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PU panel rejects alternatives to pension scheme Chandigarh, April 12 The committee recommended that PU must implement a pension scheme as was available to employees of other universities of the region and the country. Members even volunteered to give their estimates about the amount which would be required for the implementation of a pension scheme on the campus, claiming that the earlier estimates, available with the university authorities, were misleading. The eight-member committee, headed by Prof P.P. Arya, said the alternatives to the pension scheme, the PF-linked pension scheme and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) scheme, were not acceptable to them since the returns from these were meagre. The committee was unanimous on the issue that without the provision for a pension scheme, seen as the biggest social security, it would be difficult for the university authorities to attract and retain talent. It was in favour of getting revised estimates of funds needed to implement the scheme. The members were of the opinion that the amount of Rs 540 lakh, as quoted by one of the estimates, was exaggerated and that the university would require much less than what was presented to the authorities. The members claimed that with the rate of interest in banks coming down, the pension scheme had become a necessity. The non-cooperative attitude of the Punjab Government in extending support to the university for implementing the pension scheme also came in for criticism. The Vice-Chancellor had formed the committee last month to consider alternatives to the pension scheme. The two schemes shortlisted for the purpose included the LIC scheme and the PF-linked pension scheme. While the LIC scheme would require a deposit of Rs 2.66 lakh to be made by the employee for availing himself of a pension, the PF-linked scheme, as per calculations of the employees, would prove to be a losing proposition. The committee was told that under the LIC scheme, Panjab University had expressed its willingness to shoulder responsibility by paying a major chunk of the Rs 2.66 lakh to be invested. |
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Power cut at PU annoys students Chandigarh, April 12 With the postgraduate examination having begun today, students had to make do without power supply for nearly one-and-a-half hours late on account of a snag in the Sector 16 supply station. Forced to study under candlelight some of the hostelers went to the university library. But there also power supply had failed. Finally, led by the president of the Panjab University Students’ Union, Rajwinder Singh Lucky, a delegation of students met the Dean, Student Welfare, asking him to get the electricity supply restored at the earliest. He was apprised of the fact that there was no electricity even in the library fitted with inverters. When contacted, the DSW, Dr Nirmal Singh, said power supply was restored before he could get in touch with the officials of the Electricity Department. However, he expressed surprise over the fact that the generator, given to the library last year, was not put to use. Meanwhile, the postgraduate examinations of Panjab University got underway, here today. An unfair means case (UMC) was also registered by the Examination Branch against a candidate appearing for the B Com II examination at Arts Block I of the university. He was caught by the flying squad, according to sources. The Controller of Examination, Dr Sodhi Ram, was not available for comment. |
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Tiny tots on a mission Panchkula, April 12 Carrying banners and shouting slogans for the protection of
environment, the students of KG appealed to shopkeepers of Sectors 15 and 16 markets to avoid the use of polythene bags and use paper bags. The students also handed over to the shopkeepers bundles of paper bags prepared by them at the school, a press note added.
