The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

ABVP plans stir for educational reforms
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
Calling for fundamental changes in the prevailing education system in the country, the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which claims to be the largest body of students with a total membership of over 10 lakh, announced that a nationwide agitation will be launched to focus on the demands of the student community.

Addressing a news conference here today, the state secretary of the ABVP, Mr Subhash Sharma, informed that the mobilisation of students was part of the follow-up action on resolutions adopted by the National Executive Council, which met at Jamshedpur in Bihar from May 26 to 29. The national council of the ABVP, besides discussing political situation in the country, had stressed the immediate need for effective action to bring about radical reforms in the education system and to check increasing unemployment, which threatened to create a social crisis.

Mr Sandeep Kapoor, president, Ms Sumedha Gupta, vice president, and Mr Mohit Goyal, secretary of district unit of the ABVP, were also present on the occasion.

According to Mr Sharma, prior to a massive rally of about one lakh students in Delhi in November, where a charter of demands signed by at least 25 lakh students will be presented to the government, the ABVP will organise a student leaders’ meet in Bhopal on July 24, followed by a signature campaign and gate rallies at college-level in August and district-level dharnas to focus on main demands in September. On October 11, the ABVP will observe a “sankalp diwas” to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan.

Giving details of the resolutions adopted at the national council meeting, the ABVP secretary said the increasing trend of commercialisation and privatisation of education was a cause for serious concern. More so because the steep hike in fee structure had virtually pushed this constitutional right out of the reach of the masses. Lamenting the diminishing financial allocation for education, the ABVP demanded that a minimum of 6 per cent of the GDP must be provided for education. In addition, it called for making the education system “Indo-centric” and establishment of an Indian education bank.

Mr Sharma further observed that the present policies of globalisation being pursued by the government had made the employment scenario totally bleak. The job potential, both in the agricultural sector and the small-scale industrial sector, had shrunk and in fact there was a negative growth in both these sectors for quite some time now.

Focussing on the prevailing political situation in the country, the ABVP activist apprehended serious damage to the national fibre from growing Islamic fundamentalism and stepped up terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sharma said the ABVP was of the view that mere statements and lip service will not do and the government will have to act firmly and determinedly to curb the hostile activities in J and K.

More seats, less aspirants for MBA, MCA
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, June 7
With the mushrooming of colleges affiliated with Punjab Technical University, the chances of getting admission seem to have increased this year. This certainly is the case for MBA and MCA courses where the number of seats has shot up but the number of aspirants has come down marginally.

Even though the university had slashed the fee for the courses by Rs 9,000, there could not be any increase in the number of applicants. Keeping the tuition fee the same, the funds for open as well as paid seats have been reduced this year. While the fee for open seats has come down from nearly Rs 54,000 to Rs 45,000, the fee for paid seats would now be Rs 79,500 instead of Rs 89,000 till the last year.

According to information available from the university admission centre, 1853 students have applied for two courses, but the number of seats is 2020. The number of seats is likely to go up even higher as several colleges are in the process of getting approval for the same courses from the All-India Council for Technical Education Council (AICTE) and recognition from the government. Besides, there are other recognised colleges which have applied for more seats to these courses.

Till last year, MBA course was available at two local colleges, namely the Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) and the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT), Civil Lines. But this year the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT) at Model Town has also been given approval for 60 seats. Besides, there are 13 other colleges at Jalandhar, Mohali, Phagwara, Sangrur, Muktsar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Moga and many more are coming up.

For MCA, there are four colleges in Ludhiana namely the PCTE, GGNIMT, GNIMT and Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology (KIMT) which have received a notification from the government this week. The PCTE is still in the process getting its seats increased from the existing 40 to 60. Besides, there are 20 other colleges with 1010 seats and new ones are being added to the current list.

The university will be conducting a common entrance test for the two courses on June 9 for which a local centre has been set up at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College. While four sections of the test, including mathematics, English and business aptitude, would be common to applicants for both the courses, an additional section on reasoning would have to be attempted by the candidates for MCA. The MBA aspirants would instead have to appear for group discussion, the date for which has yet not been declared.

Mr S.K. Bhatia, Registrar of the university, said there would certainly be an increase in the number of seats before admissions begin for this session. He said as per the university rules, there was a provision for counselling on fresh seats even if the colleges got consent from the AICTE and the government at least 10 days ahead of the scheduled date.

