The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Spreading knowledge among ‘have-nots’
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
For a fairly long time now, the authorities of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, have been engaged in philanthropy. Guided less by the parameters of profit and more by the element of charity, the makers of this institution are offering a world of service to the deprived lot of Chandigarh without making a fuss about their contributions.

Being run on the campus of the school are full-fledged sections for the wards of slum residents who are entitled to educational services at school at minimal cost in one of the top schools of the city.

Not only are there separate sections for slum children in every class (kindergarten to Class X), there is also a different set of teachers, who regularly monitor the growth of such children and recommend cases for their merger to the mainstream academic system.

Managed by a trained faculty, the parallel school for slum kids, as it may rightly be called, is governed by the rule of “general well being.” No bars are valid here; only goodness is valid.

And the labour of love seems to grow with each passing year, taking more and more children into its folds, making for a better life for the underprivileged children shunned and neglected by society.

Explains the Principal, Sister Elsy, “As many as 10 batches have passed out since we started our mission. We sisters are very happy going about our job silently and providing benefit to society in the best way we possibly can. They are treated no different from the other children once they are in school and all facilities are made available to them.”

Interestingly, the number students in junior classes far exceeds the number of students that finally pass out of school. Though the response is enthusiastic at the level of primary classes, from around 50 students in a class, it comes down to 17-20 students by the time the students reach Class VIII, the dropout rate being very high.

“The reasons are not far to see. Class VIII entails a board exam which these students avoid. It is around this time that I, too, start getting sleepless nights. I have to ensure that these students live up to the reputation of the school and the overall result of the school does not suffer on account of these children. They, too, understand the responsibility that comes with studying in the best school and teachers give the examinations their best shot,” she adds.

In school, seated in their classes, they seem happy children, not believing that the lady luck smiled long enough to find them a place in Sacred Heart. Wearing uniforms donated by seniors of the English school, studying from their books, they have dreams that are their own in their eyes.

In unison, they admit nothing could have been better and their excitement manifests itself as they put their enthusiasm to rattle out poem after poem to impress visitors.

Christmas time is synonymous with partying for these kids who look forward to the celebrations and gifts it entails. “We appeal to students of the English medium to donate whatever little they can and all donations go into buying uniforms and toiletries for children which they can ill-afford. Though most of them are unable to pay even the nominal fee we are charging, the fact that they are better off after studying here is incentive enough to work harder. This keeps us going,” explains a satisfied principal.

While they work on getting better, all nuns at Sacred Heart hope the “haves” will take a cue and other institutions will come forward to improve the lot of the children of a lesser God.

Memo to Dev Samaj Council
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The Parent-Teacher Association of Dev Samaj Junior Model School, Sector 21, has submitted a memorandum to the Dev Samaj Council, seeking participation in the meeting of the council to discuss the merger issue.

Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow and the council members are expected to deliberate the ongoing imbroglio, a consequence of the merger between the junior and senior secondary schools of the management operating from the Sector 21 premises

Members of the PTA said as the council was deciding the fate of their children, any decision in this regard ought to be taken in consultation with the parents concerned.

“We have said the council must invite the office-bearers of the PTA in the meeting. This is our last appeal to the management after which we will move court against the decision. Moreover, we want to take up the issue of maltreatment meted out to us on the temple premises,’’ said Ms Pragya Shukla, president of the PTA.

Meanwhile, today the junior model school functioned from two premises. A former Principal’s residence was used to house Class VII and VIII, while the other classes were conducted at house number 2200 in Sector 21.

The PTA added that students who had gone into the senior secondary school ``by mistake’’ were not allowed to come out till the school got over in the afternoon. This, they said, was inhuman on part of the staff of the senior school.

Golden jubilee: The sarvhitkari Educational Society organised a function on the premises of Sharda Sarvhitkari Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, here on Wednesday to celebrate the golden jubilee of Vidya Bharti.

Members of the management of schools of Punjab and Chandigarh participated in the programme, which began with a havan. Later, members were informed of the aims and achievements of the Sarvhitkari Educational Society. Former Chief Justice Jitender Vir Gupt, while stating the objectives of Vidya Bharti, laid stress on the importance of propagating Indian culture, which was ruined by foreign invaders at various times.

