260 PEC students get placements
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5
During the academic year 2003-2004, 63 reputed companies visited Punjab Engineering College for campus interviews. Disclosing this, a spokesman for the college said the placement cell was able to provide jobs to 260 students of the final year.

Almost all eligible students had been placed.

The spokesman said companies which visited the campus included Infosys, TCS, Maruti Udyog, L&T, HCL Tech, HUGHES Software, Motorola, SASKEN, ST Microelectronics, Cognizant, IBM, Quark and Indus Logic Industry. A number of ME students were also well-placed.

Emphasis was now being laid on streamlining industrial training of students. As many as 399 companies had been approached for the purpose and various industries had already allocated 273 seats for short-term training of students, said the spokesman.

The number of final-year students qualifying for the Indian Institutes of Management had also increased.

Clarify arrears withdrawal, CAT tells Education Dept
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has directed the Chandigarh Education Department to clarify why it illegally withdrew the arrears paid to teachers working as work experience instructors in local government schools.

Amounting to Rs 80 lakh, the arrears were paid to the teachers under the revised payscales as per the provisions of the fifth Central Pay Commission on CAT orders. After paying the arrears the heads of the schools were asked to withdraw the money from the salaries of the teachers.

On the basis of a complaint lodged in the form of an affidavit the tribunal has observed that the Education Department had violated own statement of disbursing the amount to the employees which not only violated the tribunal order but showed that the statements made before the tribunal were false and not intended to be acted upon.

Earlier, the department has passed the orders after the teachers, who had opted for the Central pay scales, had gone to CAT last year against the Administration for not fully implementing the revised pay scales.

Arrears and allowances were paid to around 80 teachers at 9 per cent interest per annum, sources in the Education Department said.

The revised pay scales are Rs 5500-9000 (entry grade), Rs 6500-10,500 (senior scale) and Rs 7500-12,000 (selection grade) with effect from January 1, 1996. The beneficiaries would be teachers working as work experience instructors, drawing teachers, librarians and table instructors, said a member of the Experience Instructors Association.

Hundreds take Maths Olympiad test
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5
Around 500 students from schools in Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh appeared in the written examination of Maths Olympiad conducted at the regional level by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at DAV Public School, Sector 8, here today.

At another centre in Jalandhar, covering schools in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 344 students appeared. From each school, five students of Classes X and XII were allowed to appear.

An official of the CBSE said five students from each school were allowed to sit in the subjective-type written examination. The test was held across the country at the regional levels and top 20 students from each region would be able to contest for the national-level Maths Olympiad. Those who qualify at the national level would get entry to the international-level Maths Olympiad.

Singapore Airlines scholarship for 8
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5
Eight students from the city have won the Singapore Airlines scholarship, which entitles them to pursue a two-year pre-university course in a junior college in Singapore.

Most of these students have made up their mind to pursue pre-university education in Singapore and try for a job in the USA. Talking to The Tribune, the they said it was not easy to clear the examination, consisting of 60 aptitude questions and 22 descriptive maths questions, followed by a grilling interview.

In 2001, seven students from the city, mostly toppers in the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) had bagged the scholarship. This year, the number of seats was 60 and over 2,000 students took the test. The pre-requisite for sitting in the scholarship test was at least 85 per cent marks in Class X.

One of the successful candidates, Shimul Sachdeva, said she wanted to avail the scholarship but was confused. Studying at Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, she said the medical stream offered fewer opportunities in Singapore as compared to engineering.

On the other hand, Japess Singh, is all packed to pursue pre-university education in Singapore. “ It is a God-sent opportunity for me and I want to make full use of the chance”. Another candidate, Shruti Reddy, is looking forward to join studies at Singapore and move to the USA for higher education.

Ankita Gupta sees this opportunity as the door to higher education in the USA. 

Dance events held on annual day
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, December 5
Students of Sunny Public School, Dhakoli, Zirakpur, participated in various cultural events organised to mark the annual day of the institute here today. The enthusiastic students participated in various events like dances (classic and Western) besides staging plays and skits.

Mr Narinder Sharma, president of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat, who was the chief guest inaugurated the function.

Ms Archna, school Principal, read out the annual report and highlighted the achievements. 

