EDUCATION

ABVP flays move to privatise education
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 24
The Punjab unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today organised a state-level round-table conference on privatisation of education. Famous educationist and politician, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla blamed the state government for injustice to education system.

She said education in our country was never a “commodity of trade” but the present government was exploiting it by privatising and commercialising and this was against the basic aim of education policy in the country.

Blaming the Capt Amarinder Singh’s government, she said for the past three years the state government had failed to form a successful policy on education, and was therefore pulling itself out of the field by throwing it in the hands of private sector.

The keynote speaker, Mr Suresh Seth said providing education was the responsibility of government. He said a majority of students who could not pay high fee demanded by private institutions used to opt for the government institutions but the privatisation of education would mean robbing poor students of a chance to get education.

In the conference issues like immense fee hike in the ITI, privatising of the ITI institutions, throwing government schools in the hands of private sector and filling vacancies of teachers on contract basis were discussed in detail and a resolution against these decisions of the government were condemned unanimously.

It was also decided at the conference that protests would be held in the state and ministers would be gheraoed to register protest against the government’s decision.

Gill to take over as Director, Extension Education
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 24
Dr Sarjit Singh Gill will take over as new Director of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on May 1. He will replace Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, who is retiring after attaining the age of superannuation on April 30.

The appointment of Dr Gill to the post was approved by the board of management of PAU at in its meeting held at Mohali as per press note issued here on Wednesday.

Dr Gill at present is Additional Director of Extension Education (Training) in the Directorate of Extension Education. Earlier, he held the post of Additional Director of Communication, Centre for Communication, Languages & Culture and Head, Department of Extension Education, PAU.

The board also approved the appointment of Mr Kashmir Singh as Comptroller of PAU. Earlier, he was Additional Director in the Finance Department with the Punjab Government. Disclosing this Dr V K Sharma, Registrar, PAU, Ludhiana and Secretary Board of Management informed that the board had also approved the appointment of Dr Kuldip Singh, senior pathologist (pulses) as Director, Regional Research Station, Faridkot and Dr H S Sehgal, Professor, Zoology as Head, Department of Zoology.

Should there be one paper for Punjabi (comp)?
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, April 24
There seems to be varying views when the issue of combining A and B papers of Punjabi (compulsory) for the undergraduate classes is taken up.

While the general opinion is that a lot of money, time and manpower can be saved by a single paper, the ones related to the subject are of the view that instead of narrowing its horizons, steps should be taken to further promote and standardise the languages, especially Punjabi.

It is significant to take note that undergraduate students are supposed to study English and Punjabi as compulsory papers. While a single paper of 100 marks is conducted for the English (compulsory) subject, for Punjabi (compulsory) two exams of 50 marks each are taken.

The teachers of English are of the view that the syllabus of English and Punjabi is not much at variance as in both the subjects, the students are expected to study poetry and composition. Mohinder Kaur, Head of the English Department, said, “The students should be given more time to study English which is a foreign language and in which they generally lag behind as opposed to Punjabi which is their mother tongue and has been introduced to them from the very beginning.

The students, too, feel that a single paper is suffice for the course prescribed to them for the Punjabi subject. Moreover, the examinees finish off their Punjabi (compulsory) paper B in half time.

Dr Lakhvir Singh Gill, centre superintendent at a local centre, said, “It is a sheer mockery of exams. Moreover, lakhs of rupees are being spent by the university for a paper that can be easily done away with”.

Imagine, how much staff is employed. Moreover the cost of stationary, paper-setting and remuneration is also being borne by the university, he added.

In house examinations in September and December too, two separate papers are conducted and a lot of time is wasted in it, “according to Prof Harvinder Kaur Gill, wing-incharge of Guru Nanak National college, Doraha.

But most of the lecturers in the subject do not agree to reduce the two papers into single one at any cost. The member of postgraduate Board of Studies, Prof S. Virk, and that of Undergraduate Board of Studies, Dr Yog Raj, and Dr T.N. Joshi, expressed their disapproval for the same.

Eco-club opened at school
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 23
An eco-club was inaugurated at the local Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School yesterday. Mr Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Doraha Institute of Management and Technology inaugurated the club by planting saplings on the Boparai road and asked the student members of the school to make efforts to save the Mother earth from dilapidation .

Mrs R Bedi, explained the detailed working of the club that is being sponsored by the central government and supervised by Mr Varinder Sharma, District Science Supervisor.

Mrs L Mathew, coordinator of the club, spoke about the introduction of a vermiculture unit and separating the degradable and non-degradable waste material from nearby areas.

HEALTH

1,000 Nirankaris donate blood
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 23
A blood donation camp, organised by the Sant Nirankari Mandal, was held at Satsang Bhavan here today to mark the “manav ekta divas”. At the second annual blood donation camp organised by the mandal more than 1,000 volunteers, including 350 women, donated blood. The blood collection was arranged jointly by the District Red Cross Society, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and the Ludhiana Thalassemic Society.

Inaugurating the camp, Mr Surinder Dawar, Parliamentary Secretary, Housing and Power, remarked that blood donation was one of the noblest deeds and a veritable proof of universal brotherhood.

Mr H.S. Chawla, zonal in charge of the mandal, said the next blood donation camp would be organised on June 14.

