Induction meeting held at IGNOU centre
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
An induction meeting of Indira Gandhi National Open University, was held at IGNOU Special Study Centre, 2210-D, Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, here, on the eve of commencement of the new session today.

Dr K.D. Parsad, Assistant Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Khanna, presided over the function. Prof Harlal Singh, former Director, Punjab School Education Board, was the guest of honour.

Dr Parsad gave detailed information about the policy and programmes of IGNOU. He said at present there were 13 lakh students receiving education from IGNOU with its centers through out the world. There were 30 centres of IGNOU outside India. Regarding the need to establish a university, he said only 10 per cent of the students qualifying from different boards were able to pursue their studies in the colleges. IGNOU fulfilled the need of the rest the 90 per cent of the students who cannot continue their regular studies for one or the other reasons, he added.

Prof Harlal Singh said the programmes and policies introduced by IGNOU fulfilled the dreams of the framers of the Constitution of India. He said it was a departure from the past where partial benefits were derived only by a part of the citizens in the field of education. Now, the present policy would attract the rural masses to get benefits of education, he said.

Ms Asha Sharma, coordinator, IGNOU study centre, discussed in length about various subjects taken by the newcomers and advised them to study sincerely to set new records in the sphere of education. She added that IGNOU provided the opportunity to students to be graduated in any stream by clearing the Bachelor Preparatory Programme. She further said in addition to the courses already run by IGNOU at this special study centre, MA in English and Hindi have been introduced at the IGNOU centre here. She said students had pay much less as compared to the fees paid at other university and college levels for higher education. 

Workshop for Principals
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
A workshop was organised for the Principals of various schools at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here today. The workshop was held to deliberate on how to make the regional level “CBSE Intel Science Exhibition” a success and the role of the Principals to motivate the students to become researchers and scientists.

Intel played a stellar role in organising the workshop which aimed at generating interactive, sharing and caring relationship amongst Principals.

The key-note speaker for the workshop was Dr Surinderbir Singh, Principal, GND Engineering College. Dr M.P.S. Bhatia (HoD) Computer Science, NSIT Dwarkas, Delhi, who is a member of the national panel of judges for “Intel Science Discovery Fair” was the resource person.

The workshop included a power-point presentation and a short movie. Addressing the gathering, Dr Bhatia laid emphasis upon the requirement of effective networking at various levels.

COURTS

Warrant officer raids police station
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 18
A warrant officer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court this evening raided the Division No. 5 police station and the CIA in search of Micky Jain, the main accused in the Reema Jain disappearance case.

Family member of Micky Jain had alleged before the court that a police team had taken away Micky Jain from his house and his whereabouts had been unknown since then.

The raid, however, did not yield results. Micky’s wife Sangeeta Jain said the police was not revealing his whereabouts.

CULTURE

Auditions for dance show
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
Graviti — the event managers for Star Plus (in Punjab) — will hold auditions for the popular dance show “Kaboom”, which is aired on the channel every Saturday. The show is hosted by Javed Jaffrey.

The organisers Mr Ritesh Mohindra, Mr Hitesh Nagpal and Mr Sanjiv Dhanda, said at a press conference here today that the auditions would be held in the city on September 24 and 25 for children below the age of 14 years. Four persons from Mumbai and Kolkata would be coming to the city to judge the talent of children.

Mr Mohindra said Graviti Events had been conducting such commercial/cultural shows and events including star nights in and around Punjab. “This would be one of the best events. Posters for the auditions would get pasted outside leading schools in the city. There will be no participating fee and each child will be allowed to perform for three minutes on the basis of which, his/her talent would be recognised by judges,” he added.

Mr Dhanda and Mr Nagpal said 10-15 children from all over the state would be shortlisted and they would participate in semi-finals in Mumbai. “The auditions would be for group and solo performers. The children will be getting training from Gargi Singh, Gladrags Mrs India finalist, on both days,” Mr Nagpal added.

HEALTH

Experts discuss knee joint pain
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
The Ludhiana district branch of the National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) organised a seminar on management of knee joint pain here last evening which was attended by more that 100 delegates from the city and surrounding towns.

The keynote speaker, Dr Sanjeev Mahajan, an eminent joint replacement and arthroscopic surgeon from the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, observed that knee joint, being a complex joint, could suffer from pain and swelling due to various reasons. While making correct diagnosis was the key to providing relief, most of the problems could be managed with minimal medicine, physiotherapy and minimal invasive arthroscopic surgery.

Dr Mahajan, who has undergone intensive advanced training in knee joint replacement surgery in Europe and Australia for three years, said patients with severe damaged knee joint could go in for knee joint replacement surgery, which was a standard surgical procedure now. “With the use of new techniques and improved implants, patients are out of bed the very next day of surgery and can return to their daily routine almost immediately. It has now become possible for those going in for knee joint replacement surgery to even bend knees to nearly full range.”

Dr Rajesh Thapar, president of district branch of NIMA, extended a warm welcome to the guest speaker and other delegates, and also introduced Dr Mahajan. The district secretary, Mr Surendra Gupta, presented the report on the elections of the state branch of NIMA, held at Hoshiarpur recently. Members of the association hailed the nomination of Dr Satinder Kakkar as patron of the state body and also welcomed the offer of the Ludhiana branch to host the function for installation of the new state body team, led by Dr Satish Sharma.

600 examined at medical camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
More than 600 patients were examined and provided follow-up advice as well as medicines at a free medical check-up and eye operation camp organised by the Lions Club, Ludhiana, in association with the Swami Vivekananda Swarg Ashram Trust at Model Town Extension here today.

A team of doctors, comprising Dr Parminder Singh, Dr Vishal Garg, Dr Gagan Bajaj, Dr Rajinder Kaur, Dr R.K. Santoshi and Dr Ginny Gupta, examined patients suffering from various ailments.

Inaugurating the camp, the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Harnam Das Johar, lauded the efforts of voluntary bodies and service organisations extending help to poor patients by way of providing free medical treatment at such camps.

He exhorted medical professionals to serve the ailing humanity with compassion and dedication.

The president of the Lions Club, Mr G.S. Chawla, along with the secretary, Mr K.K. Bhatia, and the treasurer, Mr Bhushan Thukral, who were present on the occasion, announced that besides distribution of medicines free of cost to the needy patients, the club would make available free eye lenses to patients selected for eye operations.

Prominent among others at the camp were Mr Ram Parkash Bharti, president, Mr B.D. Arora, general secretary, and Mr C.L. Chandok, trustee of the Swami Vivekananda Swarg Ashram Trust.