Celebrations at
Gian Jyoti Mohali:
Weeklong celebrations started today at Gian Jyoti Public School here to mark 30 years of its establishment. Students were shown an entertaining action movie, “Who Am I” in the school auditorium today. On April 15, a movie will be shown to students of junior classes and a declamation contest will be organised to mark the occasion. A Gian Jyoti Old Students Association would be set up the same day. A website will be launched for the alumini association of Gian Jyoti. On April 16, the students will be taken for the press visit and on April 17, the science club will be conduct a workshop. |
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M Sc (bio-informatics)
at Sec 32 college Chandigarh April 12 Dr A.C.Vaid, Principal of the college, said a few colleges affiliated with Panjab University had been offered the course by the UGC. The UGC launched the scheme to accommodate brilliant ideas and innovative proposals. He said the commission would cover expenditure incurred for two lecturers to run the course. |
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Festivities at
Rainbow school Chandigarh, April 12 |
Sex today’s mantra for films, says director “Mystery — Shaque”, a murder thriller, is yet to see the light of the day, but it has managed to kick up some dust. First it was Janki Shah, one of the two leading actresses of the film, filing a defamation suit against producer-director Vinod Chhabra saying she was forced into doing a topless scene, followed by the Censor Board’s objection to its abusive language and a kissing scene. “There are two things that sell in the film industry — Shahrukh Khan and sex,” says Vinod Chhabra, who was in town to release the music album of the film. Since the cast comprises all new faces — Aarti Puri, Janki Shah and Dhananjay Chauhan and no Shahrukh Khan —the film seems to be banking on the second ingredient for its success. “There is sex in ‘Shaque’, but I have not letdown my culture or Indian womanhood,” says Chhabra, who plans to go to the tribunal to get the Censor clarification. “Which film these days is without such scenes and our younger generation, that is fed on HBO, Star World and Fashion TV, has already matured in the subject,” says Chhabra, citing the example of recently released “Khawaish” and “Murder”. “The Censor Board is partial to big names. Anupam Kher, who heads the board, thought of nothing when he gave an ‘A’ certificate to ‘Murder’, which has more than 50 kissing scenes, and others like “Boom” and “Khaki”, which uses nothing but abusive languages,” he says. As for Janki’s case, the director says the actress who co-operated willingly suddenly did a volte-face after the shooting was completed. Chhabra who has films like “Paapi Gudiya”, “Meena Bazar”, “Zimmedar”, “Mera Karam Mera Dharam” and Malayalee film “Agni Salabangal” to his credit says it was his penchant for offbeat subjects that prompted him to pick the the theme of a college murder for his movie. “The film is an entertainer that has the capacity to tease one’s brain into solving the mystery. Besides, the fresh faces and the treatment of the subject have made the film interesting,” says the producer director. The film introduces Dhananjay Chauhan, a former merchant navy officer, as its lead hero, and Aarti Puri and Janki Shah as leading actresses. A familiar face on the small screen, Divya Sharma, will also portray a significant role in the film. Aarti, who has acted in a number of Punjabi pop albums for singers like Surjit Bindrakhia, has no objection to either the steamy scenes or scanty outfits the heroines of the films are made to adorn. “Films mirror social trends and if youngsters of today are bold enough to sport such outfits or come to terms with their sexuality, we are just portraying that in reel,” she says. The unit of the film came to the city to take part in a cassette release function at the Chandigarh Press Club. Mr Naresh Batra, owner of Batra theatre, released the album.
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Arpan is here with a cause It is a sale with a difference. Here, buying and selling is not just about money exchanging hands for commercial gains but a step towards the uplift of society. Bringing in the concept of selling of dispensable items collected from all classes of society to benefit slum children in the city, Arpan, a social organisation, will organise a three-day sale festival at Lajpat Rai Bhavan starting April 23. Something like a “curiocity shop”, the sale offers something for everyone right from classy artefacts to utility items. “We are collecting items from all strata of society, including valuable paintings and furniture, which people can afford to give away for a cause,” says Ms Malabika Sen, spokesperson for Arpan. The collection of items will be formally launched on April 14 at the venue from 11 am to 1 pm. “Arpan is all about giving time, energy and resources for the have-nots — primarily children living in slums, but not excluding parents who are the real caretakers of the children. Arpan aims at providing guidance and resources to the adult population of the slums so as to help children get basic education and motivation to succeed in life,” says Ms Sen. However, benefits from this project seem to flow both ways — towards the beneficiaries as well as the benefactors. “Arpan is not just about helping slum dwellers to lead a dignified life but also providing a platform for the socially conscious mass who wish to give back something to society but are without clue as to how to go about it,” says Ms Navneet Sekhon, another volunteer. Arpan, started in Bhopal about two years back, will be operative in the city starting with this sale. “We have already identified our operational area in the city and during this starting phase we will focus on getting the school dropouts and also those who are being educated by informal schools, already operative in the area, back to mainstream education,” says Ms Sen. While the proceeds will go towards the salary of teachers engaged in the cause, volunteers of Arpan will keep a close eye on the progress of the project. “Success of this project depends on not just money but involvement of people who believe in bonding between the haves and have-nots for a better tomorrow,” says another volunteer. One need not be a hard core social activist to become part of the organisation. “Anyone and everyone can be a volunteer of Arpan who can work in any or every step of the projects undertaken up by the organisation — right from spreading the word to manning of shops during the sale to educating slum children,” says Ms Sen. “This is the reason why we call ourselves ‘a social organisation by socially conscious citizens’,” she adds. Interested persons can contact at 2660957, 2657247 or 2623670.
