Now coaching for KG admissions
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 2
Every morning at eight, she excitedly walks along with her father to attend tuition classes. Sits silently behind a table and listens attentively to the teacher for at least an hour. Nothing unusual about it, except the fact that Sahira is attending the coaching classes not for taking admission in an engineering or medical college, but in a kinder garten.

Incredulous, but true. Sahira, being coached by a veteran convent school teacher in a group of 10 since mid-November, is just four year old. Her father came to know about the existence of such classes for kinder garten students the day he went to a school to fill the admission form.

“I was about to enter the car after filling the form in the afternoon when I saw a piece of paper under the front windshield wiper,” industrialist Mukul Sharma asserts. “Initially I thought it was a pamphlet from a bookseller, but was surprised to read the contents. It read: Excellent coaching for preparing small children for their interviews and entrance in convents”.

He adds: “After going through the pamphlet, I thought it was just another way of encashing upon the plight of apprehensive parents till I discussed the matter with a neighbour whose elder son was once rejected just because he refused to throw a toffee wrapper in the dust bin. He was serious about getting his second son coached. That’s exactly when I decided to get my daughter admitted, along with his son. The fees was on the higher side — Rs 2,000 — but then I thought it was essential”.

The classes help, Mr Sharma claims, specially if the child comes from a semi-literate family with rural background, or if his “base” is no so strong. “My neighbour’s son had no etiquette when he joined the classes. He was handed over a toffee by the teacher, but he refused to say thanks.

Convention on education of visually impaired
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, January 2
A state convention on ‘Education for the Blind’ will be organised by the National Society for the Child Artists in the office of the Punjab School Education Board here tomorrow.

The convention is being held on the eve of the Braille Day which will be celebrated all over the world on January 4.

Giving details of the convention the convener, Mr Ajit Sailani, today stated that there was a need to focus on the education of the visually impaired all across the nation. He also informed that Mr N.S. Rattan, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, would be the chief guest on the convention.

INPA workshops concludes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
A series of three workshops, organised by the Indian National Portage Association (INPA) in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Council of India, concluded at Panjab University, here today.

The last day saw a working group meeting where Ms Madhvi Kataria, SDM, was the chief guest. Maj-Gen A.S. Kahlon presided over the meeting. Mr G.K. Marwah, secretary of the Social Welfare Department, was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Prof S. Bambah, national advisor to INPA, presided over the function.

Prof Tehal Kohli, chief organiser, in her address said 10 per cent of the human civilisation comprised handicapped population and this did not include the learning disabled which was a matter of grave concern and needed collective attention. Very little work on promoting learning of the disabled had been done by Punjab and the UT Administration as no money had been withdrawn from a special fund for them, he said.

The Rehabilitation Council was set up in 1986. The Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) is an important aspect of the RCI to update the knowledge and skills of professionals so as to provide quality services to the people with disabilities.

The refresher courses at these workshop included ‘current management practice in mental retardation and application of learning principles in the management of mental retardation’, ‘assisting children with specific learning disabilities’, and ‘implementing ‘inclusion’ in the mainstream schools’.

Prof Kohli said the Persons with Disability Act 1995 provided that schools should make special provision for all children with disabilities. However, this had not been done in a majority of cases.

Rajesh Chaudhry is new DEO
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 2
The Principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, Ms Rajesh Chaudhry, has been appointed District Education Officer in place of Ms Asha Sharma who has retired.

Ms Chaudhry was appointed to the post on the basis of her seniority as well as merit. A geography teacher, she began her teaching career in 1971. She had an earlier sting as Principal of Government Girls Model School, Sector 18.

Candidates begin second round of campaigning
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 2
The beginning of New Year saw a large number of candidates begin their second round of door- to- door campaigning.

Ms Meera Chopra, a candidate from Ward 22, today said she had completed her campaigning once and had been apprised of various problems faced by residents of the ward. She said she would work to improve the condition of roads and parks and get a community centre and a government dispensary for her area.

Mr V.K. Sood, BJP candidate from Ward 4, told mediapersons that he was getting a good response from candidates in his ward. He said he had always worked for the benefit of the community.

Ms Asha Sharma, an Independent candidate from Ward 24, resumed her door-to- door campaigning and assured potable water supply and sanitation in this ward. Senior citizens and representatives of house owners welfare associations have extended their support to her.

Mr B.B. Kochhar, an Independent contestant from Ward 3, today met 100 female residents of this ward, heard their grievances and assured them that the problems of stray cattle and sanitation would be redressed. Mr Surjit Singh, a contestant from Ward 27, also met various prominent citizens of Sector 2 and Kharag Mangoli village and listened to their problems.

Ms Renuka Rai Walia, a candidate from Ward 2, today said she would press for the construction of a railway overbridge in Mansa Devi Complex, upgradation of the police post there to a police station and basic facilities to residents of Swastik Vihar, as promised in the original master plan. 

