The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

CAMPUS SCENE
Vocational courses a win-win idea, say students
Tarun Gill

New Delhi, June 18
Amidst the mad rush for getting admissions in one of the more `prestigious’ colleges in the North Campus, the College of Vocational Studies (CVS) is also getting its share of applicants for its job-oriented courses. The college has already received more than 10,000 applications this year.

The CVS is the only college in Delhi University to offer more than 15 vocational courses such as tourism and industrial relations. Besides, the college also offers conventional courses such as BCom (Hons), Economics (Hons) and History (Hons).

“The rush of students this year is more compared to that last year, as more and more students are considering the option of enrolling themselves in a college, which has something different to offer and can put them one step ahead of others”, Dr Parkash Chander, principal, CVS, said.

“Till now, we have received more than 10,000 applications and we have two more days to go. Last year, we had received a total of 10,000 applications but this year, I think, it’s going to be much more than that,” he added.

“We are the only college in Delhi University to offer such a wide range of courses. With courses like Industrial Relations, Book Publishing, Office Management and Secretarial Practice, Store Management, Retail and Trading, many students want to be a part of the institution. We also offer language courses like German, French and Russian at the undergraduate level.

“In addition, we also have a training and placement cell with on-campus interview for students as many multinational companies come to our institute for recruitment. The scope of such courses is very bright as students can also get self-employed,” he added.

Students also aired similar opinions. Many of them were of the view that the college offers better career opportunities. “Most people opt for courses such as Political Science and Sociology in their graduation. But I don’t want to do that. I want to do something different. That is why I have chosen the CVS. It not only equips an individual with a vocational course but also fetches us a degree that well help us get a job,” Anupama Ghosh, who is seeking admission in Industrial Relations course at the college, said.

“The cut-off marks in other popular colleges are so high I can’t even afford to apply. But the CVS fits my bill,” Meenu Singh, who is applying for the Tourism course, said. “There are very few vocational colleges in Delhi University, which offer such offbeat courses,” she added.

Many other students echoed similar views. “Unlike Computer Education, I would say pursuing a degree, be it Store Management or Book Publishing, would be a wiser idea as it can never go out of fashion,” Mehga Manchanda, another applicant to the college, said.

SPORTS

Chetan Sharma helps RR Gymkhana enter semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 18
A brilliant all-round performance by Haryana Ranji Trophy player Chetan Sharma (56 and 3 for 26) enabled Rohtak Road Gymkhana beat Super Star Club by 88 runs to enter the semi-final of the DDCA Hot Weather Cricket Tournament at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the Capital on Tuesday.

They will now take on the winners of the match between Oil and Natural Gas Commission and Chand Khanna Club in the semi-final on June 22 at the Kotla ground.

Rohtak Road Gymkhana won the toss and opted to bat. The quicksilver batting performances of Chetan Sharma and wicket-keeper batsman Deepak Sharma (47) enabled them to put on 98 runs for the third wicket after they struggled at

21 for 2 in 3.4 overs. When Super Star replied, medium-pacers Nitesh Kumar and Chetan Sharma tormented them with their pace and accuracy, to drive Star to a precarious position of 5 for 26 in 7.5 overs. The defiant batting of No 9 batsman Vikas Chaudhary helped Super Star recover some what and end up at 132 all out in 32.2 overs.

Scores: R R Gymkhana: 220 for 9 in 40 overs (Chetan Sharma 56, 5x4, 1x6; D Sharma 47, 4x4, 64b; Vivek Khurana 22 n o, P P Singh 21, Abhishek Sharma 20, Prateek Sharma 2 for 33, D. Prasad 2 for 34, Ravi Yadav 2 for 40, V Chaudhary 2 or 53). Super Star Club: 132 all out in 32.2 overs (V. Chaudhary 45, 5x4; M. Chawla 35; Durga Prasad 21; Nitesh Kumar 3 for 29; Chetan Sharma 3 for 26; S. Angurala 2 for 22; V. Khurana 1 for 23).

