EDUCATION

Growth of microelectronics vital for the country
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
India must concentrate on product innovation and creation of markets for growth of microelectronics in the country. This was one of the recommendations made in the concluding panel discussions during the Chandigarh Symposium on Microelectronics (CSME)-2002 being held at Panjab University here yesterday.

Mr Amul Atri of Motorola said that lack of vision for new products, inefficient proper project management and execution and no proper synergy between industry and educational institutions were the major bottlenecks in the growth of microelectronics in the country.

Mr Pradeep Kumar, country manager, ST Microelectronics, opined that while Indian IC designers had no doubt proved their credentials due to their high analytical capability, the domestic market being small, MNCs do not find India as an attractive destination for setting up of an IC manufacturing plant in view of high capital costs involved.

Prof Shankar N. Ekkanath Madathil from DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK, suggested that power electronics, which is at the core of all applications, was one area with a promising market where Indian IC designers could concentrate.

Mr Ravindra Kumar of ER&DCI said that the IC Designers in the country should develop core competency in niche areas such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) implementation and digital signal processor (DSP) implementation, which have enormous business potential.

Dr M.M. Nayak of ISRO opined that micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) is one of the potential areas for the country to focus and create a competitive edge in this emerging area. The others who spoke on the occasion included Dr V.K. Jain, Prof A.B. Bhattacharyya and Mr M.M. Sobti, Director (Technical).

Dr D.N. Singh, Executive Director (VLSI ), SCL while summarising the discussion mentioned that Indian Microelectronic Society (IMS) shall be starting a student chapter to proliferate the microelectronics activity in the country by inviting product ideas, innovations and offered that SCL would fabricate free of cost any design idea of significance.

An exhibition was also organised during the symposium wherein Mentor Graphics & CG CoreEl, Synplicity, Sumitron, SCL, RSIC/CIL, PU, displayed their tools as well the services offered by them. In the poster session research papers were displayed and the paper titled “Study of Flicker Noise in MOST” by Mr Ramesh Sharma, RSIC, Panjab University, Chandigarh, & Dr D.K. Pal (VLSI:R&D), Semiconductor Complex Limited (SCL), Mohali, was adjudged the best and awarded the first prize, while the second prize was given to the paper titled “Ultrafast Compact 32-Bit CMOS adder in multiple output domino logic” by Mr Sandeep Kumar, Mr Sahaitja Sharma and Mr Anil Kumar, students of M.Tech Microelectronics, Panjab University.

Hum honge kamyab...
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17
An entertaining cultural programme marked the annual function celebrations of Sanjivini Public School, Sector 11, here yesterday. The programme began with a Saraswati vandana and concluded with a grand finale with all children coming on the stage as “Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani’’ and “Hum honge kamyab’’ played in the background.

Dressed as national heroes, children of the Day Care Centre and play class put up an entertaining show by depicting history. The children were dressed as Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, AB Vajpayee among others.

This was followed by a PT display and yoga exercises where children, dressed in white with colourful sashes, made an entertaining display of fitness.

The chief guest, Ms Meeta Lochan, Deputy Director and Estate Officer, PGIMER, appreciated the efforts of the children and the staff. The Principal, Dr Indu Luthra, highlighted the achievement of the school. The president of the Inner Wheel Club, Midtown was also honoured. The function ended with the National Anthem.

Students protest ‘overcharging’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 17
Supporters of the Panjab University Students Union yesterday protested against alleged overcharging by PCO owners on the Panjab University campus.

This afternoon, PUSU activists took out a march from Student Center to the Sector 14 market protesting against the alleged excessive charging on the local call.

The students alleged that students were being robbed by PCO owners as they were being forced to pay Rs 1 extra per call. The students also alleged that the timer installed by the PCO owners terminated the call before it matured (180 seconds). The agitated students also threatened to resort to other methods of agitation if PCO owners continued over charging.

Mr Malwinder Singh Kang, president of PUSU, claimed that baring two PCO owners on the campus, the rest agreed to charge Rs 1 per call. Later, PUSU supporters also visited various hostels in the PU and urged the students not to pay more than Rs 1 per call form a PCO telephone.

Him Gunjan echoes
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 17
A large number of students today gathered at Panjab University to witness ‘Him Gunjan — 2002’, annual cultural- cum-prize distribution programme of the Shimla Students Association (SSA).

Highlight of the show was a ‘naati’ presented by PU boys and also members of the SSA. A ‘naati’ was also presented by a group of girls before a packed house at the Evening Auditorium. Mohan Singh Chauhan, a Shimla-based folk singer, also enthralled the gathering with his folk numbers. Mr Sanjay Shama of Department of Philosophy, who anchored the show, presented a ‘phari’ song ‘nai todyou mera dil’ followed by two more songs.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Virbhadra Singh, a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, spoke about the developments made by the state in various fields with special emphasis on education.

