EDUCATION

Demand to scrap CET
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
Public Cause, a forum for voicing common problems of people, today submitted a memorandum to Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Technical Education, for scrapping common entrance test (CET) 2005, which will be held on June 3.

Mr A.K. Bhandari, general secretary of the forum, in a memorandum submitted to Ms Bhattal, alleged that the state government had joked with the people in general and youths in particular by starting Punjab Technical University (PTU). The mushrooming of several technical colleges had misguided youths and fleeced their parents by imposing on them costly application forms and examination fees. Not only this, the parents had to shell out Rs 2500 for a counselling session of mere four to five minutes.

The memorandum said that it was a matter of concern that out of 40 colleges affiliated to PTU, Jalandhar, 36 were in private sector and only four were owned by the government. The enrolment figure in 15 private colleges in 2004 was merely 35-40 per cent and in the government colleges it was about 50-60 per cent. Unfortunately, the private colleges were being opened by business houses only as profit-making ventures with least regard for sanctity of profession and future of students. To lure young students, certain colleges had admitted students by charging fees far below the one prescribed by the government.

Mr Bhandari said that to attract students, the colleges affiliated to PTU gave advertisements like “Students who have recently passed their 10+2, reappear examination can apply immediately” or “Direct admission. Eligibility 10+2 (PCM)” or “Golden Opportunity for 10+2, non-medical, pass candidates to obtain admission in B.Tech courses”. He asked if after having done all this, only (10+2) passed students were invited for admission, why not the merit of 10+2 level be the sole criteria for admission? The memorandum said when there were no takers of the seats available in many of these colleges and no takers of their product, why were these being allowed to mushroom by the government?

Public Cause further alleged that colleges were exploiting the helpless people and making mockery of technical education and exposing youth to unemployment and humiliation.

The forum requested Ms Bhattal to stop the exploitation of both students and parents by scrapping CET 2005 when it had no relevance in the present scenario.

PAU staff get salaries at last
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 6
The employees of Punjab Agricultural University yesterday got their salaries after the grant was received from the state government. The Registrar, Dr V.K. Sharma, confirmed that the university had already received the monthly grant from the state and the salaries had been disbursed among the entire staff of the university. The employees staged a demonstration yesterday demanding immediate release of their salaries.

The annual salary bill of the PAU amounts to about Rs 100 crore and most of it comes from the state government. The employees had not got their salaries for the months of March and April. The Registrar said the university had utilised some funds pending against various schemes with the university and these needed to be replenished immediately.

Although the salary for the March and April had now been paid, there was no guarantee that the employees may get the salary for the month of May in time. Because the state grants are received around fourth or fifth of every month which leaves no scope that they would get their salaries on the first of the month.

Arya College students bag top positions
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
Students of M.Com. (Ist semester) of Arya College got three positions out of five positions in Ludhiana district and three positions out of top 10 in the Panjab University M.Com. (Ist semester) examinations held in December, 2004.

According to a press release, Geetu Sharma bagged Ist position in the district and 4th position in the university by securing 473 marks out of 550 and Mamta Gupta bagged 3rd position in the district and 8th in the university by securing 463 marks. Manisha bagged 4th position in the district and 9th in the university by securing 462 marks.

Twentyfive students of the college secured more than 75 per cent marks in M.Com. (Ist semester) university examinations held in December 2004.

Mr Vijay Saathi, President, Arya College Managing Committee, Principal (Dr) S.M. Sharma, Prof H.R. Saini, Head, Post-Graduate Department of Commerce and other members of the commerce faculty congratulated the students for their outstanding performance.

Guru Nanak Khalsa college students excel

Jasjit Kaur and Harpreet Kaur, M.Com. (Ist semester) students of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujjarkhan Campus, have attained 10th and 12th positions, respectively, in Panjab University examinations. Jasjit Kaur also got 5th position in Ludhiana district. Twentyseven students out of 30 have got more than 75 per cent marks. M.Com. (3rd semester) students have also done very well. Davinder Kaur, Robin Kaushal and Navaldeep Kaur got 78.3 per cent, 78 per cent and 77 per cent marks, respectively, and stood first, second and third, respectively, in the college. Twenty students out of 25 students have got more than 70 per cent marks.

Campaign against drugs, tobacco
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
The Generation Saviour Association today organised an inter-school on-the-spot painting/poster-making competition at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana. Nearly 300 students of different schools participated in the competition. The students, who were divided into five groups according to their class and age, were told to highlight the ill-effects of tobacco. The association screened video clips of stories showing the ill-effects of tobacco addiction.

The chief guest was Mr Surinder Kumar Dawar, MLA, and Parliamentary Secretary. He distributed prizes to winners of the competition. Speaking on the occasion, he said the Panjab government would help the organisations which fight against intoxicants.

