The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Release GPF contribution, PAUTA urges Punjab Govt
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21
The PAU Teachers Association has appealed to the state government to release additional grants so that the university could credit the dues to their CPC / GPF contribution accounts.

In a memorandum submitted to the Punjab Governor during his visit to the university, Dr A.S. Joshi, president of the association, said the university has not been getting all grants from the state government for the payment of salary to the staff for the last more than three years. Consequently, the university is running into deficit which is constantly on the increase. During the year 2001-2002, there was a deficit of Rs 21.71 crore with the result that the amount of CPC/GPF/pension fund, deducted from the salaries of the staff, has not been credited into their respective accounts.

The non-crediting of CPC/GPF/pension fund into the accounts of the employees is a serious offence which can lead to legal complications. On the request of PAUTA, the Vice-Chancellor placed before the Board of Management at the meeting held on November 8, 2001, and the following decision was taken: “The Board of Management considered this item and decided that the matter be again discussed by a committee consisting of Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government as Chairman and Financial Commissioner (Development), Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, and Vice-Chancellor, PAU, as members and the proposal submitted to it for consideration.”

Accordingly, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr N.K. Arora, the then Chief Secretary, on December 6, 2001, which was attended by the Financial Commissioner (Development), Principal Secretary (Finance ) and the Vice-Chancellor.

After considering the matter at length, the committee showed its concern with regard to the pending liabilities. The committee was of the unanimous opinion that the deficit needs to be met immediately to avoid any legal complications at a later stage. The committee desired the PAU to prepare the realistic figures of required funds so that the state government could consider the proposal for allocation of additional funds to the university.

Accordingly, an exercise was made and demands of the university were raised on realistic basis and sent to the Financial Commissioner (Development) to take up this matter with the state government. The Financial Commissioner (Development) vide his U.O.No. PS/FCD/878 dated November 26, 2001, sent the proposal to the Chief Secretary emphasising the urgency to meet the deficit of Rs 21.71 crore on priority and reiterated that the non deposit of provident fund contribution is a criminal offence. He strongly recommended that the required amount may be released to the PAU at the earliest possible so that it can meet its requirements and does not have to face criminal proceedings.

On the repeated requests of PAUTA, the matter was again placed before the Board of Management at its meeting held on December 12, 2002.

In spite of the above decisions of the BoM, the pending amount still has not been released by the state government, he added.

Hundreds take CET
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 21
“Chemistry and physics papers were all right, but mathematics was lengthy. We did not find time to solve all problems,” said Sohila from Pathankot, Neha from Una, Amarpreet from Amritsar, Anubhav from Ludhiana, Nishu Chhabra from Ferozepore and several other students.

Similar views were shared by the students appearing in Government College for Women, “Mathematics paper was tough”, they said in unison.

On the other hand , many students like Sachit Chaudhry from Ludhiana, Pawan Preet from Barnala, Ruby from Bhatinda and scores of students found the papers ‘all-right’. Hundreds of students took the CET (Common Entrance Test) examination this morning. The boys and girls appearing for this examination aspire to be future engineers. Government College for Boys was the biggest centre as within the college, four centres comprising 250 students functioned simultaneously.

Mr V.P. Gaud, Principal, Government College said he took rounds of four centres and found students calmly doing their papers. Similar views were of Ms Balbir Bajaj, Superintendent of two centres set up in Government College for Women. She also found that the students were answering the tests with equanimity. Mr GSN Murthy from Visakhapattnam said his daughter was answering the CET examination posted in Ludhiana.

Both Mr Murthy and Mr Bal Krishan from Jalandhar said the information provided in the letters was inadequate. It was just written ‘Govt College- Centre B’. They struggled to find where the college was located and got more confused when they did not know whether the college was for women or men. More information should be given so that persons coming from outside Ludhiana could find the examination centre. However, the locals did not find any problems. A large majority of students said that there was no scope of cheating, but a very few of them said, ‘madi moti cheating ta hondi hai’.

The students taking chemistry, physics, and biology papers are answering their papers at centres in Khalsa College for Women.

College alumni plan its beautification
Naveen S. Garewal
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21
All alumni are not thankless; at least that is what a group of students of Government College for Boys here wants to prove. Gathered under the banner of the Commerce Alumni Association, the group has offered to undertake the beautification of the entrance of the institution.

So far about 150 former students have joined hands under the banner of the Commerce Alumni Association and are planning to bring in more fellow students at a cultural night at Mehar Meadows here this Saturday. The college has produced several top space scientists like Mr S.C. Dhawan, poet Sahir Ludhianvi, bureaucrats like Mr M.S. Gill and Mr K.P.S. Gill, journalists, writers, businessmen, etc.

Mr Kuldip Singh, president of the association, said: “We are making an effort to bring as many old students under the banner of the association as possible. To involve families we are arranging a cultural night at Mehar Meadows, Ferozepore Road, on May 24”.

Principal of the college, V.P. Gaur, who is also an old student and patron of the association, said: “The alumni association aims at rejuvenating old friendship among batch mates. Renowned ghazal singers will regale the audience at the cultural meet and bhangra teams will perform on the occasion”.

Mr Kuldip Singh has invited old students to join the association. He said those desirous of enrolling themselves as members of the association should contact Mr Mannu Sood (94170-00912) and 2871270 or Mr Charanjit Singh (98140-01860).

SGPC institutes to have education directorate
Our Correspondent

Amloh, May 21
The present system of education has failed to provide equal opportunities, specially to those from the rural areas. The SGPC has decided to open a residential academy to prepare such students for competitive examinations at Kalgidar Niwas in Chandigarh.

Speaking to mediapersons, SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar said here that education, food and lodging would be provided free of cost to the students. The academy would start functioning before June 30.

To provide quality education in 25 colleges and 23 schools run by the SGPC, a directorate of education consisting of eminent scholars and educationists would be constituted with its head office in Chandigarh, he said.

Earlier, Mr Badungar laid the foundation stone of a memorial gate in memory of martyr Jaswinder Singh of Bhari Panaich village and addressed a gathering at Rori Sahib Gurdwara Chehal.

Seminars would be organised and memorial gates and libraries would be established by the SGPC in villages in memory of Kargil martyrs. “Khalsa utsav” (sports festival) would be celebrated from October 3 at Anandpur Sahib, he said.

Mr Badungar also laid the foundation stones of memorial gates at Rorewal and Pooniwal villages.

A meeting organised by the gurdwara committee and the gram panchayat at Majra Manna Singhwala village, 3 km from here, was addressed by the SGPC chief, Mr Dalip Singh Pandhi, former minister and Mr Devinder Singh and Mr Bawa Singh, president and secretary, of the gurdwara committee, respectively.