The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Caged bird set free on I-Day
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 16
While most schools in the city celebrated the Independence Day in advance, the authorities of Sparkle Nursery School, Sarabha Nagar, has set an example for others to follow.

The school authorities released a caged bird bought from roadside vendors to mark the occasion. The releasing of the bird was a symbolic gesture to educate children about the meaning of freedom.

Ms Vandita Rajiv Raj, Principal, said an activity session was arranged yesterday in which the bird was shown to the children. “We explained them that just as they feel sad when somebody locks them in a room, the bird also feels sad and the flight of the bird reflected happiness.

The purpose of the activity was to explain to them the essence of freedom and its value which is otherwise an abstract term,’’ she said.

From Colleges
Girls motivated to join NCC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 16
In order to motivate students of Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, to join the NCC, a lecture was conducted by 3 Punjab Girls Bn, NCC, under the guidance of Principal Charanjit Mahal and Lt Jatinder Kaur, Associate NCC Officer. The students were shown a hi-tech presentation comprising activities and incentives of the NCC.

The Commanding Officer of 3 Punjab Girls Bn NCC, Lt Col Avtar Singh, spoke about the requirements for selection in the Republic Day camp. Later, the Administrative Officer, Lt Kulbinder Sandhu, ANO Lt Jatinder and other NCC staff from the unit selected potential cadets for participation in the Republic Day camp for 2005.

The session concluded with an assurance from the Principal that the college would extend cooperation in the conduct of NCC training.

Foreign students in PCTE: The strength of foreign students in the Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) has increased from six to seven with the joining of Vusumuzi Brightson Radebe, a South African national, who has taken admission in the Bachelor of Computer Applications in the current semester.

"In 2003, six students from South Africa joined the PCTE under an agreement signed between the Limpopo Province of South Africa and Punjab Technical University but this time, we are very happy to say that Vusumuzi has joined us on his own. His candidature is not supported by any government or government agencies and he had decided to join PCTE on the basis of the feedback give to him by his colleagues," Dr K.N. S. Kang, Director, PCTE, said.

He said the PCTE had signed an agreement with South Africa, Pakistan and England for conducting exchange programmes.

Freshers' day: Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management celebrated the freshers' day, which was organised by students of B.Com-I. Dr Prem Kumar welcomed the freshers. The celebrations included solo songs, group dances, skits, games and other activities.

Parmadeep Singh was adjudged Mr Fresher while Nidhi Buchar won the title of Miss Fresher.

Col P.S. Choudhary(retd), General Manager(Admn) of the Vardhman Group of Companies, wished the students good luck.

The college also observed the birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on Sunday. Dr Vijay Asdhir, president of Sri Aurobindo Society, Ludhiana, enlightened the students about the life of Sri Aurobindo.

Prof V.P. Gaur, former Principal of S.D. Government College for Boys, emphasised on the role of the youth to carry on the unfinished agenda for modern India.

Seminar on education loans: A seminar on education loans was conducted on Monday at Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology(GNIMT), Gujjarkhan Campus in Model Town here. Mr D.N. Khandewal, Chief Manger of the Central Bank of India, was the keynote speaker. He provided the students with information regarding various educational loans and the procedure of availing the same. Students of MBA-I, MCA-I and BBA-II semester attended the seminar.

He said loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh were available for technical studies. For studies overseas, up to Rs 15 lakh was available at an interest rate of 10.5 to 11 per cent. If parents of the students continued to pay the interest during the study period before the equated monthly instalments started, 1 per cent concession on the interest rate was also available. The repayment of instalments would start one year after the course and the EMI would depend on the salary of the student.

Bar chief ‘trying’ to curb freedom of members
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 16
Former president of District Bar Association Harish Rai Dhanda today criticised the reported move of Bar president Balwinder Goel to gag the freedom of expression of members of the association at a press conference.

Referring to the warning issued by the association to its members not to spread disinformtion to the media, Mr Dhanda said it was an attempt to threaten the members from going to the media. He said he had failed to understand why Mr Goel feared criticism through the media.

Mr Dhanda put a question mark on the validity of resolutions passed at the general house meeting of the association held on August 13. He said the association had more than 1,600 members and at the meeting only 70 to 80 members were present. The quorum was not complete and the resolutions were not sustainable. He alleged that even earlier they amended the constitution in the presence of only 25 to 30 members.

Levelling allegations against Mr Goel, Mr Dhanda said various members, including himself, had requested in writing to the executive to adjourn the meeting as on Saturday the lawyers presence usually remained less and the matters to be discussed were of importance.

Young Lawyers Welfare Association president Gurkirpal Singh Gill, its secretary, Mr Sanjeev Malhotra, and finance secretary Rajan Chand, who had called the press conference, condemned the Bar president and termed his move to be undemocratic and unconstituional.

Mr Pradeep Sharma, Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum, sought the resignation of Mr Goel.