EDUCATION

Remedial courses for weak students
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13
Academically weak students in colleges affiliated to Panjab University can look forward to special classes by colleges as ‘remedial’ courses that are being supported by the University Grants Commission.

In one of the recent communications the UGC has confirmed a grant of Rs 25,000 for introduction of remedial courses at Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College of Boys, Ludhiana.

A senior PU fellow remarked that remedial classes were strong possible tools to dispel the “booming business of tuitions. Lot, however, depends on how the fund use in implemented for student welfare.

While a formal list of total colleges who were beneficiaries of the grants for the current session is yet to be finalised, the 1999-2000 session saw 68 beneficiaries. Among the local colleges GGDSD, Sector 32, Government College for Girls, Sector 42, GCG, Sector 11, GGS Khalsa College for Women, Sector 26, GCM, Sector 11, Dev Samaj College, Sector 45, DAV College, Sector 10 and Department of Evening Studies at PU were on the list.

The list also included colleges from Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Abohar, Ferozepore, and Moga and Muktsar districts. Dr A.C. Vaid, principal of the local GGDSD College, said that the stipend helped academically weak students. These were not targeted at specific quarters of society based on caste, creed or religion. The money was broadly utilised for weak students, extension classes and aiding teacher in educational tours.

He said special lectures were organised for students. A teacher who was invited for special talk was generally paid Rs 500 for his two hours class. The money was utilised especially on purchase of books, development of library facilities and infrastructural development. The amounts are valid for one year.

The grant is subject to adjustment on the basis of utilisation certificate. The college shall maintain a record of assets acquired wholly or substantially out of the grant.

COURTS

LIC told to pay insurance money
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 13
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II has allowed the complaint of Ms Satya Devi and directed the Senior Divisional Manager, LIC, to pay the sum assured in the policy along with interest at the rate 12 per cent to the complainant.

Ms Satya Devi stated in the complaint that she was the widow of Sohan Lal Bansal who had obtained a life insurance policy from the LIC, Jeevan Parkash, for Rs 50,000 on November 11, 1994.

His husband died on December 31, 1995 and the claim was lodged with the LIC. The complainant alleged that she had not got the amount deposited by her husband despite repeated requests.

The Bench comprising Mr R.P Bajaj and Ms U. Agnihotri allowed the complaint with cost of Rs 1100 and directed the LIC to pay the sum assured in the policy along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum. 

12-year RI in rape case
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, April 13
Mr G.S. Mangat, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Rajpura, sentenced Gian Singh, a residents of Daffarpur village, to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, besides a fine of Rs 12,000 for raping a minor girl.

The accused had raped a seven-year-old girl in June last year while she was returning home along with her younger brother after offering prayers at a religious institute.

Her father, Mr Surinder Singh had complained to the police that Gian Singh lured her to his newly built house and raped her. 

CULTURE

Inseparable three some exude josh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13
Some ascents are really wild. And their’s is one of those. Ever since music bound them together, the inseparable threesome of Joshilay have not looked back. But they sure have come a long way from “Muniya”, their first album which rocked the hottest discotheques all over the country. Today, apart from being upcoming singers, Julius, Jolly and Jasmeet, are much-sought after performers for reasons not far to seek. They spill energy all over.

The group was in the city for the third time today at Planet M in Sector 17. This time, they turned on the jivers at the music store by singing all-time hits, like Malkit Singh’s Tootak Tutak, “Rang Barse Bheege Chunar Wali” and other pulsating songs of the 1970s.

The spirited performance, somehow, does not manage to bog down the three boys. Admit Jasmeet and Jolly, the two MBA graduates, who have temporarily divorced business administration for love of music, “It’s a process of rejuvenation. The more energy you spill, the more you assimilate. Music can never be tiring enough.”

“Joshilay”, the band that combines the singing prowess of Jasmeet and Jolly and the instrumental talent of Julius Packiam, is doing the rounds of the country’s stages these days.

The first good thing that happened to the three was the coming together under the band called Sound Design.

The hallmark of the band is its capability to blend Punjabi folk influences with Western urban beats. So while their songs sound smart and contemporary, they also exude a lot of Indianness, rooted as they are in the Indian folk strains.

Jasmeet Singh, an MBA from Delhi started singing at a very young age and bagged numerous awards. He loves Punjabi pop and Hindi film hits which are rhythmic and thunderous at the same time.

Amandeep Singh Jolly was inspired into music by his father and has already sung for three albums. He is also an MBA. He is particularly famous for his powerful stage performances. Julius has always been into playing music. His influences range from Jim Reeve, Nat King Cole and Elvis and Western classical music. It was a Joshilay performance all through with the show compered by Aftaab Sandhu.