City school students attend UK conference
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
Five students and four teachers of the local BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, participated in the 6th International Conference on “Broadening our horizons” at St Wilfrid Catholic High School, Sixth Form and Language College, Leeds, the UK, from March 6 to March 10.

In all 11 schools from seven countries — Italy, India, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and Ukraine — represented their countries and its culture.

It was a proud moment for the city school because it was the only team, not only from India but also Asia that attended the conference.

The students and teachers are greatly encouraged by the exposure they received in an open and friendly environment in various workshops on art and crafts, graffiti, street dance, break dance, Ukrainian dance, tea-making and cooking, calligraphy, Bollywood dance, clowning around, Swedish sport.

“We enjoyed the diversity of life as 11 schools from different cultures came under one umbrella. I have made lots of new friends,” says Arjun Narang. “The experience was enriching and rewarding which will definitely help us to be at the best we can,” remarked an excited Chander Shekhar.

The teachers also got an opportunity to represent their school abroad. They worked collaboratively with teachers from the other countries to plan future international projects and improving cross-border links.

“Jhanda uncha rahe hamara”, a musical item, was presented by the city school students which mesmerised the audience in the UK. They also performed a piece of drama on “racism” with the message of peace and universal brotherhood.

ETT teachers submit memo
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
Members of the ETT Teachers Union and Nav Niyukat Teachers Union held a protest meeting here today.

Mr Paramjit Singh Mann, president of the ETT union, said there were a lot of obstacles in filling vacancies of ETT teachers. In districts like Faridkot, Mansa, Moga and Muktsar, seats for ETT candidates should be increased, he said.

Some teachers were asked to do a diploma, but now they were being disqualified. After the employment of 5,850 ETT teachers, the government was considering candidates with B.Ed qualifications.

A memorandum of demands was given to the ADC (Development). The government had been warned that if the demands were not considered by March 20, action would be taken by the union.

Mr Balraj Gholati, Mr Inderjit Sidhu, Mr Rajnish Khandpur, Mr Palvinder Ghawaddi, Mr Gursewak Macchiwara and Ms Mandeep Kaur also addressed the rally.

Teachers resent reinstatement of Principal
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 16
Various teachers' organisations today resented the "double standards" of the education department in dealing with erring officials.

The teachers cited the example of Ms Varsha Shukla, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Khanna, who was suspended allegedly for facilitating copying but was reinstated within a week.

Leaders of the Democratic Teachers Front, Government Teachers Union and Adhyapak Dal, including Mr Bhajan Singh, Mr Joginder Singh, Mr Baldev Singh, Mr Sucha Singh and Mr Surinder Grewal said the Principal was suspended on March 6 and "claimed to be reinstated" today. They alleged that during the suspension period, she continued to join her duties.

The teachers said there were several others who had been suspended by the department on similar charges and most of them were suspended and transferred to various places but Ms Shukla had not been relieved.

From Schools and Colleges
Sonia is Ms Farewell
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
A farewell party was held at the Government College for Women here yesterday. Juniors organised a cultural programme on the occasion.

The most interesting part of the evening was selection of Ms Farewell. Twentysix girls walked down the ramp and the judges selected Sonia Manga as Ms Farewell while Akshi and Ravneet were declared first and second runners-up, respectively. The title of Crowning Glory was won by Ankita while the best costume award was won by Richa. Divya Dhanda was Ms Personality.

Contests held: Home and Heaven Nursery School organised several competitions on Thursday. The aim was to give students a chance to showcase their talent. The competitions were held to select healthy boy, master and miss Home and Heaven, best personality, best physique, best smile, best eyes and crowning glory.

The results are: Mehtab Singh — Master Home and Heaven; Dilpreet Singh — first runner-up; Tejbir — second runner-up; Bismandeep — best physique; Karan Gill — best personality; Shivam — healthy boy; Gurleen — Ms Home and Heaven; Gurnoor — first runner-up; Simranjit — second runner-up; Gurparveen — beautiful eyes; Arashjit — beautiful hair; and Ksnika — beautiful smile.

City doctor felicitated at AIIMS
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
Laparoscopic and general surgeon of the city and chief of surgery at Dewan Hospital Narotam Dewan was felicitated by Dr M.C. Misra, Head, Minimal Access Surgery Disciplines, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), during the golden jubilee celebrations of AIIMS in New Delhi.

The institute organised an international minimal access surgery conference, live workshops and a symposium of the Indian Hernia Society from March 10 to 13 as part of the golden jubilee celebrations. Dr Dewan chaired three scientific sessions of the conference.

Dr Misra was entrusted with the responsibility of organising sessions on “laparoscopic basic skills practice” and “suturing and knotting” during the workshops, which were attended by surgeons from all over the country and abroad.

The scientific session, chaired by Dr Dewan, witnessed presentations on minimal access surgery of thyroid by Dr P. Bertie from Italy, laparoscopic hernia repair live surgery by Dr Stephen Nixon from England, presentation on morbid obesity surgery by Dr Subhash Kini from the US and Dr Herman Nehoda from Austria. Dr Brice Gayet from France performed live surgery of laparoscopic partial gastrectomy at the session.

Eye camp held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 16
The Bhai Ghanaya ji Seva Sanstha, Haibowal Khurd, organised a free eye check-up camp at Central Jail in which more than 250 inmates were examined.

Mr Hardev Singh Purewal from the UK inaugurated the camp. Mr Kuldip Singh, Superintendent, and Mr S.P. Khanna, Deputy Superintendent, of the Central Jail were also present on the occasion.

Mr Shamsher Singh Sekhon, president, and Mr Kartar Singh Garib, convener of the sanstha, distributed spectacles to 121 inmates.

Meanwhile, the sanstha will organise its 220th free medical camp at Bhai Ghanaya Charitable Hospital on the Humbran road here on March 19. Mr Kartar Singh Garib said needy patients would be given dentures and eye lenses free of cost during the camp.

Sheetal excels in athletics meet

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 16
Sheetal Sharma, a BCA 2nd semester student of the RIMT Group of Institutes, has excelled in athletics in the recently concluded PTU Inter-College Athletics Meet held at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib. She won the gold medal in the 1500-metre race and also got the bronze medal in the discuss throw.

The Chairman of the institutes, Mr Hukam Chand Bansal, blessed the student and wished her success in future. The Director of the institute, Dr B.S. Bhatia, said the institute would provide all support to the talented students. OC