The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Biotechnology added to science fair theme list
Deepkamal Kaur

The schedule

Raikot Bhagwan Mahavir Senior Sec School — Sept 24, 25

Jagraon Spring Dew Senior Sec Public School — Sept 28, 30

Payal Guru Nanak Model Senior Sec School, Doraha — Oct 8, 9

Samrala National Public Senior Sec School — Oct 15, 16

Khanna Government Girls Senior Secondary School — Oct 17, 18

Govt Model Senior Sec School, Dholewal — Oct 20, 21

Guru Nanak Khalsa High School, Model Town — Oct 22, 23

Ludhiana, September 10
Realising biotechnology as an upcoming field for science students, the subject has been introduced as one of the six sub-themes for the district science fair scheduled to begin from September 24 on “Science and technology in the changing world”.

Though earlier there used to be five sub-themes, comprising food and technology, energy, information technology, industry, and transport and communication, biotechnology has been a new addition this year. Also there would be three new categories in the competition.

The competition was earlier divided among students of secondary and senior secondary classes and all students from private, aided, government and recognised schools were considered equivalent. It was felt that some students from rural schools hesitated in participating due to tough competition faced from private and urban schools. To encourage students from rural schools, two new categories — rural secondary and rural senior secondary — have been introduced.

Also, since classes VI, VII and VIII have now gone to the elementary section, there would be a special category for upper primary competitors under the “elementary” category. Students from both rural as well as urban schools would compete under this category. As a result, there would be 15 categories in all — six secondary, six senior secondary, one rural secondary, one rural senior secondary and one elementary.

Like previous years, the science fair would be held in seven tehsils of the district. These are Raikot, Jagraon, Payal, Samrala, Khanna, Ludhiana East and Ludhiana West. Top two students from each tehsil would compete in the final district-level competition to be held at Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School for Boys on October 28, 29 and 30.

Only the winners of the district-level contest would be eligible for the state-level competition. Giving details, Mr Varinder Sharma, district science supervisor, said the tehsil-level science fairs would be arranged for two consecutive days. On the first day, each school would get the students registered for quiz, chart-making and model-making competition.

Competitions for quiz, extempore, teaching aid and chart making would be held on the first day. Topics for extempore and chart making would be given on the spot, while models could be prepared from home on any of the six sub-themes along with a one-page write-up, said Mr Sharma.

Teachers honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 10
The Sargodha Khalsa Board organised a special function to honour members of the staff of the four educational institutions run by it. Mr Surinder Kumar Dawar, MLA, was the chief guest at the awards ceremony. Councillor Sanjay Talwar and Mr Rakesh Prashar were the other guests of honour.

Teachers and students presented a cultural programme. Mr Surinder Kumar Dawar, chief guest, released “Illahi” magazine published by Sargodha National Public Senior Secondary School. Ms Kulwinder Kaur Minhas editor of the magazine was honoured by the management.

Mr Dawar in his address highlighted the role of teachers in making a better society. Mr Gian Singh proposed the vote of thanks. Dr K.K. Minhas conducted the proceedings.

IGNOU tele-conference from Sept 13
Our Correspondent

Doraha, September 10
Indira Gandhi National Open University will organise a tele-conference for as many as 1 lakh students on September 13 and 14. This information was given by Mr V.C. Pandey, Regional Director of IGNOU, today.

Mr Pandey said, “The tele-conference is going to be organised at five centres — Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana; Doaba College, Jalandhar; Panjab University, Chandigarh; Punjabi University, Patiala; and Regional Centre of IGNOU at Khanna. The Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU will address a total of one lakh students from 1000 centres”.

He said the students would be given information about new courses and new facilities being offered by the university. He requested more and more students to participate in this tele-conference to get the maximum benefit out of it.

The tele-conference will also be telecast on the first free T.V. Channel — ‘Gian Darshan’. Mr Pandey also asked the cable operators to relay it for the benefit of people in the state.

DAV students win painting contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 10
DAV Public School students made a clean sweep at the national painting competition, organised by the district branch of the Child Welfare Council, Ludhiana in RS Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here today. About 200 students from different schools participated in the competition. They were divided in different groups and a special group of physically challenged students also participated in the competition.

