Private school principals meet DPI
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
To discuss their problems, principals from private affiliated schools held a meeting with Ms Hardayal Kaur, DPI (primary) yesterday.

The principals sought exemption for students from appearing in Class V examination conducted by the School Council of Education, Research and Training (SCERT) for seeking admission in Class VI. They said that the students were already appearing in Class VIII examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board and there was no need to hold examination at the Class V level.

The principals also demanded exemption from paying tax on private school buses, supply of electricity to schools on domestic charges and availability of school books in English medium. They said that books for Classes IX to XII on social studies, health and physical education were not available in English and the students had to face several problems.

They were assured that their problems would be looked into.

Teachers’ rally enters third day
Our Correspondent

Doraha, December 6
More than 500 teachers from 24 colleges of the district held a rally at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, Ludhiana, today.

After holding a rally on the college campus, the teachers marched in a procession to the house of Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. They held a rally there and demanded the immediate release of their district President, Prof Kuldip Singh and others. The police officials tried to disperse the rallysts. The situation was brought under control by the arrival of Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, district president, Shiromani Akali Dal (B), to whom the memorandum was submitted in the absence of Mr Atwal .

The Akali leader said that he would hand over the same to Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, who in turn would submit the same to the chief minister. He assured the lecturers that they would surely get their due and if the demands were accepted they should be implemented, too. He also said that the administration should behave in a dignified manner with them.

The college teachers, under the banner of PCCTU, have long since been on an agitational path demanding the implementation of their long pending and already conceded to demand of pension-cum-gratuity scheme. The other demands are up-to-date review of posts, 95 per cent grant-in-aid to unaided colleges, lecturers designation to DPE’s and librarians’ release of arrears of revised grades from 01-01-1996,lecturers grade to the demonstrators, extension of grant-in-aid to the unaided colleges, rural area allowance and regular flow of 95 per cent deficit grant to the colleges.

Meanwhile, Mr Tarsem Jodan, former MLA, strongly condemned the arrests of the leaders of the PCCTU and demanded their immediate release. He said that the teachers are the backbone of any society and should be given their due. Dr H S Grewal, district secretary, association for democratic rights Punjab too condemned the arrest of teachers.

He called the methods of government as anti-democratic and repressive.’ Prof Parminder Singh, convenor of the district action committee said that the agitation would be intensified, further. He threatened to burn the effigy of Punjab Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljeet Singh, if he did not desist from creating hurdles in the way of the implement of pension -cum-gratuity scheme.

Tomorrow, the teachers are to assemble at D.D. Jain College and march in a procession to the house of Mr Satpal Gosain, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly and submit a memorandum.

Kids perform well on World Disabled Day
Our Correspondent

Disabled students of Ek Prayas present a colourful programme on World Disabled Day in Ludhiana.

75 teachers for Sikhia Abhiyan
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, December 6
As many as 75 senior teachers of the town will come calling on the doorsteps of local residents in the coming three days for enumerating non-school going children of the town in persuance of government’s Sarav Sikhia Abhiyan. In addition to the ensuing three-day exercise, the atmosphere at various schools remained-non-study oriented even today because the teachers concerned had to attend a meeting in this regard and take possession of stationery needed. Mr Baldev Krishan Kapila, in charge of the survey teams for Ahmedgarh, informed that 15 teams had been formed.

Scouts camp
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, December 6
A four-day block-level scout camp was organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Kanganwal.

During the camp various social work projects were undertaken and cleaning work was done on the streets of the village. Students from Government High School, Jandali Khurd, and Government High School, Manki, joined the host campers in cultural programmes.

To enhance the knowledge of the scouts, the organisers arranged talks by subject experts. Dr B.S. Bedi and Mr Baltej Singh spoke about the consequences of AIDS, Mr Purshotam Lal Sharma, SHO, local police station told the students about the child rights protection programme. Mr Bhupinder Singh Bath, Principal, delivered a lecture on national integration.

Dispute over Bar voters’ list
Our Correspondent

Khanna, December 6
A dispute has arisen among advocates of Khanna Bar Association and members of Young Lawyers Association over the voter’s list issued by the Secretary, Bar Association, Mr N.S. Kalirao here yesterday.