The secretary of the Rama Krishna Mission appreciated the efforts of Vidya Bharti to inculcate a spirit of nationalism among its students. He attacked cable television for diverting attention of the children towards westernisation.

The chairman of the Sarvhitkari Educational Society, Mr Madan Mohan Vyas, presented the vote of thanks.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
File report on potable water to schools
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
Expressing dissatisfaction over the arrangements made for supplying potable water to rural schools in the state of Haryana, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the governments of Haryana and Punjab to file written status reports by October 17.

Issuing directions, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Ms Justice Kiran Anand Lall, ruled: “Court counsel submitted that the efforts made by the authorities of the Haryana government to provide drinking water facilities in the primary, middle, high and secondary schools were not satisfactory. He laid emphasis on the necessity of supplying pure drinking water and not simply drinking water and also of providing lavatories in all schools with separate facilities for girls. He further submitted that it was the primary duty of the state to make these facilities available to ensure minimum dignity of every individual. He lamented that even after 36 years of the state’s creation, successive governments had failed to provide the most basic need for that section of the society which would constitute the future generation”.

The Judges further ruled: “We appreciate the submission of court counsel and feel that a mandatory direction deserves to be given to the state to positively make available potable drinking water in all schools in the rural areas of the state. The arrangements made so far were not satisfactory. The supply of drinking water through handpumps, in pitchers and pots and the storage tanks is hardly sufficient to ensure the supply of pure drinking water. We are also not sure whether toilet facilities provided are commensurate with the requirement of the female students”.

The Judges added: “We would have given mandatory directions on both issues, but refrain from doing so because government officers, present in the court, and the Senior Deputy Advocate-General assured that the government would take all steps necessary for making available pure drinking water in all schools in the rural parts of Haryana within three months from today. This implies that the state functionaries would take the required steps including sanction of funds for providing drinking water in all schools in the state.... We, meanwhile, appreciate the steps taken by the Punjab government in providing basic facilities to the government school students”. The case will now come up for hearing on October 23.

Show-cause notice to Commissioner

Issuing notice to Jalandhar’s Municipal Commissioner, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court today asked him to show cause why the Municipal Corporation should not be held guilty of contempt.

In a ruling, Mr Justice Goel ruled: “In spite of repeated opportunities, Jalandhar Municipal Corporation has failed to file a reply. The MC Secretary was held guilty for disobeying the court directions issued on May 28 and was given one more opportunity to file a reply on the payment of Rs 2,000 as costs. The costs have not been paid.... Counsel who later appeared submitted that papers were incomplete which further shows the carelessness with which the matter has been taken”.

The Judge concluded: “It is clarified that if the Commissioner fails to respond to this notice, it will amount to contempt of court and proceedings will be initiated against him”. The case will now come up for further hearing on August 19.

In her petition, Rita Bhatia of Jalandhar had sought the registration of a criminal case against a senior police functionary, besides other MC officials and other respondents, on the allegations of demolishing an STD booth being run by her due to rivalry between her husband, a Councillor, and the Mayor.

Plea against ex-VC disposed of

Disposing of a petition seeking the registration of a case against Punjab Technical University’s former Vice Chancellor H.S. Gurum on the allegations of harassing two data entry operators, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court today ruled that the petitioners had an alternate remedy of approaching the magistrate concerned. In their petition, Paramjit Kaur of Jalandhar and another operator Meena Bhamra, had alleged that the former VC had used derogatory language. Counsel for the petitioners had added that the services of the petitioners were terminated without notice as they had dared to lodge a formal complaint against the VC with the Secretary of Technical Education.

Counsel had further added that a first information report was not registered against the ex-VC even though a number of complaints were forwarded by the petitioners to the authorities. The respondent, on the other hand, had contended that the allegations were found to be vague and baseless after an inquiry was conducted by a Superintendent of Police”. After going through the documents and the arguments, Mr Justice Goel ruled: “I am of the view that the petitioner has an alternate remedy of approaching magistrate concerned. Inquiry report by the SP would not be binding on the magistrate. If he was satisfied that the case required further investigation, he would be free to order accordingly in the exercise of powers under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure”.

Creations designed to pay ode to beauty
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23
Eyes will fondly behold whatever they consumed last evening. And to say that the celebration of beauty that was attended by hundreds on the grounds of Hotel Marc Royale yesterday was a class apart would be no overstatement.

