EDUCATION

A free school for underprivileged
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 31 — Children staying in the slums of this satellite town can now hope to have educational facilities at par with their more fortunate brother. The Panchkula chapter of the Art of Living Foundation has decided to open a school for underprivileged children in association with Hansraj Public School (HPS).

The organiser of the Panchkula chapter of the foundation, Mr Ajay Jindal, says it will not be a slum school but a "school for children living in slums". To start from the next academic session, Sri Vidya Mandir (SSVM), as the school will be known, will initially have four classes. It will be held in the afternoon on the premises of Hansraj Public School in Sector 6 here.

The Principal of the HPS, Dr Rajni Thareja, says all the facilities available in the school will be open to the students of the SSVM. The facilities would include multi-media theatre, skating rink, library and transport. A special curriculum will be designed for the underprivileged students.

Mr Jindal says the medium of instructions will be Hindi but English will be introduced as a subject from Class I. The school will be upgraded every year. Books and two sets of uniforms will be provided free to the children. No fee will be charged from them. All expenses will be borne by the Panchkula chapter of the foundation. The primary aim of the school is not only to impart literacy but also to help the children in developing their personality by taking part in various competitions, sports and other extra-curricular activities.

He says the foundation has undertaken a charitable project, SEVA, as an expression of love for mankind. It adopted 11 children from the slums in the past three years. The children are now studying in reputed schools and are doing well in their studies.

The foundation is a worldwide non-government, educational and charitable organisation committed to making life worth living. Mr Jindal says the foundation has 3,000 centres in India and abroad where volunteers dedicate their time, energy and resources to spreading the teachings of its founder, Sri Ravi Shanker, who has formulated a 5-H (hygiene, health, harmony, home for homeless and human values through education) programme.

To achieve these objectives, the Panchkula chapter, he says, has set up a charitable diagnostic clinic where over 1,500 persons have already availed of the facilities. Artificial limbs have been provided free of cost to handicapped persons. Eleven girls belonging to the lower income group were married by the foundation in Panchkula.

The Panchkula chapter will send the first consignment of a truckload of orthopaedical surgical material, candles, utensils, medicines and other relief material to Gujarat for the earthquake victims. 

Chemistry Department’s national symposium
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 31 —To provide a forum for discussions in recent developments in chemistry as an interdisciplinary science, besides qualitative educational improvement in the subject in the country, a three-day national symposium is being organised by the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, from February 2, 2001.

Addressing media persons here yesterday, Prof B.M. Deb, Chairman, Chemistry Department, PU, said: “The symposium will also provide excellent exposure to young scientists for interaction with some distinguished names in the subject from India and abroad.”

The symposium is being organised in collaboration with the Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, PU. According to Professor Deb, programme includes invited lectures, besides poster presentations. Besides a specially introduced feature on chemical education, a micro-symposium on ‘‘Electron Density in Chemistry’’ will also be held. In all there will be 31 special lectures out of which 24 are medal lectures.

Professor Deb, said that the Chemical Research Society of India had given 24 chemical research workers, in the age group of 40 to 60 years, medals for their significant achievements in the field. Besides a special session, ‘‘a celebration of chemistry,’’ has also been planned on February 3, meant especially for school students and teachers.

The Chemistry Department, PU, is well known for good quality research and education. In the years since its inception ideas generated by the department have been appreciated and emulated by other educational institutions as well. The department is also supported by the University Grants Commission through its special programmes, COSIP and COSIST. 

Education UK fair on Feb 26
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 31 — The British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Tom Macan, visited the British Library along with 12 officials from the High Commission, New Delhi, here yesterday.

He was here on his three-day visit to Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to promote new trade links between India and Britain. The Education UK fair will be put up on February 26 at Mountview Hotel. 

COURTS

Gurbani telecast case adjourned
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH,, Jan 31— The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S Bhalla, yesterday adjourned the case pertaining to stay the telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple and other holy shrines, till February 2.

The petitioner, North India Television Limited, through its director, had filed a petition under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, before the court to issue an ad interim injunction restraining the SGPC from interfering in the execution and performance of the contract and functions assigned to it and from allotting the contract irrevocably for six years assigned to it, to any other party, pending the arbitration proceedings. It was alleged that the SGPC had signed an agreement with North India Television Limited on August 18, 1999. As per the agreement the petitioner had exclusive rights of taking photos, recording of the materials for telecast and to telecast live Gurbani kirtan from the Golden Temple and other shrines.

On January 27, the SGPC had filed a reply before the court that the agreement between the SGPC and the petitioner had been cancelled on December 9, 1999. The petitioner had failed to conduct itself as per the term and conditions of the agreement. The SGPC reserved the rights to terminate the agreement.

It was also stated in the report that the Local Commissioner appointed by the court on January 23, 2001, also proved the fact. The ETC company, which was telecasting the Gurbani from the Golden Temple, had also filed application on January 27 to become a party in the case.

