EDUCATION

Teachers block Dullo’s way
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 24
Activists of the Unemployed Elementary Teachers Union, Punjab, today laid a siege at Ferozepore Road in front of the Mini-Secretariat and did not allow President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, to pass through the road for around 25 minutes here this afternoon.

Hundreds of unemployed teachers staged a dharna on the main Ferozepore Road and burned the effigy of Ms Sonia Gandhi, All-India Congress Committee chief, stating that she had reduced the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to a rubber stamp.

At around 2 p.m. the agitators blocked traffic for around half an hour. Serpentine queues of vehicles were seen on the main road, although the police had diverted the traffic through other areas.

Despite the best efforts of Mr Dullo’s security personnel and the local police, the PPCC President had to wait on the road and listen to the slogans raised by the unemployed teachers.

Mr Paramjit Singh Mann, while addressing the agitators, said they would not accept the proposal of the state government to leave elementary education in the control of village panchayats.

“The Chief Minister is announcing that they will advertise posts of teachers shortly. But it is proving to be an announcement only till date. He thinks we will sit pretty after the announcement and will not raise any voice,” said Mr Mann.

He said the government’s move to hand over managements of primary schools to panchayats was aimed at closing schools forever. The government was also stopping the grants to universities and aided schools.

From Schools and Colleges
Khalsa College holds annual function
Our Correspondents

Ludhiana, February 24
The annual prize distribution function of Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, was organized here today. Padma Bhushan Dr Khem Singh Gill, former Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and present vice-president of the Kalgidhar Trust and Chairman of Akal Academies, was the chief guest.

The chief guest was accorded a warm welcome by the members of the college managing committee, Principal Dr Varinder Kaur Thind, staff and students of the college.

After the college shabad “Dehe Shiva Var Mohe,” Dr Thind read out the annual college report highlighting the achievements of students in academics, sports and cultural activities in the session 2005-06.

The college managing committee president, Mr Pritpal Singh Grewal, vice-president, Dr S.S. Grewal, treasurer, Mr Gurdish Grewal, and secretary, Mr Sudarshan Singh Deol, were present.

Dr Gill gave away prizes to nearly 350 students who excelled in academics and 50 winners of various college competitions.

Dance competition: A dance competition was held on the premises of Love Dale Montessori here today in which 10 students were selected for annual day function.

Annual function: Little Angel Nursery School celebrated its annual function here today. Children came dressed as sunflower, parrots , Son Pari, etc.

Ms Prem Verma presided over the function. The first prize was won by Rishma dressed as Son Pari, while Ryrhni Rawal, dressed as parrot, came second . The third prize was won by Mannan dressed as Shah Rukh Khan.

Homage paid: Government Model Senior Secondary School organised a function to pay homage to Sir Baden Powell, founder of the Scout movement, here yesterday.

Guides started the function by reciting prayers from all religions. Ms Man Mohan Kaur and Ms Bhupinder Kaur urged the guides to observe discipline. Guide Captain Amarjeet Kaur talked to students about the duties of a guide.

Foundation stone: The foundation stone for additional wing of Spring Dale Senior Secondary School was laid here yesterday by Bhai Sewa Singh Tarmal.

He performed ardas and shabad kirtan was recited by students of the school .

SAMRALA
Seminar: Malwa College, Bondli Samrala, organised a seminar for the outgoing students of BA, B.Sc and MA on career and courses available with the help of the Punjab Institute of Management and Technology, Mandi Gobindgarh.

College Principal Dr Shinderpal Singh said the objective of the seminar was to enlighten the students about the changing global business scenario and seeking better quality placements.

Prof Parmjit Kaur, in charge of the girls’ wing of the college, and Prof Baldeep Singh, Dean, Cultural Activities, also spoke.

Annual function: The annual prize distribution function of the local Punjab Public School will be held on February 27 on the school campus, according to the Principal of the school.

Youth Akali leader Gurpreet Singh Bhatti will be the chief guest and Jathedar Jagjeewan Singh Kheernia and Jathedar Jasmail Singh Bondli will be the guest of honour.

