Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 13
Make hay while the sun shines. This adage applies good on those workmen who have proceeded on leave to earn extra income by harvesting wheat crop manually. Manual harvesters, owing to a steep hike in prices of wheat chaff are more in demand this year.

Class IV government employees, mason helpers and labourers employed in private organisations include those who have retreated from normal duties, obviously to earn supplementary income by reaping wheat. Students are no exception to the trend.

Investigations by the Ludhiana Tribune reveal that a significant number of class IV employees had proceeded on leave from various government and private offices in this part of Malwa.

As a result, the entrepreneurs had to pay higher wages to labourers employed temporarily.

Pardeep Sethi, owner of a cattlefeed manufacturing unit, said he had to pay double the amount to labourers employeed to keep his factory running as permanent employees had proceeded on leave after commencement of the harvesting season.

"A majority of the migrant labourers had either gone to their native villages for harvesting crops in their fields or to work at farms in Punjab. To keep our machines running we have to engage Punjabi labourers on wages, double than the usual rate (Rs 200 per day)," claimed Sethi .

Another reason for increased demand of labourers for manual harvesting is the fact that the farmers had virtually stopped reaping crops in their fields. "Both youth and elders shy from harvesting crops manually. They prefer paying more money or parting with a substantial part of he yield and chaff to working with their hands," said Gurbachan Singh of Chhanna, adding that more income would be eroded by way of extra wages this year.

In some cases, families have detained school and college-going children to help them earn extra income by harvesting wheat. 

Ludhiana, April 12
The Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) will organise a job fair of major telecom companies for graduate and postgraduate students in the field of business management on April 14 on the PCTE campus.

The companies which have confirmed their participation in the fair are Spice, Airtel, HFCL, Reliance and Hutch. The companies will be recruiting the candidates for different positions of sales, marketing, management trainees and customer care. All campuses of the region have been invited to participate in the fair and the candidates with minimum experience of 1-2 years in the relevant field are also invited to take part.

According to an official press release, the registration will start in the morning. There are around 40 vacancies to be offered by Spice on different capacities, Airtel also requires about 45 candidates for different positions across the state, HFCL is looking towards bright management graduates for different positions of sales and marketing , Reliance and Hutch look up to graduates with good academic background for different positions.

Dr K.N.S.Kang, director, PCTE, said, “It is a common platform for all telecom brands and the students who are interested to pursue their career in telecom industry.”

Ludhiana, April12
Baisakhi Festival-2006 was organised by Everest Play Way and Everest Shishu Vatika here today.

Rajinder Sharma, president of the Association of the PSEB Affliated Schools, Punjab, was the chief guest on this occasion

The children presented a colourful programme of songs and dances. The students were dressed in traditional Punjabi dresses and performed giddha and bhangra.

Principal Poonam Sharrna emphasised on the physical development of the children along with their mental development.

Prizes and sweets were distributed among the tiny tots.

Cherryfield Nursery School

‘Rang de Baisakhi’ was the theme of a Baisakhi function organised at Cherryfield Nursery School, Atam Nagar.

Children came dressed in colourful attire with boys wearing sherwanis and Punjabi dresses and girls suits and lengha cholis.

The tiny tots danced on bhangra beats and enjoyed tradional Punjabi food.

They were told about the importance of the Baisakhi festival of Punjab.

Various competitions were held like best dressed, most active child and most confident child.

The following were the prize winners:

Most active- Anant Jethi, Gursharan Singh, Ansh Markoo, Mansuat, Sehaj, Rishabh.

Best dressed - Yasleen, Ravneet Kaur, Keshav, Sristhi, Manpunet, Karameete.

Ludhiana, April 12
The approach of kindergarten schools towards the tiny tots has drastically changed in the recent times for good.

Gone are the days of one-classroom-one-teacher concept. The playschools in the city are trying to create a ‘home away from home’ for small children.

Despite the exorbitant fees charged, a majority of the parents seem to be satisfied with the lively atmosphere in these schools.

The playschools try to provide a friendly teaching pattern so that kids don’t not treat schools as a burden.

Besides teaching them the basics of any subject, the students are given environmental awareness. They are asked to take a good diet, which include lots of vegetables and fruits, to be polite towards the lower section of society etc.

