EDUCATION

Teachers front to protest against corrupt officials
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 3
Democratic Teacher's Front (DTF) Ludhiana, said the charge sheet issued against Mr Yashpal Mehra, DEO (secondary), a day before his retirement for allegedly bungling funds meant for National Games in the city and also reports of corruption against Ms Harvinder Kaur, DEO (elementary), has started a serious discussion among teachers about corruption in high places and its impact on the teaching community.

Mr Bhajan Singh and Mr Joginder Azad of the DTF expressed shock and disbelief over the alleged mismanagement of funds by two senior officials.

They further said even the District Education Officer (primary) had been not free of charges of misappropriation of funds. Child welfare fund, Red Cross fund, scout & guide funds, examination funds, and contingency funds had been allegedly mismanaged.

But no action had been taken against anyone.

On the other hand, if teachers reached late to school by 5 to 7 minutes, harsh notices were issued immediately but those creating scams were let off scotfree. They said since these were high officials with connections, their cases were buried and no action was taken against them.

Representatives of the DTF even accused the Elementary DEO of committing alleged irregularities like allotting of primary examination centres to private schools and buying furniture of poor quality out of the funds given by the government.

Even the transfers of teachers were done on the basis of favoritism as the DEO's were under the patronage of the ex- education minister.

DTF leaders said the teachers would hold a dharna in the last week of October to protest against corrupt officials and the harsh anti-education, anti-teachers' policies of the government.

Teachings of Vedas highlighted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 3
The Arya Samaj, Model Town, organised its annual function in Swami Dayanand Hall of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School here today.

Dharam Dev from Jalandhar was the chief guest. Addressing the audience, he said Swami Dayanand brought the Vedas from Germany, translated them and changed the society through the teachings of the Vedas.

He said the Vedas contained complete knowledge of the world and taught the lesson of how to become a complete human being with qualities of humaneness.

Harnam Dass Johar was also present on the occasion. In his address, he appreciated the work being done by the Arya Samaj, like imparting education through its schools, etc. Vedic guru Mahesh Vidyalankar also explained the meaning of the Vedas. The function concluded with partaking of langar.

Also, a Gayatri Mahayagya was held in the Arya Samaj, Dal Bazar, here yesterday.

Dr Savita Nauharia, one of the speakers, said some anti-social practices had crept up in the society and people had to weed these out.

He also exhorted people to plant trees to help protect the degrading environment.

She said it was time that people became more civilised, learned the importance of female child and stopped the inhumane practice of female foeticide.

Those present on the occasion included Narender Singh Bhalla, Ved Bhushan Madaan, Mahender Pratap Arya and Jagdish Banga.

Prof Baldeep gets grand farewell
Our Correspondent

Doraha, October 3
Prof Baldeep Singh, who recently retired as Head of the English Department of Malwa College, Bondali (Samrala ), was accorded a warm send-off by his colleagues— members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union and the management of the college— at Neelon yesterday.

Among those present to laud his social, intellectual and cultural services towards the college in particular and the Samrala town at large, were Mr R.D. Gupta, Mr Jaspreet Singh Advocate, Principal Shinderpal Singh, Mr B.S. Pannu, Prof Kalra, Retd. Principal Mr Jagmohan Singh, Prof Jagwant, Mr R.S. Brar (former president, PCCTU) P.U. Area Secretary Dr Kuldeep Singh, PU fellow Mr M.P. Manocha, Principal Parminder Singh and many college colleagues.

Prof Baldeep Singh served the institution for 28 years and retired as Head of the English Department. He was also the founder of the Punjabi Writers Association of Samrala. He had also been attached to theatre. He worked incessantly for the cause of education and to get the teaching community its due.

NSS Camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 3
A week-long NSS Camp is being held at Arya College for Women. Students asked a lot of questions on naturopathy to Mr S.R. Mittal, a follower of Gandhian naturopathy, today.

Mr Mittal gave tips on healthy living in tune with nature. He said nature produced hundreds of herbs and food items to cure almost every type of disease, including cancer.

He demonstrated through many charts the ill-effects of eating wrong kinds of food and made an interesting presentation through a slide projector.

Mr Mittal demonstrated and explained principles of sunrays’ therapy yesterday. Mr Ravinder Mittal demonstrated various types of pranayams and their benefits.