EDUCATION

Run pvt schools in spirit of service, says minister
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 23
Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar has asserted that privately-managed schools will not be allowed to run schools as purely commercial establishments to exploit people and they will have to provide proper buildings, sufficient infrastructure and well-paid trained teachers to ensure quality education for the students.

He said the schools would also have to charge affordable fees from the students belonging to the weaker sections of the society.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating Sacred Dale Public School in Daba Colony here today.

The minister said the managements of the private schools should run the schools with the spirit of service to the society as imparting education was considered as a noble cause.

He said with fast induction of the computerised information technology at all levels, the whole world had shrunken to a small village and every student sitting in any part of the world had the access to the unending knowledge available on the Internet.

Mr Johar said that there was a fierce competition to acquire jobs at the international level but with outstanding excellence, the students had a broad scope for jobs.

He informed the state government had taken concrete steps to enhance the quality of education in government schools and funds had been raised to provide sufficient rooms in all schools.

He said that to improve the standard of sports activities in the schools, funds amounting to Rs 2 crore had already been released from the new session.

Yoga and gymnastic training would be made compulsory in all government schools in the state and the present physical teachers would be given extra training to further impart the training in the schools.

He further informed that the Punjab government had chalked out a comprehensive plan to tap talented sports children in the schools from the primary level and comprehensive training would be provided to them with a view to producing players of the national and international levels.

The minister exhorted the teachers to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and moral values among the students and ensure the proper development of extra curricular activities among the students along with the routine education so that their allround personalities could be properly sharpened.

He also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the education of poor students in the school.

Mr Malkiat Singh, MLA, and former minister, while speaking on the occasion, appreciated the initiative of Mr Mohinder Singh Chheehn for setting up a new school to provide quality education at affordable rates to the students of the middle class families.

Others present on the occasion included Mr Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Mr Palwinder Singh Taggar (both Councillors), Mr Amarjit Singh Dhamotia, Mr Jagdish Marwaha and Mr Balbir Singh. 

School organises prize distribution function
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
The Rashtriya Bal Vidya Mandir organised an annual prize distribution function in the school premises here today. The function started with saraswati vandana wherein the girls presented a beautiful prayer dance followed by a welcome song for the parents and the guests.

Mr Jarnail Singh, Advisor to Chairman, PSEB, Mohali, was the chief guest.

A cultural programme comprising of several colourful dances was presented. The school Principal, Mr Surinder Singh Rawat, read out the annual report while the Director, Mr Ashok Setia, the President, Mr Kulbhushan Sharma and the chief guest gave away prizes to the students for getting excellent results in Board examinations.

The chief guest appreciated the efforts made by the students and the staff.

John Hopkins fellowship for local surgeon
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
Dr Harpal Singh Sethi, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, here, has done the city and the country proud after having successfully completed a clinical research fellowship at John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA.

John Hopkins has been rated as best hospital in the USA for the past 13 years in succession and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in this institution was one of the best in the country.

Dr Sethi did his fellowship over a period of 4 months, attending the division of sports medicine and shoulder surgery in the department.

He learnt the new techniques of total shoulder replacement, reverse shoulder replacement (delta prosthesis), shoulder and knee arthroscopy and mini incision or small incision surgery of the shoulder.

He had earlier published three research papers and contributed to a book on shoulder examination.

HEALTH

Blood donation camp held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
The United Insurance Sports and Recreation Club organised a voluntary blood donation camp in association with the Indian Red Cross Society, Ludhiana, CMC and DMC hospitals, Ludhiana, here today. The camp was inaugurated by Ms Shewta Verma, wife of Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. Mr Singhal, Regional Manager, United Assurance Insurance Company, presided over the function.

The camp evoked a very good response from the officers and employees and members of their families. Ms Mamta Singhal distributed prizes to the donors. The chief guest and other speakers highlighted the importance of voluntary blood donation. The team of doctors spoke about misgivings among people regarding blood donation.

Mr Arun Kalia, joint secretary of the club, in a press note said that club proposed to prepare a comprehensive list of donor employees for blood donation in case of emergencies. The club was also organising a sports and cultural meet for its employees.

Symposium on infertility
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
The different causes of male and female infertility as also varied techniques for assisted reproduction were discussed at a symposium organised by a fertility and test tube baby centre here last evening.

Several speakers dwelt upon different techniques for assisted reproduction like Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Embryo Transfer (IVE-ET), Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer (ZIFT) and Gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer (GIFT).

They called upon the members of the medical fraternity present at the symposium to scrupulously follow ethical practices. The treating doctors should seek out correct causes of infertility, provide correct information to the patients and support the infertile couples with emotional support as well.

The symposium was attended by over 100 doctors from all over Punjab.

SPORTS

Malwa Sports Festival concludes
Our Correspondent

Samrala, January 23
On the concluding day of the 11th Annual Malwa Sports Festival held at Malwa College, Bondli-Samrala, seven Kabaddi matches were played. Yesterday, the chief guest, Mr Sharanjeet Singh Dhillon, Member of Parliament, announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh.

The following are the results of various races that took place during festival -

Bullock cart races: Narinder Singh of Bhagwanpura (I), Jaskaran Singh of Lakhanpur (II) and Shingara Singh of Sarwarpur (III)

Dog races: Peter of Bhupinder Singh (I), Power Flask of Harjinder Singh Beela (II) Jumper of Master Harbhajan Singh (III).

