AGRICULTURE

‘Grant money has not reached farmers’
Our Correspondent

Khamano, April 2
Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, MP, Ropar, in his address to people during a cultural mela held by the Development Operational Youth Society Punjab at Dana Mandi here said the grant of Rs 100 crore announced by the Centre had not reached farmers yet.

He said that during the last paddy season, at many places, less rate was given to farmers, which resulted in big loss to farmers. He demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. He said the government had failed to give scholarships to Dalit students of even primary schools. About shagan scheme and old-age pensions, he said that these are given only on the recommendation of jathedars and poor people are unable to take the advantage of these schemes.

A grant of Rs 1 lakh was announced for the construction of a boundary wall around Government Primary School Khamano Mele Wali. A grant of Rs 50,000 was also announced for the Shaheedi gate, which will be built in memory of Dilbag Singh, a Kargil martyr. 

EDUCATION

Protest against fee hike
Our Correspondent

Later, parents of the students held a meeting with the management of the institute and it was decided that the fee charges would be reduced in a few days, after a discussion with the authorities of the Punjab Technical University.

LSS takes up school fee issue
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 2
The Ludhiana Seva Sangh, which is spearheading a campaign against overcharging of admission and other fees by government-aided schools, is organising an awareness camp at Sanglanwala Shivala for the benefit of parents.

Urging the public not to deposit more than the prescribed fee for admission to various classes, sangh activists said that according to the government's education code, admission fee for class I was Rs 5, from classes II to V Rs 8, from classes VI to VIII Rs 30, for class IX Rs 34, for class X Rs 54 and for plus one and two, the admission fee was Rs 90. The managements of government-aided schools were not entitled to charge any donations over and above these prescribed fees.

According to the sangh president Mr Suresh Gupta, the sangh had filed a public interest litigation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court last year urging for the implementation of the code in all aided schools in the state.

The court had directed all aided private schools to charge only prescribed fee vide proper receipts and also put up notice boards displaying the fee table. The parents were also empowered to send the fee either through money orders or bank drafts.

But since the schools concerned did not implement the directives of the court, the sangh had filed a case of contempt of court the next hearing for which is slated for April 17.

In the camp, the parents and guardians of students are being asked not to deposit any fee without obtaining a proper receipt. In case, the management of a aided school insists on charging more than the prescribed fee, the parents and guardians should approach the Deputy Commissioner in this regard or the Seva Sangh office in mohalla Rupa Mistry or on phone 444929.

The parents are also being asked at the awareness camp to send the admission fees through money orders.

500 students awarded degrees
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 2
Nearly 500 students of the Government College for Women were awarded degrees at an annual convocation held here today.

Of the total students, 33 were awarded degree for MA (Punjabi), 14 for MA (Fine Arts), six for MA (Music Instrumental), six for BSc (Honours), 94 for BA (Honours), 56 for BCom, 58 for B.Sc. and 171 for BA. Sixty students were given postgraduate diplomas in nutrition and dietetics. Besides, four students were given rolls of honour for academic achievements, seven for social and cultural activities and five for sports.

Nearly 25 students were given college colour for cultural activities and sports, 30 students were given merit certificates for cultural activities, eight for academics and six for sports. Also academic prizes were given to 60 students who secured top three positions in the December examination.

The chief guest was Master Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, Punjab. Ms Inderjeet Gill Vashisht, Principal, was present on the occasion. 

Protest by lecturers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 2
The part-time lecturers of Goverment College, Rara Sahib, held a protest rally against the college authorities alleging discrimination against them on the campus.

The lecturers said that they were not informed about the declaration of holiday on account of Ram Navmi. They said the notice had been served to the regualr staff, but not to the 15 part-time lecturers. Most of them had came from far off areas and found the college closed. Their salary had been increased from Rs 4,000 per month to Rs 6,000 per month in December, however, despite repeated reminders, they had allegedly not been paid their dues.