EDUCATION

College faculty opposes abolition of NRI quota
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
The Faculty Executive Council of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (FECDMCH) has condemned the state government for abolishing NRI quota in professional colleges in Punjab. Terming it as an arbitrary decision, the members said the decision was against the institutions, the state and the nation.

Dr B.S. Shah, Secretary of the council, today said when most of the government medical institutions were dying a slow death, NRI quota in government medical colleges had revived some hopes. The decision to abolish NRI quota would be a great setback to the development and existence of these medical colleges.

Faculty members said the DMCH had started NRI admissions in 1983. Since then nearly 200 NRI doctors have been produced by the DMCH and all of them were doing very well in their respective countries. So much so that some of them had excelled in their field and in fact they were preferred over their contemporaries. This had brought a good name to the institution and to the state. Also these students were fetching a good amount of foreign exchange which was required for the development of a self dependent institution like Dayanand Medical College. Many institutions have followed the same lines including government medical colleges, Punjabi University, GND varsity, Punjab Agricultural University and various engineering and nursing colleges. Medical institution like Manipal Medical College and Bharatiya Vidya Peeth had admitted students under the NRI quota for 2003.

This practice of admitting foreign students was also followed in other countries like the USA, Russia, Britain, Australia, Hungary, Ireland and Czech Republic. In some of these countries native students had to pay a very negligible amount. For example, an interaction with the International Coordinator of the Czech Republic University, Ivana, revealed that fees for foreign students is $ 8000 per annum for medical courses while it is free for local candidates.

Many NRI students from the different countries were giving preference to the Indian institutions. This had enhanced the prestige of the institutions well as that of the nation. There is no sense in abolishing NRI quota at this juncture when Punjab Government was passing through a financial crises and the financial status of most of the institutions was debilitated. The faculty members demanded that this decision should be reviewed by the government at the earliest.

Freshers delight in freedom to dress up
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
“Thank Govt. The boring school days are over. No more blue and white uniform and hair tied in a plait. For 16 years we attended schools in such a drab manner. But now that we are in the college, we can wear the clothes of our choice everyday. Life is definitely more thrilling now,” said Shilpa, Gunteshwar, Sheetal and Richi of BA I year (Freshers) of the Government College for Women.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, they said they could not believe their eyes when they saw some seniors wearing tops with “spaghetti straps”. “Though not many girls are bold enough to wear these strappy dresses, yet what gladdened our hearts was that the students were free to dress according to their choice,” they said in unison.

As per the rule, the girls of the college have to wear white clothes on Mondays but Sheetal said the students had choices in white dress too. “Some girls wear parallel suits, others wear short kurtis and white trouser some plain salwar suits, and some others wear churidars. Every mode of dress is allowed as long as it is white”

“The students can wear danglers, anklets, sport different style of bindis, wear dozens of bangles, and number of rings as accessories. In fact, the tuck shop inside the college sells some very pretty trinkets at very reasonable rates,” said Shilpa.

“We can wear trousers with slits, short , sleeveless tops, can leave our hair open. We can even get our hair coloured too,” exclaimed Richi.

But the girls said students from rural areas do not take kindly to the short tops or their stylish way of dressing. They comment on the short length of the tops that expose a small part of the tummy. They are not very happy with the way urbanites dress.

But hostlers from the rural areas say: “We feel the girls should dress soberly when they are students. Simple living and high thinking should be the motto.”

In Khalsa College for Women too, girls could be seen wearing dresses of their choice. A large majority of the girls were wearing traditional salwar suits. But some were seen wearing jeans and tops while others were wearing kurtis.

Nonetheless a majority of girls say they are very delighted that they do not have stay within a ‘dress code.’ Gone are the days when girls were wearing staid and plain salwar suits, a few decades ago. We are fortunate that we have been given a choice to dress the way we want,” They exclaim.

Tiny tots celebrate ‘saawan’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
Tiny tots of Swiss International Public School (SIPS), Model Town, celebrated ‘saawan’ at a function held here today. Girls came clad in beautiful ethnic salwar kameez, heavy dupattas and jewellery rendering colour and liveliness to the atmosphere. Boys adorned turbans matching with their kurta pyjama. Children danced to the beats of dhol. They danced to the music of their favourite songs like ‘Megha re megha’ from Lamhe, ‘Ghanan ghanan’ from Lagaan and “Aa gayee re rut chha gayee re” from 1947 Earth.