Mr K.S. Kler, OSD, Examination, confirmed that the response to the courses did not increase this year despite a slash in the fee from Rs 9,000 to Rs 9,500. He, however, said the competition for open seats would still be there as these included 50 per cent of the total seats.

Col Grewal is GNEC Principal
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
For appointment of the principals of Guru Nanak Engineering College, Nankana Sahib Public School and Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic, the Nankana Sahib Educational Trust held a meeting under the chairmanship of Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, President, SGPC, here today.

Interviews were conducted by the panel, comprising Mr Badungar, Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University, Mr Jagjit Singh Gill, Secretary of the trust, Dr Gurnam Singh Gill and other trustees. Finally, Col D.S. Grewal was selected as Principal of the college, Ms Parminder Kaur Sekhon was taken as Principal of the school and Mr Sikander Singh Gill, the only applicant for the post, was appointed as Principal of the polytechnic.

The post of principal was lying vacant in the college for the past five months since Mr Rupinder Pal Singh, a former Principal, was relieved by the college trust following certain allegations. Since then, Ms H.K. Buttar had been working as the acting principal. Mr Rupinder Pal had then taken over as Principal of a college at Ferozepore.

The new Principal had earlier been working in the same college as dean and professor of training and placement. Before this, he was the Registrar of the Longowal Institute of Technology. Col Grewal has also worked as a member of the Board of Studies of Pune University and is currently in the Board of Studies of Punjab Technical University. He has done PhD, MTech, MBA and MA in five subjects.

The post of principal was lying vacant in the school for over a year and Ms Davinder Kaur Batra had been working as the acting Principal. The new principal, Ms Sekhon, has worked on the same post in the same school from 1987 to 1989. Later, she had shifted to other places along with her husband, who was in the Air Force. A resident of Issewal village, she has done MA in economics and BEd.

After the retirement of Mr T.L. Bhatia, Principal of the polytechnic, on March 31, 2002, the post was vacant. Mr Gill, who was working as the acting Principal for the last one-and-a-half month has now been appointed on permanent basis.

Seminar on challenges for young managers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
The Young Managers Forum of the Ludhiana Management Association organised a seminar on ‘Developing young managers to face the challenges’ at Punjab Agricultural University last evening.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Rajinder Gupta, CEO of the Trident Group of Industries, said positive attitude, imagination and decisiveness lead to success. He said with right attitude, one can reach the threshold of effectiveness and good results inevitably follow. Through imagination and by going beyond the comfort zone, one can take on the present-day challenges.

Mr Gupta also presented a slide show in which he depicted how right blend of technologies and human mind can bring success and keep young managers as front-runners. Giving instances, he elaborated how failures could become stepping stones to success.

The talk was followed by lively discussions, in which Mr V.K. Goyal, Chief Executive, Vardhaman Spinning and General Mills, and general secretary of the association, said that organisations also need to be more responsive and flexible. In his concluding remarks, Dr M.A. Zahir, Dean, College of Basic Sciences, PAU, said that attitude was all about converting impossible to possible.

Tiny tots enjoy beach party
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
It was a different experience for tiny tots, most of whom had never seen a beach. The beach party, organised as part of summer camp at Hollyhock Nursery School, provided an ambience of a beach with lots of sand and water to make sand castles and cold swims.

A summer camp full of fun, frolic and enjoyment is being organised in the school from June 1 to 20 and children of age groups from three to 10 are spending their time fruitfully. Various activities like art, craft, dance, casio playing, fun filled indoor and outdoor games and theme parties are being conducted during the camp.

Ms Preeti Garewal, organiser, said the camp would help little children spend their time in a constructive way.

COURTS

Spice pays for deficient services
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Spice Telecommunication Limited to pay Rs 1,500 to Mr Gurmit Singh Ghuman, a resident of Sarabha Nagar. The compensation includes Rs 400 on account of loss suffered by consumer due to early expiry of mobile telephone bucks card, Rs 600 for deficient services and Rs 500 as cost of litigation.

According to the complaint, the consumer had purchased a Spice Telecom buck card (2501015024) worth Rs 1,000 having validity period of 50 days, on August 6, 2001. Mr Ghuman stated before the forum that the call rate was Rs 9 per minute for an outgoing call and Rs 4 for a incoming call.

Mr Ghuman disclosed that when he filled the code no to recharge his mobile telephone, he came to know that the buck was valid for 30 days instead of 50 days.