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
CBI seeks more time
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 2
The CBI today sought more time to file a reply on a bail plea moved by Navjot Singh, an accused alleged to be involved in the Beant Singh assassination case, in a local court. After hearing the CBI counsel’s plea, the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S Bhalla, today adjourned the hearing till January 20.

Claiming that he deserved the concession of bail, the applicant, said he had been in the prison for seven years but the CBI had not produced a single witness who had testified against him. Giving details about his innocence, the applicant stated that the time when the bomb blast took place on August 31, 1995, he was working in Ranbaxy Lab. The applicant further added that the three witnesses, whom the CBI had claimed would testify against him, had already been turned hostile.

Remand

Four city youths, arrested by the police for allegedly stabbing to death a resident of Ropar district, Sandeep, on December 31, were today remanded to police custody till January 4 by a local court. Sandeep was declared brought dead by doctors at the General Hospital, Sector 16.

Acquitted

A local court today acquitted an accused, Chhatar Pal, in a case of rash and negligent driving. It was alleged that the accused, who was driving a tractor-trolley, had hit a cyclist, Sunil, on August 1, 2001. The cyclist had sustained injuries in the accident. The police had registered a case under Sections 279, 377 and 376 of the IPC. The accused was acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against him.

Juvenile acquitted

A juvenile was today acquitted by a local court in a case registered against him under unnatural offence. The accused was arrested by the police for allegedly sodomising a minor boy. The police had booked him under Sections 342 and 377 of the IPC. The juvenile was acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against him.

CULTURE

NEW RELEASES
‘Talaash’ promises terrific action

THE year 2002 was not so good for Bollywood till last week it has suffered more than Rs 300 crore loss. Welcome to the year 2003, and beginning this year, there is a possible trendsetter ‘‘Talaash’’. It is not to say that Bollywood has completely changed. The good content is there and one hopes that Chiragdeep International presentation ‘‘Talaash’’ may bring some relief for Bollywood. This one is produced by distributor and producer Pahlaj Nihalani, who is coming back with a bang after a long gap. ‘‘Talaash’’ is directed by ‘‘Ek Rishta’’ and ‘‘Jaanwar’’ fame Suneil Darshan and the director has for the first time teamed up with Pahlaj Nihalani. The film opens today Neelam, Chandigarh.

‘‘Audiences are tired of the ordinary,’’ says Pahlaj Nihalani producer of the nail-biting thriller ‘‘Talaash’’ where action expert Akshay Kumar who has already moved to performance-oriented roles, has pinned high hopes on this film. Kareena Kapoor is another star attraction of this romantic musical action thriller. Expectations are high from this movie to bring audiences back to theatres. This one is technically, superior and could spring a surprise.

Cameraman W.B. Rao has shot in some exotic locales of Dubai, South Africa, Mumbai and Rajasthan. It has a solid technical team associated with this project, including action director Abbas Ali screenplay writer Robin Bhatt and dialogue writer K.K. Singh. Sameer has penned the lyrics. Music director duo Sanjiv-Darshan also promises something different. ‘‘Talaash’’ also stars Rakhi, Puja Batra, Suresh Oberoi, Kabir Bedi, Raj Babbar, Shakti Kapoor, Dalip Tahil, Rami Reddy, Aabaz Ali Khan and Gulshan Grover. ‘‘Palace on Wheels’’ train is the special attraction of this film.

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Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh’s son Ritesh Deshmukh makes his debut alongwith model-turned glam doll Genelia D’Sonza in Ramoji Rao’s ‘‘Tujhe Meri Kasam — It’s Not A Love Story’’. Made under the banner of Usha Kiron Movies, the film is a remake of Ramoji Rao’s runaway Telugu hit ‘‘Nuvve Kavali’’, which has already created ripples at the box-office. The Hindi movie produced by the pioneer film maker after more than a decade is directed by Vijay Bhaskar. Satish Shah, Anuradha Patel, Shakti Kapoor and Supriya Karnik also star in this film. In credits the film has dialogue by Neeraj Vora, cinematography by Kabir Lal, lyrics by Mehboob and music by Viju Shah. The film opens today at Batra, Chandigarh. DP

Cultural evening at Tagore Theatre
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 2
The Chandigarh Bank Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) is organising a cultural evening at Tagore Theatre on Saturday. Several items, including classical dance, western dance, vocal and instrumental music, skits and one-act plays, will be presented by staff and family members of public sector banks and financial institutions operating in the city.

The programme is aimed at providing exposure to the budding talent amongst employees and their family members.

The organising sub-committees include Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, the Central Bank of India and SIDBI. This is the fourth such cultural show in a row.

The Chandigarh Bank TOLIC, under convenorship of Punjab National Bank, is an active body, making efforts towards implementation and propagation of Hindi. Its activities include organising computer related and other training programmes, kavi sammelans, cultural programmes, inter-bank Hindi competitions and publication of annual house magazine “Bank Prabha”, besides others.