B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Adarsh School at Hardassa village paints a picture of neglect
Ferozepur, July 28
The Adarsh School in Hardassa village set up by the state government to provide quality education to meritorious students from rural areas lacks even basic amenities. The water at the school is not fit for consumption, the floors are kutcha and the classrooms don’t have fans.

No more film promotions in schools
Faridkot, July 28
At a time when the film industry, particularly Pollywood, is increasingly using educational institutions in Punjab for the promotion of their films, the Director, Department of Secondary Education, Punjab, has asked all schools in the state not to follow suit or face serious action.

Army felicitates 96-year-old athlete
Abohar, July 28
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Amogh Division, Major General NC Badhani on Saturday felicitated 96-year-old athlete Joginder Singh of Abohar for clinching three gold medals at the 34th Senior Masters National Athletics Championship held recently at Bangalore.

Major General NC Badhani, GOC, Amogh Division, honours athlete Joginder Singh. A Tribune photograph

Adarsh School at Hardassa village paints a picture of neglect
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, July 28
The Adarsh School in Hardassa village set up by the state government to provide quality education to meritorious students from rural areas lacks even basic amenities. The water at the school is not fit for consumption, the floors are kutcha and the classrooms don’t have fans.

Since the school lacks basic infrastructure, it is no surprise that the number of students has dwindled from 1,800 to 1,087 over the last few months.

Moreover, even though it has been four months since the current academic session began, the students have not been provided with any books or uniforms. Vice-Principal Karamvir Kaur said the teachers were spending money from their own pockets to provide notes to the students.

Even the 66-member staff has not been paid salaries for the last four months. “We are finding it extremely difficult to run the school now,” said Punjabi teacher Rupinder Kaur, who travels 45 km daily to the school.

Earlier, the school was being run by BIS Educational Society, but following allegations regarding bungling of funds, the school was later handed over to Delhi-based Educomp Solutions Limited.

But, the fortunes of the school did not change. A visit to the school premises by The Tribune team revealed that the computers were not functional, library did not have any books, the classrooms did not have any windows/doors and exposed electricity wires hung from the walls. “All our efforts to contact Educomp and government functionaries have proved futile,” said Nisha Thukral, another staff member.

“We do not have any facilities to hold sports events or other co-curricular activities in the school and these are vital for the overall development of the pupils,” said Gurinder Singh.

Pulak Aggarwal, Senior Manager (Operations), Educomp Solutions Ltd, said they had already conveyed to the state government about their inability to run these schools anymore.

Deputy Commissioner MS Narang said he had already informed Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, (School Education), about the matter.

No more film promotions in schools
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, July 28
At a time when the film industry, particularly Pollywood, is increasingly using educational institutions in Punjab for the promotion of their films, the Director, Department of Secondary Education, Punjab, has asked all schools in the state not to follow suit or face serious action.

In a letter (No 10/183-2013 SS, dated July 11) issued to all District Education Officers (DEOs), the director has warned the schools against any such film promotion in the school buildings. The director even asked the school authorities to desist from making use of school buildings for any other public function as it disturbs the studies.

The director said in case a school violates the orders, the DEO is supposed to bring the matter to the notice of the DC and the SDM of the area for necessary action.

The director's warning came following a complaint by Jaspal Singh, a resident of Tarn Tarn. In a complaint to the Grievances Redressal Cell of the education department on March 19, Jaspal Singh alleged that for the last few years, film makers, producers, heroes and heroines were going to colleges, schools and universities for the promotion of their films. He said it was ridiculous and the culture was causing disturbance to the study of students, besides promoting vulgarity.

In his complaint to Grievances Redressal Cell, Jaspal Singh also sent a copy of a letter of the Director General School Education (DGSE), Punjab, which the latter had sent to all DEOs on February 24 this year. In this letter ( No. 2013/DGSE/Coordination/003880), the DGSE asked the schools to discontinue all local functions/rural sports fair in the school buildings as it was harming the study of students. Directing that henceforth no school building be allowed for marriage/bhog/private and public functions or sports fair, the DGSE said only a sports event can be allowed but that too on a holiday.

In his complaint, Jaspal Singh said despite the directions of the DGSE, programmes of film stars were being organized in the educational institutions in Punjab for the promotion of their films.

Army felicitates 96-year-old athlete

Abohar, July 28
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Amogh Division, Major General NC Badhani on Saturday felicitated 96-year-old athlete Joginder Singh of Abohar for clinching three gold medals at the 34th Senior Masters National Athletics Championship held recently at Bangalore.

The GOC commended the achievements of the veteran athlete who has proved be a role model not only for his athletic feat but also for healthy living.

Born on January 18, 1917 at Baghapurana, Joginder Singh had been staying with his daughter Jaspal Kaur and son-in-law Gulshinder Singh Jassal — both outstanding teachers-cum-athletes. He participated in the 33rd Punjab Veterans Athletic Meet held in 2010 at Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur district and won gold medals in race, javelin and shot-put. — OC

Cantt Board embarks on ‘Mission zero garbage’

Ferozepur, July 28
The Cantonment Board has launched “Mission Zero Garbage" under which door to door garbage collection will be done by hygiene agents appointed by the Board. Vijay Bhaskar, CEO of the Cantonment Board, said after the collection of the garbage, its segregation will be done at the source followed by vermi-composting in the cantonment area.

He said the objective of teh mission was to turn the cantonment into zero garbage township without any static garbage bins.

While addressing the residents during the flagging off ceremony, the CEO said a “Bhagidari Campaign” will be launched with the active involvement of schoolchildren as the awareness ambassadors in all the streets and bazaars of the cantonment.

Satish Arora, SDO, said the Board has also exhorted the residents and citizens to participate to further beautify the cantonment. — OC