Moulded with perfection and showered with exuberance, the designs created by 100 promising fashion design students lent soul to the National Institute of Fashion Design’s (NIFD) annual ritual yesterday. Filling minute gaps in the scheme of celebration tonight were beautiful damsels, who sported the garments not only with style but also with spirit. As the evening took off amidst a beautiful narration of the show titled ‘Fashion Horoscope’ by Pallab Bose’s and also among some high-powered choreographic sequences by five dancers that make Angels, it only proceeded to get better with every round. From Aries to Pisces, all elements of nature played hide and seek with the senses throughout the 2-hour-long show. The residue was thus only too beautiful to be ignored — be it the polar contrast of Aries attempted beautifully by designers in Heaven and Hell, the maiden round which kept splitting the monotony of white and black or the winged desires inspired by the radiance of fire in the second round, formatted to please the Taurians.

From one to another, the affair of zodiacs continued to cast a spell. Beauty of the show was that the urge to view more and more of nature through the eyes of budding designers did not die even once. It kept its pulse as much during Wild Essence, a round for the Geminis, as it did during Survival of the Sexiest, a line of alluring garments that explained the seductress in a Leo woman. Intervening these two rounds was the Kiss for a Rose, a section designed for the sentimental Cancerians, who follow all that is vibrant in the scheme of nature. Dressed as lionesses, models Shruti, Divya, Tina, Simran, Maheshwari and all others looked vivacious, just as the zodiac required them to. They exuded grace, beauty, poise and a sure element of victory, typical of Leo women.

The serenity of Virgo was woven well into the garments that comprised Frozen, a round that rose in the honour of perfection. Embodying killing charms, the beauties walked in grace and confidence to let out the elements of Virgos. Accessorised with white beads, head gears, neckpieces and ear rings, the round kept the mood of the evening alive with its zing. Then came the Dancing Dolls, dressed as Librans, and ready for the silent kill. The most stylish of all sun signs was bared in all its lavishness by models, dressed up as Barbies. Ruled by Venus, the women depicted affections that no one in the world can dare to alienate. Sling bags added a further form to the models who walked the ramp. The silhouettes included hood jackets, knotted tops, super short skirts, et al.

Gossamer Dream, styled for Scorpions, reflected the mystique that rules this sign. The women made a statement, radiated strength, elegance and finesse, which underline the sign they were representing. Short skirts in crochet, pants, gowns, were topped well with hand bags, knitted belts and much more.

Wanna Gamble defined the Sagittarius woman, out to spread words on optimism and adventure. Ruled by Jupiter as they are, these women love to have a date with danger. The garment line designed for them spoke about their casual attitude and their free spirit. Attire comprised trousers, tops with clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades.

Capricorn came wrapped up in True Blues, looking chic, trendy yet sensible. The garments looked impressive, captivating and glamorous. The designers used denim in shorts, uppers, capris and all other garments which were further dressed up with mirrors and brocade. Following the trendy women came Mysterious Ones, dressed to talk about Aquarius, the sign of water, that underlines freedom. Radiant as their eyes are said to be, they were used as the theme of design by students, who created the garments with hazel elements that mark an Aquarian.

The show concluded with Dreamy Pisceans, who were dressed up in artistic, sensuous lines, that bared their soul, ever thirst for miracles. The show was choreographed by Priyanka Singh.

Rafi Awards-2002 finals on July 28
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society will hold the final round of the singing competition for Rafi Awards-2002 on July 28 at Tagore Theatre here.

Earlier the society had been organising the singing contest only for those above 18 years of age. From this year, the society is also organising a contest for boys and girls between the age of 12 and 17.

Now the contest will be is two groups: juniors and seniors. Three trophies will be awarded in each category. The winners in the senior section will get the Rafi Award in the respective (male and female) categories and the first and second runners-up will also be honoured by trophies.

There are 32 singers for this contest. The male participants will sing Rafi songs and the female contestants will sing Lata numbers.

The final prizes will be given away by a film personality at the society’s annual function to be held in November this year. Last year the prizes were given away by popular music director Anandji.

Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Minister for Gram Panchayat and Agriculture will be the chief guest and Mr S. Maria, Principal, DAV College, will be the guest of honour.