EDUCATION

Goel shows what a model school is like
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 8
The Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Vijay Goel, has presented a model school by adopting an MCD-run school in the Bandook Wali street in the walled city. This has been provided all facilities necessary for primary students with the help of Adharshila Vidyapeeth.

He has adopted one more school in street Koele Wali in the same area where renovation work is going on. Mr Vijay Goel said the standard and building condition of MCD schools could be improved if these were adopted by individuals, NGOs or industrialists. The NGOs or individuals will not have administrative power. They can provide infrastructure which are lacking in corporation schools. The infrastructure provided by the NGOs will be used with the direction of the headmaster in each school. The MCD schools in Bandook Wali street now look better than a public school after the renovation work done by the minister. He used to visit the school personally for getting the things done.

The school have good looking desks, chairs, notice boards, water cooler, painted building, clean toilet and swings. There are 200 children in the school and most of them are from low income group families. By presenting this he would try to convince the MCD officials and elected representatives that the corporation schools will easily be given much better look and their standard could be upgraded.

He said he had already discussed this issue with the Mayor, Mr Ashok Jain, the Standing Committee Chairman, Mr Ram Babu Sharma, and the Municipal Commissioner, Mr Rakesh Mehta, and they had appreciated the scheme.

He informed them that three more persons were ready to adopt MCD schools in the Chandni Chowk area. He said the MCD should chalk out a scheme to enable NGOs or industrialists to sign an MOU to render help in improvement of the school. The corporation may constitute a five-member committee for a school which will include the local corporator. Besides, there can be a managing committee with representation of NGOs and local persons on the lines of managing committees being constituted for colleges.

The corporation has 1840 MCD schools and these are in a bad condition. They can be transformed if the authorities concerned have will power and vision, Mr Goel said.

Disaster management in Class VIII syllabus
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 8
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced disaster management as part of the social sciences curriculum for class eight from this year. The book titled, ‘Together Towards Safer India’, has been prepared in collaboration with the disaster management division of the home ministry and the UNDP.

The first of its kind, the book was released in the Capital recently by Mr S.K. Tripathi, Secretary, Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The CBSE also organised a two-day training programme for a few principals and teachers drawn from all over the country.

Speaking at the release, Mr. Tripathi said the board had done a great job in preparing textual material for the schools.

The course would enable the learners not only to understand the nature of disasters but also how to effectively handle them and minimise human and capital loss.

CBSE chairman Ashok Ganguly said the curriculum in disaster management would enable children to learn social skills and develop their creativity, critical thinking and empower the emotional aspects of their personality.

Elaborating, he said an equal thrust would be placed on theoretical and project work, which would involve engaging students in community activities.

Mr Ganguly said that students would be exposed to the study of man-made as well as natural disasters. The evaluation would be done in terms of grades and marks. 

CULTURE

GLITZ&GLAMOUR
Delhi designers prepare to take on the best at Mumbai
Smriti Kak

Designers from the Capital are ready to unveil their adventurous outfits with a structured mix of colours and tribal look.

A little before they unravel their creative best during the LIFW in Mumbai this month, we took a peek into the closets of some of the Delhi designers to preview the fare. Shantanu & Nikhil, whose label stands for ‘freedom in fashion’, will showcase their collection on the first day. They will unveil the adventurous moods of structured stripes, a key inspiration for their Fall-Winter 2003 collection. The designer duo will showcase their western line for the bold and the vivacious young women.

They claim the collection is “all about an exclusive prêt-e-porter elegance that has incredibly redefined the label”. “With a bit of the idealism and bit of a shock, this new lady like attire is for the aristocratic and zesty jet-setters with its sophisticated and vibrant femininity, which has been reinvigorated by the optical illusionist element brought out by engineered stripes”.

The core silhouette of the collection is asymmetric with interesting sleeve details and unusual necklines. The focus is on feminine styling and well-structured ensembles. Silhouettes are the main focus of the collection. There is an interesting variation of combat trousers and military jackets with big collars, buckles and loop trimmings. Dresses, which form a very dominating part of the collection, would be seen in bold and interesting hemlines.

The designers have recreated A-line skirts with delicate co-ordinates in georgette. The fabrics used in the collection are hand woven ikat voil in colours such as pink, grey, magenta and blue put together. Stretch cotton has been used interestingly with hand stitched self crafted stripes. Also, Victorian hand woven jacquards in heavy twills are used to give the collection a prêt-a-couture feel.

Designer Anju Modi, whose forte is creating minimalist and contemporary garments, will showcase garments that will highlight her understanding of colours and the richness created by embroidery. Along with the couture line is the recently introduced pret label ‘am:pm’. The range offers both casual and eveningwear options to the customer and is market friendly in terms of prices and maintenance.

Inspired by the Bagh and the Phulkari work of Punjab, designers Mona Pali’s collection is all about folk and tribal look. They said “Indo-Western clothes are our focus this time”. Surface textures and hand paints have been used along with a vivid colour palette to bring vibrancy to the clothes.

Diamonds are forever

After demonstrating the correct technique of washing hands (at a function organised by the Sulabh International), model and actress Ketrina Kaif was on a ribbon-cutting spree. She recently inaugurated ‘Diamond Hut’, the “first branded effort to build exclusive retail business for jewellery in the country”.

‘Diamond Hut’ is an effort at exclusive retail business at a scale not seen in North India in the recent past. It offers a wide range of diamond-studded jewellery, designed to appeal to the contemporary Indian woman. The range guarantees .750 fineness and would include rings, pendants, earring, necklaces, bangles and other knick-knacks.

‘Diamond Hut’ jewellery will guarantee quality and weight. Diamonds here will be certified and will come in a special box, ideal for gift or to be kept as a souvenir.

Men in Vogue

Shopper’s Stop is celebrating July as the ‘month for men’, so as to allow them to indulge themselves and give into their temptations. The month long ‘Men in Vogue’ brings in a bouquet of offers aimed at “fulfilling the distinct needs of each man”.

Joining in the action are brands like Provogue, Louis Phillippe, Arrow and Scullers. The offers range from T-shirts, cameras, sunglasses, belts and accessories.

Go fake for animal’s sake

Bat girl Alicia Silvertone has joined the cause of animals.

Leather like fur has animal lovers and activists see red. To buttress their stand against the use of animal skin and hides they have startling facts about the cruelty that animals face to satiate the fashion urges of a few.

Bat girl Alicia Silvertone is the latest to don on the mantle of animal lover. She like many other celebs has joined the cause of animals. PETA is offering picture postcards of the star that reads ‘Go fake for animals sake’. According to PETA, animals are beaten and mutilated to obtain their hides. The accounts of sufferings that these animals are put through are spine chilling.

With designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh, Hemant Trivedi and Stella McCartney, who have pledged to Plather their creations, there is hope that fake leather can well be in vogue, which spells cheer for the animals.

The GoCARDS, as they are called, ask customers to make stylish but compassionate choices and let animals keep their skin by saying ‘no to leather’. These cards have been distributed across the city in bars, discos, health clubs and coffeehouses.