‘Govt ignoring rural educational institutes’
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 24
Office-bearers of various educational and social organisations of the area have urged the state government to come to the rescue of institutes that had been nurturing the needs of education for women of rural areas. The appeal came at a seminar on the role of private organisations in eradicating illiteracy amongst rural women, organised at Swami Ganga Giri Girls College at Raikot on Saturday. The seminar was presided over by Mr Krishan Chand Gupta and Mr Satish Sharma, a senator of Panjab University, and a renowned educationist of the area was the chief guest.

While addressing the audience, Mr Satish Sharma claimed that private institutes located in rural and suburban area had been nurturing educational needs of rural areas for a long time. “But successive governments had been ignoring welfare of these institutes, a trend that has disappointed management committees of these organisations,” said Mr Sharma. He claimed that results of these institutes were better than majority of government colleges.

Mr Ramesh Kaura, general secretary of SGG Educational Society, claimed that thousands of girls from rural and suburban areas had gained education under the patronage of private colleges. “Had social leaders of the area not joined hands to open this institute three decades ago, thousands of girls of the area, could have remained uneducated as their social system did not allow their parents to send them to far off places,” held Mr Kaura.

Dr Savita Uppal, Principal of the college, called upon the leaders of the area to impress upon the authorities to come to the rescue of such institutes that had been imparting formal and professional education to girls at their doorstep. She claimed that girls, if provided proper environment could do better than boys in all fields. She said girls could be made self reliant after getting them degrees and diplomas in BCA, PGDCA, computer application, fashion designing and cosmology.

The organisers felicitated prominent educationists of the area on the occasion.

H.K. Dua to deliver lecture at college

Samrala, July 24
Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief, The Tribune group of newspapers, shall share his vision and views on contemporary India with the audience at Malwa College, Bondli, Samrala, on July 31 at 11 am. His lecture will be followed by a question-answer session.

The proceedings will be presided over by MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. Dr Shinderpal Singh, Principal of the college, said that the programme has been envisaged by Mr Kamaljeet Rattan, President, Alumni Association.

Mr Rattan and Dr Shinderpal Singh have extended an open invitation to the alumni of the college, teachers from various colleges and professionals to attend the seminar. OC

From Schools & Colleges
CBSE chief inaugurates ‘smart classrooms’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 24
The Smart Class Programme was inaugurated by CBSE Chairman Ashok Ganguly at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here today. Mr Ganguly is in the city to conduct several programmes for principals.

He went through the process of the working of the “smart classrooms”.

Under the programme, each classroom will have a plasma TV and a computer connected to the knowledge centre from where teachers can access data on a particular topic they want to teach in the class.

Teachers can also create their resources and teach in the class, thus saving them a lot of time.

The “smart classrooms” will have a great visual impact on learning and help students understand and memorise topics better.

Mr Ganguly appreciated the efforts and said the concept would be a strong tool in the hands of teachers to enhance the understanding of students about concepts in various subjects and better the overall teach-learning process.

Paper-reading contest: New Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Naga, Ludhiana, organised a paper-reading contest here today.

The contest was sponsored by Shaheed Sukhdev Branch of Bharat Vikas Parishad, Ludhiana.

Sixteen students, four each from Tagore House, Laxmi Bai House, Nehru House and Subhash Bose House, took part in the contest.

The function started with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. It was followed by singing of Vande Matram.

Savita Sharma anchored the function. Deputy Director-cum-Principal H.C. Gupta presided over the function. Rajesh Julka and Dalbir Nanda adjudicated the show.

The results: Amandeep Kaur (Nehru House)-Ist; Gurpreet Kaur (Subhash House)-2nd; Roop Kausal (Laxmi Bai House)-3rd; Prachi (Laxmi Bai House) and Isha Sharma (Nehru House)-consolation prize.

The participants were given certificates of participation and winners were given trophies. The function ended with the singing of the National Anthem.

Students of Green Land Senior Secondary School plant saplings during Vanmahotsava Week in the school on Monday. — Photo by Inderjit Verma

Students attend lecture on NCC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 24
A special lecture on NCC programme was organised by the NCC unit of GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, here on Saturday. Col S.S. Deol, Commanding Officer, 3 Pb Girls Battalion, was the guest speaker.

Colonel Singh elaborated on the aims, scope and area of NCC’s functioning.

Students were told that the NCC was not just limited to parades and uniforms, as it was a complete package of personality development of young students, activities, adventure games. They were informed about the unit-level functioning and career in the armed forces.

Colonel Singh also answered the queries of the students.

Earlier, the chief guest was welcomed by Principal Surinder Singh.

Prof Bawa Singh passed the vote of thanks. The lecture was conducted by Prof Anoop Kaur, in-charge NCC.

