EDUCATION

Govt polytechnic’s extension centre inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — A new extension centre of the Government Institute of Textile Chemistry and Knitting Technology was inaugurated at Mundiani Kalan here yesterday.

This will be the sixth extension centre for the implementation of the Community Development Scheme, operated by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India. The centre was inaugurated by Mr S.R. Kaler, Additional Deputy Commissioner, and chairman of the management committee of polytechnics.

With the main centre of this scheme at Rishi Nagar, the other five extension centres are at Bhanot, Lalton, Mini Chhapar, Chuharpur and Laddowal villages. Under the scheme, 900 unemployed rural youth have to be trained every year for any of the 10 job-oriented courses. These courses include cutting and tailoring, fashion designing, textile designing, textile chemistry, refrigeration and air-conditioning, textile dyeing and calico printing, computer applications, flat machine printing and radio and television mechanics.

‘‘The admissions at all the centres, including the one at Mundiani Kalan, are complete,’’ informed Mr Darshan Singh Blasi, Principal at the main centre at Rishi Nagar.

Protests mark last day of youth fest
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — The 12th Prof S.N. Kakkar inter-college youth festival concluded at Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday with folk songs, giddha and bhangra. The College of Basic Sciences won the overall trophy.

Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, was the chief guest. He gave away the prizes. The College of Basic Sciences won trophies for fine arts and songs, while overall trophies for drama and dance were won by the College of Agriculture and the College of Home Science, respectively. Randeep Chahal of College of Basic Sciences and Humanities was best singer, while Munish Mohindra and Narinder Pal Singh from the same college were best speaker and best artist, respectively. Vinay Madan from the College of Agricultural Engineering and Gurpreet Kaur from College of Home Science were best actor and best actress, respectively.

Mr Sarvdeep Singh was given the Dr Dilip Singh Deep Award. Students who participated in Youth Parliament were given prizes.

Students of the College of Agriculture protested against the results in folk dance events. They staged a dharna in front of the house of Dr H.S. Sekhon, president of the University Dance, Drama, Music Club. Dr K.R. Sharma, president of the Dance, Drama, Music Club of Agriculture, supported them. They were not satisfied with the results of the inter-college youth festival. They demanded that the bhangra team, that would represent the university in the forthcoming youth festival at Agartala, be announced immediately.

They were restive when bhangra was announced as a guest item. They alleged that the decision of placing the College of Home Science first was partial. They said there were only two teams in bhangra and the College of Agriculture was awarded special prize instead of considering it for overall folk dance competition.

The striking students of the College of Agriculture of Punjab Agricultural University met the Vice-Chancellor to advocate their case. Dr Kalkat said he hoped that agriculture would be introduced as a subject in schools from the next academic session. He assured the representatives of the PAU Students Association that he would plead their case before the state government.

The students decided to continue the strike. They said they would take a decision after meeting the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, who was expected to visit the PAU on October 9.

Volunteer help improves condition of school
By Deepkamal Kaur

LUDHIANA, Oct 7 — What the state government could not do, an individual has done and that, too, single-handedly. Government High School (No. 5), College Road, here has changed from the earlier dilapidated building into an almost new building. Thanks to Ms Kamlesh Monicha, a pharmacologist, at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

She undertook the momentous task of renovating the school building whose condition was deteriorating day by day, due to the apathetic attitude of the State Education Department.

Not long ago, there were only four class-rooms in the school, the roofs of which were crumbling. So the classes were held in the open. The students had to brave hot and cold weather while sitting on the mostly worn-out mattresses. Further, during rain, all 400 students used to flock inside these rooms, hence, no classes could be conducted.

Dr Monicha, who lives just opposite the school, was a daily witness to the sad state of affairs of the school. Seeing the condition of the school, she thought of collecting some funds for improving the school’s condition.

Initially reluctant to talk about her effort, she became willing only when convinced that her example may encourage others to follow the suit. Reminiscing her first visit into the school building, she said, ‘‘ When I first went to the school, it was quite dirty. Wild plants and overgrown shrubs had spoiled the facade of the school. The walls of the classrooms had developed cracks. During rains, water conveniently seeped down from the roofs. The children had no proper place to attend classes and there was also a danger of some mishap in such circumstances’’.

Though quite affluent, the doctor still required more money to renovate the school. She began encouraging school teachers and students to help her in the cause. Then she targeted her family friends, relatives, other people living near the school and medical fraternity as well.

Soon her efforts began to produce results. More concerned people joined her desire. Finally, they had enough money to begin the renovation. They started by removing all the wild plants and overgrown shrubs. New rooms were constructed. A covered verandah was also constructed in front of all rooms, as earlier, the rain water used to get into the room. Since construction of few other classrooms is still underway, a part of this verandah is also being utilised to take classes,’’ she said, while narrating the step-by-step development.

She further said, ‘‘New mattresses were also donated for the students who sit in the verandah. Three new bathrooms were also constructed, as earlier, there was just one for 400 students and teachers. New fans were replaced by the old. A new science laboratory has also been constructed, however, the material required for conducting experiments is yet to come. Uniform , copies and books were also distributed to the needy children.’’

She said that she was immensely encouraged by the act of the students who contributed Re 1 per month for development purposes in their school. Even the teachers contributed for the cause. The cost of labour was partly managed by the funds pooled by them.

‘‘Earlier taking classes in unfavourable weather was a problem but with the new steps being taken now, the condition has significantly improved’’, said teachers.

Ms Monicha acknowledges the support given by her husband, Dr Y.C. Monicha, a skin specialist. ‘‘When I told him about the pathetic conditions of the school, he encouraged me to take step. He has even donated enough money from time to time”.

About the total expenses incurred in the development project, Ms Monicha said, ‘‘I have never made any calculations but a few lakhs have obviously been spent.’’ She will be retiring in a few months from her job. After that she plans to spare more time for this service. ‘‘Next I shall collect more money for construction of an examination hall. I am also thinking of developing a playground for the children and a community hall where elderly people will be able to get together and enjoy each other’s company’’.