The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Assurance on improving nursing education
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 7
Parliamentary Secretary for Housing, Urban Development and Power, Punjab, Surinder Davar today said the state government was committed to bringing about a qualitative improvement in standards of nursing education in the state and several steps had been taken by the regulatory authority towards this end.

Addressing the valedictory function of the 21st Biennial National Conference of Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here, he said nursing was a noble profession as they provided medical care to patients after they were treated by doctors.

Reiterating that nurses should be given their due status and respect in the society, Mr Davar assured that the demands of nurses, pertaining to the state government, would be settled on a priority basis.

He also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the association towards construction of an old-age home for the nurses.

In her welcome address, president of the Punjab state branch of the TNAI Kanwaljit Gill elaborated on the activities of the unit and also focussed on future programmes.

State secretary and organising secretary of the conference Jasbir Kaur introduced the chief guest.

She appreciated the arrangements made by the unit for the conference.

Prizes and appreciation awards were given to the members of the association for enrollment of new members and winners of poster competition, organised during the conference by the chief guest.

From Schools & Colleges
Talk on career counselling at BVM
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 7
A talk on career counselling was organised at Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udam Singh Nagar, here on Friday for the students of Class XII (science and commerce streams).

The talk was delivered by teachers from “Top Career and You” (TCY). The students from BVM Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar, also participated in it and got information about the opportunities of courses in different fields like law, fashion designing and study abroad etc.

Mr Parveen Pruthi, project dead, TCY, Chandigarh, apprised students about opportunities in law, avenues for higher studies, premier institutes in India, test scenario and international scholarships for higher studies abroad etc.

Ms Mukta Gargi, relationship manager, TCY, made the students aware of courses in fashion designing, fields of specialisation, preliminary courses to enter into different fields, physical and psychological requirements, names of different institutes, communication, selection procedure etc.

Mr Manish Kumar spoke about integrated solutions for studying abroad as Scholastic Aptitude Test, examination pattern, registration deadlines etc. Mr Kewal Washera, interacted and answered queries of students.

Samajik Chetna Programme: Students of the BNSM College of Technical Education, Alamgir, participated and won a special appreciation award in the Samajik Chetna Programme held by the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Youth Welfare Club in Sangowal village here recently.

Mr Gurjinder Singh, Mr Gurpreet Singh, Mr Maninder Singh and Mr Satwant Singh of the BCA final year, Mr Jasmail Singh of the BCA second year, Mr Sukhpalbir Singh and Mr Vikramjit Singh of the BCA first year presented the play on the evils of superstitions and quacks in rural areas.

The students also carried out a cleanliness drive and guided the villagers about personal hygiene and importance of consulting qualified doctors only.

Dental check-up camp: Sanatan Vidya Mandir organised a dental check-up camp in collaboration with the Indian Dental Association and Colgate India here on Friday.

A team of doctors headed by Dr Vivek Saggar and Dr Kuckreja examined the students. Other members of the team were Dr Gajinder, Dr Ishpaul, Dr Aman, Dr Simrit and Dr Dipti.

They explained the reasons for dental decay and the methods of prevention.

Dr Vivek Saggar addressed the students and teachers and explained the right method of brushing. The children were also made aware of other dental diseases. He cautioned them about hot and cold sensations, pain, swelling etc. His lecture was followed by a question-answer session.

Students were issued cards with dental check-up details.

Folk art competitions: In order to nurture traditional folk art, Ikebana-flower arrangement, Rangoli making, kalash decoration and mehandi competitions were organised at BCM School here on Friday.

Girl students from Gulmohar, Shalimar and Kohinoor houses took part in the competition.

Dr Vandna Shahi, Principal of the school, addressed the students on the occasion.

MEd result: Sunita Malhotra, a student of the GHGH College of Education for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, has stood second in the MEd examination conducted by Panjab University.

She secured 572 marks out of total 700. Three students of the college ranked among the first 10 toppers in PU merit list. While Sweependeep Kaur got the fourth position, Puneet got the eighth position. All 24 MEd students of the college secured the first division.

NCC girls attend annual camp
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 7
The 3- Punjab Girls Battalion of NCC, Ludhiana ,conducted a 10-day annual training camp for its cadets which concluded here today. Girl cadets from schools and colleges in and around the city participated in various activities held at the Punjab Police Academy at Phillaur.

The cadets had to undergo rigorous training starting from PT in the morning, followed by firing, drill with arms, map reading, service subjects.

The Commanding Officer of the unit said it was indeed a very hectic schedule for them yet each and every cadet volunteered for participation in the maximum possible activities. The aim of the annual camp is to inculcate discipline, leadership qualities and competition spirits among the cadets.

Cadets donated blood at a camp which was organised by a team of doctors from the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. Girl cadets were trained in traffic control on the miniature traffic control park at the academy by police personnel.

Cadet Arti, during interaction, said the training on traffic control measures had been very useful which they would practice and put to use later in the congested part of Ludhiana.

