Chandigarh, Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Chandigarh, Tuesday, November 16, 1999 |
PAU
hit by Punjab fiscal crunch Need
for library culture Relevance
of social work as subject |
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PAU hit by Punjab fiscal
crunch THE Punjab Agricultural University, the premier agricultural research institute of the country, is faced with a serious financial crisis as a result of which a number of development programmes have come to a halt. The financial crisis in the university has been caused because of a severe financial crunch faced by the Punjab Government which is the main financial support for this premier agricultural university which ushered in the Green Revolution in the country to bring about self-sufficiency in foodgrains production. The university authorities are finding it difficult to make payment of salaries on date every month and the salaries are delayed by days together. Such is the situation that the university authorities have resorted to reviewing of the existing posts of teachers and non-teachers. No new posts are being filled. Even vacancies caused by retirement of teachers and non-teachers are not being filled. The Punjab Government is understood to have directed the educational institutions in the state not to fill any vacancy caused by retirement. More than 300 posts of teachers are lying vacant in the university, according to official information. The monthly salary bill of the university staff-both teaching and non-teaching — is more than Rs 6 crore and the university is facing a deficit of nearly Rs 2 crore every month. The implementation of new pay scales for both the teaching and the non-teaching staff has further aggravated the financial crisis as arrears are not being paid to them. The university authorities are finding it difficult to deposit the contributions towards the CPF of the staff and they have to pay heavy rate of interest on the same to the banks. Dr Hari Singh Brar, president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA), maintains that there are no funds to undertake any new research project. Nor are funds available for undertaking necessary tours in connection with research, extension and teaching activities. Dr Brar is sore that the university authorities are resorting to slashing the posts instead of filling sanctioned posts. There are no surplus posts of teachers and the university research work is carried out by lower-rung scientists. But the authorities are cutting the posts and not filling vacancies caused due to retirement of personnel. If the present trend continues, research, teaching and extension work will collapse. Already the financial crunch is making an impact on the research activities, warns Dr Brar. Dr Brar has urged upon the university and the state administration to fill all vacant posts and at least the sanctioned strength of the staff should be maintained. The PAUTA president also wants the unviersity to follow the UGC guidelines in regard to appointment of Registrar of the university according to which an academician has to be appointed on this post. The state government has been posting a senior PCS or IAS officer as registrar. The general feeling on the campus is that the authorities are filling those posts where they can accomodate their favourites and are not making a judicious choice. The faculty also alleges that senior faculty members undertake unnecessary foreign tours under the pretext of research studies and ‘waste money’. The post of Director, Students Welfare (DSW), has not been filled by the Board of Management because of the poor financial situation. The DSW is supposed to deal with day-to-day problems of students, including hostel and sports activities. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr G.S. Kalkat, admits there is a financial crisis but claims that no research work has suffered and the facilities for students have been further expanded. The Punjab Government sanctioned a plan of Rs 63.5 crore for the university and the ICAR Rs 12 crore. The ICAR has been sending the promised money while the state government is not meeting its commitment, says the Vice-Chancellor. “We need Rs 6.25 crores every month for payment of salary of the teaching and non-teaching staff. Our monthly deficit comes about Rs 2 crore on this score’, says Dr Kalkat. The Vice-Chancellor is confident of meeting the deficit. He maintained that the university has income from its own sources to the tune of Rs 8 core per annum. “We have also raised the rent of houses and rate of seeds produced”. No development project has been halted nor has any research activity suffered due to the financial crunch. He denies the allegation that sowing could not be completed on the regional research stations of the university due to paucity of funds. “We have ensured sowing of all crops at the regional research stations on priority”, he claims. Dr Kalkat says the ICAR has promised to grant us Rs 13 crore. He admits the university has not been able to deposit the CPF of the teaching and non-teaching staff. To cut the expenses and locate surplus staff, a review committee comprising the Registrar, Director Research, Director, Extension Education, and Dean Colleges, has been set