Ludhiana, January 12
The students of Gupta Model High School, Club road, celebrated the festival of Lohri here today.

Ludhiana, January 12
The District Education Development Committee (DEDC) and the District Education Office (Elementary and Secondary) in collaboration with the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) will hold tehsilwise assessment camps for identifying children with special needs (CWSN) units under the Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan (SSA) from January 27 to February 3.

According to Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of the DEDC, under the policy of zero rejection, the SSA will provide assistive devices and learning aids from places to all CWSN so that they can become more self-reliant and receive relevant elementary education in an appropriate environment. All children between 3-14, whether going to school or out of school, should come to the camps.

At the camps, an experts team from ALIMCO will accompany a team of doctors. The doctors will recommend the type of assistance required and the ALIMCO team will take the necessary measurements and other details for manufacturing artificial limbs, wherever required. All children with disabilities, irrespective of their income will be provided assistive devices free by the SSA.

The following is the schedule for holding the camps: Jagraon tehsil (GSS Jagroan (Boys) — January 27 ; Khanna — (GSS Khanna (Girls) — January 28; Ludhiana-East (GSS Jandiali (Co-educational) — January 31, Ludhiana-West (GSS Bharat Nagar (Girls) — January 29; Payal (GSS Payal (Boys) — February 1; Raikot (GSS Raikot (Boys) — February 2 and Samrala (GSS Samrala (Girls) — February 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In case of any difficulty, parents can contact Mr Pardeep Kapoor, Instructor, Inclusive Education for Disabled, at 93169-18499.

Ludhiana, January 12
The Ludhiana chapter of Swami Vivekanand Study Circle today celebrated the National Youth Day at the Arya College for Boys in which 16 students from different colleges of Ludhiana, Dasuha, Nawanshahr, Khanna, Abohar, Chandigarh and Jalandhar were honoured with the “Role Model Award” on the basis of their academic performance, qualities, moral values, self-confidence and sincerity etc.

In his address, Mr A.K.Jain, general secretary of the circle said the day was celebrated as the National Youth Day all over the country. He said Swami Vivekanand was a lover of mankind, who promoted peace and brotherhood. He said the students must follow Swamiji’s motto-”arise, awake and stop not: till the goal is achieved”.

The chief guest on the occasion was Mr C. S. Talwar, Executive Director, Punjab Finance Corporation for Backward Classes and Minorities.

Ludhiana, January 12
Lohri was celebrated at Ramgarhia Girls College, Miller Ganj, in a unique way. As a mark of tribute to the thousands of people, who had lost their lives in the recent tsunami disaster, Sukhamni Sahib path was organised in the college.

On this occasion, Principal Harmit Kaur said Lohri was an occasion of gaiety and celebrations but as a mark of sympathy for the dead and the homeless, this year’s celebrations needed to be toned down.

Ludhiana, January 12
Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, celebrated Lohri here today with fun and frolic. The president of the Guru Nanak Education Trust, Mr Gurbir Singh, presided over the function. The Principal, Dr Charanjit Mahal, congratulated the staff and students on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that Lohri was an extremely auspicious day, which marked the culmination of winter and was a symbol of fertility. She also stressed that we should initiate Lohri for a girl child.

A cultural programme comprising Gidda, mimicry, folk songs, dances and other interesting items was organised. The focus of the Lohri was on bonfire. Students sang ‘Sundar mundariye, tera kaun bechara. Sweets, groundnuts, gur and popcorns were distributed. Clothes were distributed to Class IV employees. Dr Surjit Singh Mahal, Mrs Devinder Kaur Grewal, Mr Harmeet Singh, Mrs Rana Parneet, Mrs Gurjeet Kaur, Mr Tejinder Singh, Mrs Jyoti Grewal and Mrs Gurmal Kaur were the guests on the occasion.

Ludhiana, January 12
At the tender age of five, when children of his age spend time playing and watching cartoons on the television, Deepak Dildar writes and practices bhajans and sufiana kalam.

A student of class I at Master Tara Singh Public School, Deepak has showcased his talent at more than 25 jagrans.

His father Gopal Das, a resident of Kila Mohalla, said he was not aware of his child’s hidden talent. But a few months back, Deepak demanded a red-coloured suit for himself and told the shopkeeper that he wanted to wear the dress to sing devotional songs.

The shopkeeper asked him to sing one such bhajan and the father was surprised to hear his son singing so well.

Interesting part is that he writes bhajans in English and then sings them in Punjabi.

He has written more than 50 bhajans in his notebook. People call him Bhagat jee. “I can not write Punjabi.

I sing only devotional songs and sufiana kalam. I am an ardent fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali, Munir Sen, Reshma and Parvez Mehandi”, said Deepak.

“Before leaving for school, Dildar gets up early in the morning to practice.

It is his routine and we have never heard him singing any Hindi film number. So far, he has not taken any formal training in singing.

But seeing his passion for singing, we have decided to provide him proper training. Training would definitely polish his singing skills”, said his father.

Some social activists have come forward to make a video of devotional songs of Dildar.

The shooting of some of the bhajans has already been done at Chintpurni and Jwalaji, said Mr Gopal Das. The video album will have 12 bhajans.