EDUCATION

Shortage of lectures: colleges act tough
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, April 4
With the principals of several colleges taking a tough stand against students running short of lectures, hundreds of cases of lecture-shortage have piled up at various colleges.

The college authorities feel that the punishment is a must for non-serious students whereas the students claim that they have fulfilled university's eligibility conditions.

The students who are facing the heat are from various colleges, including Arya College, SCD Govt College, Kamla Lohtia College, Khalsa College for Women, GGN Khalsa College etc.

As per the university norms, a candidate appearing for an examination has to attain minimum 75 per cent of the total lectures delivered in each subject.

A principal has the power to condone 10 per cent lectures. But after adding 10 per cent, hundreds of students still remain who would end up spoiling their one academic year.

One of the principals of a local college said he had no choice but to follow the university guidelines.

"We can not violate these directions. Its not that students have been told about shortage of lectures at the end of the session,” she says.

“We inform them many times during the session about their lecture shortage. The students who are serious enough to feel about the outcome start attending classes regularly but the non-serious feel that nothing would happen and hence they are the sufferers,” she stresses.

“They believe in blame game and in this their parents stand by them, which is really unfortunate,” she adds.

College authorities further allege that these students indulge in anti-social behaviour and raise anti-college, anti-principal slogans to get their work done.

Not only this, the college authorities remain under pressure from bureaucrats and local MLAs to accommodate their candidates.

Meanwhile, Prof Jaipal Singh, convener, Punjab Government Teachers Association, claims that majority of these students are non-serious ones who seldom attended their classes.

"A teacher knows thoroughly about candidates who are genuine. We try to cooperate with such students. After all we have to maintain the decorum of the institution. Those who are responsible should be punished," says Prof Jaipal Singh.

Young nursing graduates take the oath
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
It was a moment of rejoicing and dedication as the general nursing and midwifery graduates of the College of Nursing at the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) handed over the light to the new students. In its traditional mannerism, established in the year 1889, the college inducted yet another new batch for the course in general nursing.

The programme started with the introduction of chief guest Shiela Seda, secretary general, Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI). Ms Pennamma Ranadive, Principal, College of Nursing, presented the report for the college activities during the past two years. Ms Sudesh David, Nursing Superintendent , CMCH, inducted the nursing pledge to young nursing graduates, which was followed by the distribution of the certificates to them by the principal.

The chief guest, Ms Shiela Seda, gave away prizes to the outstanding students for their performances in academics and other fields. The special awards for best bed-side nurse for the year 2003 was bagged by Ms Preethy Jacob. Under the best community health nurse category, Ms Harpreet Kaur and Ms Lakhbir Kaur bagged the award for years 2003 and 2004 respectively while Ms Abha, Ms M. Saha and Ms Christina were adjudged all-rounders for the years 2003 and 2004 respectively.

The ceremony concluded as Mrs Sudesh David lighted the candles of the 109 passing graduates who in turn passed this light, a symbol of love and care, to the new students.

GNIMT holds seminar on VAT
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
The Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, organised a seminar on value added tax (VAT) here today. The resource person was Prof Arvind Malhotra, who is a senior faculty member in the Postgraduate Deptt of Commerce, Arya College, Ludhiana.

The seminar was aimed at introducing students to the concept of much hyped VAT. VAT is the most important and historical innovation of the 20th Century. France was the first country in the world which adopted it successfully in 1954. French call it ‘Taxesur la Valeur Adjontee.’ Later, more than 160 countries of the world have successfully adopted VAT system of taxation.

In India, every state has a system of tax is collection wherein the tax is collected at one point from the transaction involving the sale of goods. The single point tax may be collected either at the first-stage or at the last stage of a transaction.

Since VAT is collected in different stages, disadvantages and weaknesses of the existing system of tax collection are eliminated to a great extent. VAT is multi-point tax with provision for set-off (credit ) of the tax paid at the earlier stage. Therefore, the incidence of tax at each stage of transaction is reduced and it is based on the amount of value added at each such stage. It means VAT envisages collection of tax at the stage of manufacture/sale/ resale etc and contemplates rebating of tax paid on inputs/purchases.

The objective and the purpose of VAT is as good as it will bring transparency in business transaction and the revenue of the state govt’s will definitely increase substantially. However, all harsh provisions incorporated in Punjab. VAT Act must be removed immediately. Further, the accountability of the officers of the department must also be fixed so that they are not able to exploit their position for personal vested interests.

Students of BBA/MBA attended the seminar. Students had an very interactive session in the end. Dr (Col ) H S Singha, Director GNIMT, thanked Prof Malhotra for such as informative and elaborate discussion on VAT, which added not only to the knowledge of students but faculty as well.

From Schools
Jashn-e-Bachpan at DPS
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
Delhi Public School (DPS), Ludhiana, organised a function named “Jashn-e-Bachpan” on its premises here last evening. The function was a riot of colors and a kaleidoscopic representation of Indian songs and dances.

Mr Narendra Kumar, chairman, DPS Society and DPS Ludhiana, Mr Sanjiv Kumar, pro-vice chairman of the school and Mr Vivek Ramchandani, director (education), Takshila Educational Society, were present on the occasion.

The programme began with Principal Seema Malik’s welcome speech and the lighting of lamp, followed by “Ganesh Vandana”. Senior students of the school put up an adaptation of Oliver Goldsmith’s famous comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer”.

The next item was bhajans of Surdas in Raag Aheer Bhairav. Children are the ultimate source of unadulterated joy. They are indeed a miracle. That’s what the nursery wing had to say in the song and dance sequence “O what a miracle am I”.

