Chandigarh, May 5
The Chandigarh Education Department has devised a new modified transfer policy for the teachers of Government Schools of the city.

According to the revised pattern, the Principal/Headmasters/Headmistress shall be transferred after completion of five years’ stay, instead of the earlier duration of eight years. Also, lecturers/ masters/mistresses/ C and V teachers/ JBT teachers and other category teachers would be transferred after putting in seven years of service in a school. Earlier, this span used to be of ten years.

S.K. Setia, DPI (S) said, “Our aim is to streamline the Pupil to Teacher Ratio (PTR). Preferably, the ideal ratio is considered to be 1:40. There are school where the teachers’ lot is more comparative to the students and vice-versa. So, we will focus to achieve this ratio. The guidelines have been revised for the government school teachers.

Further, no transfer shall be entertained directly at the DEO or Directorate level and without recommendation, requirement or comments of the concerned Principals.

A circular in this regard has been issued to the schools. It has mentioned that mutual transfers should be encouraged as it suits both teachers and it would also be good for the students and the schools. However, even these shall not be entertained directly and should be with the consent/recommendations of both the principals officially under cover addressed to the undersigned by name and not direct from the concerned.

In case of administrative transfers, administrative reasons should be kept to the minimum where it necessitates by declaration of a post as surplus or other administrative reasons. Even, in such cases the affected employee may be asked to give option and be considered keeping in view the requirement, vacancies and other teachers.

Also, for request transfer cases, all requests should be forwarded officially by the principal with recommendation and shall not be entertained directly. The principal shall also verify the content. Also, three places of choice may be taken in priority order and the reasons be specifically cited with evidence.

The circular also state that only the month of April will be considered for mutual and administrative transfers and the month of May has been restricted for request transfers.

Chandigarh, May 5
To bring the mentally challenged, the deaf and dumb and underprivileged children from alternative educational institutions to the mainstream, the Chandigarh Education Department is taking initiatives under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan.

As many as 4,500 mentally challenged and 400 such children from the lower strata studying in alternative schools, which start from 2 pm to 5 pm, have been identified by the education department.

DPI ( Schools) S. K. Setia said: “ We are now focusing on those who are mentally challenged and underprivileged who want to study, but have little or no resources.”

“We plan to induct more resource persons who will specially cater to these children who in turn would send a strong message on integrated learning, inclusive education, peer acceptance and social interaction.”

Setia said: “ In a way, it will be a good endeavour that they will get an opportunity to interact with ‘normal’ children and vice versa. This would help change the attitudes towards the mentally challenged and poor children.”

The specially appointed resource persons, who would work cluster-wise, would judge these children’s mental level and help them gain knowledge according to their abilities. “We have spotted some institutions, like the government centre in Sector 32. The special children here need special attention,” said Mr Setia.

Retired principals of schools would be cluster resource coordinators while the working principals would be appointed cluster heads.

Meanwhile, under the SSA, steps are being taken to further simplify the syllabus. “We are introducing more of objective-type questions. Focus will be more on quality than the length of answers.”

“We are now focusing on the mentally challenged and underprivileged who want to study, but have little or no resources... We want to send a strong message on integrated learning, inclusive education, peer acceptance and social interaction.

Mohali, May 5
As many as 20 International and national companies visited Indo Global Engineering College Mega Placement Fair organised in association with Catalyst Consultants at their premises in Abhipur, near, here, today.

Around 1600 students from 67 institutions of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Noida and UP visited the Fair. These companies included Virka Infotech, Unitech Biotech, Johnson & Johnson. Ansal Infrastructure, Sahara group, Oberoi, Taj group, Hellios Pharmaceutical, Tata Tele Services Ltd., Dell International Serices, IBM Daksh Business Process Services Ltd., Tata Servizol, Tata Sky, Alchemist,. ABC Ltd.

The event was inaugurated by SSP, Mohali, R.S. Khatra. The chief guest went around the College Campus and was highly impressed by the state of art laboratories and the excellent infrastructure of Indo Global College.

During interaction I.G.E.F Chairman Sukhdev Kumar Singla told that this mega placement fair has been organized not only to get Indo Global students placed but also to help maximum families have one good earning member by suitably placing even the average student.

Chandigarh, May 5
Manju Chauhan topped with 195/200 marks in Semester III getting 97.5 per cent in Chandigarh while Upasana topped with 188/200 marks getting 94 per cent in the Nursery Teachers’ Training exams for Semester-I and III declared by the Education Department, here, today.

The second position in Semester III was bagged by Neeta Roy with 192/200 marks getting 96 per cent and third by Henna Sharma with 191/200 marks getting. 95.5 per cent.

In Semester-I Rakhi was declared second with 186/200 marks getting 93 per cent and third position was shared by three students Harleen, Rashmi Verma & Heminder Kaur with 185/200 marks getting 92.5 per cent.

