Jalandhar, June 28
With an aim to churn out more Army officers from Punjab, the District Sainik Welfare Office (DSWO) is running its Rural Nodal School Scheme at various government schools in the district. The scheme made a history in its very first attempt by sending eight rural students to the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, last year.

The DSWO is imparting pre-commission training to Class XII prospective students from rural schools (Nodal Schools’ concept) at the eight government schools. The scheme has managed to generate interest among the rural youths. The coaching is going on at government schools at Bundala, Phillaur, Kartarpur, Bhogpur, Nihaluwal, PAP campus and at two schools on Ladowali Road.

The brainchild of Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu, the scheme was started last year with a view to roping in prospective youths for a direct entry to the NDA. “The rural youth was lagging behind in joining the armed forces due to lack of interest and adequate resources. Above all, the declining standard of education in government schools posed problems for the students in appearing for such competitive examinations. The aim was to give a push to the rural youths who had virtually lost interest in the glorious armed forces,” he added.

Pannu said the credit for the success of the scheme went to DSWO Deputy Director Lieut-Col Manmohan Singh, whose disciplined training, coupled with valuable coaching, had borne fruits. “The team work of Manmohan Singh, Maj-Gen G.S. Sohi, Brig Kuldeep Singh Dhillon and Lieut-Col Navinder Singh would indeed take the scheme far away. This time the response is even better and we are sure of a good show,” added Pannu.

At present, 106 prospective students enrolled themselves for the scheme, of which 78 have already appeared for the NDA written test on April 19. The course is in progress and will be over on July 3.

Manmohan Singh said the scheme brought to the fore the rural talent, which failed to access such chances. “There could be nothing better than joining the Indian Army through the NDA examination. Last year, we saw students from humble background finally making it to the NDA,” he said.

Among the finest students was Gurpreet Singh, son of a shopkeeper, who joined the NDA last year. Gurpreet was a student of MGN Public School, Kapurthala, and a national-level basketball player. “At present, this gentleman cadet is an ace player of the NDA basketball team. He brought fame not only to our scheme but to his parents as well who are leading a humble life,” added Manmohan Singh.

Jalandhar, June 28
Persistent heat wave and rising mercury, coupled with long electricity cuts, forced the residents to stay indoors leading to less activity in the city today. The region recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degree Celsius.

Sources at the Met Department predicted similar weather conditions in the coming days with no respite from heat wave. The otherwise busy city virtually wore a sleepy look due to the sweltering weather conditions in the region.

Owing to electricity cuts residents at many places reported of shortage of drinking water. At Kishanpura, Jaimal Nagar, Upkar Nagar, Lamma Pind, Dharampura, near Khambra village, Arjun Nagar and many other places shortage of water was reported.

Jatinder Singh, a resident of Kishanpura, said though the Municipal Corporation and Fire Brigade had been sending water tankers to their localities but the situation was virtually grim. “The residents are forced to wait in long serpentine queues for procuring potable water. And despite all these arrangements, the situation is worse,” he added.

Jalandhar, June 28
The economic slowdown, which threatens to shake the very foundations of the developed nations of the world, has failed to have an impact on the Indian immigration industry.

With the developed nations growing at a rapid pace, which is projected to continue till 2025, young India stands as a treasure of human resources, says Lt-Col BS Sandhu (retd.), CMD, World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS).

Global immigration is making waves as developed nations deal with aging populations and impending labour shortages. Many governments have been implementing major changes to their policies to ease them for influx of talented and hard working immigrants, he added.

Since Canadian and Australian economy depends heavily on immigration to meet labour shortages, applicants falling under Canada’s 38 Priority Occupation List (POL) and Australia’s Critical Skill List (CSL) are processed on a fast-track system and get a decision within a short span of 12 months, he revealed.

As far as Canadian immigration is concerned, one could also qualify for Permanent Residency (PR) with the help of Arranged Employment Opinion or the Canadian Experience Class. Canada continues to attract international students pursuing careers in almost 
all disciplines.

PR in Canada, through investment, is another option, especially for entrepreneurs under the Canadian Federal Investor Programme. By investing just Rs 50 lakh, the applicants would be able to immigrate on a fast-track-system within 6-12 months with no requirement of IELTS, he said. Similarly, persons having two years business experience and net worth equivalent to 800,000 Canadian dollars, would qualify for this opportunity, enabling their entire family to immigrate.

Even Czech Republic and Ukraine, with liberalised business immigration policies, are attracting entrenched Indian capital investors who can explore business, investment and farming opportunities and can reap rich dividends in a short span, he added.

Sandhu said they were also helping professionals to immigrate to Denmark under the Danish Green Card Scheme. This point-based immigration enables the applicants to reach Denmark again within 6-12 months. Under the Tier-1 General Skilled Migration Program, WWICS has been helping the aspirants to settle in the United Kingdom. Under this new point-based system, the applicants are qualifying to reach their dream destination in just about 30 days after the complete submission of documents.

Jalandhar, June 28
The Computer Teachers Union, Punjab, would hold a protest march and gherao the Punjab Minister for Education, Upinderjit Kaur, at Kapurthala on July 1.

The decision has been taken owing to the failure of the state government in releasing a notification regarding the increase in their monthly wages.

President of the union Pawan Sharma said more than six months had passed and the state government had not released the notification. “Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced an increase of Rs 3,000 in the monthly wages of the computer teachers during a meeting held on January 15, but no notification has been released,” he said.

He said despite increasing their salaries from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 per month, the state government had not issued any notification in this regard. “The union has decided to hold massive protest march in the coming days in case the government failed to release a notification before June 30,” he added. — TNS

Amritsar, June 28
A final year BDS student of Sri Guru Ramdas Dental College, run by the SGPC, Raunaq Reet Kaur, stood first in the state by securing over 70 per cent marks in the exams conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

Principal of the dental college, Charanjit Singh Bal, claimed this here today. He said Raunaq Reet Kaur got 999 marks out of 1,400.

He said the third position in the university was also achieved by his college student Prineet Kaur Sangha, who acquired 965 marks.

The Principal said overall the college achieved 94 per cent result in the final year of BDS in which 50 students of the college had appeared.