Kiddies Bollywood in Panchkula
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, December 5
STYL Studio organised Kiddies Bollywood show here today. The technical inputs were provided by L’oreal professionals. Vijay Tandon, a Punjabi actor, producer and director, was the chief guest of the show.

The competition was held under three categories: Tweeties (3 — 5 year), Pokemons (6-8 years) and GI Joes (9-12 years).

In the Tweeties category, Tanish won the first prize, followed by Vijay and Divya; in the Pokemon category, Govind and Lakshya won prizes; and in the GI Joes category, Surbhi and Aprajita were the winners.

The results of the painting competition were: Nikita Garg (first), Isha Srivastava (second) and Rishabh (third). The photogenic face award went to Raveena Kakkar.

The first prize consisted of a gold chain. The organisers said the event was an effort in the direction to encourage and promote interests of young kids.

LIFESTYLE

Regional models add ‘Glamour and More’
Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 5
Upcoming models from the region participated in a fashion show “Glamour and More-2004” organised by Ramp World at the Mohali Club, Phase XI, here this evening. The show was choreographed by Mr Manoj Sharma and anchored by Mr Rajesh Ahuja and Ms Rashme. The models showcased a wide variety of clothes ranging from Indian ethnic style to western style.

Shervanis, kurtas, saris and lehngas were showcased by the models in the first round. Starting a new trend of story-based rounds, the models in the second round were dressed up like brides. Black was the colour of this round. In round three male models showcased clothes with photographs of the women of their choice. The show ended with models presenting western evening dresses with women dressed in evening gowns and men in suits.

The male models who participated in the event included Yogesh from Jammu, Divakar from New Delhi, Bobby from Moga, Raj from Karnal, Gurjeet and Tarun, both from Chandigarh, Sumeet from Patiala, Rikki from Hoshiarpur and Rikki Tur from Mohali. The female models included Navdeep from Abohar, Nisha from Yamunanagar, Reetika from Shimla, Jagjit from Gurdaspur, Priyanka from Panipat, Upasna and Jeeya, both from Ludhiana, and Chirag and Poonam, both from Chandigarh.

Anamika weaves magic
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 5
Popular pop singer Anamika today rocked Chandigarhians on melodic numbers. She performed at the Symphony inter-college competition held at the Leisure Valley, Sector 10, here today.

Though the audience had to wait for two hours for the performance to begin, as soon as she came on the stage, she didn’t take much time to weave her magic on the young-at-heart spirits.

Beginning with the heart-warming “Disco deewane” along with her dance troupe, she made all-out efforts to reach out to the audience. Wanting to get carried away, they responded whole-heartedly. This made the show very lively.

Further, building the momentum for a disco spirit, she called upon the audience to participate with her more vigorously. Then followed ‘It is the time for disco’. A visibly charged crowd lapped it up.

Being in the city also implied responding to the Punjabi craving. Then followed the foot-tapping Punjabi songs ‘Kala shah kala’, ‘Mere roop da paya lashkara’, ‘Keinde sab kamaal ho gaya,’ ‘Pichhe pichhe aanda meri chaal venda aanyin’. Then, of course, she sang her famous song ‘Kahin karta hoga woh mera intezaar’ for the rocking crowd. It was certainly a memorable night for the crowd today. 

Just 11 and creating works of art from waste

Age holds no bar to master an art and Vishali Jaidka, a Class VI student of Gurukul, Sector 20, Panchkula, has proved it. At the tender age of 11 years, Vishali has carved out a niche for herself. As she escorts you to the large room of her Sector 4 home in Panchkula, where her creative items lie in cheek-by-jowl, this little lass exudes oodles of confidence.

She picks anything that is lying abandoned or is trash — like empty sticks, thermocol, polythene bags, discarded greetings cards — and converts them into a dazzling range of creative pieces of art. She talks about her creations confidently.

Her murals, wall hangings, paper flowers, photo-frame, lantern, tubewell, exotic henna patterns, attractive gift boxes bear the stamp of her creativity.

She has dabbled into clay modelling also. Her images of ladyfinger, bathroom chappals, fish, mouse and other reptiles are eye catchy.

Vishali’s desert scene takes you on a nostalgic trip to the golden land of sand.

Vishali, who has earned accolades for her creativity, is equally good in studies too. She is a star performer at the school music and dance competitions. “For me both studies and art are synonymous to each other”, she fires a one-liner when quizzed that of the two passions what will she choose. OC