Ludhiana, August 13
The Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association (PSVOA) has condemned the state government’s decision to increase tuition fee in private medical and dental colleges in Punjab, both for the government and management quota seats.

A meeting of the executive committee of the association, held here today, with Dr Ashok Sharma in the chair, termed the fee hike as commercialisation of professional education, while calling upon the government to review the decision and revert to the previous fee structure.

Sharma, along with 
district president of PSVOA Darshan Kheri, said after the meeting that a majority of private medical and dental colleges were being run solely for profit motive and such institutions were already earning huge profits, legally as well as illegally, thereby hitting common man the most.

The PSVOA functionaries observed that the lobby of private medical and dental colleges had now pressurised the government to give in to their unjust demand to fulfil their lust for more profit at the cost of being unfair to meritorious students from not well to do families.

They opined that the move would lead to unethical and unconstitutional discrimination between the students coming from affluent and poor families.

The association urged the government to withdraw the hike allowed to private medical and dental colleges and further to evolve a permanent policy to check commercialisation of medical education in future as well.

Ludhiana, August 13
Keeping with the tradition of producing university toppers, the department of computer science of Khalsa College for Women has once again shown excellent results in M.Sc (IT) IInd year results. Priya Gupta stood first in the university scoring 2098/2300 marks. It is for the fifth time in a row that Priya has topped the university. She topped in all three years of BCA and then in M.Sc (IT) Ist year and now IInd year. Rishu stood second with while Inderpreet stood third in the university.

FRESHER’S: The science students of Guru Nanak Girls College celebrated fresher day here on Monday. Gurbir Singh, president, Guru Nanak Trust and Dr Charanjit Mahal, principal of the college presided over the function. The science students presented the fascinating music cum dance programme. On this occasion, Miss Fresher contest was organised in which 20 contestants participated. Vibhuti Jain, BSc bioinformatics, was crowned Miss Fresher while Pooja of B.Sc non-medical and Ravneet of BSc biotechnology were first and second runners-up respectively.

LECTURE: An extension lecture was also organised by the PG Department of Political Science of Guru Nanak Girls College on Monday. Prof P.S. Bhogal of Arya College enlightened the students about the complexities of nuclear issues dominating the contemporary international politics. Prof Bhogal pointed out the possible pitfalls of nuclear deal.

FOUNDATION: Spring Dale Senior Secondary Public School, celebrated Foundation day on Monday with enthusiasm and fervour. Students presented a very attractive and meaningful cultural programme. Sudarshan Gosain was the chief guest on this occasion. Trophies were awarded to more than 350 students for their excellent performances in various activities. Students who topped in exams were given cash prizes from various societies.

CELEBRATIONS: As a part of celebration of Sanskriti Saptah from August 9 to 15, a seminar was organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, Kitchlu Nagar branch. The seminar was on "Role of women in society and national building' was held at Shaiwal School on Sunday. A drawing and painting competition for the children was also organised. Declamation contest was held for the children of Sahiwalil High School, Rishi Nagar. Also, a flower arrangement competition and mehandi competition would be held on August 13 and 14 at Viklang Sahayta Kendra.

Ludhiana, August 13
The state government will organise virasat melas in colleges of  the state to promote and create awareness among the youth about rich cultural heritage.

Minister for jails, tourism and cultural affairs Hira Singh Gabria said it had been noticed that the youth were blindly aping the west. The social and moral fabric of society was being ripped apart, he pointed out.

To chalk out a programme, a meeting of all principals of the colleges has been convened on September 1 at Ramgarhia Girls College here. He said this should not be construed that western food or clothes would not be tolerated on the campuses, but that the youngsters should take pride in sticking to the mores of yore.

He was addressing students at Mai Bhago College for Women at Ramgarh near here yesterday.

In addition to this, the government was also bringing in job-oriented courses which would allow students to compete in the technology-driven world. The need of the hour was to provide the students with the latest tools so that they could compete with their counterparts in the developed world.

Special emphasis would be laid on upgrading the facilities and infrastructure in the rural areas so that the students could be on a par with urban students.

It had been seen that the rural students were at a disadvantage since the level of education was poor. It was a matter of concern that there were no teachers and in many areas, the students had to pool money to recruit teachers on temporary basis, he added.

He also added that more private institutions and philanthropists should come forward to play a greater role in building more schools and colleges in the state.

Though the government was doing its bit, yet it would be unrealistic on the part of the people to rely entirely on the state to provide the necessary infrastructure, he said.

Gabria also exhorted the teachers to be the role model for the students so that they could play a greater role in nation building.

The minister also said greater efforts were required to combat the menace of female foeticide. It was a blot on society that the land of the Gurus, who had glorified the role of women in society, would face a skewed sex ratio, he added.