According to information, the election of Local Bar Association has been scheduled for December 20. Nomination have to be filed by December 10 and the date for withdrawal has been fixed for December 14.

The voter’s list was issued today in connection with the election process.

The names of 20 members of the Young Lawyers Association were missing in the list issued by the secretary. These members raised objection on the list and decided to move a no-confidence motion against the bar association. But when this information reached some senior advocates and president of the bar association, Mr Jagmohan Singh, he listened to the objection of the young lawyers, Mr R.R. Mehta, B.S. Dhaliwal and Mr K.S. Uppal and called an emergency meeting of the bar association to discuss the issue of the voter’s list.

The secretary pleaded that he had removed the names of those advocates who had formed a parallel bar, so they should not be allowed to cast their votes in the bar association election.

But some senior advocates like S.S. Billing, R.S. Sekhon and J.K. Verma overruled the plea of the secretary who had received favours to include the names of 20 members Mr Rajiv Rai Mehta, Bhupinder Singh Dhaliwal, K.S. Uppal, Suresh Kumar, R.R. Kalia, Gagan Gupta, Mandip Singh, Rajiv Punj, Ishu Bansal, Amit Verma, Gursewak Singh, Jasbir Singh, Rajan Sharma, J.S. Aujla, Rashmi Manro, Harjinder Singh, Jograj Singh, Kesar Singh, Jagdish Chopra and Sarbjit Singh in the voter’s list.

After hot discussions, it was decided in the meeting that the list issued by the secretary was illegal. It was also decided in the meeting that a meeting of the office-bearers would be held on Friday which would issue a new voter’s list for the bar association.

It is assuming that the names of all members of Young Lawyers Association will include in that list to unite the bar association.

Gul’s no to marriage, yes to films
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Gul Panag, who was here to compere a show, says her run for ‘Mr Right’ has not started yet. “I would like to wait for an year or so for Mr Right”.

“Of course, I would like to be a perfect wife, mother and ideal woman, but at the moment I am focusing on my future, which is obviously the film industry. So far I have received no suitable offer”.

Apparently fed up with the tag of a model, she is trying her best to shed the tag at the earliest. She has worked in two television serials.

Besides, film industry, her other inclination seems to be the media and television. “Frankly I would like to be known as a television and media personality”.

“I got the chance to travel widely in India as my father was in Army. From a small town, Sangrur, to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and even Ladakh, I travelled much”.

“The childhood experiences widened my horizons, enriched my personality and gave me the opportunity to look and set my eyes on what is above and beyond the mundane”, admits Gul.

Throughout her career, Gul has been very good in debates and sports. She always wanted to be an all-rounder. “I am thankful to my parents for their support. They have been very encouraging”.

When asked whether she considered herself a successful person, she said, “Yes, in papers I’m successful. But for me success includes several other wider aspects and so I don’t consider myself a complete successful human being”.

She likes good food but not fussy about it. “I would prefer to go out for a dinner not because for the food but to socialise with family and friends”.

Her hobbies include reading, spending time with nature and photography. Besides, she is always interested in wildlife sports.

Hans Raj Hans regales audience
Our Correspondent

From left: Winners of ‘Miss Lashkara Beauty Contest’; Hans Raj Hans performs; and giddha being performed during the contest held in Ludhiana on Wednesday night.

Ludhiana, December 6
Musical and dance items marked the Lashkara beauty contest held at Hotel Gulmor here last evening. Prominent Punjabi singers, including Hans Raj Hans, Sardool Sikander, Amarjit Noori and Kanwaljit Neeru, and the bhangra troupe of Parminderjit Bhalla enthralled the audience.

The audience was seen dancing to the tunes of songs ‘Dil chori sada ho gaya’ and ‘Tote tote ho gaya’ presented by Hans Raj Hans; ‘Haiya haiya ho haiya’ and ‘Sadi ladd gayee’ by Sardool Sikander and ‘Meri nachdi de khul gaye vaal’ by Amar Noori. Besides, the major attraction of the show was Ms Gul Panag, anchor, who compered the show very well.