Students learn business ethics
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
From pricing products to packaging and selling these to prospective customers, it was their first-ever lesson in entrepreneurial skills for students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 25, here.

Learning the ropes of business at a special stall put up for Karva Chauth in Sector 15, these children are a cut above the rest lined up all along the verandah for applying mehndi. They stand out not only because they are attired in their school dress but also because their stall is attracting the best business.

While Seema Rawat along with her other friends is busy applying mehndi on the hands of women thronging their stall, Rona Khetarpal sells flower decorations, file covers of recycled paper and soft toys prepared by students. Poonam and Pooja, in charge of the stall for earthen lamps and candles, are practically without work all because they have already run out of the much-in-demand coconut-shaped earthen lamps.

Watching over her “children” while they dabble in business, Principal Devinder Kaur Kang is satisfied with the way things are proceeding. The brain behind the stall, the principal hopes they will at least be able to double their business this festive season.

“Last year, through this three-day affair we collected Rs 13,000 and it was our maiden attempt. This year, we are better prepared and have enough stocks of candles which sold like hot cakes last time. We have made three quintals of candles — regular, fancy and floating in all shapes, colours and sizes. The children are picking up their respective trades very well. I am here only to coordinate,” she says.

While the raw material has been provided by the UT Education Department, students of the regular school and those enrolled under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan have made everything in their school lab as a part of the vocational training imparted to them after school hours free of cost. “The school does not let us compromise on studies. While exam time means no vocational training classes, we prepare our items all through the rest of the year and are ready well before the festive season kicks off,” says Ramta Kumari.

The earnings are deposited into a separate account created to further train these students and rope in more from the school. “We do not distribute the money earned from the stall among the children since we have already trained them in a particular art with which they can earn for themselves. However, we use it to train other children and have a number of other vocations like hair cutting and knitting which are doing equally well but can not be exhibited,” the principal says.

All praise for the backing being provided by the Education Department, she says they are always there to help in whatever way they possibly can. “It would not have happened with their cooperation,” she says.

The children too are on cloud nine for the response the stall is earning and are happy with or without any remunerations. It is a labour of love for them, but it certainly will earn them a reward at the end of the three days. For them, a surprise is in store from the principal’s side.

World Year of Physics celebrated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
The Science Association of the MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, held Physics Fest today to celebrate World Year of Physics in memory of Albert Einstein. Mr Vivek Atray, Director, Science and Technology, UT, was the chief guest on the occasion. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Sandeep Sehajpal, professor in astrophysics, Panjab University.

The fest included various inter-college competitions .

The results are as follows:-

Declamation Contest: Aanchal Sharma(1), S.D. College, Sec- 32, Chd; Mehak Uppal(2), GCG-11, Chd; Neha Miglani (3), MCM DAV, Sec- 36, Chd.

Best Team: GCG, Sector- 11, Chd.

Mock Conference: Sakshi Arora(1), MCM DAV, Sec- 36, Chd; Sonia Sofal, GCG-11, Chd

Quiz (team prize): MCM DAV College, Sec- 36, Chd (1), Govt. College, Sec- 11, Chd (2).

Essay writing: Mohit Yadav (1), Govt. College, Sec- 11, Chd; Silky Sharma(2), S.D. College, Sec- 32, Chd.

Poster presentation: Manmeet Kaur(1), Govt. Home Science College, Sec- 10, Chd; Vikramjit Singh(2), Govt. College, Sector- 11, Chd.

Seminar on corruption in India
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
A seminar on “Corruption and Democratic Governance in India” was organised at the Department of Sociology, Panjab University. Mr A.P Pandey, ADGP (Vigilance), Punjab, spoke on the topic.

He stated that the cancer of corruption in India had eaten into the very moral fabric of the society. At present, the total amount of black money in the country has been estimated between the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 crore. Its more worrisome that even those quarters which were supposed to fight corruption were not totally corruption resistant.

Conference of principals held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
A principals’ conference was organised today by the Academic Staff College, Panjab University, to sensitize the principals of the affiliated colleges about their important role. Interestingly, the conference did not see many principals from the local colleges. Prof. K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, addressed participants.

COSMID-2005 celebrated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
SD College Sector 32 celebrated its annual function, COSMID-2005, on the theme bio-technology and bio-informatics. The programme was inaugurated by Dr Girish Sahni, Director, IMTECH, Chandigarh. Dr Sahni stressed upon the role of biotechnology in today’s world. 

COURTS

Out-of-court settlement scheme introduced
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 19
In order to settle long-pending court cases, the Haryana Power Distribution Corporation has decided to introduce out-of-court settlement of cases scheme. An official press note said that the scheme would remain in force from October 20 to November 30. The facility to settle the pending cases out of courts will be available for all disputes pending in courts, including district consumers disputes redressal forum and State Commission for Arbitration.

The scheme will not be applicable to cases where the amount has been charged after ascertaining the date of slowness of meter as load data; where disputes are on account of applicability of multiplying factor; and to cases where 100 per cent payment had been made by the consumer.

The scheme will also be applicable to the cases where amount charged on average basis and the dispute can be settled after payment of 50 per cent amount along with 12 per cent simple interest. The power to settle these cases would vest with the sub-divisional officer (Operations) and executive engineers.

Orders reserved in case of dismissed jail official
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today reserved orders in the case of dismissed Assistant Jail Superintendent of Burail Jail, P.S. Rana. After listening to the arguments of the counsel of the applicant and the respondents, the tribunal reserved the orders.

The applicant, in his plea, stated that he was dismissed from service before the outcome of the inquiry. He was dismissed on March 1, 2004. After sedition charges were dropped against him by a local court, he made an appeal that his dismissal may be withdrawn.

SPORTS

Exclusion of badminton from state games resented
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
Resentment prevails among city shuttlers with the exclusion of badminton in the inaugural Chandigarh State Games being conducted by the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) from October 27 to 30.

The shuttlers argue that why an Olympic sports event has been ignored by the organising committee stating reason spokesman for the COA said the affiliation of the Chandigarh Badminton Association was pending with the COA.

It may be recalled that the badminton association is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association and the CBA is regularly organising state, national and international competitions in the city.

The players and officials of the COA have urged the Chandigarh Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues, (retd) who is also the chief patron of the organising committee, to include badminton as the 22nd sports discipline in the state games. Similar request was forwarded to COA president Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and secretary general Ravinder Talwar.

St Kabir excel in football
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 19
Hosts St Kabir School, Sector 16, scored a fine 6-0 win over Saupins School, Sector 9, Panchkula, in the opening Pool D match of the St Kabir Under-12 football trophy being conducted by the Chandigarh Football Association at the St Kabir’s ground here today.

The St Kabir boys displayed their talent and skills to win applause even from officials of the Chandigarh Football Association. 

Football tourney opens
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 19
The PTIS inter-polytechnic football tournament, Zone B, was inaugurated by Principal R. Bhandari at the Rayat Polytechnic Playgrounds near here this morning. In this two-day meet, teams of as many as six affiliated institutions of PTU are taking part. Teams are as follows: Rayat Polytechnic Railmajra, JR Polytechnic, Hoshiarpur, City College, Shahpur, CEC Chandigarh,Doaba Poly-technic, Raipur, Government Polytechnic, Khunimajra.