EDUCATION

PCCTU demands equal pay for equal work
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has urged Master Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, Punjab, to issue instructions to all the non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh not to flout the principle of equal pay for equal work in their institutions, in light of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court in this regard.

According to Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, president, PCCTU a large number of cases of underpayment and flouting of the said principle were reported to him from all over the state, especially from women’s colleges. Professor Sodhi has demanded that the lecturers working in non-government colleges under identical conditions and with the same work load had the right to the same amount of wages as their other counterparts.

Lecturers in the colleges are appointed against aided posts, unaided posts and also on ad hoc basis. The basic pay of the lecturers in the aided posts is more than Rs 12,000 and they are getting regular UGC grades as well as government allowances. Those in the unaided posts are getting a basic pay of Rs 8,000-10,000 even though they are of the same qualification and are appointed by the same selection committees. Professor Sodhi said even though the work load was the same, lecturers appointed against unaided posts were being under-paid.

The worst hit are the lecturers appointed on ad hoc basis, having a basic pay of Rs 2,200-Rs 6,000. They are appointed by the college principals for seven months, from August to March, and are paid for that particular period only. They do not get any regular grades and they cannot even avail any legal help as they are appointed for a period less than nine months which, is the minimum time for getting any legal assistance. Professor Sodhi has said ad hoc lecturers also had the same work load under same conditions and there is a need to help such lecturers as well.

The Supreme Court had upheld the judgement of the Calcutta High Court in the case of Food Corporation of India’s casual workers, to whom the arrears of underpayment had to be paid with effect from 1989 as per the orders of the high court and the costs of the case calculated to the tune of Rs 10,000 also had to be paid as per the orders from the Supreme Court. The Calcutta High Court had observed in the case that for the same work there could not be any scope for making any difference and denying equal pay for equal work.

Professor Sodhi has urged the minister to ensure implementation of this principle in all the colleges to avoid unnecessary litigation and to maintain peaceful academic atmosphere on the campuses of all the colleges.

Inter-college debate on Oct 16
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — The Ludhiana Citizens’ Health Council is organising an inter-college debate on the topic "Ludhiana: rich in wealth and poor in health" on October 16 at the Government College for Women.

Dr A.P.S. Gogia, secretary, industrial pollution control committee of the council, said, "The aim of organising the debate is to enlighten the citizens, especially the younger generation, about the prevention of diseases, promotion of health and improvement of quality of life of individuals."

Apart from this, the committee will release a booklet on "Congress grass and its prevention".

Polytechnic inaugurated at Jodhan
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — To impart training in tailoring, radio and television technology to unemployed, rural youth, a new polytechnic was inaugurated by Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister for Technical Education, at Jodhan, 20 km from here, yesterday.

Mr Garcha said several obsolete courses are being run at various institutes but the government was concentrating on introducing such vocational courses in schools, colleges and polytechnics that were in consonance with the present demand of the industries. He stressed that such courses would check the problem of unemployment and make the youth capable of self-employment. Mr Garcha said no fee was being levied for the courses.

College management
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — Arya Vidya Parishad, Punjab, has constituted a regular management committee under the presidentship of Lala Lajpat Rai, Member Parliament, for the Arya College here. Mr S.K. Syal, a retired principal, has been appointed as vice president, Mr H.L. Sethi, advocate, has been appointed secretary and Mr B.R. Kaushal, income tax practitioner, will be the finance secretary. 

Tree plantation at school
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — The Citizens’ Consumer Society, Punjab, and members of Kaumantri Panj Darya, a monthly Punjabi magazine, organised a tree plantation drive at Government High School for Girls, Ramgarh. Mr Gurmit Singh Brar, president of the society, was the chief guest on the occasion. Mr Harpreet Singh, vice-president, and Mr Paramjit Singh, News Editor of the magazine, also planted the saplings of ornamental trees. While speaking on the occasion, Mrs Malkiat Kaur, Headmistress of the school, told the students about the importance of tree plantation. “We must try to maintain an ecological balance by planting more trees. Deforestation is causing numerous environmental and health problems. Excessive use of fuels is causing air pollution, which we can be controlled to some extent by planting more trees.”

CULTURE

Dancing is her passion
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 10 — Tall and lissome Sukhleena Minhas is a girl who holds promise. Dancing, especially classical, is her forte. Her feet work magic bringing alive the old world charm of grace and dignity. "Dance, for me is sheer poetry in motion, " explained Sukhleena when asked about her passion for dancing. She is the final year student of business administration in Khalsa College. She bagged the second position in the 1999-2000 youth festival classical dance contest. 

A former Miss Punjab, Sukhleena was selected to represent India in a cultural exchange programme of the students in1999. As a part of this exchange programme, she went to Singapore and Malaysia. Her visit to these foreign countries was a good learning experience for her. But she was put off a bit by westernised attitude of the new generation Singapore Punjabis. 

"A certain hesitation in speaking an unfamiliar language is understandable but your own mother tongue, how can you ignore it? It was rather disconcerting to find that that the Punjabi youth settled in Singapore were reluctant to speak their mother tongue," said Sukhleena somewhat indignantly. She is all for preserving one's cultural heritage. "Our cultural heritage is not a baggage that we have to carry along with us nor is it a medal that has to be worn on one's sleeves. 

Our cultural heritage is a part of our being and we should just let it be with us, " she said with wisdom much beyond her years. Sukhleena has been offered roles in Hindi and Punjabi movies. But so far she has declined all such offers. Right now, she is busy preparing for the MBA entrance tests as well as the civil services. 

So, is her tryst with dancing over? Far from it. She is quick to point out that dancing is a part of her being. The civil services or business administration would in no way interfere with her passion for dancing.