The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

4 hostels to be set up for SC/ST students
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 8
The Government of NCT of Delhi today announced the setting up of four hostels for SC/ST students enrolled in government-run schools in the Capital. Also, the Delhi SC/ST Welfare Corporation would launch a scheme whereby Rs 10,000 would be given in two instalments to slum dwellers towards construction of houses in the areas designated by the government.

The Social Welfare and Education Minister, Mr Raj Kumar Chauhan, today told mediapersons that Rs 5 crore had been earmarked for the construction of four hostels which SC/ST students could avail themselves of. Land for one hostel in Prahladpur, he said, had already been identified where construction work would begin soon.

Outlining his social welfare agenda, the minister said in the camps to be organised in Shahbad Dairy, Jahangir Puri, Bhalswa and Badarpur, the first instalment of Rs 5,000 towards construction of dwellings would be disbursed to those living in JJ clusters. This scheme, he said, would also be extended to other areas. He said the government intended to raise the pension to widows in the 45 to 60 age bracket to bring it on par with the amount disbursed as old age pension. On the education front, he said visitor’s councils would be introduced in 50 government-run educational institutions, except in Sarvodaya schools, to act as an interface among teachers, parents and their wards.

New library for CRA College
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 8
The Commissioner of Rohtak division, Mrs Anita Chaudhary, laid the foundation stone of a Rs 18-lakh library building on the CRA College campus here yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, she said that the library building would be completed within three months.

The library, she said, would have a seating capacity of more than 1,000 persons and would have a variety of books, national and international newspapers and magazines.

She disclosed that the library would have more than 50,000 books including 35,000 books of common interest. Another 15,000 books would be kept in the book bank of the library.

The Commissioner also hoped that the students and teachers would take advantage of this new library being set up by the management of the institution.

Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Administrator of the institution, Mr Ashok Yadav, claimed that this would be the biggest library in this district and would provide all kinds of books. The library would have a big hall and a rich book bank.

He disclosed that as many as 1,800 students are studying in the college and all the classes have been shifted to the new building of the college.

The ADC also listed the achievements of the institution in education and sports. He claimed that the students of the institution had topped in various sports at the national and international levels.

Students giving up studies for want of teachers
Tribune News service

Faridabad, January 8
The Government Girls Senior Secondary School, at Pali village in the district, has failed to fulfil the hopes of the rural students who want to go in for plus two education here.

The school has only one lecturer for plus one and plus two classes.

About two years ago, the school was upgraded to secondary level, but the education department has not been able to appoint lecturers in required strength.

The only lecturer working here teaches English. A resident of the village said, “Due to unavailability of teachers and subjects in plus one and plus two, students have either taken admission in other schools or have decided to give up further studies.”

The school has not made any arrangement for computer education either, as announced by the state government so far.

There are only seven teachers to teach about 400 students in the primary section. The sports facility is extremely poor as no regular physical instructor has been appointed till date.

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Miss Lashkara eyes a glittering screen career
Smriti Kak

Her confession is candid. “Engineering just happened to me. I’ve always wanted to be a model.” Unlike a whole bunch of them, who are ‘discovered’ to step into the high heels, Suneet Batra has always had her eyes set on the ramp and is ready to strike a pose.

“My parents were totally against it. They didn’t want me to model or act,” says the girl, who now wears the crown of Miss Lashkara. However, as luck would have it. “I fell critically ill. My parents thought that I was heart broken because of their decision. It was then they gave me the go-ahead signal.”

Having got the approval, Suneet found her way to the Shimla Queen Competition, where she won laurels, “I came back with the Miss Beautiful Skin and Miss Photogenic title and a whole lot of fond memories.”

And then Miss Lashkara happened. “There was a lot of competition, a whole lot of them came from the metro cities, but the entire process from the selection to the finals was enriching,” she says.

“As a goodwill ambassador of the World Punjabi Organisation, I will be travelling across cities, promoting Punjabi culture. During the year, I will be wearing Punjabi costumes, speaking the language and even acting in Punjabi serials. In this way, I will be a Punjabi representative,” reveals the girl. She took her inspiration from the beautiful Gul Panag.

This fourth semester engineering student has earmarked her goal. Besides modelling, her hobbies include swimming and music. When asked about her inclination towards acting, she says, “Acting is what I see myself doing. I want to act in both Punjabi as well as Hindi programmes.” Incidentally, the girl has her eyes set on the smaller screen. “Television is more promising. It makes you more visible and now people are showing preference for it,” she adds.

A religious person, Suneet, feels that she won the crown because of the blessings from God. “I believe in God and He will help me always.”

About marriage, Miss Lashkara says that she will wait. Here’s wishing her Godspeed!

Laser clinic

Beauty treatment aided by lasers

They claim to possess the art of perfection, the New Look Laser Clinics, a chain of laser clinics has opened its doors in the Capital.

It provides permanent solution to unwanted hair, acne, scars, pigmentation marks and defected eyesight. Soft touch lasers and qualified staff make the clinic enjoy the patronage of numerous celebrities.

Tempting trousseaux for that special evening

A bridal wear

One of the many things that makes a wedding memorable is the trousseau.

It takes months for the brides to prepare their wardrobe, with plenty of bridal clothes available in the market. The exercise is, by no means, a piece of cake.

But for those who design these clothes, things are not as simple as they seem. Right from designing to selling and meeting the deadlines, it is a hard task. Ask Preeti Meshram Kapoor, a lady who has made a name for herself in the world of designing. After graduating from NIFT, Preeti joined the Oogan, where she worked for their in-house label, Omana.

After working there for seven years, Preeti has moved on to design and sell under her own name. From designing for Sheetal Ansal, Himani Modi and the Miss World in Seychelles, she is now designing for all of them, for whom the wedding bells are going to ring.

“I like designing Indian clothes. I feel they make an Indian woman look her best. Indian clothes have more character and offer more scope for the experimentation,” says the designer. She believes that embroidery is her forte.

Though she designs casuals, her reputation as a bridal specialist has won her fame. She takes pride in the fact that she has designed the entire wardrobe for some women rather than just doing a few dresses. “I have done clothes for all the ceremonies and even for the daily wear.”

Preeti loves experimenting with textures and colours. Some of her works, which have won her adulation, are her fusion experiments with intricate Zardozi and stylish French embroidery. She sometimes uses different material for a single dress. “I like to use different textures to create a new look,” adds Preeti.

This designer has her eyes set on the international market. “I want to cater to the NRIs, particularly in Dubai, London and New Jersey. And I plan to operate through fashion shows abroad and also through showrooms located there,” says Preeti.

Her bridal range, priced between Rs 8,500 and Rs 25,000, is set to lure the upwardly mobile.