The Generation Saviour Association is spreading awareness among the younger generation about the ill-effects of tobacco and drugs with the main motive ‘prevention is better than cure. The association has been active in Ropar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana districts. To achieve its aim of tobacco-free society, the association is organising as on-the-spot painting/poster-making competitions, inter-school essay writing competition, screening of films provided by the WHO containing the ill-effects of tobacco, staging of one-act plays and seminars etc.

The overall trophy was awarded to DAV Public School, Ludhiana, and the runners-up trophy went to Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar Ludhiana. The painting of Miss Samrti Kapur of Sacred Heart Convent School was declared the best.

Tiny tots celebrate Mother’s Day
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
Cherry Lane Play School celebrated Mother’s Day on the school premises here today. The school was decorated with colourful, balloons, streamers, posters depicting various slogans like ‘mom you are the best’, ‘you are the best”. The tiny tots had made colourful cards with thread paintings. The mothers enjoyed the dance by the children. The school had organised several competitions for mothers like Treasure Hunt and Statue Dance etc. The Mother’s Day celebrations concluded with a dance party.

Book fair inaugurated: A three-day book fair by Scholastic India Ltd. was inaugurated at Guru Nanak Public School by Mr Jasbir Singh, president, GNPS Managing Committee, Mr Surinder Singh, secretary of the committee, and Mr R.S.GIll, Principal, here today. Books on different subjects like space, science, environment, cartoons, fiction, moral values, English grammar, and mathematics were displayed.

On the first two days the classes will visit the book fair and on the third day parents will visit the fair. The fair was well attended by students and teachers.

Poetry competition: Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School organised an inter-house poetry recitation competition here today. The function started with a prayer, “Ram Rang Barse”. Pupils from three activity houses, Nehru, Gandhi, Tagore, came up with various themes highlighting evils in society through poems. Jasbir of class VI B recited poem Wangaar, Chandani of class XII recited Naari Ki Jaat, Latika class XII-Beti Ki Fariyad, Nemika Haya Re Fashion, Shilpa of class XI-Shunya, Sandeep IX-Sardar Bhagat, Sandya of class IX B-corruption. Mrs Adarsh Kundra, retired principal of New Senior Secondary School, Green Park. Mr O.P. Arora, Principal of Nauria Mal Jain Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar Chowk, and Mrs Sunil Arora, Principal of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, were the guests on the occasion. The first, second and third prizes were given to Neha Arora of class XII A, Anjali of class VII B and Chandni of class XII A. Sandeep of class VI B and Kalpna of class VI A were given consolation prizes. Nehru house was selected the best house.

In her speech, Principal of the school, Ms Sadhana Sharma, said that participation was important than winning and such type of competitions made a positive contribution towards cultural and intellectual development of students.

Mehfil-e-Bachpan: Kindergarten section of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School organised ‘Mehfil-e-Bachpan’, its first ever annual prize giving ceremony in the Swami Dayanand Hall, on Friday. The show was graced by Mrs Shweta Verma, Chairperson, Red Cross Society, Ludhiana. She was escorted to the bedecked school Hall by NCC pilots amidst thunderous applause. Lighting of the lamp by the chief guest was followed by the recitation of Gayatri mantra by students of LKG and UKG. Nearly 250 tiny tots were awarded certificates and trophies. The presentation of various cultural items by the sweet angles of Kindergarten added colour to the show. These items included group songs, dance with style, drama, medley and a skit. The skit highlighting the message to be ‘role models for their children’ to elders won wide applause from the audience.

A slide show highlighting the activities of Kindergarten section throughout the year, ‘Window to the world of Toddlers,’ made the programme more interesting. On the occasion, 36 teachers and gardeners who bagged prizes in various flower shows at the city and state levels recently were also honoured. The main attraction of the show was ‘Modelling’ by the nursery students, who won various titles in the fresher’s party held last month. 

Students to hold dharna
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, May 6
The Students Action Committee formed by eight different students’ organisations will hold a dharna on May 11. Committee members visited ITI, Nanaksar, ITI, Manuke, Jassowal, Senior Secondary School, Manuke, and High School, Bhamipura.

In a press note, Ramandip Jhodan, leader of the local unit of the Panjab Students Union, and Yadwinderpal Singh, another leader, expressed their views against the privatisation.

They said that ITI, Barnala, was handed over to private persons and it was now the turn of ITI, Nanaksar, and govt ITI (Boys), Ludhiana. They warned that they would not allow private people or contractors to enter these institutions.

HEALTH

PMC to regulate practice by foreign doctors
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
The Punjab Medical Council (PMC) has taken exception to examination of patients and performance of surgical procedures by foreign doctors at medical camps being organised by institutions and individuals in different parts of the state.

Sources in the council told Ludhiana Tribune that any kind of medical or surgical practice, even of a temporary nature, by medical professionals of foreign origin, was violative of the Punjab Medical Council Act since these doctors were not registered with the PMC as required under the said Act.