up. The committee is reviewing the staff strength in different departments. “We are not filling those posts which get vacated after retirement. However, we are filling those where replacement is not available,’’ he points out. No retrenchment is being made, he asserts. Denying that a favourite has been posted as Assistant Professor, the Vice-Chancellor maintains, “We have filled essential vacancies only”. There are more than 300 vancancies of Assistant Professor. The financial situation in PAU started worsening in 1996-97 and by 1998, there was a shortfall of Rs 8 crore. It will take at least three years to bring down the deficit as many will retire by 2002, says Dr Kalkat. Punjab Agricultural University which was set up on the pattern of Ohio State University of the USA in 1962 has signed an MoU with the same again for further collaboration. The state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 2 crore for the same. A team of the Ohio State University will be visiting Ludhiana next month and hold a three-day seminar to identify areas of cooperation and selection of staff for training. This 37-year-old agricultural university of international repute has played a major role in wiping out national food deficit. It has developed and released as many as 440 varieties of various field, fodder and horticultural crops, including 38 wheat varieties, 19 rice, maize-21, barley-5, pearlmillet-10, pulses-42, oilseeds-34, cotton-21, sugarcane-14, sesbonia-1, forage crops-31, vegetables-69, floricultural-9, fruits-122, and aromatic plants-4, respectively. The university has also
developed and released 24 hybrids of 12 crops. Some of
these varieties have been released at the national and
international level. The university needs immediate
adequate financial assistance to sustain research
activities. |
Need for library culture THE British brought the library culture in the country which became an integral part of our educational system. The universities set by them, not more than a dozen, till date have large libraries which house, among others, rare MSS and other publications which are no longer available. Most of these are unfortunately gathering dust for lack of care. Also, rarely are these consulted by scholars. Even the National Library at Calcutta, which was the first-ever national library to be set up in this country, has a very large number of such MSS and rare publications which, despite a separate building created to house these, have failed to find a good resting place. Several of these are in the process of extinction. Interestingly, it is mainly foreign scholars who have shown a keen interest in such a collection. It is they who have been crying for its proper preservation. While funds are not a problem, it is lack of interest on our part which is one. It is unfortunate that while we have been fast in multiplying universities and colleges after Independence, we have gradually moved away from the library culture. While shelves in these libraries are full of books and a large number have been acquired at a high cost, especially in case of foreign publications,which till recently were purchased indiscriminately, not even teachers show any interest in consulting these, much less the students. There is certainly something wrong with out system of education that has failed to cultivate a library culture, which is an integral part of the Western system of education. In fact in a prestigious library there it becomes difficult to find a seat. Most readers spend good time perusing books and journals, which helps them strengthen their academic foundations, and writing semester papers. Researchers spend long hours in libraries consulting every conceivable matter pertaining to their field. In fact, they are there from early morning to late evening, all six days of the week. Even in schools the library culture exists. Schoolchildren from an early age are made familiar with this culture. Such tradition stands in good stead later when they move to higher education. The question arises as to why in this country we have failed to create a library culture? It is unfortunate that unlike ‘consumerism’ where we have even surpassed advanced societies, this area hasn’t had any ‘demonstration effect’. We have to do some earnest heart searching. So far this issue has not been taken up seriously. Serious readers are difficult to find. Most of our libraries have failed to enrich the knowledge of the student community. Students feel satisfied with classroom notes and cheap text available in abundance. When these serve their main purpose of getting a degree, why should they bother about serious reading. How can we create a library culture? Though this issue needs to be debated among teachers themselves where quite a few of them are products of western universities. There are surely missing links in our education which stand in the way of library culture. Our schoolchildren are hardly exposed to such a culture. In fact, while the school education system encourages children to carry bulky school bags, it never encourages them to use the library where they could spend time to cultivate the habit of reading. It is this initial mistake that has by and large spilled over to higher education . In fact, when a student enters a college library for the first time he feels a little uneasy for he finds here something which has not been a part of this academic world . Shouldn’t the teachers themselves set the ball rolling? Unfortunately, several of them are indifferent. When they do not show any interest in improving their own knowledge or contributing some original writing to a scholarly journal, they need hardly visit a library. It is the easy money culture that has overtaken several of our teachers, even when they are paid handsomely. It is teachers alone who
