EDUCATION

R & D polytechnic centre inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 18
The Ludhiana city may lose another chance of getting Central assistance worth Rs 20 crore to set up an apparel park as the Department of Industries has not even prepared a project proposal asked by the Textile Ministry about two months ago. The ministry had offered a grant under the Critical Infrastructure Development Fund scheme, under which the state government had also to commit 50 per cent share in the form of land or other facilities.

Mr D.S. Guru, Director, Department of Industries and Commerce, who was in the city today to attend an inauguration function of the R & D Polytechnic Centre, established at the Focal Point, admitted that the proposal had not been prepared so far, but the government was determined to avail that grant. He said, ‘‘ The state government has already offered land at Ladowal for that project.The government is ready to acquire land at other places, if the industrialists so desired.’’

However, the industrialists have expressed serious doubts about the genuineness of the government’s claims. They said the Governments of West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamilnadu have already submitted their proposals but the state government had not even consulted them in this regard.

While talking to the mediapersons, Mr Jagir Singh Bhullar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Industries, claimed that there was no need to worry about the small scale sector as the state had been ranked at the fourth number amongst the industrialised states in the country.

Asked why the state government had waited for more than four years to approach the Supreme Court against the WTO agreement signed by the Centre, Mr Bhullar said innocently,' It is Chief Minister’s decision. I have nothing to say in this regard’’.

The governing body and the students of the newly opened polytechnic were left high and dry as Mr Bhullar did not announce any grant despite a demand for Rs 50 lakh for the infrastructural development of the institute.

Regarding the announcement of state export policy, Mr Guru again evaded a direct answer saying that the department was still in the process of collecting comments from different departments. After the preparation of the policy it would have to be sanctioned by the state Cabinet, he said. Mr Bhullar, however, assured that the policy would be announced during the regime of the current government.

Later, addressing the gathering, Mr Guru said,‘‘With the starting of two new courses of production engineering and mechanical engineering in the R& D Centre, skilled manpower would be provided to the industry’’. Mrs Ravneet Kaur, vice-chairperson of the centre, assured to live up the expectations of the government and the industry.

Others who attended the function included industrialists Mr M.S. Bhogal, Mr Ajit Singh Kolar, Mr D.S. Dhiman and Mr B.S. Sangha, general manager of the centre.

Govt teachers hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 18
The Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab, organised a rally at Mini Secretariat today to demand immediate filling of the vacant posts in government schools, appointment of the ETT trained youth and timely disbursement of salaries.

Addressing the teachers, Mr Bhajan Singh, district president, said over 2,500 schools of Punjab were without a single permanently employed teacher. He said that more than 1100 posts for primary teachers are lying vacant in Ludhiana district, causing much problem to the students.

Mr Joginder Azad, district secretary, said teachers in most of the government schools were facing problems due to delayed payment of salaries. Drawing and disbursing officers have not been appointed in several schools which were upgraded recently, he added.

Members of the front said teachers from schools at Jagraon, Sidhwan Bet, Raikot, Malaud, Khanna, Samrala and Machhiwara, which were most affected, participated in the rally. The Unemployed Teachers’ Front and DIET Welfare Students, Jagraon, also supported the rally.

Lecture on graphology
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 18
A lecture on ‘Graphology in service of mankind’ was held at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Civil Lines, here today.

Mr I.S. Chadha, graphologist, said that human behaviour could be easily judged from a person’s handwriting. He said that hand writing was an indicator of a man’s confidence, dedication, honesty, efficiency, intelligence and helpfulness.

Terming graphology as ‘‘neuroscience’’ or ‘‘brain science’’, Mr Chadha said that handwriting analysis could even reflect the mood of a person. He said that graphology could help psychiatrists and psychologists to study human behaviour and improve a person’s mental health. He said that the police and investigation agencies could identify the embezzlers, forgers and other anti-social elements from their writing.

Speaking to the students, Mr Chadha said that graphology could help students know their hidden talents and diagnose reasons for their slow pickup in studies. He said that if a child’s retardation in studies was due to mental confusion, conflict and disturbance in mind, he claimed that it could be identified and corrected.

Mr Kuldip Singh, Principal, Mr T.S. Anand, coordinator of the postgraduate department of English, and Mr L.S. Bedi, lecturer of English, were present on the occasion.

Founder’s day celebrated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 18
The students, staff and management of Kundan Vidya Mandir celebrated founder’s day at functions held here yesterday and today.

The programme began with Natraj Aradhana, a dance recital. An action song, ‘We are young, we want our freedom’, was presented by the tiny tots of nursery and KG. Janu Sharma and Ruchu Katyal presented a Punjabi duet, ‘Ter bina langdiyan nahin rattan chananiyan’. Primary section students presented the dramatisation of fairy tale, ‘Cindrella’.

Nitya and Vriti presented a dance item on the song, ‘Radha kaise na jale’. A Hindi play titled ‘Adhikar ka rakshak’ was presented by middle section students. Shikha vati, Rajasthani folk dance, was presented by the students of city branch. In western clips-2001, students of Class XI and Class XII sashayed wearing various western outfits. The programme concluded with bhangra by senior section boys.

Mr D.R. Bhatti, Additional Director General of Police and Director of Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, was the chief guest yesterday evening. Today, Air Marshal Kuldip Rai was invited as the chief guest. Ms I.Kumar, Principal, read the school annual report on both the days.