The consumer alleged that there was clear deficiency in services and he had been unnecessarily harassed. He demanded compensation for the inconvenience caused to him.

The company pleaded that the complainant purchased the prepaid card on May 17, 2001 for Rs 995, in which included Rs 295 for air time and Rs 700 as activation charges. The respondent maintained that on the same day, the consumer charged the ‘mobile’ with a coupon of Rs 1,000 as such the value of total air time was Rs 1,295 and the validity period for the same was 65 day’s (i.e. from May 17 to July 21, 2001).

The respondent clarified that the complainant was supposed to get his coupon recharged on or before July 21, 2001 whereas he charged the coupon on August 6, 2001 for Rs 1,000 which was valid till September, 9, 2001 (i.e. for the period of 50 days). But since there was delay of 16 days in getting the coupon charged by the complainant, the validity period was reduced to 30 days.

The respondent stated that there was no deficiency in services. It further said that the validity period expired on July 21, 2001, while the complainant claimed that the validity period started from August 8, 2001. It prayed for dismissal of the complaint.

The forum observed that according to the term and conditions written on the telephone bucks card, there was no mention that the its validity was to start from the date on which the validity of the previous bucks card expired. The forum further observed however, it was clearly written on the card that the validity period would be 50 days. However, the respondent had not produced any evidence to prove the said contention.

The forum held that the company had wrongly struck off the period of 20 days and only validity period of 30 days was given instead of 50 days. The forum further stated that the consumer suffered loss due to early expiry of the validity period, besides there was clear deficiency in services.

DHO granted bail
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 7
The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Inderjeet Kaushik, has granted bail to District Health Officer, Birenderpal Singh and a class IV employee, Malkit Singh, in a corruption case registered against them by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau a few days ago. However, Mr Kaushik rejected the anticipatory bail application of the Food Inspector, Manoj Khosla, who is one of the accused in the case and is absconding.

The fourth accused in the case Food Inspector, Jatinder Singh, has not applied for the anticipatory bail, and he is reportedly missing. Both arrested accused in the case were earlier sent to judicial remand till June 15.

According to the Vigilance officials, various raids had been conducted to hunt the absconding accused. They said that after the decision of the bail matter in the case, they would search them as legal process was very time-consuming.

CULTURE

Artist’s painting to find place in palace
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, June 7
A local artist, Ravinder Raipuri, has done the city proud as his portrait of Queen Elizabeth was recently accepted by the British High Commissioner in Delhi. He was assured by the High Commissioner that the portrait would find a place in Buckingham Palace.

Raipuri had made a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in oils, charcoal and pencil. The resemblance to the original photograph which he managed to get is remarkable.

He wanted to present the portrait to the queen on the golden jubilee of her coronation. Ravinder sent a photocopy of the painting directly to Buckingham Palace. The palace directed the British High Commission in Delhi to contact Ravinder immediately. The High Commissioner, Mr Tom Macan, made an appointment with Ravinder.

Ravinder said,” The High Commissioner gave me a warm welcome. When I presented him the portrait, he was very pleased. He asked me in detail how I had shown deep creases in her gown. He has invited me to hold exhibition of my paintings. He also assured me that my painting would reach Buckingham Palace.”

The High Commissioner was quite surprised to know that an agriculture student had taken to fine arts. Ravinder has graduated in B.Sc agriculture from the PAU. After getting his degree, he decided to turn a professional. Raipuri has received no formal training — either in drawing or painting. He honed his talent by practice. His forte is painting historical figures. His first painting was a portrait of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and was greatly appreciated. It hangs in Sheesh Mahal. Some are adorning the walls of Moti Mahal, PAU Students’ Home,PAU library, Punjab Kala Bhavan, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala, and Sikh Ajaibghar, Amritsar.

His works of art are popular abroad too. His painting of Amrita Pritam was used on the cover of a magazine, South Asia Review, published from Canada. A writer of Punjabi, Jhalmin Gosal, also from Canada, used his portrait of Guru Ravi Dass on the title page of the book of the same name.

He loves to collect pictures of heroes like Socrates, Alexander, famous generals of Punjab, other famous historical and political personalities and then paint them in his own inimitable style using oils, charcoal and pencil. He also uses different techniques to give three-dimensional effect.

Raipuri not only paints, but is also good in creating sculptures and pens gazals and nazams. He has held four solo exhibitions and plans to hold the fifth one in Ludhiana shortly.