The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Campaigning picks up for PAUTA poll
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 26
With only two days left for the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA) elections, different groups of teachers have intensified campaigning for the five executive and 10 office-bearers’ posts.

There is a straight fight between the reigning group headed by Dr A.S. Joshi and the group led by Dr R.S. Brar.

The campaigning gained momentum today as the groups started going from department to department.

While both groups have announced their candidates and filed the nominations, six candidates vying for posts of councillors were elected unopposed today.

They are Mr Sarabjit Singh, Dr Devinder Kaur, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Dr Parambir Singh, Dr Paramjit Singh and Dr R.J.S. Sahota.

Both groups have prepared their election manifestoes. The Joshi group has prepared a detailed document of their achievements and efforts for improving the teachers’ lot.

The Brar group has prepared a detailed document mentioning the alleged failures of their rivals.

Listing the promises made to the teachers, Dr Joshi said his group would take up court cases relating to the implementation of Career Advancement Scheme from January, 1996, besides total service benefit and leave encashment.

He said his group had also promised withdrawal of new commutation formula of the Punjab Government, increment for teachers holding post-graduation degrees and the removal of anomalies in pay fixation.

He said PAUTA had been instrumental in providing incentive increments for M.Tech and PhD teachers. Another notable achievement claimed by him was the awarding of the Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) to the veterinary faculty.

The Brar group has started their poll campaign with the slogan, “ Restore teachers’ dignity”.

Dr Brar said if voted to power, his group would fight for the annulment of the “draconian” rule to dispense with services of teachers on attaining the age of 50 years or after 25 years of service.

He said his group would work towards upholding the dignity of teachers as well as making PAUTA a strong body for the welfare of teachers. He further vowed to end victimisation of teachers. He said his group would make efforts to maintain status quo for departments merged during the past year.

The candidates are: Mr A.S. Joshi, from the Department of Economics, as president who is already heading the association. Opposing him is Dr R. S. Brar from the Department of Agronomy.

Various representatives with Mr Joshi’s group include Dr Amrik Singh Sohi (Entomology), who is vying for the post of vice-president.

Dr Joginder Singh Brar from the Department of Soils has filed his nomination for the post of secretary. Dr Harmeet Singh Kingra from the Department of Economics has sent his name for the post of joint secretary.

For the post of treasurer, from the same group, is Mr Jasbir Singh Deol from the Department of Agronomy.

Meanwhile, Dr Gurdev Singh Deol, Returning Officer, said all arrangements for the poll had been completed.

Course in dentistry organised
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
The Institute of Career Designing in Dentistry, Ludhiana (ICDD) held its sixth one-day certificate course on “cast partial dentures revisited”, here recently. The faculty of the course included a prosthodontist from Delhi, Dr Mahesh Verma, Principal, Dental College and Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. He was assisted in deliberations by Dr Laxman Rao, senior resident of the same college.

Dr Verma elaborated that the practice of cast (metal) partial dentures was at its low ebb in India. The main reason for practitioners not venturing in this field was the mindset of clinicians and the lack of knowledge regarding strategies to be followed.

Over 200 dental surgeons from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh were trained in the procedure. On the completion of the course, certificates were presented to the delegates on the behalf of the ICDD.

Dr Verma and Dr Rao were honoured by directors of the institute, Dr Bhagwant Singh, Dr J.S. Judge, Dr Gajinder Singh, Dr J.S. Kharbanda, Dr J.L. Joshi, Principal, Christian Dental College, and Dr J.R. Sofat, Principal, Guru Nanak Dev Dental College.

DMCH faculty wants insider as Principal
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
Resentment prevails among senior faculty members of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) over the proposed decision of the hospital management to bring in a new Principal from outside the college. The need for a new Principal has arisen following the resignation of Dr S.C.Ahuja.

At least 20 heads of departments, in a letter written to the president of the DMCH managing society, demanded that the Principal should be chosen from the faculty. The faculty members said it was shocking that the managing society did not consider even a single person capable of being the head of the institute.

It may be mentioned that Dr Ravi Inder Singh, who recently retired as Director, Research and Medical Education of the Punjab Government, is likely to succeed Dr Ahuja. It is leant that the management has asked Dr Ahuja to continue as Principal till August 31, when the admissions will be over.

Sapling plantation drive begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
The Gyan Yog Prachar and Dharmik Ekta Club with the support of Mr Prem Pal Kaushal, Principal and Mr Mulakh Raj Anand, Vice-Principal, respectively, of Arya Senior Secondary School, Brindaban Road, started a sapling plantation drive in the school here today.

The tree plantation function was attended by Ms Rekha, in charge school, guests and students. The chief guest, Ms Neelam Thapar, addressing the students’ said that to curb pollution in Ludhiana, every resident should plant as many trees as possible.

The samiti’s president, Mr Subash Sondhi, and president of the club, Mr Ajay Siddhu, appreciated the plantation drive started by the Municipal Commissioner and urged the people to keep Ludhiana green and clean. They also urged the corporation to provide plants free of cost to the NGOs that are working in the direction of curbing pollution.

School computer lab inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
A computer laboratory was inaugurated at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School in B.R.S. Nagar by the Principal, Sr Sobel. Rev Fr Davis, Director of the school, said this laboratory had provisions for regular and advanced learning.

Mr Sanjay Shroff of S.S. Hitech (India), whose team designed the laboratory, said the latest hyper- threading technology of Intel Incorporated had been used for the purpose.