AGRICULTURE

Cattle fair held despite ban
Our Correspondent

Samrala, March 29
In spite of the ban imposed by the Punjab Government on holding cattle fairs in the state to check the spread of foot and mouth disease, a fair was held today at Neelon where a large number of villagers gathered along with cattle from different areas of Punjab and adjoining states.

Accordingly, Mr Amarjeet Singh, a Senior Veterinary Officer, Samrala, and Dr Ashok Sharma, Veterinary Officer, Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab, took the help of Mr Sandeep Hans, SDM, Samrala, and Mr Sushil Kumar, DSP, Samrala, to convince the people to go back so as to check the further spread of the disease.

EDUCATION

Need for vocational colleges stressed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
There is an immediate need to open more vocational institutions and develop schemes to provide employment to the students passing out of such institutions every year.

These are the findings of Dr Amrit Walia, Head, Department of History, Khalsa College for Women, in study on ‘Development of education and socio-political change in the Punjab’ which examines the development of technical education in Punjab at different levels and the way it affects on Punjabi society.

Dr Walia’s study found that education had extended the horizons of the masses. Social values of the twentyfirst century are a rational outlook of life, economic upliftment, secularism, social justice and equality of sex, she reported.

However, Dr Walia pointed out that technical education was still a privilege of the elite and that majority of the economically weaker section of society was still deprived of elementary education. She also stated that underemployment was another problem which must be checked to avoid frustration among youth.

Two students caught copying
Our Correspondent

Samrala, March 29
The District Education Officer (Schools), Ludhiana, Ms Usha Sidhu, made a surprise visit to Malwa College, Bondli, today and caught two students of Class XII copying.

Interestingly, there were only six students appearing for the paper. Accordingly, she immediately relieved the Superintendent of the centre and appointed Mr Raghbir Singh, a lecturer of chemistry, as Superintendent.

Kids say bye with dance
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
A farewell function was organised by staff of St Xavier Playway School, Civil Lines, here today.

The outgoing batch of the kids presented a group song, Suno gaur se duniya walo, followed by a group dance on the number, Pairon mein bandhan hai. Rhythm Aneja danced on Pyar ki kashti mein and Ketan Dhanda presented a parody of a few Hindi and English numbers. Besides, the kids also performed gidha and bhangra.

Nearly 15 kids participated in the fancy dress competition. The kids turned out as Barbie doll, Batman, bride, groom, vegetable seller, military man, Daler Mehndi, clown and Punjabi mutiar.

Later, all the participating kids were given away prizes by Dr J. L. Bassi, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Professor V. M. Chopra, Director, and Ms S. Chopra, Principal, appreciated the performance of the kids.

Special chance for students
Our Correspondent

Amloh, March 29
The candidates, who had received their roll numbers late and could not appear in the practical examinations of classes X and XII in February would be given a special chance on April 3, said Mr Harbhajan Singh Bhullar, District Education Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib, while talking to mediapersons here today. He expressed satisfaction at the conduct of Punjab School Education Board examinations in 77 centres in the district.