PTU flayed for not conducting exams
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
The United Nations Youth Organisation has flayed Punjab Technical University (PTU) for failing to conduct examinations of management, engineering, computer science and information technology and arts programmes even after one year of their start.

Dr Shiv Gupta, state president of the United Nations Youth Organisation, and Mr Sushil Malhotra, president of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Forum, in a joint statement today said the courses were of semester systems starting from August to December and January to July. The PTU last year started Online Virtual Campus programmes in technical collaboration with the Lovely International Trust on the lines of international renowned universities such as the MIT and University of Pheonix, which were offering online education. Though the PTU boasted of having accreditation by the International University Accrediting Association for its online programmes, yet the PTU failed to conduct even one examination of the first semester, which ended in December, 2002 and the term of second semester had also expired in July, 2003.

The online mode of education was available on an Internet website, CDs, optional books, etc. A one-week contact programme (optional) at the PTU, Jalandhar, per semester also proved to be failure due to poor response from students. The United Nations Youth Organisation threatened that if the PTU failed to conduct examinations of MBA, MDIT, BBA, M.Tech, etc, a suit would be filed against the PTU for defrauding the students.

Kids celebrate arrival of ‘Sawan’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
Kids of Small Wonders Nursery School, Sangat Road, participated in a function held here today to celebrate the arrival of the ‘Sawan’. A colourful Punjabi ambience was created in the school’s lawn. Swings were erected and decorated with flowers and leaves. Colourful umbrellas gave a gala look. Kids were dressed up in colourful costumes. Girls wore suits, lachas or lehngas and were decked up with bindis, tikkas, bangles and dupattas. Boys wore kurta pyjama or achkan and koti. A kiddies sangeet was presented in which Bhavya Jindal played the dholak and Harnoot sat with a spoon. Girls sang Punjabi songs and boys danced to the beats of the dholak.

Anika was chosen as Ms Teej. Kamya was selected as the well- dressed girl, while Abhay won the same prize in the boys’ category. Children relished their favourite eatables on the occasion. Ms Neeti Dewan, Principal, said the function was celebrated to make the kids aware of their culture. 

Neha tops science contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
Two students each from seven sub-divisions who had won the tehsil level science seminars organised by the District Education Department today participated in the district level competition.

The topic of the seminar was ‘Powered flight — a century of innovations and future of aviations’. Neha of Guru Harkishan Public School stood first to become eligible for state-level competition. Kirat Anand of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School stood second. Third prize was won by Rajbir Kaur of Government High School, Ramgarh. Consolation prize went to Parneet Wander of Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School.

The results were announced by Mr K. Mayer of Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School, Cinema Road, Mr Harchand, Principal of Kirpa Nidhan School and Mr Balwinder Singh of Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon.

Mr Ranjit Singh, headmaster, Government High School, Salem Tabri, was the coordinator. Mr Bachitar Singh, District Education Officer (Secondary), gave prizes to the students. Mr Varinder Sharma, District Science Supervisor, was also present on the occasion.

Life-term for killing wife
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
Mr Inderjit Kaushik, Additional Sessions Judge, has sentenced a person to rigorous life imprisonment for strangulating his wife with a ‘dupatta’ on January 2002. A fine of Rs 2000 has also been imposed on him.

The accused, Arjan Rai (36) of Haibowal Khurd was booked on the charge of killing his wife, Meena Rai, an employee of the municipal corporation on the statement of Rajinder Sharma, brother of the deceased.

The statement of the son of the accused in the court played an important role in the conviction.

The complainant had stated to the police on February 1, 2002 that his sister was married about 15 years ago. The accused was harassing her for the last one year, pressurising her to leave her job.

His 14-year-old son, Deepak, deposed that his father was jobless and used to quarrel with his mother telling her to leave the job.

Jaghera’s remand extended
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
Mr Jasbir Singh, Judicial Magistrate Fist Class, today extended the judicial remand of Shamsher Singh Jaghera, president of the International Sant Samaj, till August 13. He is facing charge in a rape case.

Jaghera was arrested on July 18 and was booked under Section 376 of the IPC at Model Town police station. He was allegedly caught while raping the wife of a sevadar of his dera. However, his supporters maintained that the allegations were false and were part of a conspiracy hatched by his detractors to take control over the dera property. He was produced in the court of Illaqa Magistrate on July 19 and was sent to judicial custody till July 30. 

CULTURE

Media Artists stage play for students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
The Media Artists staged a play, “Eh lahoo kisda hai” for the students of Ramgarhia Girls College and Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women here today. The play was based on Guru Nanak’s sakhi of “Sacha sauda”. The role of Malik Bhago was depicted by a king who took heavy debts from farmers in the form of their yield, while a farmer played the role of Wali Kandhari. In the end, the yield of the king, who was shown to have earned by unfair means, produced blood, while that of the farmer, who worked hard to earn his living, produced milk.

The play was penned by popular playwright Gurdial Singh Phul, and was directed by Samuel John. The role of farmer was played by Dharminder and that of king by Satgur Bhajo. The principals, staff and students watched the play.

Kids enact Adam and Eve
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
It was all fun for the kids of Strawberry Club who played “Adam and Eve” in an Eden Garden set-up at a resort here last evening. The fruits of knowledge were enjoyed through one-minute games like “pick the apple”, “charm a snake”, and “candy juggling”. It was a heavenly delight as the kids who participated in contemporary events like the best wild dancer, the best couple of the evening and ramp walking for the best Adam and the Eve.

Dr Bindu Nalwa from the CMC pronounced the judgement. Meyank and Avigyat were declared the best adams and Japna and Saksham the best eves. Puneet and Punya were declared the best couple. Ria, Rahil and Himani were declared the best wild dancers. Punya, Riyank, Dhriti, Sirjan, Janvi, Myra, Jaiveer, Shreya and Achit won the prizes for the one-minute games.

Ms Shikha Lamba and Ms Shivani Arora, running the club, said that the theme party titled “Adam and eve rock together” was organised with the purpose of making the kids participate and help them come out in the limelight.