The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Dharna by govt school teachers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
A dharna was organised at the Masjid ground in Sector 20 by the Government Teachers Union. The teachers are opposing the orders issued by the DPI (Schools) to take extra classes for students placed in compartment in the class X and Class XII exams.

Today is the fifth day of the boycott. The teachers stated that they would be observing complete-boycott through the holidays and would be proceeding on leave. “We will enjoy our summer vacation and announce a complete boycott,” stated Dr Vinod Sharma.

The teachers protested that the orders to take the extra classes were sent on the last day. Moreover, the leave was their earned leave and they could not be asked to change their plans at the last moment.

The union has asked the Education Department to withdraw the orders and has requested the teachers to observe a complete boycott. They have also asked the head of institutions to not force the teachers to take classes during the summer vacation.

320 students celebrate environment day
Tribune Reporters

Mohali, June 5
The Jan Shikshan Sansthan celebrated World Environment Day on its campus as well as at its field office in Desu Majra village, block Kharar, today. About 320 students of different vocational courses along with common people participated in the programme. Its objective was to create awareness among the participants about the need and relevance of the day and sensitise them on various issues affecting environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dildar Khan, Director of the sansthan, stressed the need of protecting environment in a society where rapid industrial development, increasing use of pesticides and insecticides in agriculture, besides increasing human and vehicular population pose a great challenge to environment. Mr Khan further said the role of community was vital both in finding out measures and in implementing them for the conservation of environment.

Mr Anand Mohan Sharma, Deputy Director of the sansthan, said the survival of living organisms depended on natural resources. He expressed concern about the rapidly decreasing area under forest throughout the world.

Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, Assistant Programme Officer of the sansthan, said over exploitation of ground water had led to a steep decline of water table in Punjab.

Panchkula: Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Panchkula, in collaboration with the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, organised a rally to mark World Environment Day, here today.

Mr Rajesh Singla, Programme Officer of National Service Scheme, educated the students about the environment and appealed the gathering to pledge for planting more trees to save the environment. He also educated the students about the consequences of pollution. A rally was also organised by the students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15. Rallies were also organised by different Eco Clubs in the city to observe the day.

Patiala: Junior NCC cadets of Government Senior Secondary School, Nagawan, near here, carried out a sapling plantation drive on the school campus today.

NCC cadets of the 5 Punjab Battalion, along with students of the school, planted as many as 500 saplings of various kinds. It included shady and medicinal saplings. The NCC cadets under the command of Lieut-Col N. S Sidhu, Commanding Officer, also took a pledge to say no to the use of polythene bags and also to spread the green revolution across the state. Mr Sidhu also elaborated upon the importance of maintaining proper environment in our day to day life.

Tiny tots’ peep into alphabet stories
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
Their expressions are full of wonder for as the stories unfold, so do their imagination. As little children between the ages of three and 12 gathered around for a peek into the world of alphabet stories, ‘Winnie the Pooh’ and ‘The Little Match-Girl’ their obvious delight at the story-telling session at the Browser Library and Bookshop, Sector-8 become apparent.

The visit to the library was planned as part of the summer activity camp organised by EuroKids Pre-School, Mohali. The endeavour is to impart experiential learning to the tiny-tots. To put it in the easier words of the summer camp’s consultant coordinator Neelima Chaudhary, “to make education a joy not a stress-factor.”

With over 50 tiny-tots milling all over the place, selecting their own books, reading them out and discussing new words, the world of possibilities through books opened for them.

For Harshita (4), stories about lions do the trick and keep her glued to her seat while for Amar Inder (10) adventure stories is what she loves to devour and for sisters-in-arms Megha (10) and Sanya (5) Cindrella is the best story ever!

According to Principal Sangeet Growar: “We want to inculcate a love for books in the children from the youngest age possible. And that is why this visit was planned. Initially, a lot of parents were not keen on bringing their children here today once they were here I saw those very same parents buying books.”

Neelima who is instrumental in giving direction and dimension to the summer camp believes: “The purpose is to combine fun with training children to acquire self-help techniques.” This translates into a month of practical and fun activities like building a brick wall, which taught them about different materials like sand and cement and sensory stimulation through nature walks and creating collages out of the objects picked up during the walks like feathers, stones and different kinds of leaves. It included “learning based on listening” and differentiating between the sounds of the piano, santoor, sitar and tabla and replicating sounds using china cups and spoons and rhythms through beating clay pots with sticks. “We are overloading our children without strengthening their base,” says Neelima: “There should be no hard and fast rule to teach them. It is about encouraging them to think, to react, to reach out and feel for themselves because this kind of learning stay a lifetime.”

Environment awareness campaign organised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
On the occasion of ‘World Environment Day’, Saplings, a voluntary group of students and professionals, organised an environment awareness campaign at the Students Centre, Panjab University, here today.

During this event, a survey was conducted on environment awareness and various activities like quiz and pledge tree were also organised. At least 300 students and visitors participated in the event and took a pledge to do their best to contribute towards the environment.

