EDUCATION

Experts mull over maximising youth potential
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 12
A one-day seminar on "Capacity Building: Maximising potentialities of the youth" was organised at the Shivalik Institute of Education and Research, Phase 6, here.

Major Jiwan Tiwari, President Indo-Chinese Friendship Association, inaugurated the function.

Dr Paramjit Tulsi, Head, Department of Education and Education Management, NITTTR, Sector 26, Chandigarh, presented a multimedia presentation on 'maximizing potentialities: role of communication and study skills in youth development'.

She discussed different strategies for developing communication skills and study skills.

She also talked about the techniques by which we can maximise the potentialities among youth.

She said multiskilled individuals were the need of the hour. She also explained the importance, the purpose, the process and barriers of communication.

Professor Roland Case, Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, spoke on 'Igniting Young Minds: Practical Implications of Developing Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills.'

The concept of promoting critical thinking, its understanding and developing intellectual tools for critical thinking were explained by Prof Roland.

A case study presentation by teachers of Vivek High School, Chandigarh, was made jointly by Mrs Rajdeep Sandhu, Mrs. Deepinder Khara, Mrs Surbhi Mishra and Mrs Mini Gandhok where critical thinking skills workshops are already being conducted by Prof Case.

Mr B.K. Bharat Bhushan, Zonal Coordinator (North Zone), Brahma Kumaris Vishv Vidyalya, Panipat, spoke on 'Negating Negativities: Dilemmas and Issues in Character formation and value development of the youth'.

He advised students to avoid the 7 C's i.e. Carelessness, Comment, Competition, Comparison, Complaints, Criticism and Correction.

Mr Avinash Jolly, Coordinator, Servant of People Society, AIDS Helpline, spoke on 'Beyond the Self: Ability to co-operate and collaborate in the social set-up'.

He felt that adoption of a healthy Life style was strongly required along with positive and healthy parenting.

The valedictory session was presided over by Dr Inderpal Singh, former pro-vice chancellor, G.N.D.U., Amritsar, who conceptualised capacity building for youth and advised the students to grow, rise and learn to struggle.

Earlier, the delegates were formally welcomed by the Principal of the Institute, Dr Satpal Kaur Grewal. The seminar was conducted by Dr Neena Sawhney who presented a conception of the theme of the seminar through a multimedia presentation.

Later, Mr D.S. Bedi, Chairman of the Institute, proposed a vote of thanks and appreciated the efforts of the staff and students in making the seminar a great success.

Seminar on IT services
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 12
A seminar on “Tricity potential for IT and IT-enabled services” was organised yesterday by Chandigarh IT Club at SAS Institute of Information Technology and Research, here. The seminar was attended by the representatives of various IT and other companies located in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. About 200 students of MBA, MCA, BBA and BCA of SASIIT also attended the function.

The speakers on the occasion included Mr Vivek Atray, Director IT, Chandigarh, Dr Sanjay Tyagi, Director, STPI, Mr Vivek Mathur, site director, Dell, Mr Alok Tiwari of Infosys and Mr E. Kumar of Tata Sons Ltd.

Mr Atray introduced the theme of seminar and stressed on the need of human resources as the main factor for the development of the Tricity. Dr Tyagi traced the IT history of Tricity and talked about various milestones covered and tremendous progress made in the region.

Mr Mathur of Dell apprised the audience about the tremendous potential offered in the field of outsourcing, particularly with reference to BPO and KPO industries. Mr Tiwari of Infosys discussed about the future of IT and ITES in the international arena and India’s dominance in this field. Mr E. Kumar of Tata Sons delivered the keynote address, lauded the infrastructure, positive attitude of governments and the right attitude of the youth of this region.

The seminar concluded by a question-answer session.

Mr Rajan Vasudevan, secretary of the Tricity IT Club, thanked the invitees and the institute for success of the seminar. Dr J.S. Dhaliwal, chairman of the institute, extended vote of thanks.

Farewell to Govt college students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
Students of the Department of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Sales Management of the Government College, Sector 46, organised a farewell party for the final-year students here today in the college premises.

Dances, songs and skits were presented by students on the occasion. Theme dance by BA-I students was appreciated very much.

The Principal, Dr A.N. Garg, who was the chief guest, motivated students to do well in the forthcoming examinations.

He stressed the changed scenario of marketing would help India in development.

Ambika Aggarwal was declared the best student of the year.

Gurpreet Attri was chosen Mr Senior 2006 and Ravneet Kaur was adjudged Ms Senior from among the girls.