Panchkula, May 5
Deputy commissioner Neerja Shekhar today inaugurated a 10-day terracotta and doll-making workshop at Government College, Sector 1, here, today.

Addressing the artists and women participants, she said such workshops not only keep traditions alive but could also help the youth to be self-reliant.

Director of the Haryana Kala Parishad Usha Sharma said the workshop would be on till May 14. Shobha Ram and Dalip Kumar from Panipat would teach making terracotta items to the participants and Dinesh Kumar from Hisar will teach them the art of doll-making.

Vice-president of the parishad K.C. Sharma said the state government had initiated a number of schemes for the welfare of women and the focus of most schemes was to make them self-dependent.

TRAINING CAMPAIGN: As a part of the ongoing Campaign for Peace-cities, a two-day Training Programme for Teachers-in-charge of various Peace Clubs was organised jointly by KB DAV-7 and YUVSATTA, at the Sector 7 school premises, here, today. The programme was attended by the teacher from 40 different Schools of the city participated in the programme.

The chief guest, S.K. Setia, DPI (S), also presented autobiographies of Mahatma Gandhi to all the teachers participating in the workshop. Welcoming the concepts of Peace Clubs in Schools, Setia said these clubs should strive for motivating youngsters to emulate simplicity and sincerity to achieve their goals and adopt a balanced lifestyle with responsible behaviour in the society.

Parmod Sharma, Coordinator of Yuvsatta and Campaign for Peace-cities said that with more then 100 Peace Clubs, Chandigarh is fast becoming a model for other cities to follow suit. And inspired by Chandigarh's success now similar efforts to promote Gandhian virtues in the generation next are underway at Belgaum in Karnatka, Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Sadikabad in Pakistan and recently a Campaign for Peace-city Kathmandu is also added in this list.

Speaking on the occasion, Madhu Bahl, Principal of the School announced an annual prize from Kailash Bahl BS Trust, of Rs 5100/- and a memento, to best Peace Club of the city. She also highlighted various achievements of Peace Club of KB DAV-7 on the occasion.

Vedabhyas Kundu, Programme Officer, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, New Delhi underlined the need to evolve a Chandigarh Children's Committee as part of the Peace City Campaign which will from time to time react to issues of concern. The Committee comprising children which will soon be formed by Yuvsatta will help children to become social advocates, give them a platform to regularly voice their concern on pressing issues before the city and the nation and promote child participation.

Prominent amongst those who addressed the teachers during the training programme includes peace educator Dr. Hushang and Susan Garmroud, Senior Journalist Vandana Shukla, Bahadur Singh, Principal of GMSSS- 56, Karan Singh Jaglan, Principal, GMSSS- 33, Chandigarh and social activist Aarti.

ANNUAL DAY: Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 47, Chandigarh, celebrated its annual function with pomp show in the premises, here today. Air Commodore Manmohan Sud, VM Chairman School along with Sangeeta Sud, president AFWWA was the chief guest on the occasion.

The function began with special welcome by scouts and guides, cubs and bulbuls and tiny tots of vidyalaya. After the special welcome, principal gave a brief account of academic and co-curricular achievements of the students for the session 2006-2007.

The students presented colourful and wonderful programme including Saraswati Vandana, folk dances and Hindi and Sanskrit skit.

The main attraction of the function was the Kabelia dance and it reflects the victory of good over evil. The function ended with the prize distribution.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: The innovative ideas of ‘best out of waste’, skills of embroidery and electrical works marked the day at the annual prize distribution ceremony of Government High School, Sector 32, here, today. Manjeet Singh, Deputy Mayor, Chandigarh was the chief guest on the occasion.

The functions commenced with invoking the blessings of goddess Saraswati by Saraswati Vandana followed by group song. The cultural programme included qawwali highlighting the role of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. Four students of Alternate Innovative Educational Centre (AIEC), too, presented a group song; a skit presented by tiny tots depicting conservation of environment followed this.

Sarita Arora, Headmistress of the school, presented the annual report. Manjeet Singh, deputy mayor and PTA, president Ram Avtar distributed the prizes among students. The final attraction of the function was the Punjabi Bhangra, which enthralled everyone.

Chandigarh, May 5
In a high-profile rape case involving former MLA of the SAD from Dhuri Gaganjit Singh Barnala, additional district and session judge Ravi Kumar today directed the prosecution to provide a copy of the video recording in which the victim had named the MLA as the accused.

The orders were passed after an application was moved by the defence counsel who had sought copies of the evidence against the victim, who is to be re-examined in court. The prosecution has been directed to provide the video within a week.

It may be mentioned that during an in-camera examination of the victim on December 15, 2006, the victim had retracted her previous statements made earlier before the police and had also feigned ignorance about the identity of the suspect.

Denying that she was raped by the MLA, the maid during the in-camera proceedings had stated that she had suffered an abdominal injury after falling from her bicycle and thereafter started bleeding. She also did not corroborate her previous statements of being raped, as recorded by the police in the main challan and two supplementary statements.