Bail plea dismissed

The Additional District and Sessions Judge today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea moved by a city resident in a case of house trespassing. The complainant, Manoj Kumar, alleged that the accused, Shakti Chand, had stolen articles from his booth in the Sector 40 Rehri Market. The complaint against the accused had been registered under Sections 448 and 438 of the Indian Penal Code on January 21 in the Sector 39 police station. The accused had moved the bail plea under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

HIGH COURT
SHO summoned for contempt
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 31 — Mr Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the SHO of Mandi Gobindgarh, Mr Sukhdev Singh, to appear in court and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

Mrs Baljit Kaur, a resident of Singh Bhagwantpura village in Ropar district, had filed a habeas corpus petition for the recovery of her son, Gurpal Singh, who was picked up allegedly by the Gobindgarh SHO in the early hours of January 27 in the presence of a neighbour, Jiwan Singh.

The High Court after hearing the petition appointed Mr Jagdish Rai as Warrant Officer, who raided the police station but could not find any detainee there. However, the SHO came to the petitioner's residence and handed her a slip in Punjabi in which his telephone number was given. The slip directed the petitioner to contact the said SHO and fix payment for her son’s release.

Order to decide contractor’s payment

Mr Justice K.S. Kumaran of the High Court today directed the Municipal Corporation of Sonepat to decide the representation of contractor Mohinder Singh within 15 days of receipt of this order and if any payment was due to him it should be paid within two weeks.

Mr Mohinder Singh had petitioned the court alleging that he had completed the works allotted to him in 1998 but payment of his six bills of over Rs two lakh was not made by the corporation authorities.

Bhatnagar demands change of Judge Advocate
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Jan 31 — Amidst heated arguments, Major Maneesh Bhatnagar today demanded that the Judge Advocate in the general court martial trying him be changed. Major Bhatnagar alleged that the Judge Advocate was misinterpreting statements and wrongly recording them.

During the proceedings, which continued till late evening, Major Bhatnagar alleged that a Supreme Court ruling, which stated that minor infractions do not affect court martial proceedings, was being misquoted by the Judge Advocate. He contended that the ruling had no relevance to this trial as it was passed in 1991 and subsequently, in 1993 the Army Rule was amended.

Major Bhatnagar further demanded that the court direct a civil magistrate to file an FIR against the Judge Advocate on charges of cheating and conducting illegal court proceedings. This, however, was overruled by the court.

Major Bhatnagar also alleged that several young officers were driven to commit suicide on account of improper proceedings during GCMs.

Meanwhile, one of the witnesses sought by Major Bhatnagar in support of his “plea in bar” has arrived but could not be examined today as Major Bhatnagar contended that there was a fraud in the court proceedings.

CULTURE

Budding designers blend ethnic and contemporary
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 31 — Anyone passing by NIFD campus located in Sector 8 today would have wondered what had warranted so much of visitation. But some steps up the stairs of the complex and one knew what was attracting people. Aranaya — the exhibition put up by the NIFD students, exuded a lot of creativity. And more so, it was quite well-managed despite its huge size.

The exhibition is the result of the efforts of the students which they have to make in obligation to their academic duties. At Aranya, an essential part of the curriculum is to help students gather a strong sense in colour as well as texture, and give creativity to thought.

The product list is immense — right from the attractive wall panels made out of sheer waste and desk accessories sporting delectable kantha motifs to swim suits bearing designs of the 1960s and a whole settee for the newly-borns in the fashion design section.

The mosaic wall panels which greet you right at the entrance to the main hall are all created from junk. Students have used products ranging from jute and beads and shells to rice and ghungroos and dry flowers.

Desk accessories have kantha motifs painted on to lend a visually appealing effect. Here also hand-made biodegradable paper has been used to reflect strong environmental concerns. Then there is a whole set of tie and die products inspired from Gujarat. Other items include pin-up boards, theme boards, tie project, lines and compositions, repeats, stencil prints and so on.

The fashion design section has an entire range to suit every style and every taste. From women and men to kids, all tastes have been catered to. Similar is the case with interior designing category where the students have designed furniture on their own along with objects of room ornamentation. Then there are bedroom projects which reflect inherent skills of students at NIFD.

Chief guest, the UT Income Tax Commissioner, Mr Ashwani Luthra, awarded prizes to the following:

Textile design section: Best desk accessory — Deepti; best saree — Ashupreet; best embroidered product — Shweta; best end product of repeats — Nishu; most creative wall panel — Amanpreet; most creative weaving project — Soni; most creative rhythmic weaving project — Shweta; best tie and die product — Anjali; best printing product — Deepti; most creative pin up board — Radhika; best tie project — Sandeep; best theme board collection — Ruchika; most creative swimsuit project — Nishu

Interior design — best sheet work — Priyanka (Ist year), Pramod Kumar (IInd year), Sanjana (one year); best overall work — Pramod Kumar

Fashion design — best display — Mom love red collection; best designer collection — Sheeba; most creative baby collection — Rashim; best theme board — Shibha; best illustration — Maneesha; best embroidered product — Parminder and Sandhya; best printing product – Shelly; maximum contribution in merchandise— Sandy; best assignment in costume history — Vainy Goel; best garment — Sonia; best student — Rachna (Ist year), Vainy Goel (Ist year).