EDUCATION

500 participate in tourism quiz
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — More than 500 students participated in the second phase of the All-India Tourism Quiz, which was inaugurated at Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here today by Mr M.P. Singh, Secretary, Home, Education and Tourism, UT.

He said although India’s tourism potential was immense and its historic and cultural mosaic was unique, we did not have much knowledge about its great attractions. He said, the tourism quiz contests were important means to spread the message of not only India’s ancient heritage and its virtually unlimited potential for tourism development, and to stimulate interest in the younger generation about the rich cultural heritage of the country.

The quiz is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends, Chandigarh, as part of the Explore India drive to create awareness about the socio-economic benefits of tourism development and to promote India as a destination for international visitors. In the first round, contests were organised at 29 places in which more than 76,000 students participated.

A number of students won prizes in the on-the-spot quiz. Students were also shortlisted for the semi-finals, to be held in the city on September 27, the World Tourism Day. Semi-finals, will also be held in Gangtok, Goa and Bangalore in November, while the finals will take place in Delhi in December.

Mr Manmohan Singh, President of the Chandigarh Hotels and Restaurants Association, delivered a speech on this occasion. Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Director, Public Instruction, and Mr Vivek Atray, Director, Public Relations, were also present. An audio-visual presentation on India’s attraction was also made. Dr Gulshan Sharma, co-ordinator of the quiz, anchored the programme.

HSA, PUSU threaten to ‘lock up’ campus offices
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The Haryana Students Association and the Panjab University Students Union in a press conference today said “they would start locking up campus offices which failed to deliver desired services to students”. Mr Bhupinder ‘Bhuppi’ from HSA said the organisations had organised a one-day silence in protest yesterday to highlight the academic problems.Gurpreet Singh ‘Gappi’ from the PUSU and Rohit Sharma, a former presidential candidate of the PUSU, were also present on the occasion. It was said the university should announce the date of declaration of results along with the dates of examination and normal schedule for re-evaluation of results. Improvement of seating in the examination halls was also stressed.

Narang: literacy must to remove backwardness
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, observed International Literacy Day at Palsora Colony here today. A number of social workers, community leaders, opinion makers, mahila mandals and local residents participated in the function.

Dr C.L. Narang, Director, NSS, Panjab University, said that it was unfortunate the number of illiterates was highest in our country. He said it was due to the illiteracy that people in backward areas were deprived of the benefits of the national development schemes launched by the Centre.

Prof Prasad, programme officer of the college, said only literacy could save our country from the backwardness.

Ms Shyama Nagi, president, Traders Union, and social worker, said there were a number of school dropouts in the colonies of the city due to economical compulsions.

IT scholarship test 
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — NIIT is conducting a scholarship test on September 10 to help meritorious students to avail of computer education for different programmes. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of a written examination to be held at MDSD Girls College, Ambala.

COURTS

Bail plea dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Sept 7 — The bail application moved by Mohammad Karim, a Muzafernagar resident, was today dismissed by UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sant Parkash. Karim was arrested in a case of cheating and fraud on a complainant by Mohinder Singh and others.The complainants had alleged that the accused had taken money from them for arranging jobs for them in Dubai.