Govt move on primary schools decried
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
A meeting of the convener of Primary/Elementary Sikhia Bachao Front, Punjab, comprising eight unions of government primary teachers was held at Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) Jawahar Nagar, on Sunday, in which Sarv Shri Piara Singh Dhillon, Pritpal Singh, Karan Raj Singh Gill, Kashmir Singh Khunda, Manjit Singh Virk, Mohinder Singh Heer, Baldev Krishan Moudgill, Manjit Singh Roopra, Karam Singh Sahava, Ramanjit Singh Sandhu, etc were present.

It was decided at the meeting that the government of Punjab be urged not to implement the Cabinet decision to hand over the control of primary schools to gram panchayats and decided to observe the day as ‘black day’ the day the decision is implemented.

It was also decided at the meeting to collect writ fund from pay teachers for the writ petition filed on September 2 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the notification of the Punjab Government issued on April 1, 2003, for the establishment of a Elementary Directorate in place of the Primary Education Directorate.

The meeting criticised the rules and norms for the 5th class examination to be held in February, 2003, in which the Punjab Government has decided to pass in all subjects obtaining a minimum of 33 per cent in each subject while in the 8th class examination the students have option in one subject. It was also decided to meet the DPI (SCERT) Punjab for this purpose. The meeting condemned the decision of the government to depute primary teachers for the revision of voters lists for the Lok Sabha poll and other non-educational works.

DMCH students play notes of harmony
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
The Communal Harmony Week being celebrated at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital concluded today with a colourful function presented by medical and nursing student of DMCH. The programme was organised under the aegis of the National Foundation of Communal Harmony (NFCH), New Delhi, to promote national integration among the youth.

The air was reverberating with notes of patriotic songs and walls were decorated with the colourful posters and slogans depicting inspiring thoughts about national integration.

The students participated in various competitions like poster making, slogan writing, choreography, group song, play and puppet show. Dr Daljit Singh, Principal of DMCH, delivered the welcome address.

The programme started with the group song, ‘Ae vatan tujhko meri kasam’ which was presented by the batch of 2003. B.Sc nursing students presented a melodious rendition of song ‘Jahan ho pyar ka mausam’. An impressive choreography on the destruction of the World Trade Center towers, depicting the horrors of terrorism was presented by nursing students and they bagged third prize for it. Another choreography presented by batch 2003 on Indo-Pak relations was also appreciated by the audience.

However, it was nursing students who stole the show by presenting a puppet show exposing the anti-social elements causing riots in Gujarat by triggering communal hatred in a planned manner.

Another attraction of the programme was a play ‘An oration on Communal Harmony by all religions’, by batch 2002, which bagged the second prize. The judges were Dr H.S. Pannu and Ms Sunila Gupta.

Mr Akram Khan, an artist of international repute, who had put up an exhibition of his works on women empowerment, as a part of the celebrations on the Old DMC campus was honoured.

The winners of various competitions were given prizes. The first, second and third positions in the poster competition were bagged by nursing students for their forceful depiction of concept of communal harmony through the medium of posters.

In the slogan writing contest, the first prize went to Sahir (batch 2002), second to Darsh (batch 2002) and consolation prize to Priyanka (batch 2003).

In the collage making competition, the first prize went to MBBS student Neena Dogra.

Chacha Raunki regales college audience
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
Once again stars descended on the stage of Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute on the college annual day function here last evening. This time the talented and aspiring young doctors of the college shared the stage with renowned artistes like Hakam Sufi, Chacha Raunki Ram and national awardee Master Hardeep. But the star attraction of the event was the presence of Padmashri Dr R.K. Bali, president, Dental Council of India, as the chief guest on the occasion. It was also the presence of about 500 NRIs from all over the world that added to the illustrious guest list.

The celebrations commenced with shabad presentation by college students followed by the lightening of traditional lamp by the Chairman, Baba Jaswant Singh, and Dr R.K. Bali.