Sumit shines for Chand Khanna
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 18
Sumit Dogra put on show a sparkling all-round performance (73 not out and 6 for 22) to help defending champions Chand Khanna beat Rajdhani Sports by 44 runs and enter the quarter-final of the sixth Lala Hari Ram Memorial Day-Night Cricket Tournament, sponsored by Padam Cables, at the Karnail Singh Stadium in the Capital.

Electing to bat, Chand Khanna scored 158 for 8 in 30 overs with Sumit Dogra cracking an unbeaten 73. His knock came off 86 balls with six fours and two sixes while Farman Ahmad contributed a dashing 31 off 26 balls with three fours and two sixes. Left-arm medium-pacer Ravinder Bhandari claimed 4 wickets for 24 runs for Rajdhani Sports.

In reply, Rajdhani Sports could muster only 114 runs. Arvind Kapoor (28) and Sachin Rana (20) were their top-scorers. Off-spinner Sumit Dogra ripped through the Rajdhani Sports’ battling line-up to have a dream haul of 6 for 22.

Sumit Dogra was adjudged the BDM Man of the Match. The award was presented to him by New Delhi Municipal Council vice-chairman Ram Bhaj, MLA. Farman Ahmed was adjudged the best batsman while Ravinder Bhandari received the best bowler award. They were presented a Bengal fan each.

Scores: Chand Khanna Club: 158 for 8 in 30 overs (Sumit Dogra 73 n o, Farman Ahmad 31, Ravinder Bhandari 4 for 24).

Rajdhani Sports: 114 all out in 27 overs (Arvind Kapoor 28, Sachin Rana 20, Sumit Dogra 6 for 22, Raja Sharma 2 for 24). UPCA will meet Gyan Bharti in the next match.

FCI edge past Delhi Audit
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, June 18
Food Corporation of India (North Zone) defeated Delhi Audit 4-3 in the concluding league match of the second Five-a-Side Raman Lamba Memorial Football Tournament for the Ambuja Cup in the institutional category at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Tuesday.

Both the teams will meet in the final on Wednesday at 6 pm. Delhi Audit took the lead in the fifth minute through Sameer Jung. He added another goal three minutes later.

FCI’s Mehtab Ahmed reduced the margin in the 13th minute while Diresh equalised (2-2) in the 14th minute.

Hitender Rawat put Audit in the lead while Trilok Bisht pulled off the equaliser for FCI. Diresh struck the match-winner in the 29th minute.

In the club category finals, Simla Youngs will clash against Delhi Cantt on Wednesday at 5.15 pm.

IOC Solidarity Course at Nainital

New Delhi, June 18
A solidarity course in sports leadership and management, sponsored by the International Olympic Committee, will be held at the Administrative Training Institute at Mallital, Nainital, from June 20 to 23. Accredited by the IOC Solidarity, Brig K P Singh Deo, who is the chairman of the Sports Development Commission of the Indian Olympic Association and Prof J S Naruka have been assigned to conduct the course as National Course Directors. About 25 men and women from different areas of interest will attend the course. Mr Rajeev Mehta, president of the Uttaranchal Olympic Association, will be the coordinator. OSR

ADMINISTRATION

Pig owners get respite on ‘humanitarian’ ground
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, June 18
The district administration has decided to temporarily dilute its ongoing campaign against the pig owners who do not take care to regulate the movement of their pets. The leniency has been shown on “humanitarian” ground. In a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr Anurag Rastogi, a few days ago, the pig owners pleaded that they were ready to dispose off their animals. However, they said that if they showed undue hurry to dispose of their pigs, they would have to sell them at a loss.

Hence, they asked for some more time to abide by the administration’s laws regarding the regulation of the movement of pigs in the city.

The said that the prospective buyers have become aware of the pressure on pig owners to dispose of their pets due to the administration’s campaign.

The administration has decided to give the owners some more time, but with a caveat. The pig owners will have to submit affidavits, making a commitment that they will abide by the administration’s directive to restrain the movement of their pigs within three months.

The Deputy Commissioner has invoked Section 144 against the pig owners, directing them as well as the institutions owning pigs, to ensure that their animals remain in the confines of their own premises.

