Uncertainty over courses leaves students fuming
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
Uncertainty over UGC recognition to distance education courses being imparted at study centres being run through franchisees of Punjab Technical University (PTU) has caused much confusion among local students.

Demanding clarity on the matter, over 350 students from Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa Institution of Vocational Studies boycotted their classes this morning and raised slogans against the university. The students said confusing statements of Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Minister for Technical Education, and Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor of the PTU, and contradictory statements from the UGC Chairman regarding recognition had caused much tension.

The students, who had taken up various courses, including BSc (IT), MSc (IT), PGDCA, PGDST, BCAM and Lateral Entry to MSc (IT) said they were paying between Rs 7,500 and Rs 10,000 per semester and were still not sure of their future. They said while their in charge, university authorities and Mr Garcha had repeatedly assured them that the courses were recognised, recent statements of Mr Hari Gautam, UGC Chairman, regarding a ban on courses through franchisees had caused confusion.

The students were also annoyed over today’s notice of the university to pay fee for the second semester within 24 hours. The students said they had joined in August and the first semester was to end in February. They said the institute had not conducted any internal examination and two months were left for the examination. The students said they were provided with computers in October and they had done practicals for just two months.

The students said for the second semester, they were being asked to pay additional amount for scooter stand and library funds. They accused the university of minting money and doing brisk business through distance education courses. They held hour-long discussions with their teacher in charge, Mr Manjit Singh Chhabra, and decided that the only amount they would pay was the examination fee of Rs 300 within six days. They said they would write to the university that they would pay the fee for the second semester only after the results of first semester were declared.

Commenting on the situation, Mr Chhabra said the courses were recognised. He said the Vice-Chancellor of the university had recently written to the UGC, asking about the status of the courses and the UGC had replied that the courses were recognised by it. He said the students were agitated about the advance payment of the fee, but he was helpless as he had to follow the directions of the university. 

School heads decry denial of house tax exemption
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
The Recognised and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA) has strongly condemned the local bodies for denial of house tax exemption to affiliated and recognised schools despite clear cut instruction by the State Government in this regard.

The district president of the association, Mr N.K. Bangia, said in a statement here today that the Department of Local Government, Punjab, had issued a notification to clarify that all the schools and colleges, affiliated with Punjab School Education Board, the Central Board of Secondary Education, the Indian Council for Secondary Education and the Universities and were run exclusively for the purpose of promoting the cause of education the without any motive of monetary or commercial angle, shall qualify for exemption (from house tax).

However, the Municipal Corporation authorities, he added, were adamant and refused to allow the due concession to the education institutions. In view of widespread resentment among the school heads, RASA, according to Mr Bangia, would take up the matter with the Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, and in the absence of any positive response, the schools heads would be forced to resort to agitational approach which might include holding dharnas at the MC headquarters.

Career in computers ‘uncertain’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
Career in computers is the first choice of Ludhiana youngsters even though they believe that it is the most uncertain profession these days.

This was revealed in a study conducted by Savinay Malik, MBA final year student from the Punjab College of Technical Education. The survey included responses from 150 students, 75 from the first year and 75 from those who have been doing the course for more than one year.

It was found that of the total respondents, 72 per cent said that the field of computers was best even today. While 43 per cent students preferred multimedia courses, 31 per cent were interested in e-commerce and the rest had opted for web-designing-related courses.

However, the study revealed that 77 per cent of the students were uncertain of the career and were of the view that the courses might go obsolete by the time they completed it. Nearly 66 per cent of the students felt that the counselling and guidance available at the time of enrolment in computer education centres was not appropriate.

Recession in the USA, closing of several computer institutions in India and deportation of thousands of IT professionals to India from the USA are some of the factors which have caused uncertainty among at least 60 per cent of the youngsters while the rest felt that the situation may be restored after a gap of three to four months.

It was also found that 60 per cent of the students said that they had joined the course for getting handsome salary, 19 per cent for moving overseas and the rest for getting additional qualification.

The study also included suggestions from the respondents which included checks from regulatory authorities at centres, study of approved courses and setting up of proper counselling and placement cells. 

Teachers hold rally in colleges
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
Continuing their agitation over the non-implementation of demands, the teachers from aided and unaided colleges held dharnas in their respective colleges today.

The strike on the call of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union entered the 10th day today. Teachers of all 24 colleges boycotted classes and sat on dharna near the college gate. The teachers were annoyed on the arrest of 18 teachers on December 4 at Chandigarh.

Debenture holder gets relief
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
In an exparte order, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Hindustan Development Corporation (HDC), Mukherjee Road, Kolkatta, to pay two instalment of redemption amount of Rs 500 each, which were due on April 4, 2000 and 2001 to Mr Sohan Singh Anand, a resident of Gurdev Nagar. The forum has also directed to pay interest on the amounts at the rate of 14 per cent per annum from these dates. The HDC has also been directed to pay Rs 300 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

According to the complaint, Mr Sohan Singh Anand had 50 non-convertible debentures of Rs 50 each, with the interest rate of 14 per cent per annum, of The Hindustan Development Corporation. The consumer stated before the forum that the debentures were to be redeemed in five equal instalments of Rs 10 each on April 20 every year, from 1999 to 2003.

The complainant disclosed that he had received the first instalment of redemption amount of Rs 500 in 1999, but after that nothing was paid to him despite sending reminders to the company. He stated that half- yearly interest on the outstanding debentures due on February 1, 2000, at the rate of 14 per cent per annum, on Rs 2,000 for the period from August 1, 2000, to January 31, 2001, amounting to Rs 140, had not been paid to him. He demanded the forum to direct the HDC to pay Rs 1,140.

The forum observed that the complainant was the holder of the debentures of the HDC. The forum stated that the consumer was paid only one installment on April 20, 1999, by the company. The HDC had to pay the two installments of Rs 500 each as redemption amount on April 20, 2000 and 2001.

Lashkara channel presents cultural evening
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 13
The Lashkara channel in association with Punjab Sportsman Welfare Association(PSWA) organised a cultural programme ‘Phullan Bhari Panger’ here last evening.

Sarabjeet Cheema sang the famous number Dhol Bajda, Toombi vajdi. Later, Balwinder Safri of the Safri Boys fame set the venue on fire with his songs.

The audience broke into laughter when comedians Motu and Kaka Shah, cracked their satirical jokes. While in most of the jokes the police was the target, the policemen on duty were seen laughing at the jokes.

The choreography in the programme was excellent and the singers, including Kamaljeet Neeru, Gurehpal Surapuri and Pammi Vahi, were belting out their numbers one after another.