Farewell to GCM seniors

Nostalgia marked the farewell function of the IT Department of the Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, as juniors bid farewell to their seniors. Principal Pahlad Aggarwal was the chief guest Students presented delightful performances, music, dance (solo and group), games and enthralled the audience.

Nidhi presented a solo dance which drew huge applause. Titles were also given to senior students.

The programme was compered by students of the IT Department, Mr Mandeep Singh and Miss Sandeep. Head of the Department Prof B.R. Bansal proposed vote of thanks.

Cleanliness, water conservation drive at Kaimbwala
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
On the initiative of the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), to make Kaimbwala a model village, the Kaimbwala gram panchayat today organised special cleanliness and water conservation campaign in which villagers participated with enthusiasm.

The villagers, equipped with tractors and ploughs, today levelled and ploughed the 6.5 acre playground adjacent to the Government High School. A cricket pitch and volley ball court would be made in the playground later.

The villagers also started a ‘safai abhiyan’ which would now be a continuous process. A new initiative on collection of solid waste from each household by a self-employed youth was started.

The mahila mandal of the village would involve the women of the village for wide participation, the Sarpanch of the village, Mr Harmesh Kumar, said.

The panches, Mr Palla Ram, Mr Sher Singh, Mr Parvinder, and Mr Meher Chand thanked General Rodrigues for his efforts to make Kaimbwala a model village.

For Conservation of water, the Engineering Department initiated a special campaign to provide water meters to the households. Officials collected applications for new water connections and processed them in the village only so that residents need not go to the office for release of water connection, the Superintending Engineer, Public Health, UT, Mr S.S. Bida said.

He also said that storm water drainage system, upgradation of sewer system and paving of streets had already been completed. 

NGO demands overhauling of UGC NET exam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
A city-based NGO, educational and charitable trust, has demanded the overhauling of UGC NET examination. In a memorandum submitted to the University Grant Commission Chairman, Dr Sukhdeo, the NGO demanded his immediate attention to the problems of students taking the UGC exam.

The NGO said in its memorandum that the main problem usually faced by candidates was late declaration of exam results. Besides due to non-availability of the previous years question papers, candidates had no knowledge about the pattern followed.

As the result of all three papers was not declared separately, students never come to know that whether they were weak in general paper of research and teaching aptitude or paper II and III of a particular subject. The UGC must give the detailed marks sheet of each subject to the students, the NGO has demanded.

Further, the memorandum said that the UGC made frequent changes in syllabus and pattern without giving enough time to students to cope up with these changes. Adequate time should be given to the students so that they could prepare and gather study material for the test. The NET syllabus and style of paper should be published in newspapers from time to time.

Lastly, the benefit of scholarship for the JRF-qualified candidates was not availed by them fully. Either the qualified candidates got their scholarship money after a long delay or they did not get it even after two years of starting their Ph. D. A number of students were leaving their doctorates in between because of non-payment of scholarships.

Residents meet DPI on school upgradation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
A delegation led by members of the Welfare Association EWS, Maloya Complex, and its president, Ram Babu Singh, recently met DPI Schools D.S. Mangat with regard to the upgrade of the primary school in the Maloya colony.

The members pleaded that there was only one primary school in the area, as a result of which children faced great difficulty in seeking admission to higher classes in the adjoining schools.

The delegation requested the upgrading of the school to the high school level from the next session.

The DPI assured them of taking necessary steps in this direction.

Triveni of music
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, March 12
The Pracheen Kala Kendra organized a 'Sham -E- Ghazal' by the Mumbai -based music composer, Triveni Prasad, better known as Triveni Bhavani at their auditorium today. Trained in Hindustani classical vocal ,Triveni renders the ghazal, bhajan and folk with ease. His name figures in the Limca and Guinness book of records.

Triveni, commenced the special concert with a popular Qateel Shaifai ghazal "Apne hathon ki lakiron mein saja le mujh ko..." After rendition of popular numbers like "Tum puchho aur mein na batyoon, aise to haalat nahi ... ;"Der lagi aane mein tumko shukr hai phir bhi aaye to ; “Ujdi hui duniyan ka manzar ankhon mein basaye baithe hain...; “Apne nakamyion se darta hoon, tere shehar se guzarta hoon..."

Triveni concluded his concert with Anwar's “Mein nazar se pe raha hoon". He was accompanied by Avirbhav Verma on the tabla and Devendra Jaipurwale on the flute.