The principal of Pinewood Nursery School, Jaswant Malhotra, who has been running the school for over two decades, said times have changed and one had to live accordingly. “We never encourage students to be bookworms. We concentrate on the overall development of the child. They must adapt to the fast changing society,” she added.

Balie Kler, principal, Pumpkin School, said since playschool was the first exposure to the kids, they must feel comfortable and enjoy their new environment. She believed in direct interaction with the students.

“We provide them everything to learn and enjoy. Various aids like blocks, colours, kitchen utensils, charts depicting weather, toys, wagons etc are given to experience something new everyday. The gardens are maintained with beautiful flowers so that they learn colours in a lively atmosphere. Poles depicting traffic lights are also created for them,” added Kler.

Simmi Kanwar, whose son has taken admission at one of the leading schools here, said everything depended upon the teachers in playschools. “It boosts the morale of the child and their hidden talent is brought out if they are soft-spoken. My son was reserved and reluctant to talk to anyone but now he is a totally changed personality and I am satisfied,” she added.

“These are the learning years of a child’s life. They must know the difference between right and wrong. Along with education, extra-curricular activity, is must. Small gestures like being disciplined and neatly dressed not only enhance the overall development of a child but also boosts his confidence,” said Preeti Garewal of Hollyhock Nursery School.

Ludhiana, April 12
Professor Madan Gopal Singh, a well-known name in the world of cinema, art and cultural history, will interact with postgraduate students of journalism and Young Writers’ Association members of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on April 13. The interaction will be held at the Centre for Communication, Languages and Culture, at 2.30 pm.

A university professor by profession, Madan Gopal Singh, is an ace Sufi singer. He has travelled with the legendary Kurdo-Persian singer Shahram Nazeri to ancient Sufi towns such as Isfahan, Hamadan and Kermenshah. He had performed at the second Sufi soul world music festival held in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2001 and the first international conference on religions in the Indic civilisation in 2003.

He continues to sing at national and international platforms enthralling discerning audiences and common people alike with his full-throated renderings of the immortal Sufi compositions by Sultan Bahu, Bulle Shah, Waris Shah and Rumi to Amir Khusrau.

He will also perform at a musical evening, “Sufiana” at Punjab Bhawan the same evening. — TNS

Doraha, April 12
A deputation of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) today met Manpreet Singh Badal, Punjab finance minister, and discussed the long-pending demands of the teachers of all private aided colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh.

Office-bearers of the PCCTU, including Dr Kuldeep Singh, Prof Sareen, Dr Mukhtiar Singh and Dr R.S. Brar, put forth their long-pending demands, including the restoration of 95 per cent grant to the colleges, up-to-date review of the posts, parity and release of 14,940 scale for TPEs and librarians, pension-cum-gratuity schemes’ implementation and HRA for rural colleges, before the finance minister in the form of a memorandum that was handed over to him.

Dr Kuldeep Singh said Manpreet Badal assured them of giving a positive thought on their demands.

Ludhiana, April 12
The Welfare Society for Engineers, Scientists and Managers (WSESM) has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to withhold 27 per cent reservation to OBCs for this year.

At a recently held general meeting of the WSESM, the members said the decision would provide all opportunities to meritorious students to come forward.

Expressing relief, Sanjeev Dhiman, one of the office-bearers of the society, said that students from IIMs, IITs and AIIMS were the pride of India. These were the people who represented India worldwide. He added that a sub-standard reserved category doctor from AIIMS could endanger the life of a patient.

IITs, IIMs and top institutes produce outstanding engineers, managers and doctors for the country and world. They also give direction to India's growth. How you can compromise on the quality of the people at that level? asked Dhiman.

The members said these institutes were recognised worldwide. "One must not compromise with quality education. If these institutes lose their reputation, India will find it difficult to compete in global market," said another member.

India was booming and the country was in dire need of quality people who could propel the growth of the country. Today, the country needs people who could render quality services.

The members also condemned the statements made by politicians like Arjun Singh, V.P.Singh and M. Karunanidhi in favour of reservation.

The members said the whole act of reservation was a dreaded act of dividing the country on the basis of caste.