Ms Meenakshi Malhotra, Dean Students Welfare, applauded the efforts of the students. Ms Pooja Nagrath, a spokesperson of the group, said that the main purpose of the group was to make an individual aware of his or her duty and contribution towards the environment.

Functions mark World Environment Day
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
A series of programmes and functions on the need to generate awareness about environment were held to mark the World Environment Day here today. The Department of Environment and Forest celebrated the day at Kansal Log Hut, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. Children of various schools of the UT participated in the function.

Jawahar Nayodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25 got the Best Eco Club award. Forty-five schools having eco clubs, out of the estimated 112, had sent in their entries for the award.

Eight clubs were shortlisted, including DAV School, Sector 8; Carmel Convent School, Sector 9B; GMSSS, Sector 22A; Sacred Heart, Sector 26; GMSSS, Sector 33D; Vivek High School, Sector 38B; and GMSSS, Sector 46D, which got commendation certificates for their eco-friendly activities.

The prizes were given by Director of Environment and Deputy Conservator of Forests Ishwar Singh.

Eco-quiz competition awards were also distributed to schools.

The team of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41B, which included Kashish, Prerit and Harpinder, won the first prize.

The team of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9B, comprising Priyanka Syal, Aditi Mehta and Gargi Das, got second prize, while third prize went to Sacred Heart, Sector 26.

Students of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41B, and GHS, Bapu Dham Colony, trekked in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Addressing a gathering, Ishwar Singh congratulated the city residents for the privilege of having 35.7 per cent green cover, the highest in the country.

He spoke on the various schemes related to environmental education, conservation and eco-regeneration being implemented by the Chandigarh Administration.

“Water conservation has to be intensive, integrating all other components, which may expand and sustain the natural resources,” he said.

He stressed the need for preserving water “as it is going to be the most precious thing”.

Noted environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahugunaa could not make it to the venue as scheduled.

UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) called for broadening and deepening eco-friendly concerns and making environmental protection a people’s movement, with the effective participation of every individual of society.

Models on environment by students
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 5
Students of Shastri Model School, Phase I today celebrated World Environment Day. Students of the school prepared the models on the environment which were displayed. Students participated in painting competition on environment. The theme was “solid waste management” and “Do not cut the trees.”

The chief guest of the function was Mr B.S Tej, president Citizens Welfare Federation, Mohali. Mr Rajwant Singh, Mr Joginder Singh Sondhi, president Gurdawara Coordination committee, Mr B.B. Maini, former senior vice-president Municipal council, Mr P.L.Kaler, Chief Forest Commissioner Mr A.R. Kumar.

Mr Ram Lal Sewak, manager of the school, stated that environment should be kept clean and green and asked the students to also take care of their personal hygiene.

Green belt inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 5
The environment society, Prakriti, of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, organised a host of activities to mark the World Environment Day today. A piece of land developed as a green belt was inaugurated by Dr Upinder Mehra, Principal of the college and president of the society.

An elaborate display of illustrations, literature, posters etc on the theme ‘man and environment’ was put up by the library staff. A movie -Miles to Go- was shown by the Green Peace India. A multimedia presentation on Chandigarh-an environmentally safe city — was prepared by the society.

As many as a 100 persons joined the deliberations. A reading material kit on the current environment issues was distributed among the school children who participated in various competitions.

Nimble movements mark dance session
Tribune News Service

Chandi Mandir, June 5
Shy and demure looks gave way to merry participation and light footed dancing as the Army wives, children and select men in uniform took their cues from the instructors of Shiamak Davar’s Institute for the Performing Arts (SDIPA) during two consecutive dance workshops held over the weekend at Chandimandir. At the end of the second day, participants were moving in tandem with the music and their confident beaming smiles belied their apprehensions which marked the beginning of the workshop.

Drawing people out of their shell and getting them to use every part of their body as they synchronise movements with sound while retaining agility and grace is the hallmark of the Shiamak Davar brand of energetic fusion dancing which combines exercise with dance and aerobics. A mixed group of learners added to the novelty of the experience with nimble footed children prodding their aunts and older siblings to shed their inhibitions and get their movements right.

For Amit, Jay, Navin and Swapnil, SDIPA .instructors who are in town specially from Mumbai, the experience was very special. SDIPA works extensively with different groups of society, be it the elderly, specially enabled, lesser privileged, or children of sex workers, their experience has shown that dance and music is one unifying medium which can bridge barriers, provide catharsis and help the larger cause of humanity and brotherhood.

According to Mr Atul Khanna, Director of the Durga Das Foundation, “it is not important to master the nuances of a particular kind of dance. While it is all very well to learn Salsa or Jazz or whatever is the flavour of the season, if we can understand the basic fundamental meaning of a creative medium like dance and use it to calm and orient ourselves to the finer things in life, it would take away a lot of the angst that otherwise manifests itself in so many more harmful ways.”