The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

ADC withdraws order
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
The Government Primary Teachers Association ( GPTA), Punjab, has claimed in a press note that its protests against the alleged order of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) to purchase classroom aids from a specified Ludhiana-based firm have resulted in the withdrawal of the order by the ADC.

Under the new education policy, the primary teachers of the state are given a sum of Rs 500 to purchase items according to the needs of the particular class they teach. The money had to be disbursed among teachers by the office of the District Education Office, but the ADC (Development) asked the DEO to collect cheques drawn in favour of a particular firm.

The Primary Block Education Officers held a meeting with the District Education Officer in protest against this move of the ADC. Mr Piara Singh Dhillon and Mr Baldev Krishan Moudgil, president and general secretary of the GPTA, Punjab, respectively, said in a press note that the DEO agreed with them, but expressed his inability to do anything in the matter.

The association then decided to intensify protests against the order and finally the ADC withdrew the order.

‘Oorja 2003’ opens
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Having designed 60 dresses for Ms Lashkara 2003 , now the Jedians have put their heads together to present a sequel of their creativity through ‘Oorja 2003’ (exhibition- cum-sale) held here at JD Institute of Fashion Technology here today.

Designers have created a bonanza of designer wear, furniture and accessories. They have designed their collections keeping in mind the consumer profile, market profile, forecast and technical specification. The department of Fashion Design exhibited a blend of designs that were daringly different yet moderately priced. Denim being the highlight of the collection, styles varied from causal to trendy, enhanced by accessories like belts, shoes, bags, jewellery, etc.

Textile design students presented different fabrics by employing varied colour schemes and techniques. One came across a variety of things like dining sheets and mats, towel sets, bedcovers, baby sets, cushion covers, all of which were painted, tie-and-dyed, block printed or embroidered.

Knitwear design and technology students collection comprised garments and accessories which portrayed the use of different knits with a fine finish.

The exhibition also showcased a wide range of furniture and accessories, both for home and office, ranging from the innovative use of embroidery to hand paint on various combinations of materials like wood, iron, jute, glass and terracotta.

Farewell by tiny tots
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
An atmosphere of fun and frolic prevailed at a farewell party of Kiddies’ Paradise. Principal, Ms Gulshan Kaur, highlighted the achievements of the school. The audience was spellbound to see children dancing to the tune of ‘Assan hun tur jaana.

Arun Dua impressed all by speaking on the importance of children’s health and parents role in it. Avneet and Priya, were declared Ms and Miss Kiddies Paradise respectively, while Ranjot was declared the best dancer and Damandeep Bunny was given the title of Zazzy-B. Mr Kanwaljit Singh, president of the District Akali Dal, was the chief guest and Mr Darshan Singh was the guest of honour.

Workshop organised for teachers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
For the third consecutive year, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, in association with Ways and Means Leaning Systems Pvt Ltd organised an interactive workshop — “Unleash the coach” for about 200 schoolteachers yesterday.

The inauguration of the workshop was marked by lighting a lamp and blessings by Mr Satyanandji Munjal, co-chairman and MD of Hero Cycles Ltd.

The workshop focused on the teacher as an individual who has a family to cater to, a society to live in and a set of people to get along with. Coping with all these facets of life often result in over-burden, time constraints, troubled relations and stress. The workshop aimed at enabling teachers to come out of these trying situations.

136 cases settled at lok adalat
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
As many as 136 cases were settled amicably in the quarterly labour lok adalat organised at the New Courts complex, which was presided over by Mr S.K. Aggarwal, Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Ludhiana, here yesterday.

The main attraction of the lok adalat was Rs 3,13,980 paid in cash to labourers and employees on the spot by employers.

Giving details, Mr Aggarwal said cases pending for years were settled. He thanked advocates, representatives of the workers for their active participation, which helped to settle maximum cases.

Mr Tarlok Singh, a workman, was very happy as Rs 22,500 was paid to him in cash as full and final settlement.

Similarly, Mr Jaswant Singh received Rs 15,000 as full and final settlement, ending his three-year litigation.

Mr Arvind Markan, Assistant District Attorney, Legal Services, said the members of the lok adalat, Ms Papu Abinash Singh, Mr O.P. Mehta, Senior Advocate, Mr Parshotam Sharma, Mr B.D. Arora, Mr B.P. Bansal and Mr Nageshwar Singh, secretary of the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, and Mr Sarabjit Singh of INTUC played an active role at the lok adalat.

CULTURE

'Hai Mera Dil' staged
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
Hai Mera Dil, a play of Ank Group, was staged yesterday night at Guru Nanak Bhavan under the aegis of the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam, a voluntary organisation that has been instrumental in inviting a number of artistes to Ludhiana over the past three years. The Hindi version of the play directed by Dinesh Thakur has been adapted from Norman Barrasch and Carrol Moor’s American play Send Me No Flowers.

The play, a comedy, made the audience, which felt deeply involved in the idiosyncrasies of the main protagonist, burst into laughter time and again.

The story revolved around a hypochondriac. He overhears a conversation of his doctor with the doctor who had taken his cardiograph. While both doctors are discussing some other patient’s status, whose days are numbered, he assumes that he is that unfortunate patient. Comedy starts when as he starts planning his wife’s future. He even thinks of her marriage with her college friend. But his noble thoughts boomerang as his wife starts taking his sincere efforts to pair her with a college friend as signs of infidelity. Some how, the woman finds out that he was not going to die. Comedy of error causes more twists in the story. A friend of her husband, a lawyer, is on drinking binge to digest the sad news and suggests him to apologise for the non-existent affair. Finally, the matter is resolved.

Dinesh Thakur and Preeta Mathur gave superb performances in the lead roles and so did the drunk friend. The sets were very good. Hai Mera Dil has had a very successful run and is the longest running comedy in the history of Hindi theatre. It was staged for 948th time yesterday.

The dream sequences were adeptly staged. Topical references lent a contemporary look to the play, but a reference to glorification of ‘sati pratha’ could have been avoided easily as it hurt the sentiments of the women audience. Dil’ staged

Western dress contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 29
A western dress competition was held at the Gayatri Ladies Club here today. Gunjan was declared the winner, while Jasleen Takkar and Pooja Jain were chosen the first runners-up and Shelly Goel was declared the second runner-up.

An open round was also arranged for the club members. Alpana Aggarwal was declared the winner, Gunita was declared the first runner-up and Sonam Virmani and Aman Basan were declared the second runners-up.