The order, which came into effect from the third week of May, stated that there were reports of pigs biting and injuring residents. The pigs had become a nuisance to the extent that they have started impinging on the life and safety of the public.

The measure has been well received by the public at large. Pigs of all sizes are ubiquitous in the city. Droves of them are found in the large number of colonies, including the posh ones of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). There have been reports that people, especially when walking with packets have been chased and attacked by pigs. Looking for eatables, the pigs have attacked people in the city.

There have also been reports that people on stroll in the evenings have been bitten by pigs.

Moreover, they have become a hazard to safe driving on the streets. The Municipal Council was directed to take severe measures, including capturing such pigs found on streets and release them outside the city limits.

The authorities of the Municipal Council have seriously attempted to enforce the order of the Deputy Commissioner.

On two occasions the municipal authorities picked up hundreds of pigs from the streets and released them outside the city near Delhi.

A park a month for Delhi!
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 18
The national Capital is all set for a major beautification and plantation drive. For the next 18 months, the city will witness the inauguration of a new park every month.

The ambitious project has been undertaken by the government to ensure that the national Capital gets its share of beauty and greenery. The Capital is counted as one of the world’s most polluted cities with a dire need for more greens.

Speaking at the inaugural function of one such park in the Capital yesterday, the Union Urban Development Minister, Mr Ananth Kumar, said, “We will have a new park inaugurated every month for 18 months continually besides a bio-diversity park.”

Also envisaged is the plantation of 90,000 trees, a project that is going to cost the exchequer Rs 16 crore. Another sum of Rs 5 crore has been set aside for replacing the overhead power lines by placing them under ground.

The Union Home Minister, Mr L. K. Advani, who inaugurated the first park, a sanitary landfill turned into a park that covers over 84 hectares near the Yamuna river bank on the Ring Road, announced that 50 new parks and an “Epic Green Belt” to promote the values of the Mahabharata will be opened shortly.

He expressed hope that Delhi would emerge from the stigma of being one of the most polluted cities in the world. And added that it was equally important that the citizens inculcate civic sense, as merely developing new parks will not help curb the pollution levels.

The Minister of Tourism, Mr Jagmohan, who was also present on the occasion, said, the proposed Indraprastha Epic Park would showcase characters from the Mahabharata. Cut-outs of characters like Bhim and Arjun will adorn the special park and the focus would also be on the values that these characters stood for.

Excise policy a welcome move: PHDCCI
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 18
The Delhi Government’s move to liberalise the excise policy and allow private distribution of liquor in the city would substantially increase Delhi’s excise revenue from the current level of Rs 600 crore, stated the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a press note.

In order to gain maximum benefits, the policy, however, should be implemented by July 1, the Chamber opined, adding, “The government should plan opening a large number of liquor vends in the coming years”.

Emphasising the need to adopt effective measures for improvement of the existing liquor vends, the Chamber stated that cautious policy and planning should be adopted for balanced distribution of liquor vends across the city.

According to the PHDCCI, the role of the state should be limited only to regulation and not sale of liquor.

DMRC to build 4-km tunnel

New Delhi, June 18
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will construct the 4-km stretch between Chawri Bazar and Delhi Main through tunnelling to avoid problems to commuters. The DMRC has set up a production plant for preparing tunnel segments and underground sections in certain parts of the Capital.

Chief Project Manager (Metro) Mangu Singh today told reporters that 6,000 tunnel rings, prepared by joining six concrete segments, would be required for constructing the 4-km tunnel and the project would be completed in 18 to 20 months’ time. The actual work of construction of the tunnel would start in the third week of July from Patel Chowk, he said, adding that two more boring machines would be deployed subsequently .TNS

CM opens modern rest room in CP
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, June 18
The Chief Minister, Ms Shiela Dikshit, today inaugurated the NDMC’s ultra-modern rest room in Connaught Place.

The rest room, constructed at an approximate cost of Rs 10 lakh, was completed in a span of three months by a company, Rose Advertising, in collaboration with the NDMC.

Apart from having toilets for men and women, the 40-sq m rest room also has a storeroom and a staff room and special provisions for the disabled. Users will have to pay a nominal amount for using these rest rooms.