Chandigarh, June 22
Information technology has no meaning for Panjab University when it comes to maintaining its official website. The link of the Dean College Development Council, www.dcdc.puchd.ac.in, on the PU website has not been updated since 2005. The link is still showing former principals’ names and telephone numbers, which do not exist anymore.

This is peak time for admissions and persons wanting information regarding the colleges have access to only the outdated information. This website, which hasn’t been updated from over two years, is hardly of any help to the information seekers. Instead, it misleads them.

The website shows Prahlad Aggarwal as the principal of Government College for Men, Sector 11, and also displays old telephone numbers which are now non-existent. Similar is the case with the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, as the website shows Manjeet Kalra as the principal where as Promila Kaushal is the principal at present. Even the principal of Government Home Science College, Sector 10 is Sukhvarsha Narula according to the website where as Kavita Marriya is now the principal.

Government College in Sector 46, which is now a coeducational college, is referred to as an all-boys college and Mohan Geeta is shown as the principal there.

One of the major faux pas is with the Government College for Girls, Sector 42. Not only does it give a wrong principal’s name but also gives the office and the residence number of the principal as the same. Similarly, the principal of the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26, is shown as Baljeet Kapoor, who retired from the college early this year.

Another link of the site indicating courses being offered in various colleges also doesn’t show any new ones offered by the colleges. For instance, many colleges this year have started add on courses in journalism, postgraduate diploma in fashion designing, etc, but none of this finds a mention in the link for courses.

The website clearly says that it was last updated on June 20, 2005. Accordingly, the circulars, activities and the notices displayed on the website are all more than two years old and are of no use to the visitors.

Chandigarh, June 22
A guidance camp for students regarding various courses being offered at DAV College, Sector 10, concluded today.

The camp was held by activists of SOPU to help them go through the tedious process of filling admission forms.

Student leader Inderpuneet said every year many students were driven from pillar to post to find which documents were to be attached with the forms and where the forms were to be submitted.

During the camp many students benefited from the guidance cell.

Chandigarh, June 22
To streamline the sports activities at the school level, the UT Teachers Welfare Association, Chandigarh, proposed the education department to appoint the senior most physical education lecturer (DPE) as assistant education officer (AEO). The AEO (sports) was relieved recently following the CAT orders. A delegation of the association met DPI (schools) S.K. Setia here on Wednesday.

In a communiqué, president of the association Shavinder Singh stated that DPI (S) Setia assured that the post of the AEO would be shifted to the DEO’s office only to be filled with the senior most UT-cadre physical education lecturer.

Besides, the union put forth the demands to fill the DEO’s post as per the seniority criteria, instant release of seniority list, promotion of the master cadre to the lecturers’ cadre and introduction of the modified ACR proforma. 

Chandigarh, June 22
After days of confusion regarding the submission of affidavits for students seeking admission to Government colleges in the city, principals of these colleges yesterday wrote to the vice-chancellor of Panjab University to do away the requirement.

According to directions given by the university, students were required to submit an affidavit before admission and get their documents attested from gazetted officers. This requirement, however, went against orders issued by the UT administration, earlier this year.

In a letter addressed to the VC, these principals have stated that with the view to comply with the orders of the Chandigarh administration and to avoid inconvenience and expenditure, the requirement of an affidavit could be done away with. Moreover, in the common admission form for the government colleges, there is already a declaration that says, ‘I certify I have not been disqualified by any board/university for misconduct or in any unfair means case’, thus serving the purpose.

When contacted, A.N. Garg, principal, Government College, Sector 11, said, “We submitted the letter to the deputy registrar as the VC was not in town. He has assured us that the affidavit would be done away with.” 

Chandigarh, June 22
Disgruntled unemployed teachers of various categories hailing from Punjab are adopting novel ways to highlight their plight

Devising new methods of protest to show their resentment against the “indifferent attitude” of the authorities concerned, they even went to the extent of “stripping themselves of their essentials” in Sector 17 two days ago. Going a step further, they begged in various parts of the city and resorted to polishing of shoes.

