109 students get prizes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 24
Students and staff of Master Tara Singh Memorial Public School celebrated its annual day at a function held here today.

Nearly 109 students were given prizes for their performance in academics, sports and cultural activities. The programme began with the recital of shabad followed by patriotic song “sare jahan se achha”. Students participated in various skits titled “Anarkali”, “Illiteracy” and “Mahaul theek hai”. Group song “zindagi maut na ban jaye” was presented by students from middle section.

Group dances were performed. Action songs “ring-a-ring roses”, “clap your hands”, “teddy bear” and “boogie woogie” were presented by kids from nursery classes. A fancy dress show was also presented by kids in which they acted like a Jat, fairy, vegetable seller, policeman, doctor, musician and teacher. Finally, bhangra and giddha were performed by students from senior classes.

Dr Kehar Singh, chairman, Punjab School Education Board, was the chief guest. 

IGNOU practicals from Dec 26
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 24
The Final practical examinations for the BCA and MCA classes will be conducted at study centres of Ludhiana, Batala, Jalandhar and Chandigarh by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) from December 26.

Giving this information, the in charge of the local centre at Guru Nanak Girls College, said that the exact timings and venue would be notified by the coordinators of the centres concerned. 

HEALTH

Teachers ‘punished’ by health officials
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, December 24
Teachers in need of a medical fitness certificate from the Health Department, be prepared for a harrowing experience at the hands of the authorities. As they will not only be asked to revisit the Civil Surgeon’s office again and again for the required document but will also have to bear with the callous and apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned.

A number of candidates from places like Sudhar, Kila Raipur, Jagraon, Mandi Gobindgarh, Khanna, Khamano, Machhiwara, Samrala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Amloh, Ahmedgarh, Sahnewal, Doraha and Sirhind, who have been selected for the posts of lecturer in government schools, are unable to join their duty as they do not get the medical fitness certificate on time from the Health Department.

Most of the selected candidates, on condition of anonymity disclosed that they had been given the appointment letter by the District Education Department but were not able to join as the Health Department officials were taking them for a ride. The annoyed teachers said that they were daily coming all the way from villages to get the medical certificate but in vain.

A lady teacher from Sudhar said,”I reached here at 9 o’clock as the officials at Education Department had said that I could get my medical examination conducted today. But after reaching here, I came to know that the Civil Surgeon was out of station and the medical examination will now be conducted on Wednesday. It is really difficult for me to come again and again”.

Another handicapped teacher from Kila Raipur said, “They are not accepting my file. They have been so rude to me. They say “madam is on tour”. Even if the Civil Surgeon is on tour, the next official should be given the powers to issue the medical certificate. Now, I have been asked to come on Wednesday or Thursday, but I’m not sure weather I’ll be able to get the certificate on time”.

A teacher from Jagraon said that the Education Department had given the appointment letter on time but due to the “callous” attitude of the Health Department officials, she was not able to join the place even after six days. “When I met the Assistant Civil Surgeon, he said that he could not do anything as the file could be moved only when it had the signatures of the CS”, she added.

A local teacher said that for the past four days, she had been coming to the office to get a medical certificate. She further added that she got only one answer from the officials, “Madam is on tour”.

The Assistant Civil Surgeon, Mr Tarlok Nath, when contacted, said, “I cannot do anything. Madam has given us the orders that no medical certificate will be issued to teachers in her absence. Tomorrow is a holiday, teachers can get the certificate on Wednesday or Thursday”.

SPORTS

City Sport
Sports festival in memory of Kargil martyr
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 24
This years’ annual sports festival to be organised by the Boparai Sports and Cultural Club, Ghudani Kalan, from December 29 to 31 at Ghudani Kalan village, near here, will be dedicated to Kargil martyr Sukhchaindeep Singh. Giving this information, Mr Kulwant Singh Boparai, president of the club, said competitions in hockey, football, kabaddi (open), kabaddi (weight category), bullock-cart races, dogs races, volleyball, athletics will be held during this 3-day festival.

Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, MLA, will inaugurate the festival on December 29 while the Union Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, will be the chief guest on the concluding day. Hockey stars, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Gagan Ajit Singh, Padam Shree Pargat Singh and upcoming athlete from this region Hardeep Kaur will be honoured by the club during the concluding function, Mr Boparai informed.

Annual sports mela

Grewal Sports Club will conduct the annual sports mela from December 28 to 30 at Narangwal College grounds in Narangwal village, near here, according to a press note issued by Mr Jagdev Singh Grewal, president of the club.

Heats of bullock-cart races will start on December 25, while competitions in other disciplines such as kabaddi, football, athletics apart from dog races will begin on December 28.

Punjabi folk singers will entertain the spectators on the final day of the festival. Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, minister for Technical Education, Punjab, will give away prizes to the participants on December 30, the note stated.

Sacred Heart’s TT team

Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, comprising international Disney Ryait, Rubal Arora, Karan Sood and Raghav Khanna will participate in the CBSE National Table Tennis Tournament being organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, at BSP Senior Secondary School, Bhillai (Chhattisgarh) from December 30 to January 3, according to Mr O.S. Nagi, Head, sports department of the school.

Disney and Rubal are seeded first and second, respectively, in the individual category. The team finished third in the last edition of the tournament. Mr Nagi and Mr Amrit Singh will accompany the team as officials.