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Aiming to make it big
on big screen
SHE’s young, she’s beautiful, she’s intelligent, and she’s made it! A girl with a magnetic personality, City Beautiful damsel Jonita Doda is all set to be a part of Bollywood. A Chandigarhian on the big screen? Dreams do come true, it seems. Aiming for the sky, Jonita has recently completed shooting for her debut full-length film ‘Dil Bechara Pyar Ka Mara’. Back home for a brief rest, Jonita exudes confidence that her work will not go unnoticed. A humble but straightforward person, this lass with deadly looks is looking forward to her tryst with destiny. Having a truly professional approach to work, Jonita chooses a project only after studying the script thoroughly. Narrating an incident related to her devotion to work, she recalls that she once sprained her back muscle while shooting and instead of causing inconvenience to the rest of the crew by resting, chose to carry on and shot for four days, using pain-killing tablets and sprays. It is not that Jonita has faced the camera for the first time. She has acted in serials ‘X-Zone’ and ‘Mission Fateh’ and has appeared in ‘Daldal’, which aims at AIDS awareness. She has been honoured by the Progressive Indo-Canadian Society and the DN Academy Ltd for her performance in ‘Guldasta’, an Indo-Canadian production. Winner of the Miss Himachal title in 1998, she has done fashion choreography and has been seen in television commercials. Besides introducing model Aman Sondhi on the big screen, ‘Dil Bechara Pyar Ka Mara’ features Rajpal Yadav and Shehzad Khan. It has melodious tunes by Nikhil-Vinay. A situational comedy, the film is likely to be ready for a July release. Post-production tasks like dubbing and editing are currently being carried out. Its promos show that the film holds promise. But then, till D-day arrives, fingers crossed, Jonita works on to turn her dream into reality.
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The ‘chosen one’ of glamour world She is a new kid on the block. Or rather a new woman on the ramp. And she is out to take the glamour world by storm. Winning the Gladrags Mega model Runners-Up title in Mumbai earlier this month has not only been her grand entry but also proved that Delhi girl Amanpreet Wahi has a long innings in the modelling arena. She charms you with her chutzpah and spontaneity, as she answers questions about her career, her entry into the fashion world, and says she is now looking forward to making her mark at the Miss Tourism Contest to be held in Malaysia, later this year. We got up close and personal with Amanpreet, while she was in town to participate in a fashion show organised to celebrate Baisakhi today. I am the chosen one, she says. “During the talent hunt for Gladrags Mega Model show, Ms Maureen Wadia, Managing Editor of Gladrags Magazine, was impressed with me and selected me for the finals. It felt great, and I was confident about myself, but winning the title was a dream come true,” she says. Her perfectly chiseled face, golden tanned skin and well-toned body speak volumes of why she had an edge on others at the mega model contest, and won the Ms Photogenic title. Now, she is all set to dazzle the ramp at the Lakme India Fashion Week to be held later this month. “Gladrags Mega Model show is based more on your skills as a model; body language, looks, how you carry yourself — that is important. In other shows, like Femina Miss India, they also try to judge your grey matter. I chose to try my luck at this show first, and now I am getting ready for the kill at Ms Tourism Show and next year for the Femina Miss India,” she says. And Amanpreet’s not all body minus brains. An English Honours student from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, she says she took to the ramp after college and did several shows with top-of-the-line fashion houses, before she tried her luck at the Mega Model show. So will Bollywood be a natural progression? “No”, she laughs, as she says she has already done a Hinglish film, “Enjoy”, being produced by Javed Jaffrey, and acted a “good vamp” in popular detective serial “Krishna Arjun”. In “Enjoy”, to be released later this year, Amanpreet plays a model. “Acting is something I have tried my hand at, but realised that it is very difficult. It’s not that I cannot act, I have done theatre in college, but at the moment, I will concentrate only on my modelling assignments,” she adds. Amanpreet will now feature in a Bombay Dyeing commercial, besides loads of other commercials. She says she plans to shift base to Mumbai for furthering her modeling career.