Extensive flower arrangements were done all around the school with well-decorated swings, earthen pots, water rangoli, phulkari dupattas and traditional bangles, all of which gave exuberance to the festive mood. A model of village scene made out of wrought iron was displayed to explain the children about the importance of ‘saawan’ in rural life.

Finally, children were judged on the basis of their performances and dress-up. Gobind and Harleen excelled in dance performances. Jaswin and Asses Sodhi were declared ‘Master Saawan’. ‘Miss Saawan’ title was shared by Jasmine and Safa on the basis of their overall performances. Ishika and Inayat bagged prizes for enacting a Punjabi play.

Children were then served traditional maalpura and kheer. Ms Daisy Pruthi, Principal, told the children that as per the Hindu calendar, fifth month of the year was called ‘saawan’ that observed the beginning of monsoon. She said a number of festivals like Haryali, Teej, Jhumar Yatra, Rakhsha Bandhan and Nag Panchmi were celebrated in the month.

A passion for science models
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, August 4
When schoolchildren spend their time watching TV, surfing the Internet or partying this girl utilises her leisure hours for making science models. Rashmi Pandey, a plus two student of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, has several science models to her credit, most of which have been displayed in her school laboratories.

While a majority of the models are non-working, a few of them work like real machines. Rashmi’s obsession with science models started when she was in Class VII in CFC Public School. She says when she saw her seniors preparing models and competing at various contests, she too was inspired.

Her first model was based on a solar cooker which she prepared with the help of her elder brother who is studying mechanical engineering at Thapar Engineering College in Patiala. The model was displayed during a science exhibition held in the school.

Most of the models that she prepared were based on biology. A working model on the functioning of the heart made by her when she was in Class IX was well-received during a science fair. She later chose topics that were unusual and based on her observation at exhibitions.

She took biotechnology as an optional subject in plus one and started making still models on genome types, tissue culture and related techniques. Her model on transgenic crops won her two first prizes. She had prepared the model under the guidance of her teacher, and some professors in the Department of Biotechnology at Punjab Agricultural University.

During a tehsil-level contest organised for schools falling in Ludhiana (West), she presented her model under the category of health and nutrition and won the first prize. Her model was selected for the district-level contest in which she again won the first prize.

The total cost of making a model crosses Rs 1,000 at times, she says, adding that her parents are supportive of her.

Picnic time for kids
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
With the weather getting cool and cloudy, it was time for picnic for the children of Chanda Mama Play School, Green Enclave, here today. Children had a gala time seated on colourful inflatable picnic chairs. Small colourful umbrellas protected the children from the drizzle. They were offered juices, chips and chocolates. Children felt important like grown ups, treated royally as they were.

They got a nice surprise when mushrooms and frogs were placed around them and they wondered how when it rained, such cap like things came out of the ground suddenly. They were also told how frogs which are yellowish in colour after winter hibernation suddenly turned green during rains like the tree leaves and other vegetation.

The event proved to be enlightening as well as entertaining as children and teachers alike were on cloud nine. Ms Harpreet Kaur Gill, Principal, said, “Such situational learning was the real play way learning.”

Painting contest for children
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
As a part of a nationwide painting contest launched by Hindustan Lever Limited, a painting contest would be held at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, tomorrow.

Children of the age group four to 12 years would be allowed to participate and paint their dreams. The contest ‘Colour your future’ would be anchored by Ms Shweta of Prerna fame from ‘Kasuati zindagi ki’.

Mr Sanjay Behl, marketing manager of the HLL, said the contest would be organised for a period of three months. He said there would be one mega winner each month who would receive a cash prize of upto Rs 5 lakh that would be put into deposits and redeemable at the age of 18 for education abroad. In addition, there would be four other winners receiving Rs 1 lakh every month, making it a total of 15 winners for the duration of three months.

Former students defend ex-Principal
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
Old students, former PTA members and retired staff members have defended the former Principal of the Government College for Women, Ms Manjit Sodhia, on the issue of alleged misappropriation of funds of the PTA of the college.

“We resent the efforts of certain people who are out to malign Ms Manjit Sodhia,” said Ms Bhavish Rai, student from Ist batch, Ms Sushma Sood, founder member of the PTA, Ms Nilam Kapur, a former member of the PTA, Lal Raj Dhillon, an old student and retired staff member, Pinki Puri, Vijay Narang, Juhi Bakshi, and Reetinder Kaur, all ex-students.

The role of Ms Sodhia came under the cloud as members of the PTA at August 1 meeting alleged that Rs 20 lakh from the PTA fund during her tenure were not accounted for.