Jalandhar, November 17
Four boys work as helpers in a canteen run by the Aggarwal Caterers at Lyallpur Khalsa College here . They pick up plates with leftovers and disposable water glasses left by students and faculty.

Two of the boys are between 8 and 10 years, the two others seemed to have just stepped in teens. All the four seemed to be children of migrant labourers.

As these silent and agile workers were trying to hurriedly clear the place my colleague photographed them today.

The contractor, Mr Saurabh Aggarwal ,took note of it .They were not allowed to answer any of our questions . Soon they were pushed inside the kitchen. When the canteen contractor was questioned about it, he did not deny having employed them and instead argued, “How do you think will they be able to make their two ends meet? Will you help them out?”

Various societies of the college have been holding talks and awareness programmes on various social issues, but failed to take note of the child labour in the canteen.

Dr Satish Kapoor, college principal, said that he was not aware of it,and added that he would check into it. 

Jalandhar, November 17
“Making of ‘Mera Studio, Mera Mehman’ has been a memorable experience for all of us and the vision and creativity of my husband Sudhir Tailang has inspired us to do a lot of creative progammes for TV channels.”

This was stated by Vibha Tailang, wife of eminent cartoonist and Padma Shri Sudhir Tailang and associate producer of “Mera Studio, Mera Mehmaan”, an interactive programme. The programme has been nominated for DD Awards - 2006 to be given at Jalandhar Doordarshan tomorrow.

Since Tailang is away to Belgium, Vibha Tailang is in the city along with her daughter Aditi Tailang, assistant director of the programme, to receive the award.

“Mera Studio, Mera Mehman,” a personality-based programme anchored by Sudhir Tailang, became popular for its informality, style and setting. It was retelecast many times by DD.

Sudhir Tailang interviewed creative personalities like Satish Gujral, Raghu Rai and film-maker Gulzar and sketched them. He also encouraged them to draw their own sketches.

“Apart from creative artistes, we will take more people like businessmen and politicians in the programme. We will also love to make some programmes in Punjabi,” said Vibha and Aditi, who visited Punjab for the first time.

Vibha Tailang has worked with Sunday Observer, Sahara and TVI and interviewed personalities like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

She has also contributed in the making of other serials like “Cartoon Ki Kahani,” and “50 Years of Lampooning”.