EDUCATION

New session a headache for parents
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 31
With results out and the new session in schools starting tomorrow, children are excited as they have got new books, school bags, uniforms. But this has put an extra burden on parents who have had to buy text books, exercise notebooks, stationery items like erasers, pencils, crayons and even school bags from the school as it has been made mandatory. Parents resent paying extra money as sometimes they have to buy books for two to three children.

Also, some of them are displeased since schools have reportedly increased the annual charges and hiked the school fee.

Yesterday, around 100 parents protested against the authorities of Baba Isher Singh Public Secondary School when they came to know that the fee had been enhanced at the eleventh hour.

The irked parents said while they earlier paid Rs 1,900, they would now have to pay Rs 2,250 for their wards moving up from nursery to UKG and Rs 2,410 for those going from UKG to Class 1.

They also lamented that notebooks and other articles sold in the school were twice that of sold outside.

Many parents complained that in other schools like BCM School, Shastri Nagar, annual charges had been hiked by almost Rs 1,000 for KG section in the name of setting up computer laboratories in the school. However, parents, who did not wished to be named, felt their children hardly got a chance to learn anything on computers in schools.

PAU VC promises another clean tenure
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 31
The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, who assumes the office for a second four-year term tomorrow, today promised to provide a clean and transparent administration. He said he would try to complete the unfinished agenda he had set for himself in the first term.

Dr Aulakh, who was given another four-year term by the government starting tomorrow, told The Tribune in an interview here today that he had no grudges or grievances against anyone irrespective of the “malicious and slanderous” campaign launched against him by certain people.

However, the Vice-Chancellor asserted that the discipline, which he had tried so hard to establish in the university, would remain his top priority. Moreover, the focus would continue to remain on the academic and administrative reforms in the university. “My top priority is to develop the university according to the modern needs in the agricultural sector”, he spelt out, while adding that the situation had changed a lot since the university was established about 40 years ago.

Dr Aulakh pointed out that the university had pioneered the Green Revolution in the country and was privileged with the credit of banishing hunger and starvation out of the country. “Now the circumstances have changed...we no longer have any starvation or hunger, we have to improve further and mould ourselves according to the modern needs in agriculture”, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor, who is an eminent agricultural scientist, said the focus would be on biotechnology as it was the in thing these days. He said although the PAU had remained a pioneer in adopting biotechnology, the research in it would further be strengthened and added emphasis would be given to the subject.

On the issue of resources, Dr Aulakh agreed that some serious measures were needed to be taken. But he assured that resources for the research work would never be a problem. Moreover, he maintained that besides generating its own resources, the university also hoped to get the research projects funded by various national and international agencies. “This will further boost the research work in the university”, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the PAU had established good credibility not only at the national level but at the international level as well. He said it was a challenging job to retain and improve this credibility further. “But I am sure with due cooperation from the scientists of the university we would be able to come up to the expectations of the farmers as well as the research community”, Dr Aulakh said.

He was reluctant to comment on the slander campaign launched against him by some sacked and retired employees of the university. He reiterated, “I have nothing personal against anyone...but I have been maligned personally even when all the allegations against me were thoroughly investigated and proved false...I feel consoled that my stand has been vindicated that I never committed any wrong anywhere”. 

From Schools
Camp ends with fancy dress competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 31
Whizkid play school organised fancy dress and drawing competitions on the concluding day of a six-day camp on the school premises today. Art and craft, dance, personality development and casio playing were taught to kids during the camp. Children made ice-cream sticks flowers, pen stands, birthday caps, etc.

Themes like Holi and birthday party were given for drawing competition. In the fancy dress competition children came dressed up as a king, lion, Appu Raja, modern girl, flower seller etc.

Annual function: The annual cultural and prize distribution function was organised at Shiv Shakti High School here yesterday. Ms Amandeep Kaur, DSP, corporation, Ludhiana, presided over the function. She distributed prizes among students getting first, second and third positions in their respective classes. Children presented a colourful cultural programme.

Mr B.M. Bhatt, Mr C.M. Sharma , Mr B.M. Kimothi, Mr G.N. Kimothi, Ms Saroj Sharma, Mr Ram Darshan Sharma, Mr Ashok Jaswal, Mr Ram Kumar Sharma were present.

Amrik Sandhu nominated to state panel
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 31
Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Director Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana, has been nominated member of the state-level steering committee to monitor the progress of Agri-business Development Support Project in Punjab. The nomination was made by the Governor of Punjab.

This was disclosed here today by Mr P K Verma, Financial Commissioner, Development, and Secretary, Department of Agriculture Punjab. Earlier, Dr Sandhu was also nominated on the Punjab Biodiversity Board and State-Level Monitoring Committee of the Kisan call centres.

A recipient of “Shrimati Harpal Kaur Memorial Award” for outstanding research and teaching. Dr Sandhu was earlier rejected as consultant by the Ministry of Agriculture, Punjab, for training course on temperate horticulture at Gangtok, Sikkim.

COURTS

Strategy to hold lok adalat discussed
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 31
A meeting of assistant district attorneys of Legal Services Authority, Punjab, was held here to chalk out a strategy for organising the national-level lok adalat, to be held on April 10 here. The meeting was held under the supervision of the Member Secretary of State Legal Services Authority, Mr H.P.S Mahal and District and Sessions Judge, Mr Harbans Lal.

Mr Mahal directed them to remain present in the lok adalat. He instructed them to coordinate with the District Legal Services Authority and ensure that no inconvenience was caused to people attending the lok adalat.

Fourteen assistant district attorneys from all over the state attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the president of the Indian Ex-Servicemen League, Mr Chanan Singh Dhillon, has appealed to the ex-servicemen to approach him or the District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, to get their disputes or cases settled through the lok adalat.

SPORTS

Winners of all-India meet honoured
Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 31
A function was organised in the committee room of the Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, here to honour the winners of different events at the sixth All-India Inter-Agricultural Universities Sports and Games Meet held from March 16 to 19, at the College of agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram.

Congratulating the winners for bringing laurels to the university, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said games and sports develop perfect personalities and bring confidence in human beings.

Dr Aulakh honoured the winners by presenting them gold medals and silver medals.

The gold medals were presented to basketball players (men) — Divya Chaudhari, Simranjeet Singh Chahal, Ramandeep Singh, Harpal Singh Sandhu, Gundeep Brar, Bir Joginder Singh Gill, Harpreet Singh Dhaliwal and Vikramdeep Singh Dhaliwal.

Ramandeep Kaur, Ashwinder Kaur and Monika of the badminton team (women) were also given gold medals. Silver medals were given to Anil Kumar Jaiswal, Navdeep and Gagandeep Singla of the badminton team (men). Harmeet Kaur was honoured with gold medal in shot put and discus throw whereas Amandeep Kaur was given silver medal in discus throw and Malinder Kaur got silver medal in 100 and 400 metres race.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Darshan Singh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, and Director, Students’ Welfare, said by claiming 16 points, the PAU sports and games contingent won the overall championship.