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City youngsters go for Korean gems Monica Sharma Making herself comfortable on the driver’s seat, she adds, “I was looking for something like this for so many days to go along with my black dress. I am so happy for myself”. Well, the student — Tarunima of Sector 43 — is not the only one to be enchanted by “glitter of the Korean gems”. So many youngsters in the city are going in for the them. “You may find it hard to believe, but every day we are selling at least seven to eight ornaments carved out of gems”, says Ms Raman of a Sector 11 chunk jewellery shop. The demand, she adds, is increasing day by day with more and more youngsters witnessing the magic of gems dangling from the ears of their friends. The reason behind their popularity, she reveals, is not hard to see. “The gems sparkle like the dew in the mornings and evenings,” Ms Raman says. “They are also light weight and are available in different designs and sizes to suit all. They are not gaudy and are just like the original ones, even better”. You can also wear the gems as pendants around your neck for parties. As they reflect the hue of your attire, they go along with just any dress of your choice. Unlike the real gems, Korean gems are inexpensive .”An earring is costing anywhere between Rs 400 and Rs 1,500. So you can buy it straight out of your pocket money without saving much,” Ms Raman claims. The gems, she concludes, come to Chandigarh, via Mumbai. They are considered much better than American diamonds because their glitter dazzles the onlookers. No doubt about it”.
OC Designer’s
exhibition begins Delhi-based designer Bugli Singh has come to town with an exhibition of her exquisitely painted and embellished suit pieces and sarees. The designer, who holds a regular exhibition in Chandigarh, has brought out a wide range of unstitched hand-painted suits and sarees. Georgettes, cottons and chiffons in pastel colours have been carefully painted in bright colours, and are juxtaposed with sequins and swarovski. The USP of Bugli’s designs is that she has used dyes for painting the fabric. The exhibition began at a hotel in Sector 22 today and will be on till Tuesday.
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Vocalist defines ragas Celebrated classical vocalist Prof Ajit Singh Paintal, who learnt the intricacies of Agra Gharana and Indore Gharana from Pt S.N. Ratnjamkar and Ustad Amir Khan, performed at Pracheen Kala Kendra in Sector 35 yesterday. The performance was part of the 87th monthly Baithak Programme of the kendra. Prof Paintal has the distinction of being the first Ph. D holder in music from Delhi University in 1972. Prof Paintal started the recital with the rendition of a khayal in Raga Yaman. His Vilambit khayal composition, “Palkan se mug jharo”, was set to jhumra taal followed by by a Drut bandish, “Aiso sughar sundarwa balamwa” — in teen taal. Making the programme interactive, Dr Paintal in between his recitation explained the beauty of the raga and its characteristics. Giving a romantic touch to the programme, he presented a Punjabi khayal, “Mainde re yaar aawin miyan”, in Raga Hamir. An authority of Sikh devotional music, Prof Paintal concluded his recital with Guru Teg Bahadur’s Shabad “Sandho rachna Ram
nanayi”. OC |
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