Other social service activities organised during the camp were lectures on AIDS and cancer awareness, a quiz on ecology and environment, tree plantation and general area cleaning and maintenance. The cadets also visited Asia's biggest Hanuman temple in Phillaur.

Master of MA degrees
Ravi Inder Singh Makkar

Machhiwara, October 7
Hard work never goes unrewarded. This proverb fits well in case of Mr Lok Nath Sharma who has decided to do his ninth Master’s degree after bagging a gold medal in MA (Religious Studies) this year. “I want to keep learning all the time,” quips Mr Sharma.

This 54-yr-old lecturer has spent half of his life studying and is willing to keep up with his endeavour. Pleased at his performance in MA (Religious Studies), Mr Sharma often recalls the days when he used to borrow books from his companions as he was not in a position to purchase them.

Talking to this correspondent, Mr Sharma recalls when he once asked for a book from one of his friends, who in turn gave him a slip bearing the name of book instead of lending it and directed him to buy it from the market.

But all this went a long way in boosting the morale of Mr Sharma instead of discouraging him. “I never lost temper or got upset when somebody tried to hurt my feelings,” added Mr Sharma.

Apart from being an ideal educator, Mr Sharma is an eminent writer. He has got more than 100 features published in various magazines and newspapers.

“I have written most of these features while travelling in the bus due to my busy schedule,” quips Mr Sharma.

He is also a member of the Punjab School Education Board, Mohali. He had played a major role in convincing the board authorities to set three sets of questions papers instead of five. He is now planning to establish a question paper bank for the convenience of students.

“I want a teacher to be an example for his students. He should be a barrier between students and evils,” says Mr Sharma.

Mr Sharma plans to set a record of having maximum number of MA degrees.

CULTURE

Theatre resurgence in city
Shveta Pathak
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 7
The city, which has remained dormant in the field of art for quite some time, is now awakening to a theatrical revolution. From less than a decade ago, when theatre was more of a medium that catered to cultural taste of those in bigger cities, the city seems to be finding its cultural vein in this finer form of art.

Not that the city is new to this culture. It was predominant in 1970s and also in 1980s, but faded with prominent contributors like Harpal Tiwana leaving the city.

The culture is catching up again with residents and the city offers one play almost every week.

“A wave of change is certainly there and it is good to notice,” feels Surjit Pattar, renowned poet, who has also adapted several classical plays for Neelam Mansingh.

The change, though subtle in comparison to what is available in places like Chandigarh and Amritsar, is being viewed as the initial stage where seeds have been sown but full bloom is still away.

The Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam (LSS) took the initiative six years ago and brought home the likes of Lillette Dubey and Naseeruddin Shah.

Recalls Mr S.K.Rai, general secretary of the LSS: “The initial phase was anything but encouraging. I remember one of the first shows when even after an hour of the scheduled time, audience would simply not turn up. Today things are different.”

Besides the LSS, veterans like Nirmal Rishi have been contributing towards not just in terms of staging plays, but also tapping the local pool of talent. Rai admits that the LSS caters to a section of people — the elite — primarily.

“That would be only one fraction. Without local artistes and local producers it would not be possible to make theatre culture percolate down to other sections of people.”

Nirmal Rishi, through her group “Alive Artists” brought plays like Saavi and Dhukhdey Kalire. An actress herself, Rishi, who has been now involved in theatre for over three decades, has brought forth many youngsters and trained them as actors. Completing the picture are groups like Media Artists and Rang Manch Rang Nagri, which are religiously pursuing their mission of promoting theatre by roping in artistes from here as well as from other cities.

Media Artists took a bold move and staged adaptations of famous literary works in Punjabi like “Macbeth” and “Waiting for Godot”.

“That is what we call as bringing home the best of what is available outside. We need such literary work,” Pattar opines.

Now while initiatives have been made, a lot still needs to be done. Insufficient infrastructure, dearth of sponsors and attitude of not spending to watch plays are dampening factors. “We still do not have a proper hall. Guru Nanak Bhavan is quite expensive, Punjabi Bhavan lacks facilities that can enable staging in extreme summer or winter,” points out Nirmal Rishi.

She adds, “We need a hall with a seating capacity for 300-400 persons. May be industry, which keeps sponsoring plays, too, can take some such initiative.”

It is interesting to note that leading corporates, which used to sponsor events like music nights and fashion shows, now take pride in associating with plays.

“A lot of effort towards this direction is still required. It would be rather early to say that this attitude applies to industry as a whole. They still hesitate in sponsoring for local groups,” Jatinder Preet of Media Artists, voices concern.

“Besides, a majority still would rather wait for an invitation or a pass and not watch a play merely because they would have to buy a ticket,” he said.

While local groups are mulling ideas like offering tickets at nominal rates, a collaborative effort by industry, administration and residents is the need of the hour.

Pattar sums it: “We have moved from one string to the next. But to move further, we cannot be waiting for others to take the initiative.”