EDUCATION

Teachers to celebrate ‘black Divali’
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 11
Various unions of teachers and other employees have threatened to launch a statewide agitation in case the decision of the Education Department to revert more that 3,500 teachers was not withdrawn.

Office-bearers of the Government Teachers Union Punjab, All-India State Government Employees Federation and Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (Bari) have threatened to launch a joint struggle in case the state government refused to withdraw its decision to revert around 3,500 teachers who had been promoted about six months ago, when Mr Harnam Dass Johar was Education Minister.

According to Mr Sukhdev Singh Bari, vice-president, All-India State Government Employees Federation, and Mr Sikander Singh Jartoli, district general secretary, Government Teachers Union Punjab, Education Minister Partap Singh Bajwa had directed the Secretary of the department to initiate the process of reverting all teachers, in the master and lecturer cadres as well to the previous positions.

Terming the action as arbitrary and vindictive, the union leaders alleged that the teachers had been made scapegoat by the ministers and the authorities, including former and present DPIs.

“Though Mr Harnam Dass Johar, then Education Minister, in an effort to cool down the teachers struggling for their rights had directed the authorities to promote them after completing all technicalities, the present incumbent has revert them,” said the leaders. Urging the authorities to withdraw the process, the leaders threatened to launch statewide agitation in case the promoted teachers were reverted.

“Besides observing a ‘black’ Divali, we would stop the leaders from celebrating the festival,” threatened the leaders.

Mr Harbans Singh Cheema, district president GTU and Harbans Singh Aulakh, Finance Secretary, were also present on the occasion.

From Schools and Colleges
GGNIMT students shine in MBA exam
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 11
Students of the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT) have excelled in MBA IVth semester examinations conducted by the Punjab Technical University. Ripudaman bagged the first position by securing 87.25 per cent marks.

The second and third positions were bagged by Harnet Kaur with 87 per cent and Harvineet with 85 per cent, respectively.

Nine students of the institute scored more than 80 per cent while 19 students scored more than 70 per cent marks. The Director, GGNIMT, Mr Kuldeep Singh and the Co-ordinator, Prof Gunwant Singh Dua, congratulated the students on their brilliant performance and complimented teachers for providing valuable guidance to the students.

Meanwhile, the college also organised a seminar on 'Research Issues in Computer Sciences' for the students of BCA and MCA here today. The resource person was Dr Gurvinder Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University.

B.Ed building inaugurated

The management, Principal, staff and students of the Bhutta College of Engineering and Technology (BCET), the Bhutta College of Education (BCEd) and the Bhutta Group of Colleges organised the annual cultural festival and inauguration of the B.Ed building and MBA programme here recently.

Mr Prakash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion and Mr Tota Singh Brar, former Cabinet Minister, was the Guest of Honour at the inaugural and award-giving ceremonies. Dr M.S.Grewal, Registrar, PTU, presided over the cultural programme.

Bhog Sri Akhand Path was held at the college premises. Sant Bhupinder Singh of Rara Sahib Jaragwale graced the occasion and gave discourse on the occasion.

The guests of honour were welcomed by the Principal, Dr Rakesh Chander, in the presence of members of the management, principals, faculty members and students.

The chief guest inaugurated B.Ed building and the MBA programs. The senior students organised a cultural programme and fresher's party to greet and welcome the freshers in the tastefully decorated pandal.

The students put up a colourful cultural programme wherein their talent in song, dance, music, skit etc was displayed.

A quiz competition was also held on this occasion. The quiz was conducted by the college student, Ms Joshina Anand. The confidence and quickness with which the contestants answered questions added charm to the occasion.

Quiz contest

To enhance knowledge and to develop the overall personality of students, the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT) organised an intra-class quiz competition here today.

Mr Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, DIMT, and Ms Umal Kaur, Director, SGHPS, Doraha, were the chief guests.

The students actively participated in the quiz. The Ambani team of MBA III was the winner while Birla team of MBA I was the runners-up.

Dr R.K.Lekhi, Director, DIMT, congratulated all winners and encouraged students for participation in forthcoming activities.

