Youth festivals: high expenses, low participation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28
Financial constraints in higher education, coupled with lack of enthusiasm among youngsters, has been taking its toll on the popularity of youth festivals. This was stated by the DPI (Colleges), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, while addressing a press conference, here yesterday.

Mr Sinha said while the youth fests provided a platform to youngsters to exhibit talent, mobilisation of resources and manner of organisation of such fests posed problems to participating students.

Panellists, including Principal Vijay Lakshmi, Principal P.S. Sangha, Principal Vimal Bhargarv, supported introduction of innovative activities, as well as providing weightage in examinations for participation in such fests.

Principal Sangha said the charm of cultural fests had worn off and participation levels were below expectations. “He said weightage should be given for extra-curricular activities, which in turn, would serve as an incentive to the participants,” he said.

He said a single venue for a fest was not enough to keep the students involved. Instead, activities should be spread out in a manner that all colleges are allowed to host atleast one item of the competition.

Ms Bhargav said the student community lacked inclination and the help of professionals was proving to be a drain on college funds.

The Director, Youth Welfare, Dr I.S. Dhillon, said it was commendable that the number of participants in the fest had shown a gradual increase, while the number of fests had gone up from eight to 12. “As many as 8,000 students are directly involved in 12 zones of the programme. While venues for nine fests have been finalised, a final decision on the others is pending,’’ he added.

Youth fests prove dear for colleges
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28
In place of the traditional verve and enthusiasm one would associate with a youth festival, the concern of losing out on exorbitant sums in training teams for the contest is weighing heavily on the minds of college principals this season.

Sources said that college authorities ended up paying a minimum of Rs 10,000 to each professional who helped in ``perfecting’’ a team for the fest. This, they added, totalled to approximately 60 per cent of the funds earmarked for co-curricular activities in each college.

“Each year, a major chunk of the students’ fund is diverted to seeking professional help in training teams for the fest which can be utilised in other activities which could directly benefit students,’’ a principal of a local college said.

While specific uses of the amalgamated fund are clearly defined by the university, most of the amount earmarked for co-curricular activities goes into paying for professional help sought for the teams.

This, the Director, Youth Welfare, Dr I.S. Dhillon, said, was a matter of concern not only for the colleges, but the department as well.

“Our guidelines for the youth festival lay down norms which categorically state that any college which does not offer a particular subject can avail itself of the services of professionals. However, it makes no mention of colleges which seek this help, despite offering these subjects,’’ he added.

The Director Public Instruction (Colleges), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, said that no action could be initiated against colleges seeking help to train teams for youth festivals inspite of offering subjects for the same in their respective colleges.

Describing the ``trend’’, another college principal said that competitiveness was responsible for breeding the idea of seeking ``outside’’ help, leading to a drain on the already limited resources at the disposal of the college.

“Prior to this trend our teachers would help students prepare every item. However, with time and increasing competition coupled, with the desire to excel, we have started employing professionals who demand more and more every year.

With this, the competition is less amongst the teams vying for the first position and more among the professionals working behind the scenes,’’ she rued.

While most of the ``help’’ comes for dance items and plays staged during the youth festival, training for singing contests in the various categories is gradually beginning to make its way to the professionals’ list. 

Recession a temporary phase: Attray
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28
Mr Vivek Attray, Director, Public Relations, UT, today said the recession which the aviation sector was experiencing a temporary phase and would be over shortly.

Mr Attray was addressing students from Shimla who had successfully completed the airlines management programme organised by the Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends (ITFT). He advised the students to develop self-confidence and spirit of service. He also advised them to continue improving themselves as this was the age of competition. He said everyone should have knowledge of information technology which provided an easy opportunity to improve their skills.

Mr Attray stressed the rich cultural heritage and values of the country together with its development which were a great attraction to visitors. He asked the students to take pride and inspiration in country’s heritage.

Earlier, welcoming Mr Attray, Dr Gulshan Sharma, Director, ITFT, said it was for the first time that a month-long week-end airlines management programme had been organised in Himachal Pradesh. He said a similar programme would be organised at Dharamshala from November 3.

Certificates were awarded to 51 students. Students also visited the civil airport at Chandigarh as part of their practical training and had a sight-seeing tour of the city in CITCO’s hop-on, hop-off coach.

Retaining folk in western beats
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 28
What keeps Surjit Bindrakhia’s albums on top of popularity charts is his unique style of retaining the freshness of Punjabi folk even when it is mixed with a heavy dose of western beats. After giving hit numbers like “Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da”, “Tere Ch Tera Yaar Bolda”, he has now come up with his latest album “Billiaan Akhiyaan” — a blend of Punjabi folk and pop.

“Blending folk with western music to satisfy the younger generation is not bad if done within a limit,” said the singer, while addressing the mediapersons at a local hotel in Sector 35 here today. “Though my album can be called pop album, the basics of folk have not been violated,” he said.

Though the name “Billiaan Akhiyaan” is suggestive enough, yet the album is purely a family album based on social theme, said Atul Sharma, the music director, who has recorded about 150 songs with Surjit so far. “The album contains a few “Heer” based folk song whose essence has not been distorted at all,” he added.

Surjit got his break as a play back singer in a Punjabi feature film “Anakh Jattan Di”. He has recorded about 28 Punjabi albums, besides, featuring in a number of Punjabi films like “Kachehri”, “Vairi”, “Jeona Maurr”and “Rabb Dian Rakhan”, including his latest “Ishq Nachave Gali Gali”.

A gold medalist in heavyweight wrestling, Surjit turned towards music after he met Atul Sharma. They recorded together his first cassette “Munda Ki Mangda” in 1991 and then became a team.

Surjit who was accompanied by Atul Sharma and the lyricist of the album, Shamsher Sandhu, in the press meet, later performed at a popular discotheque in Sector 9 where he enthralled youngsters with his latest numbers, as well as old hits.