Advanced Eye Centre ready for patients
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The long waiting period for eye operations at the Department of Ophthalmology, PGIMER, is soon going to be a thing of the past. With the opening of the all-new Advanced Eye Centre on March 18 on the PGI campus, patients will have reason to cheer.

A state-of-art operation theatre with increased number of tables, the latest in technology and gadgets as also services in six sub-specialities will all be available under one roof. To be inaugurated by the Vice-President of India, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Centre will also have a walk-in-clinic for the benefit of patients.

"At present, we have just two operating tables. However, once we shift to the new building, six more tables will be added.

This will bring down the waiting period for eye operations significantly. Besides, it is going to be the best designed OT in the whole country with the latest machines and safety measures in place," says Prof Amod Gupta, Head of Department of Ophthalmology.

The entire centre will function in six service zones of Retina, Vitreous and Uvea, Cornea and External Diseases, Lens and Cataract, Glaucoma, Ocloplastic surgery and Oclotumour, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Squint.

"We will have services for four to five days for each sub-speciality. Presently, the services are available only one day a week," Prof Gupta added.

Doing away with the requirement of an appointment, patients will have the facility to just walk-in and consult the doctor for all eye-related problems. However, though the centre will begin with skeletal services in a couple of days, the entire shifting will take a couple of months.

"We don't want to shift lock, stock and barrel in one go. This will disrupt the facilities already available and put the patients to a lot of inconvenience. To spare them any trouble, the shifting will be gradual," Prof Gupta maintained.

The Advanced Eye Centre is also aiming to provide tele-screening of diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, the two major causes of blindness emerging in developing societies.

With a number of firsts to their credit in India which include Optical Coherence Tomography, High Resolution Ultrasonography, Ultrasonic Biomcroscopy among others, the eye centre has introduced several new advanced technologies as well.

The Department already performs all sophisticated ocular surgical procedures , including IOL Implants for complicated cataracts, lasik surgery for removal of refractive errors, Trauma surgery and vitreo-retinal surgery ,including laser surgery for premature babies even in the incubators.

Highlights of the six-storey eye centre

Animals, traffickers occupy de-addiction centre
Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The drug de-addiction centre started at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) has come as a big relief to drug addicts and their relatives in the region as many such efforts in the past have proven to be a damp squib. An attempt to start a day care centre for drug users in village Dadu Majra, west of Sector 38, five years ago is yet to start functioning with drug peddlers ruling the roost and forcing doctors operate from their jeep.

The building that initially served as a dharamshala for Dalits under the UT Social Welfare Department was transferred to the Health Department around five years ago. The Department of Psychiatry at the General Hospital, Sector 32, was asked to run a weekly clinic from this building with the prime objective of bringing the intravenous drug users in the social fold.

Since drug peddlers operating in the area did not like the idea, they broke the doors and windows, removed fans and turned the building with a room, hall, kitchen and two toilets into a gambling den, making it unsafe for doctors or anyone else to work from here. They also reportedly threatened some doctors, who in turn lodged a complaint with the police.

Today, a team of doctors from the Department of Psychiatry at the General Hospital, Sector 32, comes here regularly and distributes medicines from their vehicle. While the building is occupied by stray dogs and cats, a tea vendor ties his horses inside the building and at night drugs are openly sold from here. According to Mr. Narinder Choudhary, General Secretary of the Dadu Majra Residents Welfare Association, some anti-social elements bring women, peddle drugs and gamble in the building.

Dr B.S Chavan, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry at the Sector 32 General Hospital, when contacted said that his department had written to the police to provide protection to the team of doctors and ensure round the clock patrolling of the area to build confidence among the people, so that they can take advantage of the weekly clinic. "There is no place to sit. The building too is unfit for a clinic. My staff goes there and converts their vehicle into a mobile dispensary".

He added that he had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Health Government of India for grant under a scheme that is providing Rs 50 lakh to strengthen the Departments of Psychiatry in various hospitals across the country. Once this grant is received a proper de-addiction clinic can be made to function. He said that the place in Dadu Majra was unsafe and he had sought an alternate site. The residents of the area had even offered to house their weekly clinic from a nearby dharamshala and a temple.

A local resident, who did not wish his name to be revealed out of fear for reprisal from the drug mafia, said: "Drugs are sold openly from here in the evening with the connivance of the police. Anyone trying to interfere in any manner is threatened with dire consequences. More and more youngsters of the area are falling prey to the menace of drugs".