1200 examined at dental camps
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 24
The local chapter of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) had chalked out a comprehensive programme to promote oral health and hygiene awareness in the region. As a part of the nationwide campaign, the IDA organised two-day dental check up camp at six different places in the city which concluded today. Nearly 1200 persons, including children were examined.

Stating this, Dr Vivek Saggar, district president of IDA said the campaign to promote level of oral health and hygiene and to motivate the children would also cover orientation of parents and intensive teachers training programmes during the year.

SPORTS

Nahar Fibres win by 41 runs
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, April 24
Riding high over Sunil’s allround performance (4 for 22 and 35 runs) and an equally useful batting display by Jagtar Singh (36) and Manoj (35), Nahar Fibres XI defeated Rishab Spinning Mills by 41 runs in the second annual inter-unit cricket tournament for the Nahar Cup organised by the Nahar Group of Industries at the Satish Chander Dhawan Government College ground here today. Eleven teams, drawn from different units of the Nahar Group, took part. In the inaugural edition of the tournament last year, Rishab Spinning Mills had won, beating Nahar Fibres XI.

In the final, Nahar Fibres XI’s skipper Dalip Kumar won the toss and elected to bat first. In their quota of 25 overs, they made 157 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Then their bowlers contained Rishab Spinning Mills’ batsmen to 116 runs in 22 overs. For his outstanding performance, Sunil was named the player of the tournament.

Mr Jawahar Lal Oswal, Chairman of Nahar Group of Industries, presided over the prize distribution function. He presented the winner and runners-up trophy to the captains of the finalists. Mr Kamal Oswal, Vice-Chairman of the group, and Mr Dinesh Oswal, Managing Director, were present, among others.

Brief scores: Nahar Fibres XI: 157 for 4 (Jagtar Singh 36, Sunil 35, Manoj Kumar 32, Shree Pal 16, Sanjeev Kumar 10; Bhola Ram 2 for 11 and Tirlok Singh 1 for 18)

Rishab Spinning Mills XI: 116 all out (Tirlok Singh 23, Sukhwant Singh 16, Raja 18 and Sukhpal 18; Baldev 3 for 20, Sunil 4 for 22, Bhartendu 2 for 23 and Jagtar Singh 1 for 15).

Seminar for coaches concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 24
A three-day seminar for coaches organised by the local Punjab Sports Department concluded at Guru Nanak Stadium here yesterday. Coaches of different disciplines from all districts of the state attended the seminar.

It was aimed at updating the knowledge of the coaches in the fields of sports medicine, sports psychology, training methods and physiology.

For the benefit of the coaches, the department had arranged lectures by some of the eminent personalities such as Dr G.S. Wander, Professor and Chief Cardiologist of DMC Heart Centre, Dr D.J. Singh, Deputy Director, Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, Dr A.K. Kala, psychologist, Dr Vivek Vasudeva, physiotherapist, Dr Sanjeev Mahajan (ortho), Dr Harsimrat, dietician and Dr S. Rawat (meditation and pranayam).

Padmashree Kartar Singh, Director, Sports Department, said in view of the success of the workshop, it was decided to invite foreign experts in future to update the knowledge of the coaches. He appreciated Mr Sohan Lal Lotey, District Sports Officer, for his efforts to organise the seminar.

Later, while addressing mediapersons, Mr Kartar Singh said the department had chalked out a programme to revive the Anda (local) coaching camps for the players under-16 category. These camps would be held in all districts from May 12 to 26 and around 90 players would be imparted training, he added.

The department had also planned to conduct a high-altitude coaching camp in Himachal Pradesh in June for talented players of the Speed Fund Academy, Sports School, Jalandhar, Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar, and Football Academy, Hoshiarpur, to improve their fitness and technical skills.

He added that the department would be organising wrestling and kabaddi competitions at Muktsar on May 3 and 4.

Nursing school sports meet ends
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 24
The sports meet of Kular Nursing School, concluded here yesterday. Dr Jaspal Singh from the USA was the chief guest. The meet was inaugurated by Ms Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, former member parliament who in her inaugural address congratulated the efforts being made by the Kular Medical Association for the overall personality development of the students through physical education and sports apart from providing medical training to them.

She said that the Nursing school was promoting rural health services. “The Rashtriya Rattan Award’ presented by the global economic council of India, speaks volumes of its popularity among the ruralities,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion Dr K S Kular said the Kular Hospital was well-equipped with advanced laproscopic surgery and the nursing school had been developed in the latest western style where the students were introduced to modern medical advancements. The sports meet has been especially organised to ensure a balanced development among the pupils undergoing training.

Following are the results of various events organised on the day:

Race 400 mt: Baljit Kaur (1) Devinder Kaur (2)

Shot Put: Sandeep Kaur (1) Rajwinder Kaur (2nd); Devinder Kaur (3). Sack Race: Paramjit Kaur (1) Sandeep Kaur (2)

Race 200mt: Baljit Kaur (1) Rajwinder Kaur (2) Davinder Kaur (3); Discuss Throw: Sandeep Kaur (1) Rajwinder Kaur (2) Jasvir Kaur (3); hurdle Race-Sandeep Kaur (1) Gurvinder Kaur (2) Baljit Kaur (3). Long Jump: Rajwinder Kaur (1) Davinder Kaur (2) Sandeep Kaur (3)