have to set their house in order. Teachers should play a
positive role in creating a library culture. When
students would find teachers spending time in library,
they will also be motivated. Teachers could suggest
reading for a particular assignment which would make the
students consult the library. |
Relevance of social work as
subject SOCIAL work as a subject and profession is not new in our country, but it is new in Chandigarh. In technical terms social work is the “art of bringing various resources to bear on individual, group and community needs by application of a scientific method of helping people to help themselves”. The first school of social work was started in 1936, in Bombay under the name of Sir Dorabji Tata School of Social Work. It is now known as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. There are various schools of social work in other states devoted to the education of social work. These offer general experience course work and field work. For field work training, students are placed in various agencies. As far as Punjab is concerned, the only school is run by the Department of Social Work, Punjabi University, Patiala. There is need to start such a school in Chandigarh, preferably in Panjab University. For field work, there are various agencies like the PGI, General Hospital, Sector 32, Bal Bhawan, Sector 23, Mother Teressa Sisters of Charity Home, Sector 23, Old Age Home Sector 15 and Short Stay Home, Sector 43. Besides, there are a number of voluntary organisations in this field in Chandigarh aided by the Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board and the Central Social Welfare Board directly. These are Society for the Blind, Sector 26, Y.W.C.A. of India Sector 11, Kasturba Gandhi Education Society for Women and Children Welfare, Sector 43-A, Bharat Sewak Samaj, Sector 24, All-India Women’s Conference, Sector 11, Indira Social Welfare Society, Sector 37, Indian Council of Social Welfare, Sector 11, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Sector 16, Indian Council of Child Welfare, Sector 23, Rajrishi Bal Pustkalya, Servants of People Society, Sector 15, Sewa Bharti, Sector 29, Citizens’ Association for Relief Education and Services, Sector 36, Youth Technical Training Society, Sector 11, Bal Niketan Society, Sector 15, Mahila Mandal Parishad, Sector 11 and Satya Sai Trust, Sector 30. Most of these
organisations are committed but have untrained workers.
Trained and dedicated social workers are needed to direct
the administrative function and other activities in these
organisations. Proper co-ordination between professional
social workers and voluntary social workers is a must. |
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I have come across a number of ads issued by consultants recruiting candidates for training as air hostess. Are these genuine? Balbir Singh, Udhampur While it is true that some consultancy firm do the initial recruiting on behalf of the Airlines (mainly foreign one), not all of them are genuine ones. Beware of those that demand a fee in lieu of a job. I am told some ask for as much as Rs 50,000 upwards. Avoid them like the plague. Similarly, watch out for those who claim to train you for the job. They are simply taking you for a ride. Airlines prefer to train candidates at their own centres. Also, when in doubt, check-up with the Airline concerned to confirm whether they have indeed authorised the firm to recruit candidates on their behalf. How can I become an industrial engineer? What will my job be? Deepak Saxena, Hissar Industrial Engineers determine the most effective ways to utilise people, materials, information energy and machines for an organisation. The work involves designing and installing integrated systems for men and materials, equipment and processes for increasing the productivity and quality of the goods. Harnessing mathematical tools like operations research and design data processing systems you will be involved in planning, measuring and controlling all activities within the plant, besides designing the product’s manufacturing cycle. You’ll also develop management and distribution control systems of goods and services and assist in financial planning, cost analysis, production planning. A good industrial engineer starts off with a BE/B.Tech in Industrial Engineering/Management or Industrial & Production Engineering followed by practical on-the-job experience. However, some short-term courses in this discipline are also offered by the National Productivity Council, New Delhi and several management institutes. I have finished my 10+2. Due to financial constraints, I have taken up a job as a sales executive in a private firm. I am desirous of enhancing