A little tabla maestro put up a solo performance based on the “teen taal”. The children showed great awareness on the Kashmir issue, was depicted in a choreographed item where an ardent prayer was made for peace.

The function concluded with the upbeat and energetic Bhangra. It was a mix of Malwai-Gidda and Jhumar and filled the audience with warmth and a happy expectations of a bounteous Baisakhi. The vote of thanks was given by Ms. Ekta Bali Kochar.

Hamara School
Helping children develop all-round personality

Education helps in developing balanced personality of a child who is a building block of society. It is a process of training mind and character of a child by giving him formal schooling. A good school is a place that provides a forum for healthy interaction between children. Education in urban areas has improved because of opening of several good schools in cities, but only little efforts has been made in the rural sector. Ms Kamla Jain has taken initiative for providing quality education with the help of untiring and consistent efforts of the management and staff. Saraswati Modern School is managed by a board of eminent educationists and has unique facilities for studies and games.

The school is spread over an area of 2 acres and is located on Partap Singh Wala, Hambran road. The school aims at providing congenial environment to develop all-round personality of children, so that they become capable of taking ever emerging challenges with foresight and confidence. Educational programme of the school will help children to achieve spirit of healthy competition, team work and cooperation. It also aims to develop appeasing manners and etiquette among the students besides helping them to become men or women of principles.

Principalspeak

We, at Saraswati Modern School, are equipped with various teaching facilities and media technologies. Computers and audio-visual aids are used as students learn better when they hear and see things.

I feel every student of this school must develop a hobby, must have a chance to trek, undertake excursions, rafting, mountaineering, aero-modelling, paragliding, parasailing etc. I want that a child with us must hold a separate alumnus uniqueness. I do not believe in impressing parents and children with unreasonable pledges. I feel there is no better testimony to a good teacher than the knowledge of his/her student.

The faculty members play a vital role in making a public school successful. All our staff gets training from noted educationists. While leading the academic team of the school, I underline on the latest technique for the younger children such as LSS (labelling sequential steps), CFG (conceit forming games), in-basket exercises, brain storming etc. Growth in the learning process of our academic staff can ensure a congenial learning environment.

248 PAU students qualify NET

Ludhiana, April 4
Postgraduates of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, achieved another milestone in academic excellence by clearing the national eligibility test (NET) conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, for 2003.

In all, 296 postgraduates appeared for the test, out of which 248 successfully cleared the test.

As many as 156 out of 182, 12 out of 14, 19 out of 25, 18 out of 22, and 43 out of 53 students successfully cleared NET in the PAU, College of Agricultural Engineering, College of Basic sciences and College of Veterinary Science, respectively. TNS

COURTS

Night harvesting banned
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana April 4
To ensure the smooth and quick procurement of wheat, District Magistrate Mr Anurag Verma, has imposed a ban on the operation of combines to harvest wheat from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m.

The ban has been imposed on night harvesting keeping in view the prevailing higher moisture. He said wheat harvested during night did not meet the specifications fixed by the government and the procurement agencies could not purchase the produce till the moisture content was within specifications, as a result, the farmers have to face a lot of harassment in selling their produce in the mandis. The orders have been issued under Section 144 of the Cr P C.

The DC has asked the combine owners only to operate the combine during day time and warned that in case any combine owner was caught violating these orders, strict punitive action, including compounding of combine machine, would be taken against him. Mr. Verma also directed the Chief Agriculture Officer to further instruct the Agriculture Officers and other staff working under him to ensure the strict implementation of these directions and warned that action would be initiated against the officer/official, in case of any combine reported harvesting during the night time in his area.

Through another communique, Mr. Verma has asked the District Mandi Officer to ensure the proper cleanliness of wheat in the mandis and to direct the commission agents to procure sufficient numbers of power cleaners for this purpose. He asked the District Mandi Officer to also ensure the arrangement of generating set of sufficient power with each commission agent, so that, in case of any interruption in the power supply, the power cleaners could be used to clean the wheat.

The commission agents have also been directed to use mesh wire number 8 instead of number 10 for proper cleaning. He has given these directions to ensure the excellent quality of wheat for export to other countries, as during the last year, the Government of India had to face a number of difficulties in exporting the wheat to other countries due to the poor quality of wheat.

He also directed the DMO not to renew the license of any commission agent who did not have sufficient stock articles, including tarpaulins, power cleaners etc. in future.

Mr Verma appealed the farmers to only harvest the fully matured and dry crops to avoid any kind of inconvenience in the mandis in selling wheat.

CULTURE

Mikka, Anamika dazzle city
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
It was a night of fun and frolic in the sprawling lawns of the Club Nirvana. As the organisers of the show pointed out, “we want to live upto the name of the club itself and provide ultimate peace to the people coming over here”.

The ambience was not just peaceful but there was also colour in it.

To add to the festive mood, noted Punjabi singers Mikka and Anamika supplemented the evening with their live and vibrant music rendered in melodious voice. It was a houseful show with thousands of party lovers having thronged into the gradens to witness the rocking party — ‘Cloud Nine’.

While the Punjabi singers, Mikka and Anamika, set the tune of melody and music, a European dance group held the audience in awe with their outstanding performances making it irresistible for people not to come to the dancing floor.

As the night moved by, more and more hands were raised in enthusiasm and excitement.

On the consistent demand of the audience, Anamika sang ‘dhoom macha lay’ thrice.

Three huge screens were put up to watch the performers. Plenty of gifts were given to those who danced well, to the best good-looking girl, to the best-looking male and the best dancing couple on the floor.