The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Teachers intensify agitation
Our Correspondent

Mohali, December 26
Intensifying their agitation, teachers from government schools who have been protesting against authorities for compelling them to attend seminars during vacations, burnt an effigy of the Punjab government here today.

Nearly 500 teachers from about 60 schools first protested in Government Senior Secondary School in Phase III B 1 where they are supposed to attend teacher training seminars. They have been boycotting the eight-day seminar which was to start from December 24.

Around 1 pm they moved towards the court complex and burnt the effigy on the main road leading from III - V Chowk towards Chawla chowk. Traffic was diverted by the police for about 20 minutes as the main road was blocked. Slogans were raised against the Punjab government.

The protesters said authorities failed to chalk out a proper plan for holding seminars and harassed them by asking them to attend these during vacations. In the absence of qualified resource persons, the teacher training seminars merely proved to be wastage of time, energy and funds, they added.

Surjit Singh, president of the Kharar block of Government Teachers’ Union, said a meeting was held at the level of director-general, Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan, but the demands of teachers were not conceded to. As such the protest would continue.

Government school teachers have to attend 20 days training seminars during a year under the Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan. They had attended 12 days training earlier and now seminars were organised for the remaining eight days.

PU staff to maintain cleanliness on campus
Smriti Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26
After failing in their experiment of outsourcing the cleanliness of Panjab University, the authorities have now decided to revert to their own employees for keeping the campus clean.

This was decided at a meeting held today on the campus wherein the private security as well as cleanliness came under scanner once again. It was decided that in future, the cleanliness of the university would be maintained by the university staff only and not by outside agencies.

According to sources, the university had outsourced its cleanliness in July, but it didn’t function properly. Heaps of garbage and waste papers dotted the campus during the past few months. Also, there were instances of complaints against the contractor. The contractor had promised that there would be around 40 cleaners on the job whereas the actual number provided by him was even less than half.

The vice chancellor had earlier constituted a 20-member committee to review the cleanliness and security of PU.

It was also decided that the necessary renovation would be conducted in all hostels. Repair works would also be carried out in the washrooms during the ongoing holidays.

As for the security, new chief security officer Vijay pal Singh, who has taken over recently, has been asked to study the entire arrangement afresh. Earlier, the private security personnel were accused of infringement of contract as they failed to provide their security personnel with walky-talky handsets and patrolling vehicles, said sources.

Vacation announced
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26
The Chandigarh education department has announced that all government schools will remain close for the summer vacations from May 25 to June 30. Meanwhile, the winter vacations have already started from December 25 and will last till January 1.

CULTURE

New Year Fest
Musical wave at Sukhna Lake
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, December 26
The Chandigarh New Year Festival commenced on a melodic note with a musical evening held at Sukhna Lake and a programme of Punjabi folk dances at Plaza, Sector 17, here today.

The light music soiree, dedicated to legendary music director R.D. Burman, got off to a majestic start as acclaimed playback singer and composer of music in Punjabi films and TV serials Brijesh Ahuja doled out hit numbers. After a mundane beginning with 'Bachna aye haseeno', he went on to mesmerise the audience with 'Ye jo mohabbat hai' and the magic got augmented as Shruti Bhagat joined him to render a duet 'Jaane jaan'. Sensing the audience mood, who braved the chilly winds, Brijesh doled out more crisp numbers immortalised by Kishore Kumar while Shruti presented some solo numbers. Veteran Vinay Sharma and young Madan Tanwar won applause for soft numbers like 'Aane wala pal' and 'Musafir hun yaaro' or 'Ek ladki ko dekha'. Canada-based composer Raman Kant conducted the musical score supported by Arun Kant, Neeraj and Nayak brothers. Anjana Madan and Vinay Sharma anchored the programme.

However, the crowd was expecting a better Punjabi folk dance spectacle at Plaza, but the artistes from Lishu-Chirag Group danced to the tunes of recorded songs. However, the anchor kept the audience in good humour.