Contests at GNN College
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 24
Declamation and painting contests were organised by the SDM, Payal, at the seminar hall of Guru Nanak National College, here, today. Several schools and colleges participated in the contests. Mr Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM, Mr Pardeep Bains, Naib Tehsildar, Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general secretary, college management committee, Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, director of the college, and Dr Narinder Singh, Principal of the college, were among others present on the occasion.

Mr Shamshad Ali organised the proceedings of the declamation contest, the topic for which was renewable sources of energy. Hardeep Singh of the college secured the first position in the contests and was awarded Rs 1,500.

Similarly, Hardeep Kaur of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School got a cash prize of Rs 1,250 by securing the second position while Ravinder of Government High School, Rampur, stood third and won Rs 750.

Veenu of Saraswati Model School won the first prize in painting competition, Nayal Matthew of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School stood second while Manpreet Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School, Payal, came third.

A seminar was also organised where the speakers highlighted that India being a developing country needed to enhance its renewable sources of energy.

Principals meet board chief
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 24
A delegation of school Principals under the banner of the Association of the Punjab School Education Board Affiliated Schools met the Chairman of the school board here yesterday. The delegation comprised Mr Rajinder Krishan Sharma, Mr R.I. Sewak, Mr Hari Singh Midda, Mr I.M. Dutta, Mr B.S. Bains and others. The Principals apprised the chairman of the problems faced by the schools ahead of the board examination. 

HEALTH

151 donate blood
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 24
As many as 151 persons donated blood at a blood donation camp organised by Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) at Rampura Phul yesterday. The camp was held under the guidance of Dr Amarjit Kaur, Head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine.

Members of the milk union played a pivotal role in making the camp a success. Besides donating blood, the union functionaries motivated other sections of the community.

According to Dr Amarjit Kaur, contribution by the residents of Rampura Phul towards the programme had become a regular feature. It was primarily due to the active support of Principal H.L. Bansal, who also happened to be the president of the Blood Donors Council, that the programme had made a deep impact in that region, she added.

Dr Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Transfusion Medicine at DMCH, said in order to ensure safety of blood transfusion, every unit of blood was subjected to processing and screening.

He said each unit of blood was further used for the preparation of blood components. Thus, a single donor’s blood was being utilised for 3-4 patients, depending upon their specific requirement of the component like packed cells, platelets and plasma, he added

Surgery camp next month

Ludhiana, February 24
The Rotary Club Ludhiana Central and the Swami Vivekanand Swarg Ashram Trust will organise a three-day free polio corrective surgery camp at the Swami Vivekanand Hospital here from March 17.

Giving this information at a press conference here today, project chairman Harish Singla said the camp was being funded under the matching grant programme of the Rotary International and financial assistance of $ 30,500 had been provided for the purpose. OC

SPORTS

College athletic meet today
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 24
The first athletic meet of the Doraha College of Education will be held tomorrow. The meet will be inaugurated by Mr Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM, Payal, who will be the chief guest for the morning session.

Dr Narinder Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, will be the chief guest for the valedictory function.

Various events, such as 100-m race, 200-m race, 50-m race, lemon-spoon races, short put, musical chair, matka race, long jump, balloon race, relay race, obstacle race, tug of war, etc will be held.

Mr Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, Doraha College of Education, Ms Baljit Kaur, Principal and Mrs Amrit Kaur Gurm, Director, will be present.

Parvesh wins 200m race
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 24
Parvesh Paul came out triumphant in the 200m race for boys on the second day of the 24th institutional annual athletics meet of the Christian Medical College and Hospital here today. Emenanuel Bagga and Ankush finished second and third, respectively.

Results: discus throw (staff women)-Sukhwant Kaur 1, Jisha 2 and Anisha 3; high jump-Deep 1, Renu 2 and Vandana 3; shot put (college of nursing, girls)- Duckika 1, Nisha 2 and Vinita 3; long jump- (men)-Emenanuel Gill 1, Gurpreet Singh 2 and Samuel Franklin 3; javeling throw- Pankaj 1, Marvin 2 and Subhash 3; discus throw- Raja 1, Paeanyjeet Singh 2 and Semuel 3; 200m (boys)-Parvesh Paul 1, Emenanuel Bagga 2 and Ankush 3; 200m (girls)- Lincy 1, Anna 2 and Libia 3.