Yesterday, members of the Substitute Computer Teachers Union (SCTU), Punjab, not only begged in the Sector 34 market complex, but also polished shoes of visitors to the market, besides wiping vehicles on roads.

Members of the Unemployed DPE (Diploma in Physical Education) Teachers Union, Punjab, burnt copies of their degrees outside the office of director (public instructions), Punjab, in Sector 17.

Baljinder Singh, president of the SCTU, told TNS that since the government had backtracked on its promises, they were left with on option but to beg on roads. As the authorities had failed to redress their grievances, they had been forced to take the path of agitation and had launched a hunger strike to highlight their plight.

He said the authorities had not only backtracked on their promises, but were also paving the way for new recruitment by ignoring them.

When they were retrenched by the previous Congress regime on December 23 last year, they had launched an agitation three days later. Their agitation entered the 179th day today.

Similar were the views of Jatinder Singh, president of the Unemployed DPE (Diploma in Physical Education) Teachers Union, Punjab, who, along with other agitating teachers, burnt copies of the degrees in Sector 17 as a mark of protest.

Jatinder Singh threatened that in case the government failed to meet their demands, they would be forced to intensify their stir. Despite the fact that they had several meetings with the Chief Minister, the education minister and the finance minister, their demands had not been met.

The struggle would continue till the government filled vacant posts of 5,000 DPE teachers and 500 posts of lecturer in the state.

HELPLINE: Keeping in view the increased rush of students and other visitors who are visiting the Panjab University campus daily for admissions, a “Helpline” began functioning from Friday at the Aruna Ranjit Chandra Hall.

AWARD: Ashish Dhir, senior research fellow of pharmacology of CSIR, working in the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received the International Association of Inflammation Societies Young Scientist Award. He also gave a presentation at the 8th World Congress of Inflammation held at Copenhagen, Denmark from June 16-20, 2007.

DATE EXTENDED: The last date for receipt of application forms for BEd I (through entrance test) in the department of correspondence studies, for in-service teachers, has been extended up to June 25. However, the date for the entrance test - July 8 - will remain the same. More information can be sought at: 2534829.

HONOUR: Shradhha Sharma is the first alumnus of PU’s department of mass communication to have got her MS in journalism form the Columbia School of Journalism, USA. The Columbia University at New York is an Ivy League institution and its school of journalism is considered the best in the world. Shradhha was the only international student from India in the 2006-2007 batch.

OFFICE TIMINGS: With effect from July 2, the working hours of the university administrative offices, including the construction office, the directorate of sports and the teaching, non-teaching departments will be as follows: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5 pm with lunch break from 1.30 pm to 2 pm. The offices will not be open on Saturdays and Sundays. — TNS

Mohali, June 22
A special programme, “Sham-e-Ghazal”, by singer and music composer Devki Anand was organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 71, here this evening.

The show began with a poignant lyrical composition of Madan Pal “Usko tha mujh se pyar abhi kal ki baat hai” in Raag Bageshree.

It was followed by Dr Bashir Badr’s famous composition in Raag Mishra Khamaj “Woh chandni ka badan khushbuyon ka saya”, which received thunderous applause from the audience.

Kasim Quiraishi’s ghazal “Khawab lagta hai afsana sa nazr aata hai” came next. Devki’s voice was soft and his modulation excellent.

“Kisi ki yaad ne aisa sila diya mujhko” penned by Narendra Naaz was also received with applause.

He also rendered ghazals like “Unse hame kuch kaam nahi”, “Bewafa se bhi pyar hota hai” and “Chehron mein hi uljhe rehte” written by Shere Bhopali, Urnam Allahabadi and Gurdarshan Bal, respectively.

His rendering of composition “Mein kadamon ke tere nishan dhundta hoon” by S. Rakesh came with flawless Urdu pronunciation.

“Chhad na hove sharab...” and “Jadon da tu takya...” of Gurbax Saini and Gurdarshan Bal drew rich applause.

The evening was rounded off with his own Punjabi song “Akhiyan de teer chalaundi...”.

He was accompanied by Gautam Dhar on the tabla and Prakash Nepali on flute, Mandeep on violin, Goldi on guitar and Swarn on dholak.