The results are as follows:

green group (five to eight years) — Milind (I), Arshiya Vohra (II), Mehar Whig (III) and Himanshu (consolation prize); white group (nine to 12 years) — Parag Jain (I), Priyanka (II), Chirag Kalra (III) and Deepika Phatak (consolation prize); and blue group 13 - 16 years — Arun (I), Gaurav (II), Tushar (III) and Summit Sharma (consolation prize); yellow group (for physically challenged) Gurpreet Singh (I), Sukhminder (II), Amandeep (III), and red group (for physically challenged. Rinki (I), Daljit Singh (II), Arun (III). Those who won prizes in the yellow and red groups were from the Deaf and Dumb School, Tagore Nagar.

The prizes were awarded by Ms Shewta Verma, wife of the Deputy Commissioner. Ms Manjit Kaur, Deputy DEO, Mr SP Malik, secretary, Red Cross Society, and Mr Mohan Lal Kalra, Principal, RS Model School, were also present on the occasion.

Fifteen students will participate in a division-level competition to be held in SAS Nagar on September 19.

COURTS

6-month term for doctor
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 10
A leading optician, Dr Sanjiv Aggarwal of M/s Aggarwal Optical’s Co., Clock Tower, has been convicted in a cheque-bounce case. He has been sentenced to six months imprisonment besides a fine of Rs 2,000.

The orders were pronounced by Ms Anshul Berry, Judicial Magistrate, in connection with the complaint of Sukhdev Raj Jain, under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The complaint was filed in the court in 1998.

The complainant had submitted that the accused had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh from him on 2 per cent interest with the promise to return the principal amount within six months. But he failed to pay the interest regularly, let alone return the loaned amount, added the complainant.

In order to discharge his legally enforceable liability, the accused issued a cheque dated August 27, 1997 for Rs 1 lakh from his bank account maintained in Bank of Baroda, Clock Tower branch. But when the cheque was presented to the bank for payment, it was dishonoured and returned back with remarks “insufficient funds”. A legal notice was served on the accused but he failed to make the payment, alleged the complainant. The accused pleaded not guilty and opted to defend the case. But he failed to produce any evidence in support of his contentions. The defence counsel argued that the cheque was lost and it was not filled by the accused, apart from raising other legal objections.

The court held that there was no evidence to support that the cheque was ever lost. So by simply stating that the cheque was lost did not prove the case of accused. Moreover, the accused had himself admitted in his statement recorded under Section 313 of the CrPC that he had taken a loan of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant and he had admitted his signatures on the cheque. Thus no question arose with regards to loss of cheque, observed Ms Berry.

Second court opened
Our Correspondent

Amloh, September 10
Mr Mohinder Paul, District and Sessions Judge, Fatehgarh Sahib, has inaugurated the second court in the Judicial Complex, according to Mr Harbans Singh Toor, president, Bar Association, to the mediapersons here today.

Keeping in view the workload in the court of Mr S.S. Panesar, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Amloh, the local Bar Association at the time of inspection of the local court on April 29 this year, had urged Mr Justice Jasbir Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to open a second court. Mr Toor further said the second court would work during the second and fourth weeks of the month at Amloh, and first and third weeks of the month at Fatehgarh Sahib.

Youth showcase talent at ‘Geet Gaata Chal’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 10
“Indian youth is blindly aping the West and getting hooked to fashion, thereby losing interest in academics. Not only this, the youth to meet their needs have also taken to petty crimes,” said Mr Prem Sagar Aggarwal, a social worker of the city. He was the chief guest at a function ‘Geet Gaata Chal’, organised by the Ek Koshish, an NGO, in Jamalpur yesterday.

Students should be involved in cultural programmes so that they do not turn to the West. The function started with patriotic song “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon”, followed by a dance performance by Mohika Bansal, Vinay and Manish.

Mahinder Singh, Chinoo, Mayur, Reena Joshi, D.K. Sachdeva, Babbar Khan, Ashish Nagpal, Jyoti Sharma, Reena Joshi and Kiran regaled the audience by singing Punjabi folk songs and old Hindi film numbers.

Through couplets, they highlighted social evils in society. The founder chairman of the NGO, Mr Inderbir Nanda, and the Deputy Chief Warden of Civil Defence, Mr H.S. Rana, were also present on the occasion.