EDUCATION

AITUC opens school for working kids
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 15
In its endeavour to impart education to the working children with an ultimate aim to eliminate the menace of child labour, the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) opened a school for the working children under an International Labour Organisation (ILO) project at Focal Point here today.

Explaining the details of the project, Mr O.P. Mehta, general secretary of the district unit of the AITUC, said the project could materialise after long drawn pursuance. The decision was taken at a state-level workshop held in June last year and the school was one of the 40 to be set up in the city as a follow up of the workshop. The school, to be run in the building of National Public School in the Focal Point area, would function from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary, Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha, who inaugurated the school, lamented that even as we enter the new millennium there were more than six crore children in our country who were working as child labour and were denied their basic rights. Not only this the children were employed in extremely hazardous industries such as fire crackers, matchbox making, bangles and carpet making units.

He further observed that around one third of the child population in the country was under-nourished and there was dire need to chalk out a strategy for not just opening more such schools but to uplift the socio-economic status of such families from where these children come from. However, it was the contrary that was actually happening, added Dr Mitra. “The policies being pursued by the government have led to alarming rise in unemployment, particularly among the less educated poor people. The education and the health care have become expensive and are virtually out of reach of the common man”.

Calling for structural changes in the policies, he said the menace of child labour was being used by Western countries to their advantage, who were imposing restrictions on the import of Indian goods by invoking the clause of child labour in the trade agreements. While such arm-twisting tactics were uncalled for and should be opposed, at the same time, we should learn a lesson and work earnestly for elimination of child labour.

Mr B.N. Sehgal, advocate, who presided over the function, pointed out that there were several laws which if implemented could help ameliorate the condition of working children. He called upon the Labour Department to implement such laws. Mr Sehgal also made a fervent appeal to the people to employ small kids.

Among others, Mr Jagat Ram, Mrs Sushma, advocate, Mrs Raj Rani, a member, state executive, Punjab Istri Sabha, Mr Harbans Singh, president, Market Committee, Mr Rajinder Singh, Principal, National Public School, and Dr Shakti Kumar, a neuro-psychiatrist, were present at the function.

Talent hunt contest held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 15
Students of Ramgarhia Girls’ College, Millerganj, were adjudged winners for their co-curricular activities at a talent hunt contest here today.

Contests for various skits, dances and music items were held in which over 100 students participated. Girls performed classical and folk dances, including Rajasthani, Haryanavi and gidha dances. In the music contest, students presented ghazals, geets and film and folk songs.

In the ghazals category, Rasneet Kaur stood first and Lakhjeet Kaur bagged the second prize. In the geets category, Rainu clinched the first prize, followed by Navneet and Manjeet. Sukhjeet was given a consolation prize. In the film songs category, Inderjeet, Sakshi and Raakhi were declared first, second and third, respectively. Karamjit Kaur got a consolation prize. In the folk song contests, Jyoti and Maninder were bracketted for the first prize, Antima was declared second and Sukhjeet was chosen for the third prize.

A freshers’ contest was also held in which over 35 first-year girls participated. Ms Narinder Sandhu, lecturer, organised the contest for students and Ms Harmit Kaur, Principal, appreciated their efforts.

Meanwhile, the College Central Students’ Association observed the day as Peace Day with two minutes’ silence wishing rest to the departed souls in Tuesday’s terrorist attack in the USA. The association announced Vijyeta Dhand as Head of the college. Besides, other elected and nominated members were also announced.

COURTS

Jerath granted bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 15
Chandigarh’s former Chief Engineer K.K. Jerath was yesterday granted bail by Mr Justice K.S. Garewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) way back in January 1998.

Jerath was earlier booked by the premier investigating agency on January 9, 1998 after ‘receiving information from a reliable source’. The case against him, according to the prosecution, pertained to income beyond known sources. Seeking the grant of bail in the case, Mr Jerath had claimed that the allegations contained in the FIR registered by the CBI, and the one registered in 1998 by the Vigilance Wing of the Chandigarh Police, were the same.

CULTURE

Bhangra sensation Mika in the city

Ludhiana, September 15
The singer who took the nation by storm by his first song Sawan mein lag gai aag... is in the city to perform. Mika, gentle and boyish looking, was very forthright in his talks with Ludhiana Tribune. He said he was in the field of music since 1991 as a guitarist and music arranger, but it was only in 1998 when he, inspired by the phenomenal success of his elder brother Daler Mehndi, decided to record his first album, “Sawan Mein Lag Gayee Aag”, that captulated him to the top.

After a serious family meeting of the entire musical family of six brothers and talented father, it was decided that at the launch of his album, his relationship with Daler Mehndi should not be disclosed as then people would have a lot of expectations. Moreover, there would be many speculations. It was only after a year that the people came to know that they were brothers, he revealed.

He said his voice was a God-given talent and he did not do any “riaz” as he was performing most of the days and had the capacity to sing non-stop for four hours at a stretch. He was good at composing songs and arranging music, but liked to use the talents of gifted but relatively unknown writers and dancers. He said,”I like to have good-looking and well-dressed persons in my dance troupe. So I hand pick them and train them. Most of the wardrobe for myself and my troupe is designed by me. I was the first singer to wear ‘khanda’ and many new singers are also supporting it now.I love to wear a lot of jewellery. So far only three videos and as many albums of mine have been released, but I am very fortunate that people have given me a lot of love, affection and appreciation. In a short period of three-and-a-half years, I have travelled all over the world and given 550 live performances.

“All over the world, the people have received me very warmly and enthusiastically. The other day when I was performing in Ludhiana, while singing I jumped into the crowd and the crowd loved me being with them. Unlike some singers I have no fear of crowds, rather I like to interact with them.”

His latest album “Ghabroo” is another musical bonanza for his fans. He has sung a rap song in his latest album. It is going to be released on September 19 in Chandigarh and then it is going to be televised on all channels. He said he was not intimidated by the success of his elder and more famous brother. He said,” My fans are mine and my brother has his own. My fans are both young and old. When I was going to perform in Ludhiana,I was travelling by my land cruiser Prado (one of my prized possessions). Two jeepfuls of young boys followed me. I thought they were provided for my security. It was only later that I found out that they were my fans and were following me to meet me. I love to perform with other singers.”