The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Rs 14 cr to improve quality of education
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
The Chandigarh Administration has earmarked a sum of Rs 14 crore for the current financial year as against Rs 11 crore of the last financial year to bring substantial improvement in the quality of education and for radical reconstruction of this system, under the plan scheme of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

This amount would be spent on having a multi-pronged strategy to give a new thrust to the educational system and a system more suited to the requirement of the people. Attracting children of weaker sections and also girl students to the school for education besides the introduction of skill training would remain the priority areas.

Universal enrolment and retention of children upto 14 years of age will also be emphasized. The infrastructure of schools will be strengthened with a sum of Rs. 5.57 crore.

Hallo Majra and Kishangarh will have new schools and the grant would also be given for ongoing construction of 6 schools in Sector 56, 38 (West), Sector 8, Mauli Jagran and Sector 48 and 49.

Similarly 50 class rooms will be added in the existing schools.

A sum of Rs 45 lakh has been provided to introduce skill training in other schools on the pattern of Govt High School, Sector 25. Similarly a sum of Rs 5 lakh has been provided for giving uniforms to girl students below the poverty line and a sum of Rs 48 lakh has been provided for giving text books free of cost to girl students up to the eighth class.

It has been decided to document the skill training courses especially in Sector 25 and nurseries for playway classes and a consultant has also been appointed for this purpose by them.

Art workshop concludes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
The first art and craft workshop organized at Bal Bhavan under the aegis of Indian Council for Child Welfare concluded on Wednesday. About 36 children attended the workshop which was sponsored by an outside firm. The workshop was conducted by Ms Ruby who trained the participants in the arts of fabric painting, candle making, kite and greeting card designing.

On demand, the ICCW will start another art and craft workshop at Bal Bhavan from tomorrow. Also going on at Bal Bhavan are workshops in dance, including the folk dances of Punjab. Bhangra workshop is being conducted by Balkar Sidhu and Ramesh Chandigaria. Three more workshops in dance and music are being conducted on the Bal Bhavan campus.

Books distributed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10
As many as 30 needy children from Janta Colony near Sector 12, Chandigarh, were distributed school books and notebooks by PGI’s Childline yesterday.

These children had been identified by the team members of Childline, a 24-hour telephonic emergency helpline for children in need of care and protection being run by Department of Paediatrics, PGI, during their outreach program.

The books and notebooks, sponsored by Canara Bank, Sector 34, Chandigarh, were distributed by local leaders and social activists.

LEISURE

Weekend getaway — Morni
A cool refuge from weary city life
Ruchika M. Khanna

The quaint beauty of Morni, nestled in the lower Shivaliks, is a sharp contrast to the warm and dusty plains. The only hill station in Haryana, Morni is a perfect getaway for the city weary souls.

Morni is actually the name of a ‘bhoj’ — a cluster of small villages — located amidst lush green and serene environs of the lower Shivaliks. Other than three or four hotels, offering magnificent view of the hills, Morni has little to offer to the yuppies other than its rustic charm. But it is this difference from the mundane and routine of other hill stations, and the solitude that it offers, which makes Morni a special weekend destination. A cluster of hotels is the only sign of urbanisation here, though a multi-storeyed building is now coming up.

The hill station is just 1,136 m above the sea level, and the daytime temperature remains between 30 and 32°C. The night temperature hovers between 22 and 25°C and evenings are pleasant. It is only the last 10 km of the drive that you feel the temperature change and see a change in flora and fauna.

Since the entire Morni block from Berwala onwards is a forest area, the place is a haven for the wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. A trek into the forest area could bring you eye to eye with leopards, cheetahs, wild boar, or jungle fowls. Another attraction is the Berwala bird safari, about 8 km from Panchkula, enroute to Morni. A herbal park has been established at Morni by the Forest Department, Haryana, where over 100 varieties of medicinal plants and herbs can be found.

Another 10 km downhill from Morni and one reaches Tikkar Taal, which, besides its scenic beauty, is also gaining importance as an adventure sports destination. The hill station attracts a large number of trekkers and adventure sports enthusiasts from the region. In fact, adventure camps are a regular feature at Tikkar Taal in autumn and winter. The Haryana Tourism Department has also set up an adventure theme park — Hosh and Josh Adventure Theme Park. It is a fun destination for kids and adults alike. In summers, boating facility is available at Tikkar Taal, while adventure activities like river crossings, Tarzan swings, and rock climbing offered from October to April. Tikkar Taal, twin water bodies, is also a perfect picnic spot.

Where to stay

Morni may not be a regular tourist destination, but it offers choice to tourists with different budgets. Haryana Tourism’s Mountain Quail, Forest Guest House, private hotels and motels like Morni Resorts, Hotel Chandrawal, and Hotel Prateek are the places where one can stay. But if you want to see the rustic hill life, motels in the village of Morni are also there. The accommodation is available for anywhere between Rs 300 to Rs 1200 per room. Bar facilities are available at Hotel Mountain Quail. At Tikkar Taal, the accommodation is available at dormitories constructed by the Haryana Tourism for Rs 25 per bed.

‘Sarpanchni’ staged at Pracheen Kala Kendra
S.D. Sharma

On the eve of the 100th monthly musical baithak programme, of the Pracheen Kala Kendra on Friday, octogenarian Gursharan Singh brought into focus the abject condition of the woman in male-dominated society. Highlighting the plight of women was his short play ‘Sarpanchni’ staged at the Pracheen Kala Kendra auditorium.

In spite of Constitutional provisions and claims by leaders, the subservient position of women in our society has not improved, reiterates the thespian.

Set in the pastoral background, the play juxtaposes the status inferior to that of men and a marginally superior to that of a maid servant. This harbinger of social curse continues to be a hurdle in the national progress.

The elation on the installation of Har Kaur (played by Amanpreet) as a ‘Sarpanchni’ is short lived as her husband (Sukhwinder) continues egoistically to take decisions displaying the male chauvinism.

However, the play progresses to register that of late she realises her potential and employs all measures for resurrection of womanhood. The play is of immense social import as it deals with the transformation of an average rural Punjabi woman into a real centre of power.

Amanpreet , Sukhwinder, Ikhatar Sahota and Harish Verma brought alive their respective roles. Kendra director M.L. Koser honoured Gursharan Singh and the artistes.