my academic prospects through a correspondence course in sales and marketing. Please advice. Ravi Sharma, Dehradun There are no specific courses in sales & marketing offered at the bachelor’s level through correspondence. However, you can opt for a BBA/BBS/BBM (Bachelor of Business Administration/Studies/ Management). Sales & Marketing is offered as part of these programmes. The following universities offer BBA/BBM/BBS through correspondence: BBA * Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar-608002, (TN) Tel: 22610 Delhi Centre: Tuglakabad Institutional Area, Near Batra Hospital Tel: 6987638, 6989082 * Bharathidasan University, Centre for Distance Education, Tiruchirapalli-620024, (T.N.) Tel: 896248 * Guru Ghasidas University, Institute of Distance Education, Bilaspur-495009, (MP) Tel: 22852 * Kurukshetra University *Zed Career Academy, F-1/31, Krishan Nagar, (Near Vijay Chowk), Delhi-110051. Tel: 2248020. * University of Madras, Instt of Correspondence Education, Chepauk, Chennai-600005, (TN) Tel: 562716/568778 (OUS) * Madurai Kamraj University, Directorate of Distance Education, University Building, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai-625021, (TN) Tel: 85471-75 * Pondicherry University, Directorate of Distance Education, University Campus, R. Venkataraman Nagar, Kalapet, Pondicherry-605014, (T.N.) Tel: 852177/852247 BBM * Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Directorate of Distance Education Ladnun (Raj) Tel: 22116 JVBI, Santhiniketan, Gr Floor, 20, 8, Camac Street, Calcutta-700017 (WB) Tel: 2424784 BBS * University of Calicut, School of Distance Education, Calicut University PO, Calicut-673635, (Kerala) Tel: 0493-800288 I am interested in pursuing a career in the hotel industry, I intend to take up a course in hotel management. Can you recommend some institutes offering the course and the job prospects in the field. Harish Sawhney, Ludhiana A course in Hotel Management opens up job opportunities not only in the hotel industry but also outside it. Some of the other options being related jobs in the railways, airlines, hospitals, motels, banks and other service industries where customer interface is at a premium. You can also find employment in the defence services and as an instructor at the various schools of Hotel management that have opened up in the country. There are also avenues for self-employment for those trained in hotelieering. If you have the requisite qualities — business acumen, initiative and drive, ability to roll-up your sleeves and work hard, you could set up your hotel, restaurant, bar, resort, canteen, mobile van, kiosk or outdoor catering service after having worked for a few years. There is also a demand for trained and experienced hotel professionals all over the world, particularly in the developing countries of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. If you can adjust to new environments and get along with people, this may be a good option. However, currently, the
job situation in the domestic market is somewhat tight.
Hundreds of institutes have sprung up to churn out
thousands of graduates and diploma-holders in hotel
management. This has created an imbalance in the
demand-supply ratio. The upshot is that there are far too
many contenders for management posts while the
requirement is far greater for staff at the operations
level. So do make sure you opt for the top institutes
when it comes to enrolling for a course in Hotel
Management. |
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Banking Dec 11 Banking Service Recruitment Board, E-2/24, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462016 (MP). Recruitment of Probationary Officers in Central Bank of India (125 posts) Elig: Bachelor’s degree or equiv. Appln Form & Detailed info: See Employment News of Nov 6. Computers Dec 15 Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management (IIITM) (an autonomous institution of M/o HRD, Gol), Gola Ka Mandir Rd, Gwalior 474005. Postgraduate Diploma in Management & Information Technology (PGDMIT). Elig: BE/B.Tech/MCA with 60% aggr (55% for SC/ST). Selection Procedure: Written exam, GS & interview. Appln Form: Send Rs 500/- (Rs 250/- for SC/ST) by crossed DD favouring “IIITM Gwalior” payable at Gwalior along with a self-addressed, envelope (30 cmx26 cm), to the Director, IIITM-Gwalior, at the above address, or to the Project Manager (IIITM Test), Educational Consultants India Ltd., Ed. CIL House, 18-A, Sector 16-A, Noida 201301. Economics Jan 14 University of Delhi South Campus, D/o Business Economics, Room No. 228, Arts Faculty Bldg, Benito Juarez Rd, New Delhi 110021. 1. Master of Business Economics (MBE). 