The council had issued directions to all medical institutions and other bodies to the effect that all foreign doctors ought to submit their professional degrees to the PMC and take prior permission for examination of patients in medical camps or other institutions. It has further been made clear that onus of seeking permission from the PMC for foreign doctors would lie on concerned medical institutions or the organisers of medical and surgical camps.

The council also demanded that doctors coming to the state from other parts of the country for examination and treatment of patients be asked to submit proof of their registration in order to establish their bona fides.

Admn gears up for pulse polio drive
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
The district health administration is gearing up for the second phase of the national level pulse polio campaign on May 15. Presiding over a meeting of senior medical officers and heads of different sectors in the district here today, the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, asked them to ensure that each and every child in the age group of 0-5 years was administered polio drops.

They were directed to take special care for the coverage of children in slum areas and those belonging to economically weaker sections of society.

The District Vaccination Officer, Dr Kuldip Kaur Sahni, informed that for the coverage of nearly 5.20 lakh children in the district under the national programme for polio eradication, the Health Department had set up 1,900 booths in urban and rural areas.

The polio drops would be administered at these booths from 8 am to 4 pm while teams of medical and para-medical staff of the department would undertake door-to-door visits in their respective areas from 7 am to 1.30 pm for complete coverage of the children.

Dr D.S. Dadwal, a representative of World Health Organisation, who attended the meeting, called upon the medical fraternity and the NGOs to join hands in the gigantic task of total eradication of the crippling disease from the country.

Lecture on breast cancer at DMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
To create awareness among the masses about the prevention of breast cancer, the Health Education Cell of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), along with the Krishna Breast Care Charitable Trust, will organise the 42nd public health lecture on ‘breast cancer—detection and prevention’ in the Dumra Auditorium on May 8.

The lecture will be delivered by the renowned oncologist of the country, Dr Suresh H. Advani, consultant and head, medical oncology, Jaslok Hospital.

Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina, Medical Superintendent and convener, Health Education Cell, the DMCH, informed that cancer patients from the region would benefit from Dr Advani’s expert advice as he would be available for consultation on May 7 at the DMCH. Those desirous to avail of his consultation could get themselves registered in the office of Chief Officer on Special Duty in the hospital at phone No. 0161-24304232 or 2304242, Ext-715 between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm.

A Padma Shree awardee, Dr Advani has been honoured with several prestigious awards, including 31st Dhanwantri Award-India’s greatest recognition in the field of medicine.

He is the man who pioneered bone marrow transplant for leukemia in India. Confined to wheel chair since the age of eight due to a polio attack, this devoted doctor was a living example of victory of human excellence over limitation. 

2 ultrasound machines sealed
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 6
The Punjab Health Department has sealed two ultrasound machines here for allegedly violating norms of the department. Dr Inderjit Kaur Walia, Civil Surgeon, Sangrur, said here yesterday that three cases of violation of the Act had been noticed while some diagnostic centres evaded verification on the pretext of closure of their respective centres.

Dr Walia said two ultrasound machines had been sealed here as the doctors had failed to comply with the norms prescribed in the latest version of the PNDT Act. These included centres being run at K.L. Memorial Hospital and one run by Dr Rajiv Kumar. Another diagnostic centre at Malerkotla was given a warning for minor discrepancies.

Workshop on hernia tomorrow 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 6
A continuing medical education (CME)-cum-live workshop on laparoscopic repair of hernia and free camp for hernia patients will be organised by Dewan Hospital and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Centre here on May 8.

Giving this information here yesterday, Ms Neeta Dewan of the hospital informed that Dr M.C. Mishra, professor and head of surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr Parveen Bhatia, chief surgeon, Bhatia Global Hospital, New Delhi, Dr S.P. Dembla, head of department at Golden Jaipur Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Gurdeep Singh Sidhu, Sidhu Hospital, Doraha, and Dr Narotam Dewan will deliver lectures on the subject. The lectures would be followed by a discussion and interaction among more than 300 surgeons from all over the region that are expected to participate in the conference.

In the live workshop, 20 operations would be performed and demonstrated to the delegates through an audio-visual projection. The host hospital has decided to hold a free camp for hernia patients. All types of hernia patients could get themselves registered for treatment from May 4. According to Ms Dewan, no operation expenses, no bed expenses and nursing expenses would be charged from the patients. However, the patients will have to bear the expenses of the medicines, while the required clinical tests would be available at half the cost.

On the advantages of laparoscopic surgery, Dr Narotam Dewan informed that smaller cuts were required in case of surgery by the laparoscopic technique. The patient had lesser pain and could go to work earlier because the stay in the hospital was shorter. This method was especially suitable for hernia that formed again after the surgery.

Psychiatrist for Paris congress
Our Correspondent