Fine arts events at Koshish-2003
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 23
Koshish-2003, a week-long cultural festival being organised at Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE), entered the third day today. The day was marked by competition for literary and fine arts events. In rangoli, 14 students, one from each class, turned 1 metre by 1 metre floor each into colourful carpets in two hours. The students adorned their works with diyas, coconut, hatris and petals. Monika, BCA (IInd year) bagged the first prize, Shameena, BBA (1st year) second and Ramandeep Kaur, BCA (1st year) third.

In clay modelling, there were 14 participants. They were to design a model of a labourer. In turncoat, topics were given to the participants just four minutes before their speech. Each participant spoke for two minutes. In pictography, each team comprised two participants. An object was given to one member of the team who had to describe the object to other member with the help of geometrical figures only.

In software development, the team of Karan and Samit of MCA (IInd year) stood first. Gagandeep and Gurdeep Mongia of MCA (final year) second, Pawan and Vivek MCA (first year) third. Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director, PCTE, congratulated all the participants.

Cultural fest draws poor response
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, September 23
Low participation from government, aided and affiliated schools marred the beginning of the district-level three-day cultural festival being organised by the Punjab School Education Board at seven schools here today.

There were just six participants each for the declamation and shabad singing contests from schools all over the district. Eight students participated in the painting contest, nine took part in the folk song competition and there were 10 participants each for calligraphy and fancy dress competitions. While the contests were to be held till 5 pm, some of these were over even before 11.30 am.

None of the over 80 government elementary school students participated in calligraphy, fancy dress, declamation, shabad singing and folk song contests. There was just one participant from Government Elementary School, Model Gram, for the painting contest that was held in the adjoining Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar.

In the calligraphy competition held at Guru Nanak Khalsa High School, the 10 participants were told to write a stanza in Punjabi. The first, second and thirds prizes went to Om Parkash from Dashmesh Model Senior Secondary School, Simranjot Kaur from Kirpa Nidhan Senior Secondary School, Threekey, and Simranjit Kaur from Hindi Putri Pathshala, Khanna, respectively. The judgement was made by Ms Kanwaljit Kaur from Guru Nanak Khalsa High School, Mr Balram Sharma from Government High School, Daheru, and Mr Jagtar Singh from Government Senior Secondary School, Jhorran.

In the fancy dress contest held in the same school, the first, second and third prizes went to Manjat Singh from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Harjinder from Guru Nanak Public School, Bassian, and Maninder from Dashmesh Public Senior Secondary School, respectively. Ms Taranjit and Ms Paramjit, both teachers from Ramgarhia Co-educational High School, Partap Nagar, were the judges.

Poonampreet from Mahant Laxman Dass High School, Talwandi Kalan, Jagpreet from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School and Navpreet from Guru Nanak Public High School, Bassian, won first, second and third prizes, respectively, in the painting contest held at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar. The judges were Mr Jaspreet Mohan Singh, Ms Manjit Kaur and Ms Jagjeevanpreet Kaur. In the declamation contest held at the same venue, Pooja Rani from Lal Bahadur Shastri School, Laxmi Devi from Ramgarhia Elementary School and Nancy from DAV Model School got first, second and third prizes, respectively.

In the shabad singing contest at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School at Dugri, the team from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, made it to the top. The team from Guru Ram Dass School, Halwara, stood second and RS Model Senior Secondary School students got the third prize. In the folk song contest held at the same venue, Jasmeen Akhtar from Guru Nanak Khalsa High School bagged the first prize, Chetna from RS Model Senior Secondary School was declared second and Rohit from DAV Model School, Khanna, was declared third.

FROM COLLEGES
Lecture on trends in Indian democracy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 23
The Political Science Association of Guru Hargobind Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, organised an extension lecture on ‘Emerging trends in Indian democracy’ here today. Dr Prithipal Singh Sohi, an eminent political scientist, was the resource person and read out his research paper on the subject. Dr J.S. Cheema, Principal, presided over the function. Prof G.S. Mastana, Head of the Department, welcomed the resource persons. Prof Bawa Singh, former vice chairman, National Commission for Minorities, presented the vote of thanks.

PCCTU rally: Protesting against the apathetic the attitude of the Punjab Government towards their demands, the Ludhiana Council of Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) will hold a protest march at Chandigarh on September 25.

The rally would begin in front of the office of DPI (colleges) and will proceed towards Matka Chowk. The demands of the teachers include 95 per cent grant-in-aid, pension and gratuity, pay parity to DPEs and librarians, bringing uncovered posts under the grant-in-aid scheme, rural area allowance to teachers working in villages and implementation of CAS scheme from January 1996 onwards.

Prof Parminder Singh, district president, Prof A.N. Sharma, district secretary, Prof A.N. Sharma, PU area secretary and other executive members flayed the government for backtracking from its poll promises. They said the government was running away from its responsibility of higher education, essential to any progress in the society.

The association of principals of non-government colleges affiliated to Panjab University has supported the PCCTU members in their decision to go on a mass casual leave on September 25 and holding a protest rally at Chandigarh.

The association, represented by Principal BD Budhiraja, general secretary, has also demanded that more colleges should be covered under the grant-in-aid scheme.

Sapling plantation: The Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha organised a sapling plantation drive at Government Polytechnic for Women here today.

Ms Harvinder Kaur Toor, Principal, inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling.She talked about the rising level of pollution and need to keep the environment green .Dr Rajinder Pal Aulakh, member of the jatha, spoke on the increasing level of carbon dioxide, rising temperature on earth and rising sea level. He said that one third of land should be covered with trees, while forest cover in Punjab was just eight per cent.

Prof S.P.Singh, lecturer in the college, told all girl students to plant one tree on their birthdays. Saplings of over 100 trees were planted today on the campus.