Dr Bali congratulated the management, faculty and students of the college on being recognised by the council and reinstated his trust in the college authorities to maintain the same excellence in education and dental health care standards that had been exhibited so far. Mr Daljeet Singh Sagoo and Mr Tarsem Singh from England also extended their good wishes to the college. Baba Jaswant Singh felicitated all guests of honour.

The spirited performances by students were applauded by all. The traditional Sammi dance, solo songs, classical dance, young models sashaying down the ramp in gorgeous attires, spectacular giddha and bhangra presentations were also appealing.

The melodious rendering of all-time famous ‘chhala’ by Hakam Sufi regaled the audience and the hilarious jokes by Chacha Raunki Ram sent the audience in peels of laughter. The little Mahmood, Master Hardeep, was without doubt, one of the favourites.

Other dignitaries on the occasion were Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Chairman, Finance Commission, Mrs Pushpdeep Kaur, Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr Gurjit Singh Romana, DSP, Bibi Harjinder Kaur, Mr Tarlochan Singh, Mr Tarun Vashist, Brig J.S. Bedi and many other famous personalities.

FROM COLLEGES
NTT students take part in workshop
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
A seven-day workshop was organised in DD Jain College of Education for Nursery Teachers Training (NTT) students. It was sponsored by Camel under the guidance of Principal Dr Chander Mohini. She said this workshop would help the students develop their talent.

On the conclusion of the workshop today, an exhibition was held on the college premises. Mr S. P. Kalra, Principal, Jain Public School was the guest of honour. He encouraged the students to do more work on Indian art and culture. The first prize was given to Rehana, the second to Sapna and the third to Poonam.

AIDS Day: The NSS unit of Ramgarhia Girls College observed World Aids Day on December 3. Dr Neelam Sodhi, Head of the Department, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, addressed the NSS volunteers. She informed the students that AIDS is an incurable disease. It does not spread through contact like shaking hands, sharing clothes and meals. It spreads by using infected syringes, non-sterilised syringes, sexual contact with AIDS-infected persons by having multiple sexual partners and from an HIV +ve mother to her child. Prevention is the only cure in case of AIDS as no medicine has been invented for its cure.

The NSS in charge, Mrs Jasbir Puri, and Dr Jasbir Brar also shared their views with volunteers. An interactive session was also held in which students cleared their doubts.

PAU seeks payment of outstanding dues
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
The Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, has pressed upon the Punjab Government to pay the arrears worth Rs 21.70 crore to PAU at the earliest to meet the financial needs.

The Vice-Chancellor met the Chief Secretary, Punjab Government, Mr J.S. Gill, in Chandigarh on Tuesday and urged him the clear the arrears and other payments to PAU as it was faced with financial problems. Rs 21.70 crore pertain to the arrears of CPF and other dues to the staff of the university for the past three years.

Besides, the Vice-Chancellor also sought payment of Rs 5 crore which was due for the development of the Ladowal seed farm. The state government was committed to pay Rs 15 crore in lieu of the sugarcane research farm land at Jalandhar which has been given to the Punjab Institute of Medicine Research and Education. 

Students participate in quiz contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
Students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, participated in a quiz contest organised by Cremica Industries in association with Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here today.

The quiz had several rounds based on questions pertaining to health and hygiene. It was designed by doctors and dieticians. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group had students from classes V, VI and VII. The first prize in the group was won by the team of Jaskeerat, Sukhraj and Jasreman. The team of Ashish, Tarun and Richa was declared second.

In the senior group — with students from classes VIII, IX and X — the first prize was clinched by the team of Rajan, Shruti and Manbir. The second prize went to the team of Amit, Abhay and Gautam.

On the occasion, a lecture was delivered by Dr G.S. Wander, Chief Cardiac Consultant, Hero DMC Heart Institute. He advised the students to have green leafy vegetables in their diet and keep themselves fit by taking a balanced diet. He told them to take a note of all food items they consumed everyday and get it analysed from dieticians and experts in the field.