EDUCATION

Postpone exams, demand students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
Parents of students of Homoeopathic Medical Colleges have demanded the postponement of examinations scheduled to commence on September 10 and an impartial inquiry into the missing answer-sheets scandal.

A deputation of students and their parents met the Minister of Medical Education and Research, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, at his residence in Jalandhar on Monday. The delegation said 10 students were penalised in the answer-sheets scandal and a lot of money was being exchanged to declare the candidate/candidates pass or fail. They condemned the biased attitude of the Council of Homoeopathic System of Medicine (CHSM), Punjab, saying that students were penalised first and an inquiry against a local college was ordered later. The parents levelled allegations that the council included the members in the inquiry committee who were the culprits in the scandal. The deputation demanded the appointment of an administrator immediately by suspending the activities of the council.

The parents further added that the previous four batches of students admitted to the colleges affiliated with the CHSM were at academic loss. The examination of these batches were conducted by the council which also awarded the BHMS degree. They added that the degrees awarded by the CHSM were not approved and recognised by the UGC and the doctors passing out from the council could not practice legally out of Punjab. 

PhD, M Phil teachers meet DPI
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
Demanding a separate promotion channel, the PhD and M Phil School Teachers’ Association, Punjab, held a meeting with Mr Jagtar Singh Khattra, DPI, Punjab, yesterday.

Stating this in a press note, Ms Kanwaljeet Kaur Bal, president of the association, said the members had demanded that all PhD teachers should be promoted after three years and those with M Phil degrees be given higher cadre after five years. They also demanded that those with PhD and M Phil degrees be considered eligible for the posts of District Science Supervisor, Headmaster and Principal.

The members also demanded that 10 per cent seats should be reserved for the PhD and M Phil teachers and they should be given preference while appointing staff for various duties, like paper setting, preparing syllabus books, routine inspections in schools and as members of flying squads and subject experts. They should also be allowed to work at various inservice training centres and district institutes for elementary teachers, they demanded.

Ms Bal said the DPI had assured them that their problems would be looked into and new promotion channels would be opened for them soon. She said the association would hold its next meeting at the Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Jawahar Nagar.

Vishesh is gen secy of students’ union
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
The Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) conducted the annual elections to the executives and positions of the Students Welfare Association of the PCTE (SWAP) and class representatives here today.

The elections were held for five positions in which Vishesh Gupta of MBA (I) was elected general secretary Tej Pratap Singh of MBA (II) vice-president, Deepak Gupta of BBA (III) secretary, and Harshdeep Singh Bawa of BBA (II) and Rajkaran Singh of BCA (I) joint secretaries.

Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director of the college, said 28 students from various classes had sent their nominations and nearly 400 students exercised their right to vote. He said the elected members would manage all affairs of the students’ welfare and Students’ Mutual Fund, the first activity of its kind by a management institute. Financial activities like bank account, D-mat account and other financial decisions would be taken by the elected members besides organising cultural festivals in the college, he said.

Dr Kang said such activities promoted awareness regarding democratic rights, improved their leadership skill and infused self-confidence into them.

MBBS freshers welcomed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
To welcome the new batch of MBBS students in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, a function, ‘Welcome Batch MBBS 2001’, was organised at Dumra Auditorium, here last evening.

Dr S.C.Ahuja in a press note said the function was attended by faculty and management members of the DMCH.

The programme started with rendering of ‘Vande Matram’ by students. Dr Ahuja in his address said the DMCH was lucky to have such PMET toppers. He said out of 36 PMET toppers, 23 had joined the DMCH. The toppers included Shaina Kansal, Anureet Gill and Pankaj Aggarwal. The college ranks among the first 25 medical colleges of India, claimed Dr Ahuja.

COURTS

BSNL told to pay Rs 4,000
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to pay Rs 4,000 for deficiency in services to Mr R.G. Sharma, a resident of Sector 32. The forum further directed BSNL to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the consumer along with rent rebate for the period from September 12, 2000, till restoration of the telephone of the complainant.

According to the complaint, the complainant was a consumer of a telephone (652113) installed at his residence, 2220, EWS Colony, Sector-32. The said telephone was not working properly and a complaint (no. 746) was filed in this regard before the forum, on August 31, 1999. The forum had directed BSNL on February 15, 2000, to give rent rebate to the consumer from May 15 to 29, 1999 and Rs 700 was also imposed as cost of litigation.

Mr Sharma alleged before the forum that despite giving direction by the forum, BSNL had failed to provide proper services. Moreover the telephone was wrongly disconnected on July 31, 1999 and restored on March 31, 2000. He alleged that he suffered mental pain and agony.

An amount of Rs 4,011 was illegally recovered from him through a bill issued on September, 12, 2000 for the period from July 31, 1999 to March 30, 2000, the consumer disclosed. Moreover the telephone remained disconnected from March 13, 2000 to April 4, 2001.

The BSNL pleaded that it was clear from the fault card that the faults of complainants were removed as and when reported. It stated that, however, the telephone was disconnected on March 13, 2000, and was restored on April 4, 2001 due to non-payment of bill issued in December, 1999 of Rs 989 on March 13, 2001, after completing all formalities. The forum observed that the BSNL had wrongly given the information that the telephone was disconnected on March 13, 2001, while actually it was disconnected on March 13, 2000. Moreover, the outstanding payment was made by the consumer on September 12, 2000, while the telephone was restored after six months (April 4, 2001), it added.

CULTURE

Beauties take Ludhiana by the storm
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, August 30
Ravishing beauties on the ramp kept Ludhianvis in a captivating mood for over two hours at the lawns of Hotel Gulmor here last night. The event was a mega fashion show organised for the first time in the city by Show Biz Media company.

Though the progranmme started about two hours late, the audience watched the entire event patiently. The evening was a perfect blend of music, talent and fashion. The gorgeous beauties from Delhi sashayed down the ramp in the aesthetic dresses created by one of the top designer duo of the country Ashima-Leena Singh.

The models displayed various outfits in different rounds. The first was the ‘Ravishing Red’ round in which the models wore bright red coloured thick and heavy georgette short kurta suits with light embroidery, cuts and styles. It was a perfect blend of Indo-western style. In the second sequence, all the models wore turcoise coloured suits in different styles. The models who looked like peacocks with feathers tucked in the hair walked on the ramp to the tunes of Indian classical music.

The collection of the designers was a feast for the eyes with dazzling embellishments and embroideries, bright colours with silhouettes and cuts romancing the feminine charm. The designers displayed their superb craftsmanship in the show.

The anchor, Vandana Vadhera, looked sensual and gorgeous and kept the audience spellbound with her witty comments. The ‘cats’ on the ramp kept the audience in a bewildered state when they appeared in maroon, brown and mustard coloured outfits. The vibrant and benevolent fabric was displayed with stone-studded patchwork dupattas. There was a glimpse of Bidari work, Italian work and Tibetan work in most of the dresses.

The Show-Biz media organisers, Ms Kriti Kohli and Mr Jitendra Kohli, said the company will organise such shows in the future.

The final round called ‘Zubaida-Zari’ round was an innovative one with Persian style embroidery on the kurtas. These rounds were followed with modelling by tiny-tots displaying the Palmer creations. The small models walked on the stage very confidently. The skills of the designers at their creative best was at display throughout the show.

The show was choreographed by Samir Bhatia and the hair-styles and make-up was done by Delhi-based beautician Paramjit Soi. Deputy Commissioner S.K.Sandhu was the chief guest on the occasion.