Little siblings’ day out

Ludhiana, July 24
In an endeavor to learn in fun way, the Class VI of Kundan Vidya Mandir had invited their siblings aged between 3 and 6 for a get together here on Saturday. The objective was to enable the students to learn interaction and inculcate a sense of responsibility towards their younger brothers and sisters.

A cartoon movie was also shown to the children. The kids were given a sapling each as a gift by the co-ordinator, Mr J.P. Sharda, and the in charge of middle section, Mrs Sonia Verma. OC

VC’s appointment hailed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 24
Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University yesterday hailed the appointment of Dr Jairoop Singh as the Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University.

CULTURE

Thespian writer par excellence
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, July 24
Drama has been woven into the very texture of Sompal Heera’s life. His radical thinking, convincing ideals and formulated decisions have infused a new blood into Punjabi theatre.

Heera, who has created waves in Punjabi theatre, hopes to “reform” every bit of it through his dramatic approach.

He has been focussing on this goal for the past many years and credits Bhagwan Dhillon, Gulzar Pandher, Piara Singh and Prithipal Singh for honing his talent.

In 2004, Heera’s book “Pannian Di Parwaz” won him the prestigious Ishwar Chander Nanda Award as well as Best Publication Award by the Language Department.

His latest creation “Solo Natak Sompal Heera De” is unique as it is the first book of solo plays ever composed by a thespian-writer.

The book was released recently by writer Surjit Patar and critically approved by experts during a get-together at the college, where Heera is a lecturer of Punjabi.

Heera’s another creation, “Rome Jalda Hai”, is a full-length play based on the situation prevailing between India and Pakistan and was enacted at Sri Ram Theatre, Delhi.

Besides, the play has won him a number of awards at youth festivals organised by various universities.

Heera has so far written, directed and enacted plays like “Saka 47”, “Dastane-dil”, “Lajja, “Agan Katha”, “Tiraskarian Dhian”, “Kala Benam Roti”, “Ik Rangkarmi Di Diary”, “Neero di Bansari”, etc. He also has six single-character plays to his credit.

Heera has directed and prepared a number of teams for youth festivals in 
colleges.

He has also played roles in TV serials “Virasat” and “Mein Goongi Nahin”.

His enactment in documentary films “Guru Teg Bahadur” and “Akali Lehar” and video albums of Harjit Harman and Neetu Virk have also earned him popularity.

He has been active in the Punjabi theatre since 1993 and has performed in around 500 plays.

He has no godfather, he claims. His achievements are purely an outcome of his intense labour and obsession for theatre.

He aims to popularise the art form by organising regular street shows.

Most of his plays target social evils like female foeticide, drug addiction, dowry, drinking and gambling, illicit relations and extra-marital affair, etc.

Heera, who is currently pursuing his PhD, wishes to delve deeper into the genre and bring about a constructive change in society.

HEALTH

Over 200 patients examined at diabetes camp 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 24
The district unit of National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) organised its ninth free diabetes detection camp at Dr Gupta Clinic in Shivpuri locality here on Sunday. More than 200 patients were examined, their blood sugar level was checked and free medicines were distributed.

Dr Surendra Gupta, general-secretary of the association, accompanied by a team of other NIMA functionaries including Dr Rajesh Thaper, Dr K.K. Kharbanda, Dr K.K. Kohli, Dr Satinder Kakar, Dr K.K. Sharma, Dr Pardip Nagrath, Dr Diwaker Sharma, Dr Khangoora, Dr D.P. Goyal and Dr Yogesh Passi examined the patients at the camp while Dr Inder Sharma, Dr Sarjeevan Sharma, Dr Sarbjit Singh, Dr Jasbir Singh Bawa and Mr Arvind Gupta prepared data for a follow-up study.

According to Dr Gupta, out of those persons tested for blood sugar level, 90 were known diabetics while 10 new patients were detected in the camp. Those persons, apparently prone to the attack of diabetes later in life, were given advice to strictly follow the prescribed regimen of diet, exercise and lifestyle. The experts educated them about the benefits of evening walk, physical exercise and techniques of yoga and pranayam.

The section of high-risk persons with metabolic syndrome status like family history of diabetes, high or disturbed blood lipid (cholesterol) values, high blood pressure and habit of smoking and alcohol were advised to get treatment for these causative factors as early as possible to avoid incidence of hyperglycemia (diabetes), which could be further associated with life-threatening diseases like heart attack, stroke or renal failure.

Dr Gupta said that besides free medicines for diabetes, the patients were given free sample packs of karela juice, amla juice, and arjuna juice (a herb known for its cardiac protection properties) at the camp.