EDUCATION

Office-bearers of students’ body
Our correspondent

Ludhiana, August 6
The Students’ Organisation of India (SOI), today released the list of its office-bearers of the Ludhiana district. The list was released by Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Member Parliament. Condemning the state Congress government, Mr Dhillon said the Punjabi youth was hooked on to drugs and the government was turning a blind eye towards them.

He alleged that those in power were hardly bothered about the wellbeing of the youth in the state. Drugs were openly selling outside colleges and near bus stands. Appreciating the efforts of the SOI, Mr Dhillon said that they were regularly organising blood donation camps, drug de-addiction camps etc. “They will highlight the problems of the youth. The elected members would also struggle for students’ rights”, he said.

The elected office-bearers included Mr Shaminder Singh Brar and Mr Amrit Pal Singh (GGN Khalsa College), Mr Amrit Pal Singh and Mr Sachin Sharma (Arya College), Mr Jagpal and Mr Rajdeep Singh (Gobing National College, Narangwal), Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr Chetvir Singh (GNIMT), Mr Sandeep Singh and Mr Kulwinder Singh (Guru Teg Bahadur National College, Dakha), Mr Ravinder Singh and Mr Jasminder Singh Sidhu (Bhutta College of Technical Education), Mr Mehtab Singh and Mr Jatinder Singh (GGN Khalsa College, PTU), Mr Harkanwal Singh and Mr Jaspal Singh (Ludhiana Engineering College), Mr Amarinder and Mr Ramanvir (Aurobindo College of Commerce) and Mr Gurtej Singh and Mr Pushwinder Singh (Guru Nanak Engineering College, Ludhiana).

Need to inculcate book reading habit: scholar
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 6
English has emerged as the most read language among postgraduate students in the Malwa belt of the state with William Shakespeare as their most favourite writer.

With little interest in reading books other than books prescribed in the syllabus, students preferred to spend more on branded shoes than on quality books. These were the findings of Dr Harjinder Walia, a local scholar and Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Punjabi University, Patiala.

While talking to the Ludhiana Tribune after addressing a group of teachers at MGMN Senior Secondary School, Dr Walia said that a majority of students were ready to spend thousands of rupees on their branded shoes, clothes, CDs and DVDs but hesitated to buy a good book.

He called upon the teachers to impress upon their students to inculcate the habit of reading books and buy at least one book every month.

Referring to a survey conducted on book reading habits among the students, Dr Walia claimed that only 28 per cent of them were willing to spend money on literature and books.

“In a sample group of 200 students studying at various departments of the Punjabi University, more than 30 per cent had barely read books prescribed in the syllabus and had bought no book outside their respective syllabi,” regretted Dr Walia. 51 per cent students had much less than 25 books in their personal libraries.

Out of 93 boys and 107 girls, 58 per cent males and 78 per cent females had not gone through more than 25 books outside their curricula. Even students of Punjabi and the English literature showed a similar response.

Only five per cent girls claimed to have read more than 100 books besides their syllabus books, while percentage of such boys was 13.

But there were 13 per cent boys and five per cent girls who had read more than 100 books not in their syllabus. In the Punjabi Department, they were more than 17 per cent but in the English Department, they were less than 4 per cent.

Showing concern over the declining interest in mother tongue and the national language, Dr Walia maintained that 39 per cent read English books; 27 per cent Punjabi and only 5 per cent read Hindi books.

29 per cent students remained satisfied with reading their syllabus books only. Girls preferred to read English books while a majority of boys read Punjabi books.

William Shakespeare was the most favourite writer with Shiv Kumar Batalvi and Khushwant Singh emerging as the next two preferences.

Course in value-added products in fruits, vegetables
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 6
A one-year diploma course in value-added products for fruits and vegetables, offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), was launched at the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) here recently. The launching as well as the orientation programme was attended by the first batch of 14 students from different parts of Punjab and the CIPHET faculty.

The diploma course will help in developing skills of rural students in the processing of fruits and vegetables and value-addition and post-harvest management.

The programme consisted of 20 theory classes and 80 practicals, covering eight courses related to processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables.

From Schools and Colleges
Vanamahotsava celebrated
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 6
The NSS units of several colleges celebrated Vana Mahotsava. In A.S. College, the function was presided over by a leading industrialist of the town, Mr Vinod Vashisht.

The Regional Manager of Centurian Bank of Punjab, Mr D.K. Bhardwaj, donated 100 saplings of various varieties on the occasion and appealed to the students to plant more and more trees to save the environment.

Mr Shiv Kumar Manro, Prof Jassa Singh, Dean Sports, Lieut K.K. Sharma, Dr Harpal Singh Bhatti, Director, Youth Services Club, Prof Kavita Arora, Prof Manu Verma, Programme Officer (NSS) and were present on the occasion. Mr Sanjeev Dhamija, Secretary of the managing committee thanked Bhardwaj for his gracious act.

Gesture for slum dwellers

A vana mahotsava function was also organised by A.S. College for Women in collaboration with the Bank of Maharashtra. The bank’s Senior Manager Sanjay Sharma was the chief guest.

Mr Sharma planted various saplings along with 200 students of the college.

Dr Prabhjot Kaur highlighted the importance of the trees and the environment. Students promised to educate children of nearby slum dwellers during their free periods.

Fresher’s party

Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management organised a Fresher’ Party here on Saturday. The party was organised by students of B.Com II and III to welcome their juniors. A bouquet of cultural items was presented including classical dance, Punjabi skits, bhangra and ghazals. There were three rounds of modelling which included an introduction round, Prop round and question answer round. A total of 40 students, including 30 boys and 10 girls, were selected out of which 15 students were selected in the third and final round.

Anuj Kalra was adjudged Mr Fresher while Sahibpreet was declared Ms Fresher. The prize for best smile was given to Kashish Jasuja and Ms Catwalk title was given to Neha Trehan. Sheenam Jain was given the title Ms Elegance while Piyush was adjudged Mr Personality. Varinder and Prabhjeet were given prize for best introduction and best dress respectively. Dr Prem Kumar gave a valedictory speech and congratulated students for the success of the event.

Teej celebrated

Green Grove Public School, Khanna celebrated Teej today with great pomp and show. A function was organised to celebrate the festival. The school gave a festive look. Students had a gala time.

A speech by Navneet of Class VIII marked the beginning of the function. Senior girls presented a Punjabi dance on the famous number “Ni aaja bhabhi jhoont le”. Girls applied heena on each other’s palms.

Teachers also played their part by their active participation in the function. Seniors girls applied heena on the palms of their teachers. They displayed their talent by making artistic patterns. The principal of the school Ms S.George, appreciated the work of students.

Apple Day

Maple Bear Canadian Play way and Nursery school organised a free medical check up. Child specialists from DMC led by Dr Deepak Bhat and Dr Ms Deepti examined them.

They emphasised on the general hygiene of the kids like good eating habits, self-cleanliness and gave tips to parents for the strict following of the immunization schedule of the kids.

Maple Bear also celebrated the Apple Day on its campus for the kids make them aware of concept like its colour, size, taste and its nutritious value.

Teej Festival

Teej was celebrated on the premises of Everest Public Senior Sec School, Moti Nagar here yesterday. Students of different classes celebrated it with great pomp and show. They wore traditional Punjabi dresses. Tiny tots presented a colourful programme of songs and dance.

Ms Shashi Sharma, In charge, Cultural Programme, motivated them to participate in such cultural activities.

Girls from secondary and senior secondary classes performed ‘Gidda’. Miss Punjaban contest was also organised.