2. M.Phil 3. Ph.D Elig: For 1): Bachelor’s degree (Hons) in Business Eco/Eco/Commerce/Business Studies/Business Admin (50% agg) or Bachelor’s degree in other subjects (55% agg) (50% for SC/ST). Selection Procedure: Admission test on 13 Feb., 2000 at Delhi, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur & Calcutta. Appln Form: Send Rs 475/- (Rs 175/- for SC/ST supported by cert) by DD favouring “Director, University of Delhi South Campus” payable at State Bank of India, Service Branch, New Delhi, along with two self-addressed slips (2”x5”), if required by post. Can also be collected from Room No. 228, Arts Faculty Bldg., Univ of Delhi, South Campus, on payment of Rs 450/- by DD. Engineering Nov 22 Vellore Engineering College, Vellore 632014 (TN). Tel: 0416-243091-93 Fax: 243092. E-mail: principal@admin.vec.as.in. Web site: www.vec.ac.in Master of Engineering (Comp Sc Engg) Elig: BE/BTech/AMIE with specialisation in: Comp Sc & Engg/Elect/Electron/Elect & Electron/Electron & Commn/Electron & Instru/Instru & Control Engg & Infor Tech. Preference to GATE Scores. Limited seats for sponsored/SC/ST. Prosp & Appln: Send Rs 200/- by DD favouring “Vellore Engineering College” payable at Vellore to the above address. Management Dec 08 T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal 576119. (Kar) (i) Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) (ii) Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Family Business (PGDM — FB) Elig: (i) & (ii): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline (50% agg) and CAT Scores. Appln Form & info Handbook: Send Rs 800/- (Rs 500/- for SC/ST) by DD favouring “T.A. Pai Management Institute” payable at Manipal or Udupi at the above address. Also available in Selected SBI branches where CAT Forms are available. Dec 10 University of Roorkee, D/o Management Studies, Roorkee-247667 (UP) Ph: 01332-85014, Fax: 85565. E-mail: doms @ rurkiu. ernet. in Master’s
in Business Administration (MBA) Elig: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with 60% agg (55% for SC/ST) and CAT Scores. Appln Form: Send Rs 200/- by DD favouring “The Registrar, University of Roorkee” payable at Punjab National Bank (Code No. 4044). Also available at PNB Branches of: Parliament St, New Delhi; Sector 17, Chandigarh on payment of Rs 150/- in cash. Dec 10 Instt for integrated Learning in Management (IILM), Lodhi Institutional Area, Lodhi Rd, New Delhi 110003. Ph: 4647820-21 Fax: 4647796. E.mail: iilm @ iilm. edu. Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) (2-yr, F/T). Elig: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline plus CAT scores. Appln Form: Send Rs 600/- by DD favouring “Institute for Integrated Learning in Management” payable at New Delhi. Also on payment of Rs 550/- in cash at counter. Dec 15 Instt for technology & Management, IME Building, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210 Ph: 7905001-2 Fax: 7905001/5562828. Email: itmbom 2 @ bom 3. vsnl. net. in. Website: www. itm. edu Postgraduate
Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) Elig: Bachelor’s/Diploma. Scores in CAT, GD, PI and experience Appln Form: Send Rs 500/- by DD favouring “Institute for Technology & Management” payable at Mumbai to the Chairman-Admissions at the above address. Jan 10 Indian Instt of Science & Management, IISM Campus, Pundag, Ranchi 834004. Ph: 0651-302060, Fax: 0651-314630. E-mail: iism @ dte. vsnl. net. in 1. Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management 2. Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology Elig: For 1 & 2): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, Scores in MAT followed by GD & Interview. Appln Form: Send Rs 350/- by DD favouring “Indian Institute of Science & Management” payable at Ranchi specifying the name of the course. Medicine Dec 31 Banaras Hindu University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varnasi 221005. 1. MCh Paediatric Surg/Plastic Surg/neurosurg/Urology 2. DM Nephtology/Endocrinology/Gastroenterology/Neurology/ Cardiology 3. MDS Prosthodontics/Operative Dentistry Elig: For 1&2): MD/MS For 3): BDS and 1-yr compulsory rotating internship. Appln Form: Send Rs 600/- by DD favouring “Director, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU” payable at SBI (Code No 0211) along with self-addressed stamped (Rs 22/-) envelope (25x26cm) to the Director at the above address. Research Nov 30 Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Gol, D/o Space, Thiruvananthapuram 695022 1. Junior Research Fellows Elig: Ist Div PG Degree in Scientific disciplines or Bachelor’s/PG degree in Engg/Tech. Elig, Detailed info & Appln Format: See Employment News of 6-12 Nov. School Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai-131029, Distt. Sonipat (Har). Dec 10 1) Class IV (Main entry point) Dec 12 2) Outstanding Sportsperson’s Category Jan 22 3) Lateral Entry to Classes V to XI Elig: For 1): Born between 1 July, 90 — 30 June, 92 For 2): Age between 8-18 years and participation in Jr./Sr. National Games or securing I/II/III positions in State level competitions. For 3): Entry Exam and merit in various admission tests. Appln Form: Send Rs 100/- by DD/IPO favouring “Principal & Director, MNSS, Rai” payable at SBI (Code No. 6838) or PS Rai PO. Also available on Payment of Rs 75/- in cash at counter. Travel & Tourism Dec 10 Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068 Masters in Tourism Management (MTA) Distance Learning) Elig: BTS/BA in Tourism/Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with Dip in Tourism/Hotel Mgt. Appln Form: Send Rs 50/- by DD favouring “IGNOU” payable at New Delhi to the above address. Also available for Rs 10/- in cash at all IGNOU Regional Centres across the country. CARING (Career
Information & Guidance), New Delhi. |
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