EDUCATION

CHANDIGARH CARNIVAL
Colleges’ participation made mandatory
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17
The Director Public Instructions (Colleges), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, has made it mandatory for all colleges to participate in the forthcoming Chandigarh carnival.

All city colleges have been asked to prepare floats on subjects of common concern for the festival scheduled for November 30.

“Carnivals are essentially student-oriented festivals and, ironically, it is the student community, primarily those in colleges, which keeps away from such functions. Roping in college students in preparing floats for the carnival is our way of promoting student participation and bringing them out of their shell,” Mr Sinha said.

Earlier in the week, the DPI (Colleges) had convened a meeting of all city college principals to decide on the participation of colleges in the carnival. Topics for the floats were also decided at the meeting.

While some colleges are regular participants at the annual show, others abstain from sending in their entries for no apparent reason, thereby contributing to the growing indifference among students regarding creative activities.

“Our college has never missed an opportunity to participate in such activities. Preparing of floats is no big deal for our students who are not only familiar with the concept of working on given themes, but are also adept in innovation and experimentation,” says Ms Vijay Lakshmi, Principal of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, where students have already teamed up to prepare a float on the theme of “Anti-Terrorism”.

Admitting that her college has only been participating off and on in the Chandigarh Carnival, Ms Mohini Sharma, Principal of Government College for Girls, Sector 42, says, “We will participate in the carnival since the DPI has asked us to do so. I have asked teachers to chalk out strategy and begin work in this regard”.

Themes finalised for other colleges include ‘Jai jawan, jai kisan’ (GC-11), ‘AIDS’ (GC-46), ‘Environment’ (DAV-10), Dev Samaj-45 and Home Science College, Sector 10), ‘Literacy’ (SGGS-26), Communal harmony (GGS-26), and ‘Women empowerment’ (B Ed College, Sector 20).

The carnival is scheduled for November 30 and will conclude on December 2. The organisers, CITCO, are making efforts to ensure that it has something for all age groups.

City colleges have already begun work on floats which will figure in the Chandigarh carnival parade from Sector 10 to Sector 17.

School function depicts unity in diversity
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 17
The spirit of nationalism epitomised the cultural programme presented by students of the local Golden Bells Public School, and Golden Bells Primary School, Sohana, on the occasion of it’s 16th annual function held at Lecma Theatre, 3BRD, Air Force Station, here today.

Items like “Unity in Diversity” presented by students of Class1 and II pointed out that the strength of the nation lies in unity among the states and that to grow and prosper as a nation, all states, inspite of their differences have to unite together and work towards a single goal.

The function started with a welcome song by tiny tots of pre- nursery and nursery. It was followed by a western dance on the song “Little Bit Monica.” The function then rolled onto give out messages on patriotism and peace and harmony through songs “I love you India” and “Jungle song”

Another major attraction of the function was a Rajasthani folk dance presented by students of Class IV in which about 10 girls in bright traditional dresses beautifully depicted the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

A comedy play “Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja “ and a puppet show highlighted the chaos and corruption in our society. The show ended with a bhangra item presented by students of Class V.

Earlier, welcoming the chief guest. Major General Rajindra Nath PVSM (Retd) and the guest of honour Brig Arjinder Singh, Ms Gurjit Bawa, the Principal of the school, apprised them the activities and achievements of the school. The chief guest, later, gave away prizes to meritorious students.

Symposium on information technology
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, November 17
The Canadian Institute of Science and Technology (CICST) organised a symposium on ‘Information Technology and its various Applications’. As many as 230 students of the institute participated in the seminar.

The symposium focussed on the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) presentation which highlighted the role of business in IT services, e-commerce and encouraging advancements of research.

Mr Gurdeep Singh, a senior faculty of the CICST, said despite progress in science and technology, people were still living in poverty and over 850 million were illiterate and more than 150 million children were forced to work and also 125 million children do not get a chance to go to schools. He said the masses continue to be unaware of the IT’s potential in daily life. A mass campaign was required to create awareness, he said.

He said the CICST was an extension campus of the Georgian College in Asia. Earlier, Mr Singh made a presentation on the ‘Right to freedom of Information’. 

COURTS

Case adjourned
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 17
The UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L. Mohal, today adjourned the District Courts shoot out case till December 8. The incident reportedly took place on July 6, 1998, when an accused Harvinder Singh, allegedly involved in the murder of Harjit Singh, was being produced in a local court.

It was alleged that the supporters of Harvinder Singh had fired shots at Harjinder Singh’s sympathisers when they raised slogans against the Punjab Police.

The city police had arrested 18 persons under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 338, 353 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act.

‘Tainted’ cops get judicial remand
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 17
Two city policemen who had been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a corruption case were sent to judicial remand till December 1 by a local court today. The accused, Sub-Inspector Om Parkash and Head Constable Devinder Singh, were produced in the court of the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L. Mohal, this afternoon.

The accused were produced from the gate only meant for Judges. There were no security personnel or traffic constables at the gate. The persons accompanying the accused assaulted two press photographers, Parvesh Chauhan and Varinder Saklani. They made every effort to stop the duo from taking photographs.

The accused were arrested by the CBI on November 16 while allegedly accepting bribe from a local resident for doing away with an accident case pending against him. The duo were nabbed by CBI sleuths near the Air Force officers’ houses with Rs 2500.