Following this, the prosecution moved an application to re-examine her in court in light of the evidence.

One the last date of hearing, the court today recorded the statement of Dr Amandeep Kaur, a prosecution witness who had recorded the statement of the victim when she was admitted to the Sector 16 hospital. The defence had also cross examined her.

Chandigarh, May 5
Arguments in an alleged lottery scam case involving Punjab-cadre IAS officer B.R. Bajaj, concluded today.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet of the case in February 2003. Bajaj, along with a few others, had been named in the lottery scam in 1986. Bajaj was then on deputation here as finance secretary.

In the charge sheet, the CBI has charged Bajaj with cheating and corruption and the other accused with criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption. — TNS

Panchkula, May 5
A compensation of Rs 9.93 lakh was awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in an accident case here today. M.M. Sharma of the tribunal directed the United Insurance of India, Kaithal, and Basant Petroleum to pay the compensation to Yogesh Sharma, wife of Ram Murti Sharma, by June 9, failing which the tribunal would attach their respective properties.

An employee of the HVPN, Ram Murti, and his wife were on their way to Suman in Punjab from Panchkula on October 2, 2002 when a canter coming from the opposite direction hit their car head-on. The couple had received head injuries.

While Ram Murti died on his way to hospital, his wife survived the accident. She approached the tribunal for a compensation of Rs 30 lakh. After hearing the case, the tribunal ordered compensation to the family.

Chandigarh, May 5
His pictures are his ode to the myriad wonders of the skies above for amateur photographer Vikram Bansal truly believes, “the sky is the eloquent mirror God’s creativity.” A belief that finds root in Vikram’s first exhibition of photographs, ‘Yeh Aasmaan…Life’s Beautiful’ inaugurated by Pawan Kumar Bansal Minister of State for Finance, at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, in the city today.

With a self-professed “meticulousness” that he says touches everything he does, Vikram put up an enthusiastic showing today what with the art fraternity lending its full support but it was the photographs with their elegant frames that really captured the event.

57 photographs selected out of a 1000 taken over three and a half years make up this showing. Stormy grey, flamingo pink, ginger orange and cobalt blue skies coupled with candy floss white clouds, green trees bright in the light and shrouded in silhouettes are just some of the exotic hues that have been caught through the lens.

With each photograph seeming virtually picture perfect, it is hard to believe that it all began with a ‘hotshot’ aim and click camera! But as Vikram says, “for me the sky is synonymous with life and living and when I discovered the beauty of nature and sky all I wanted to do was capture its intrinsic and touching values.”

After much trial and error, armed with a 10 mega pixel Sony Alfa digital camera, Vikram now clicks whenever he travels through the region.

For this man who runs an advertising agency in the city, veering away from the family business of automobiles was just another step in a creative direction. With his camera in hand, he says he has finally come to roost.

And his efforts did not seem to go waste. While Dr Aditya Prakash, chairperson, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and former principal of the Architecture College called the exhibition “extraordinary”, city-based eminent photographer Diwan Manna said that Vikram’s “focus” as an amateur photographer was indeed laudable. “The sky is endless. It symbolises freedom and can also be viewed as limiting. It holds so much meaning in our traditions and Vikram has done well to concentrate on this one aspect in his photographs. The deeper he goes, the more he will find,” said Diwan.

The exhibition is on at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, till Friday May 11 from 11 am to 7 pm.

Chandigarh, May 5
The weekly plaza carnival at the Sector 17 plaza turned a new leaf in its history with the celebration of the free spirit of the legendary poet, Shiv Kumar Batalvi. To commemorate the birth anniversary of the Punjabi poet, Punjab Arts International presented ‘Birah Da Sultan-Shiv Batalvi’ a ballet on his life, love and poetry at the carnival today under the direction of Narinder Nindi. The ballet started with the history of the poet’s life and depicted the poet’s ill fortune and gradual failures in marrying both his beloveds.

Malkiat Malanga’s role as Shiv Kumar won him appreciation by the audience. Narinder along with Sarabjit Bhasin rendered the background score. The last part of the ballet saw Batalavi’s reaction against the corrupt, social and religious aspects of the Indian society. Interestingly, it took the artists about 45 days to prepare the two-hour ballet presentation.

Some of the songs sung during the ballet were ‘Shikra’, ‘Ki Haal puchde fakiran da’, ‘Sikhar Dupehre Sir te’, ‘Bhathi Waleya’ and ‘Munda Lambaran da’ etc.

The musical bonanza is a weekly feature of the Centre of Carnival Arts supported by Department of Tourism, Chandigarh and media sponsored by the Tribune Group of Newspapers.

Prior to the ballet, Vivek Attray, director, tourism released two cassettes and CDs, ‘Lahoo Punjab Da’ by Narinder Nindi and ‘Mast Malanga’, a comedy by Malkiat Malanga and Kamal Patanga.