He also gave a cheque of Rs 15,000 to the SSA and released ‘Remembrance — 2002’, souvenir of the SSA.

The chief guest later distributed prizes. The prize winners include: best player (sports) — Dilip Jaita (volleyball), Anil Ghamta (basketball) and Vikram (cricket). Special prizes were given to Manjit Sidhu, Dinesh Gaktu, Ravinder Chauhan and Pawan Kumar. Awards of honour went to: Mohan Singh Chauhan (for a cultural evening), Poonam Rana (for a stage show), Usha Thakur (for helping patients at Himachal Sarai Bhavan), Sher Singh Chauhan, Gian Chauhan, Ashutosh Chauhan and Sanjeev Bharanta.

YPS Fete-2002
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, February 17
Fete-2002, organised as part of the celebrations of Founders Day of Yadavindra Public School, ended today with a lot of fanfare. Students and the visitors had a gala time as the gymnasium of the school was turned into a discotheque. Games like painting tattoos and ringe-a-bottle were a favorite with the crowd.

A stall selling pizzas and car accessories also did brisk business. The proceeds from the fete would go towards a scholarship fund which would provide subsidies on fee to the deserving students.

Students perform Rajasthani dance
Tribune News Service

Students take part in the annual day function of DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, at Panchkula on Sunday

Panchkula, February 17
The annual day function of DAV Senior Public School, Surajpur, was held here today.

Mr D.S. Pundhir, DIG, CRPF, Pinjore, was the chief guest, while Mr R.K. Chauhan, Regional Director, DAV Schools, Ambala zone, was the guest of honour.

Students displayed aerobics and karate and performed Garbha and Rajasthani dance. The annual report of the school was read out by senior students.

COURTS

Suspension orders of Registrar stayed
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, February 17
The suspension orders of the Registrar of the Punjab Nursing Council have been stayed by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Registrar had been suspended by the Punjab Government for increasing the number of seats of Sacred Heart Hospital, Maqsudan, Jalandhar.

On a petition filed by the Registrar, Ms Gulshan Bir Kaur, whereby she challenged the order passed by the Director Health Services-cum-President of the nursing council. While staying the operation of the suspension orders, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice J.S. Narang, issued notice of motion to the respondents for March 6, 2002.

The petitioner stated that under the Punjab Nurses Registration Act, 1932, and regulations there under, the council which was the appointing authority had the powers to suspend her. She prayed that the rules did not allow the Director to take disciplinary action against her.

She stated that the council had increased the number of seats of the hospital in the presence of the Director, Dr G.S. Preet. The decision to increase the seats had been taken an year ago when she was not the Registrar.

DISTRICT COURTS
2-yr RI for CTU driver
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 17
A CTU driver, Partap Chand, was yesterday sentenced to two years in rigorous imprisonment by a local court in a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving. The accused was also fined Rs 500 by the court.

It was alleged that the accused, who was driving a bus, had hit a cyclist, Mohan Lal. Later the victim died. The police had registered a case under Sections 379 and 304-A of the IPC on February 24, 1996.

Bail granted: A local court yesterday granted bail to Ajmer Singh and another in a case of assault and criminal intimidation. The two were today arrested by the city police on a complaint registered by Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma. The police has registered a case under Sections 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.

The bail plea states that the applicants had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint against Chander Mukhi Sharma and others involved in beating up of boys of parking lot but were detained and arrested.

The applicant had moved a bail plea under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They said in a plea that they were falsely implicated in the case. The plea also alleged that there was a concrete motive to gain undue advantage and it was well-hatched conspiracy to implicate the applicants.

7-yr jail for raping minor
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 17
Rakesh Kumar, alias Babloo, an accused in the rape of a 12-year-old girl, has been awarded seven years’ imprisonment by a local court.

He had raped the victim in fields near Maajra Mehtaab village on February 28, 2000. The victim had reportedly gone to the fields to relieve herself, when he followed her and raped her. He was later arrested by the police, while he was trying to escape. The court of Dr. S.K. Kapoor, Additional District and Sessions Judge, also ordered him to deposit a fine of Rs 25,000.

Bail plea dismissed in rape case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 16
The bail plea moved by two accused in a rape case was today dismissed by a local court. It was alleged that the duo — Vikram and Nitin — along with others had raped a woman of Raipur Khurd village on November 26, 1998. The police had registered a case against them on the complaint of one Bhanupartap Singh.