Adventure camp

The students of Sat Paul Mittal School returned today after attending three nights/four days adventure camp at Mashobra, about eight kilometers from Shimla. The students were accompanied by three heads and three teachers.

The camp included activities like bushcraft, rock-climbing, rappelling, Burma-bridge crossing, artificial river crossing etc.The students lived in tents. The bonfire was the most exciting part for the students during the camp.

Education tour

A delegation of 26 persons, including Director, Dr (Col.) H.S. Singha, five faculty members and 20 students of the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan campus, returned after attending an education tour for eight days at Singapore and Malaysia, here today. The visit was organised by the ISTE student Chapter.

The GNIMT’s delegation was invited to visit the PSB Academy (Productivity standard Board) an equivalent of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The delegates attended a seminar organised by the PSB Academy at their headquarters at the Science Park.

The delegation also visited the chocolate factory of Malaysia that used local cocoa seeds. The team also visited the MNC Velloe Water Purifier at Singapore. The faculty and the students were fully satisfied with the learning experience of the visit.

Tree plantation drive

The ECO (Environmental Cleanliness Operation) Club was inaugurated in the BCM College of Education by Mr Balkar Singh Brar, Chief Town Planner, Punjab, here today. The Principal, Dr Khushvinder Kumar, expressed concern over environmental degradation and welcomed the guests of the day.

Dr Sandeep Sawhney, lecturer, BCM College of Education, stressed on the need to save environment and gave many examples from daily life.

Seminar for students

To have a peep into formidable problems of youngsters that impede their growth and to elevate their minds to a higher level and equip them to perform better in this competitive world, an interactive seminar was organised in the BCM Arya Model Senior School here today.

A panel of experts interacted with students and gave adequate answers to many of their problems. Nearly about 20 elite schools sent their teams to participate in this interactive seminar.

Dr R. Kala, counselling consultant, Dr B.P. Mishra, Professor and In charge, clinical psychology section, DMC, Mr Raman Nayyar, Director, Golden Public School, Ambala, Dr Anuradha, former Principal, ICFAI National College, Ludhiana, were in the panel of experts.

Dr (Ms) R. Kala spoke about ‘Stress Management’. She exhorted the students to recognise stressful situations and the need of psychological ways to manage the stress.

Dr B.P. Mishra spoke out on 'emotional intelligence' and exhorted the students to tune their emotions in a channelised manner.

Mr Raman Nayyar spoke about positive attitude and laid stress upon depositing positive thoughts in the memory bank.

Dr Anuradha talked upon effective time management and advised students to plan their activities for achieving their goals.

Students put up their queries and were well answered by each panelist. The seminar came to an end by a vote of thanks by the Principal.

COURTS

Mentally challenged entitled to free legal services
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 11
Mr Gurbir Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, today stressed on the need to provide proper medical care and educational facilities to mentally challenged and handicapped persons.

He said it was the moral duty of society to ensure proper care of such persons and appealed to the NGOs to come forward for this pious cause.

He was addressing a seminar organised by the District Legal Services Authority at the ESI Hospital here on the occassion of the World Mental Health Day.

He also apprised the audience about the legal rights of mentally challenged persons. Mr S.S. Dhaliwal, Secretary, Legal Services Authority-cum-Civil Judge, Senior Division, said mentally challenged persons were entitled to free legal services.

If the legal rights of any such persons were infringed upon or there was a necessity of filing any case to protect their rights, the guardian of such person could submit a simple application to the District Legal Services Authority or directly to him, he added.

They would be provided a lawyer free of cost and incidental expenses incurred during the case would also be borne by the authority, Mr Dhaliwal informed.

The District Bar Association President, Mr Naval Kishore Chhibber, Mr Narinder Pal Singh (DSP Traffic), Ms Ruby Fernandiz, Ms Pappu Abinash Singh, Dr I.P.S. Chhabra, Dr A.K. Gautam, Dr Rajinder Gulati, Dr Parveen Sikka, Mr Arvind Markan, Assistant, District Attorney Legal Services Authority, were also present on the occassion.