Weight lifting (68 kg): Inderjit Singh (I) Balwinder Singh (II) and Manjit Kumar (III); 85 kg: Santokh Singh of Phagwara (I), Sandeep Singh (II) and Sukhwinder Singh (III); 94 kg: Gurmeet Singh Ludhiana (I), Kulwinder Singh (II) and Gautam Sharma (III)

Races (girls) 100 meters: Mandeep Kaur (I), Reena Rani Mehdoodan (II) and Harpreet Kaur Khanna (III); 400 meters: Gurjeet Kaur Virk (I), Ravinder Kaur (II) and Reena Rani (III); 1500 meters: Mandeep Kaur (I), Gurjit Virk Sunam (II) and Amajrit Kaur Tapprian (III).

Boys-100metre: Bhagwant Singh Payal (I), Vishal Pathali (II) and Maninder Singh Khanna (III); 400 meters: Vishal Pathak Mastuana (I), Iqbal Singh Jalandhar (II) and Nirvair Singh (III);150 metres: Nirvair Singh (I), Harminder Singh (II)and Sabhajeet (III).

On this occasion, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Chairman of the Punjab State Goods Transport Association, has sponsored the community kitchen for the players as well as the public.

Mr Malkiat Singh Dhillon, president of the association, said the festival had been dedicated to the martyrdom of four Sahibzadas of Shri Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Gujri. Mr Devi Dayal Sharma, Kabaddi player, Mr Behari Lal Saddi, press secretary of the association, and Mr Major Singh Kala, technical advisor, along with Jagjeewan Singh Kheernian, cashier, Mr Jagjit Singh Kang, chairman, Harbans Singh, senior vice- president, and Daljit Nagra, secretary took active part in the festival.

Shanti Tara College is kabaddi champion
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 23
The Shanti Tara College of Ahmedgarh, Sangrur, romped home victorious to emerge champions in the Punjabi University Patiala Inter-College Kabaddi Tournament, held at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Juzhar Singh College, Bela, on Saturday. Prof Charanjit Singh Dua said in the final, Shanti Tara College, after surviving anxious moments, managed to pip the hosts Sahibzada Ajit Singh Juzhar Singh College, 46-44 to clinch the trophy.

Earlier, on their way to the title clash, Shanti Tara College lads edged out Mata Gujri College of Fatehgarh Sahib 61-31 and Physical Education College of Patiala 60-45 to enter the final.

Harpreet Singh Raju of Shati Tara College was declared the best raider, while three other students of this college, Amritpal Singh Billa, Gurdeep Singh and Manvinder Singh, were chosen for fair play.

Meanwhile, Mr Prem Gupta and Mr Arvind Kumar Malhotra, president and general secretary, respectively, of the college management committee have congratulated Mr Ajay Batra, officiating principal, team members and their in charges Prof Navjot Singh and Prof Pardeep Kaur for this performance.

The players would be felicitated during the annual prize distribution function, they announced.

Anita, Prabhdeep declared best athletes
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 23
Anita Grover, a student of MA I, and Prabhdeep Singh, a student of BA III, were adjudged the best athletes among girls and boys, respectively, in the annual athletics meet of the Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College, Subhash Nagar, near Daresi ground which concluded yesterday.

Anita Grover fetched three gold medals (shot put, javelin throw and 100 m race) besides winning a couple of silver medals while Prabhdeep Singh annexed won five gold medals ( 1500 m, 5000 m, 10000 m, 100 m and 50 m race). Mr Sant Singla, Chairman, Punjab State Agriculture Marketing Board, distributed the prizes.

Results: (Girls) Long jump: Kawaljit Kaur 1, Anita 2 and Puja 3; Shot put: Anita Grover 1, Anjali Anand 2 and Kawaljit Kaur 3; Javelin throw: Anita Grover 1, Pooja Arora 2 and Kawaljit Kaur 3; Discus throw: Anjali Anand 1, Anita Grover 2 and Kawaljit Kaur 3; 200 m: Sandeep Cheema 1, Anita Grover 2 and Anjali Anand 3; 400 m: Anita Grover 1, Sandeep Cheema 2 and Pooja Arora 3.

(Boys) 5000 m: Prabhdep Singh 1, Balram Yadav 2 and Sunny Kumar 3; 1500 m: Prabhdeep Singh 1, Nikhil Chadha 2 and Balram Yadav 3; 10,000 m: Prabhdeep Singh 1, Balram Yadav 2 and Karamjit Singh 3; Javelin throw: Ijay Dutt 1, Jatinder Kumar 2 and Vijay Kumar 3; Long jump: Jaswinder Singh 1, Aklesh Kumar 2 and Raja 3; 100 m: Prabhdeep Singh 1, Rahul Kumar 2 and Ashwani Kumar 3; Shot put: Pawan Kumar 1, Sunil Kumar 2 and Sunny Aggarwal 3; Discus throw: Sunny Aggarwal 1, Varinder Singh 2 and Sandeep 3; Triple jump: Jaswinder Singh 1, Varun Goyal 2 and Sunny Aggarwal 3; 400 m: Prabhdeep Singh 1, Nikhil Chadha 2 and Balram Yadav; 800 m: Jaswinder Kumar 1, Prabhdeep Singh 2 and Amit Sharma 3.