Minister for improving higher education
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 28
Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Punjab Minister for Transport, has exhorted teachers to strive hard to improve the standard of higher education and assured them that necessary steps will be taken in consultation with their associations at the earliest, so that the real purpose of the higher education can be achieved.

Addressing a seminar on “Crisis in higher education” organised by the Coordination Committees of Science Teachers at GGN Khalsa College here yesterday, he said the level of higher education during the two decades had touched the lowest ebb. In fact the faulty system of education was responsible for a rise in the problem of unemployment in the country. “After getting traditional higher education, the youth more often opt for government jobs, which are hard to get these days. They have to be motivated through an improved system of education towards starting self-employment ventures which seem to be the only viable alternative,” he said.

The minister said the teachers were having a highly respectful status in the society, as they were the real builders of the nation. They ought to perform their duties of properly shaping the future generation with dedication and sincerity, to enable the youth to meet challenges at the international level.

Referring to the financial problems of private colleges, he said as a result of the wrong financial policies adopted by the previous Badal government, the entire economy of the state had suffered. “Now, the present government has taken strict economic reforms, which have started showing good results and the proper attention is being given for improving the financial condition of the private colleges.”

Mr V.K. Tewari, general secretary of the committee, highlighting the problems of the teachers sought the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against 19 teachers, who had recently been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau. There was a need for evolving some mechanism to provide extra coaching to the students who were to compete the students of other states at the national level, he said.

NIFD students organise exhibition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 28
A two-day Divali exhibition, organised by students of the National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD) at Sarabha Nagar, concluded here today. The students had made different types of attractive diyas for Divali. There were colourful wax, oil and shell diyas with flowers, Ganesha and Lakshmi made on them.

The students had also displayed their creations in the form of handmade greetings.”We used oil paints, water paints, fabric paints and even the nailpaints while making these cards. The students have also made beautiful shagun folders”, said Mr Arvind Gupta, Director, NIFD.

There was a fine display of murals at the exhibition. Neeta, a student, said, 
“This time we have made complete puja thaalis which include diyas, thali and small idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi”. The range of the products varied from Rs 5 to Rs 1,500 and above.

“The students have made a variety of candles which is part of their project. There are floating candles, decorative candles, perfumed candles etc, and these are very much appreciated by visitors”, said Mr Arvind.

A day of music and creative contests
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 28
The second day of the Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival saw seven teams competing in a number of events.

Competitions were held in shabad singing, Indian classical music (vocal and instrumental), geet, gazal and folk songs. The teams were well prepared for the contests and put up their best performances.

Competitions were also held in creative writing, collage making and clay modelling.

Exhibition of fine arts at Sutlej Club
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 28
A two-day exhibition of fine arts was inaugurated at Sundial Hall of the Sutlej Club here today. The exhibition, organised by Dr Sangeeta Lamba, has a display of canvas paintings, stick work, leather work, glass paintings, decorated pots, greeting cards, candles and embossed glass paintings.

Dr Lamba said the exhibition was a result of her three years of hard work. “There are Kangra paintings, old paintings, landscapes, cloth embossing glass work, including telephone stands and paintings, wax paintings and papier mache paintings. Each painting is unique and has a meaning,” she said.

Papier mache paintings were the main attraction of the exhibition. “These are time consuming and I have used mud and newspapers to make these paintings,” said Dr Sangeeta.

A painting of Golden Temple made with sticks, took her three years.