make the children eat food that was rich in vitamins and minerals. “All children need balanced and rich diet for a proper physical and mental growth,” he said.

The children bring their own napkins, aprons and glasses. After they have eaten, they carry their own tumblers to the water cooler. No student is allowed to bring bread, noodles or any other fast-food item to school. No rehriwala is allowed to stand outside the school and no child is supposed to bring money to the school.

There is no canteen in the school. “This has been done to ensure that no child eats unhygienic food which the rehriwalas and canteen owners sell. They eat home-cooked and hygienic food, saving them from food poisoning and malnutrition,” said Mr Patial.

“The canteen persons may sell stale snacks cooked a day before to children. The parents can cook a healthier food for their wards,” he said.

Even the children have become used to the rules. “We have never had a canteen in our school. All my friends bring tiffins to school, I never feel shy to eat in the class,” said Priya, a Class XI student.