PAU admn officer Arora reinstated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 30
The vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr K.S. Aulakh, has ordered the reinstatement of Mr Ram Saran Arora, administrative-cum-accounts officer, in the College of Veterinary Science as he tendered an unqualified apology and his assurance that he would not indulge in any anti-university activity. He also dis-associated himself from the joint action committee of the employees.

Mr Arora along with Mr Satpaul Sharma, another employee of the university had gone on fast unto death against the alleged vindictive attitude of the authorities and both had been served with a show-cause notice asking them to explain why their services not be terminated for indulging in anti-university activities. The services of Mr Satpaul sharma have since been terminated as he failed to reply to the notice. The fast unto death was called off following intervention by Mr Satpaul Gosain, former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

The university authorities have issued a seven-page order giving the details of the anti-university activities indulged in by Mr Arora and finally his reinstatement by the Vice-Chancellor after seeking personal hearing from the Vice-Chancellor. During his meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Arora gave a written apology assuring that he would not indulge in any ‘irregular’ activities in future ‘which may tarnish the image of the PAU.’

Mr Arora further submitted: “taking into consideration my long and bright service record of over 40 years at the PAU and since I am on the verge of retirement, I request the university authorities to take a lenient view while deciding my case. Further, I have full faith in the Vice-Chancellor and whatever decision he takes, will be acceptable to me and I will not appeal against his decision to any statutory or legal authority.’

While ordering the reinstatement of Mr Arora, the university authorities have observed: “In view of the unqualified apology for his gross misconduct for which a show cause notice was issued and his assurance not to indulge in such irregular activities in future, the Vice-Chancellor Punjab Agricultural University taking a lenient view, is pleased to lower three steps of Mr Ram Saran Arora in his present scale.” His suspension period will be treated as non-duty.

Meanwhile, Mr Satpaul Sharma has appealed to the board of management of the PAU against his termination. 

10 schools in Doraha block without teachers
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, October 30
The acute shortage of teachers in government primary schools in Doraha block has proved a setback for children and hampered the smooth functioning of these schools to a great extent.

As many as 10 schools in the block are without a teacher while 10 others have only one teacher even though the strength fixed is much higher.

In Payal, the primary school at Rano village has 63 students, at Lopon 87 students, at Dugri 55, at N.B Landa 43, at B.B. Deep Nagar 60, at Deep Nagar 37, at Kotla Agana 39, at Bishanpura 42 and the school at Jaipura has 75 students. Ironically, all these schools are managing with any teacher. There are schools where only one teacher is shouldering the whole teaching burden.

There is only one teacher for 211 students at the primary school at Payal II as against the six sanctioned posts. In other primary schools also there is only one teacher each at kangas for 122 students, at Neelon Khurd for 81 students, at landa for 91, at Ajnoud for 82, at Buani for 109, at Ghudani Khurd for 122, at Shahpur for 94, at Lasara I for 67 and one teacher for 93 students at the primary school at Jandali.

There are other primary schools where there are two or more teachers but less than the required strength. There are two teachers each for 243 students at the primary school at Doraha 2, for 169 students at Payal I, for 162 students at Arraichan, for 165 students at B.B. Doraha, for 116 students at Bilaspur and for 130 students at Sihore in Payal.

There are three teachers each at primary schools at Katahari for 158 students and at Rampur for 246 students. In four such schools at Balala in Samrala, Daburjee, Branch Ferozepore and Nizampuri in Payal the teachers have been

Employed on contract.

Since no fresh recruitment had been made since December 2001 the situation for students had turned from bad to worse. The students come to schools and leave in the afternoon without being taught. Financially well-off people generally don’t send their children to these schools. It is usually poor students who are suffering. A factory worker, who sends his child to one such school, complained,” It seems as if we have been abandoned both by God as well as the government. What solace can we have from the fact that our child is going to a primary school that has no teacher?”

An unemployed JBT contends, “The irony of the situation is that hundreds of posts of teachers are lying vacant, thousands of teachers are unemployed and students are being denied primary education.”

According to official scourers, “The situation is worse in schools in rural areas as compared to those in urban areas. Many teachers appointed in rural areas prefer to shift to cities. They get themselves transferred leaving the school without teacher and the students without education.”

Science Club inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 30
A Science Club was inaugurated at Arya College here yesterday. The Principal of the college, Dr S.M. Sharma, inaugurated the club and addressed the students. He said it was an excellent initiative and promised all necessary help and facilities from the college management. The students of the science faculty presented a colourful entertainment programme.

“The students will benefit greatly in their all-round development” said Prof Sushma Sood, in charge, Science Club. She said the club would arrange extension lectures and quiz contests.

Annual function: IICE computer education, in association with New-Revolution (Education Division), Ludhiana, celebrated its fifth annual function here yesterday. The function was marked with different events like dance, singing, quiz, skit, choreography, etc.

Competitions among students of more than 13 IICE centres from all over Punjab were held. The centres when participated in the event were IICE Ludhiana, Raikot, Nabha, Khamanon, Malaudh, Patiala, Kohara, Malerkotla, Machhiwara, Bija, Haibowal etc.

College alumni association honours Dullo
Our Correspondent

Khanna, October 30
The A.S. College Alumni Association honoured Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, president, Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee, at its annual function organised at the college hall yesterday.

Dr R.S. Jhanji, Principal of the college, said that the alumni association was working for the betterment of the college. Mr Vinod Gupta, president of the association welcomed the guest and read the annual report of the association.

Mr Dullo was honoured. Prof Darshan Singh, founder dean of alumni, and Dr Ashwani Bansal were also honoured on the occasion. More than 60 students were honoured for their academic achievements.

The function was presided over by Mr Om Parkash Sachdeva .

The college students also presented a cultural programme on the occasion. 

Divali celebrated at BCM School
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 30
Divali was celebrated at B.C.M. School, Basant Avenue, Dugri. The school was decorated with rangoli, diyas and candles. The students had designed and decorated different types of wax candles, gel candles, diyas, kalash and pooja thalis to put up a nice exhibition which was a treat for the eyes. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Umesh Munjal, M.D. Highway Cycles Ltd.

The message of “pollution-free Divali” was highlighted through different innovative slogans and posters like “Have Divali dhamaka but without patakha” and “Enjoy life in true colours”.

The main attraction, apart from the exhibition of gel candles, was the fancy dress competition of tiny tots and children came up as Spiderman, doctor, bridegroom, batman. The winners of the fancy dress competition were given attractive gift hampers.

HEALTH

DMC staff hail acceptance of demands
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 30
The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Employees' Union has hailed the acceptance of several pending demands of the employees by the hospital management.

Presiding over a meeting of the union here last evening, Ms Rajwant Randhawa, president of the body, informed the members that the duty of the nursing staff had been curtailed from 48 hours to 40 hours in a week in keeping with the recommendations of Nursing Council of India. Further, the nursing staff, put on shift duty, would henceforth be entitled to six holidays in a months as against four being presently availed by them.

Ms Randhawa said the management had agreed to provide the facility of CT scan to the staff members free of cost.

"The employees will now be able to accumulate their due medical leave for 30 days which earlier lapsed by the end of year and medical leave will now be granted to them on OPD consultation basis."

She said an office in the hospital premises had been allotted to the union which would be inaugurated very soon in a befitting manner. Other pending demands of the employees, she claimed, were being sympathetically being considered by the management and a positive outcome was expected. Ms Randhawa claimed that the employees had triumphed solely due to their commitment to the cause and a united struggle while at the same time keeping interests of the institution foremost before them.