The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

PU revises evaluation rates by 10 pc
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
The rates of payment for evaluation of answer books of various university examinations of 2006 and for conduct of practical examinations to laboratory staff of the Panjab University and affiliated colleges has been increased by 10 per cent over existing rates w.e.f. 1.4.2006.

This increase is being made in anticipation of the approval by the syndicate. The Vice-Chancellor has taken the decision as per the authorisation given by the syndicate. The last hike was affected in 2005.

The revised rates effective from 1.4.2006 are as follows:

B.A./B.Sc./B.Com (Hons.)/B.Sc. (Hons. School): Rs 8 per book, subject to a minimum of Rs 65; B.A./B.Sc./LL.B/B.Sc. (Home Science)/All other bachelor level courses including O.T. exams and all diploma courses: Rs.8 per a/book, subject to a minimum of Rs.65; B.Arch./B.Lib. and Information Sci./B. Mass Communication and all other bachelor level exams: Rs.8 per/book, subject to a minimum of Rs 65; re-evaluation of answer books of all undergraduate examinations, including professional exams: Rs 8 per a/book, subject to a minimum of Rs.65; All Certificate courses: Rs.5 per answer book, subject to a minimum of Rs.50; M.A./ M.Sc./ M.Com./ M.Ed./ MA (Phy. Edu.)/ M.Sc. (Hons. School)/ M.Sc. (Home Science)/ M.B.A./ MCA/ LL.M./ all other masters level courses: Rs.10 per answer book subject to a minimum of Rs.75; M.Phil. (Theory answer scripts only): Rs 10 per answer book subject to a minimum of Rs.75; M.E. (including Chemical Engg.)/M.Lib. and Inf. Sc./M.Tech./ MMC and all other masters level professional exams: Rs.10 per answer book subject to a minimum of Rs.75; all master level examinations including professional exams: Rs.10 per answer book subject to a minimum of Rs.75; B.Sc. (Nursing)/BAMS: Rs.8 per answer book subject to minimum of Rs125.

Prof Gupta to be awarded

Dr. Raj Kumari Gupta, Dept. of Education, Panjab University, has been selected for the Bharat Jyoti Award, and a certificate of excellence by the India International Friendship Society, New Delhi. The award ceremony will be held on May 4 in New Delhi at a conference on 'Economic Growth and National Integration.'

Dr. Raj Kumari Gupta has made a significant contribution in the field of special education. She has published articles and books and prepared many tests in this area. She has delivered over hundred extension lectures and presented many papers at national and international seminars in the area of disability.

Dera Bassi-Lalru belt to have nursing college
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, April 7
The Zirakpur-Dera Bassi-Lalru belt will get another professional college this academic session. This time it will be a nursing college to be started by the Sri Sukhmani Group as a run-up to the setting up of a full-fledged medical college.

According to Prof Avtar Singh, group chairman, the management has got permission to start a nursing college from the Nursing Council of India. The permission was granted after several inspections and keeping in mind the infrastructural facilities at the campus.

To be affiliated with Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, Faridkot, the nursing college would admit 60 students in the three-year integrated course.

Being in the periphery of Chandigarh, the nursing college has good potential in Dera Bassi, observers felt. With the craze for nursing course, particularly among the girls intending to emigrate to the other countries, at its peak, nursing courses are in demand, added observers.

In fact, the setting up of the nursing and dental colleges on the 32-acre sprawling campus is seen as a precursor to the establishment of the medical college in a couple of years.

It is my dream to build a state-of-the-art medical institute at Dera Bassi. ''We are negotiating with a foreign firm for a Rs 100 crore loan for the setting up the required infrastructure for a medical college. We are adding infrastructural facilities in a phased manner. After the nursing college, the dental college is also in the pipeline,'' Professor Avtar Singh added.

The process for the setting up of the medical college was set in motion when the management acquired about 32 acres of land on the National Highway 22 on the Chandigarh-Ambala road from the Tata Group.

It may be recalled that there are stringent Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines, including a 500-bed hospital for starting the medical college.

Coupled with this, the location of the prime land on the national highway would be an added advantage for the start of the hospital. Besides, the four-laning of the Zirakpur-Ambala stretch of the highway would cut down travelling time between Dera Bassi-Chandigarh and Ambala-Dera Bassi.

PU professor gets emeritus status
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
Professor Harnam Singh Shan has been chosen as Professor Emeritus by Panjab University. Professor Shan is a renowned expert on Punjab, Punjabi, Sufi and Sikh studies.

A Ph.D. from University of London (1964) and DLitt from Panjab University (1999), Professor Shan has over 80 books and monographs and another 200 research papers to his credit. He is one of the oldest employees of the university, having joined it soon after its establishment in 1948. He retired in 1984 after putting in 36 years of meritorious service.

While serving as a founding editor of its publication bureau (1948-1958), he prepared and produced many textbooks for the school, college and university students. He took over as head of the Punjabi Department in 1958 and initiated post graduate teaching at the university level. As Chairman of the Guru Nanak Chair and head of the Department of Sikh Studies (1972-1984), he started Ph.D. work on the subject and also initiated preparation and publication of the highly admired Panjab University series high level papers and monographs on Sikh Studies.

The Government of India conferred upon him the honour of Professor Emeritus in 1985 and the Punjab Government gave him the Sahitya Shiromani Award in 1998 and two special awards in 1968 and 1978. He was also awarded for excellence in literature by the Chandigarh Administration in 2001.

Another striking student hospitalised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
Another student of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), who was on hunger strike along with others on the Panjab University campus, was forcibly taken to the hospital today. He is the seventh student to be hospitalised following deterioration of his condition as the strike entered 10th day.

A group of university students sat on strike in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office in support of students of the UIET.

According to students, the institute authorities had refused to declare the results of II and IV year students due to shortage of lectures. These students had appeared in the examinations in November but were told later that they were short of lectures.

“Despite the strike, the university authorities are not bothered about the issue and have taken no steps to find a solution to the problem,” said Gajender Singh, a student.

Attractive packages for NIIFT students

Mohali, April 7
Students of the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT) Mohali , have been given attractive packages by placement companies. The placement week in the institute ended here today.

There has been a significant rise in salary packages being offered to these students. Various companies like Oswal group, B.L. International, Cascade Enterprises, Sewa Exports, Dimple Creations, Affletus, Orient Craft, Impulse, Cheer Sagar, Nahar group, International brand like Marks and Spencer, Designer Nikhil and Shantnu and many more, from Ludhiana, Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Mohali, Gurgaon had registered for participation and all students of GMT, KDT and FD were placed in the first three days.

Ms Vijay Sharma, Director, NIIFT, said the part of the placements were to see the old students coming back to place the fresh passing out batch and also expressed immense pleasure at 100 per cent placement. The whole event was co-ordinated by Ms Poonam Thakur, Ms Deepti Kaushal and Mr Kamaljit Rana. TNS

Exam dates clash
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
A clash of examination dates has been reported by students of Bachelors in Education (B.Ed) studying in various colleges affiliated to Panjab University.

According to students, their final examination dates clash with the dates of various entrance examinations to be conducted by the university.

These dates include May 25 when the university would hold an entrance test for admission to LL.B, May 27 when the university would be conducting the entrance tests for MBA and mass communication courses, May 28 when the MA English, M.Sc physics and M.Sc chemistry entrance tests would be held and May 30 when the university would be conducting the entrance test for M.Sc mathematics.

These are also the days when the B.Ed students are supposed to appear for various final examinations.

When contacted, the Controller of Examinations, PU, Mr Sodhi Ram, said he had already been apprised of the problem and efforts were on to find a solution.