Free Coaching in Meritorious Students from March 10

Pb. Govt. taken solid steps for Higher Education 

Ludhiana: March 3, 2015:(Rector Kathuria//Punjab Screen):

The state government would now provide free coaching for higher education to all students studying in Schools for Meritorious Students from March 10 onwards. These students have already got admitted in these Schools after securing 80 percent marks in class 10th. Under this new programme, these students would be benefitted as the state government would impart them free coaching for higher education after class 12th.
        The students would be trained for institutes such as IIT, JEE-IIT, AIIMS, NIT, BITS Pilani, AFMC Pune, CA, Law, CLAT, besides other courses along with all medical and engineering institutes successfully running in the state.
        As per the recommendations of a committee named "Society for Promotion Quality Education for Poor and Meritorious Students of Punjab", which is formed by the Punjab government, tenders were floated. Tenders of two private coaching centres-namely "Aeon Educreators" for medical and non medical and "ABC Tutorials" for commerce have been approved. Both of these coaching centres have pan India presence and are a reputed name in this field.
        The Punjab government is presently running six Schools for Meritorious Students in the state and directions regarding the same have already been conveyed to the respective Deputy Commissioners in whose district these schools are running successfully.
        Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Mr Rajat Agarwal informed that free coaching for competitive classes would be imparted to students studying in this school. He said that both "Aeon Educreators" and "ABC Tutorials" would impart coaching to students from 4 pm to 7pm daily from March 10 onwards.
        The DC informed that out of total 297 students, 56 students are from medical, 197 of non medical and 44 of commerce streams. The private coaching institutes would impart training till June 2015 and during this time, they would conduct atleast 500 sessions and 50 tests.
        He said that this decision has been taken so that the students can get admission in leading institutes of the country after completing their class twelfth (senior secondary).

        To make sure that the studies of students of School for Meritorious Students, Civil Lines, Ludhiana don't suffer, the school will now have uninterrupted power supply as it would now have a hotline connection, informed the DC.

14th Annual convocation of Partap College of Education

Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 2:25 PM

Prof. Margery McMahon, University of Glasgow was chief guest 

Ludhiana: March 1, 2015: (Punjab Screen Bureau): 

Flaunting with degrees in hands and faces brightened with luminous smiles, the students were on cloud nine during the 14^th Annual convocation of Partap College of Education, Ludhiana held on March 1^st, 2015. The event was graced by Prof. Margery McMahon, University of Glasgow as the Chief Guest and Prof. Ken Jones, senior consultant for CPLD, University of Wales as guest of honour.  The Academic Procession was led by the Chief Guest Prof. Margery McMahon, Guest of Honour, Prof. Ken Jones, Principal Dr. Balwant Singh, Chairman, Prof. J.P. Singh, Secretary,  Dr. Ramesh Inder Bal and Mrs. Manpreet Kaur, Vice Principal and ceremoniously proceeded to the auditorium.

The event started with a cordial welcome address delivered by Mrs. Manpreet Kaur, which was followed by Saraswati Vandana. After this, Dr. Balwant Singh, principal took over the stage and read out the annual report of the college, highlighting the academic and cultural achievements during the session 2013-14. He also acquainted one and all with the profile, high success rate of placement cell run by the college, student exchange programmes under MOU with Denmark, International Collaborations and tie-ups with some of the prestigious universities and associations of the globe.

Then, Prof. Margery McMahon, delivered her convocation address in which she emphasize the importance of career long professional learning through collaborations and networking to influence change and innovation in the profession and education system. Being the educated and informed voice, they must be aware of their professional responsibility and commitment  and use education to improve the quality of education and life through education.

After this Dr. Balwant Singh and Prof. Margery McMahon, conferred degrees to 29 M.Ed. and 160 B.Ed. students dressed in robes. Ms. Jasmeet Kaur of M.Ed. and Ms. Isha Tiwari of B.Ed. were awarded with Roll of Honour for standing first in the college in M.Ed. and B.Ed. Panjab University, Chandigarh, annual examination 2014 respectively. Medals and honours were also bestowed upon the deserving scholars of the college for their illustrative contributions towards scholastic pursuits and extraordinary cultural achievements.

Ms. Jasmeet  Kaur, Ms. Muskan and Mrs. Poonam Bala from M.Ed. and Ms. Isha Tiwari, Ms. Megha Sharma and Mrs. Ramandeep Kaur Cheema from B.Ed. were also honoured on this occasion for standing 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in the college respectively.

After this, Prof. Ken Jones addressed the gathering and applauded the academic and non-academic pursuits taken up by Partap College of Education. He also congratulated the degree holders, faculty and authorities of the college for their tireless efforts in initiating a new era of excellence and innovation in teaching profession through continuous professional learning, critical and intellectual attitude and high professional ethics.

The Convocation Ceremony concluded with formal induction of all degree holders and vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Manpreet Kaur, who advised the degree holders to make best use of their knowledge, skills, values and attitude learnt at Partap College of Education. As the day came to an end, Partap College of Education bid adieu to yet another batch of brilliant minds

Banks: Indefinite Strike from 16th March 2015

Posted on Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 4:26 PM

4 Days strike from 25th Feb 2015
* Indian Banks' Association Backtraacks from its Assurance 
*  United Forum of Bank Unions Decided to Revive the Strike Programme 

Ludhiana: 20 Feb 2015: (Rector Kathuria//Punjab Screen): 

On the decision taken and call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), officers and employees in all the Public Sector Banks are going to observe  4 Days' All India Bank Strike from 25^th February to 28^th February 2015 demanding

 ¨       Immediate Wage Revision

¨       To stop Banking Reforms

 As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit : Ludhiana) held a massive demonstration  in front of State Bank of India, Civil Lines, Near Fountain Chowk, Ludhiana.  Com. Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions,  Com. Gulshan Chauhan, Com. J.P.Kalra, (All India Bank Officers’ Confederation), Com. D.C.Landra (NCBE),  Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana Unit) and Com. Rakesh Khanna,  Associate Banks Officers' Association (Unit : State Bank of Patiala) addressed the bank employees.                   

  

While addressing the bank employees, leaders of the Forum said that in the background of the assurance given by Indian Banks' Association (IBA) towards expeditious wage settlement and considering the positive developments since last conciliation meeting, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) put on hold its call for 4 days' strike from 21^st January 2015.  In the meeting held on 3^rd February 2015,   IBA finally proposed to improve their offer from 12.5% to 13% and expected UFBU to scale down its demand.  Our sincere and persuasive efforts to negotiate a reasonable and mutually acceptable wage increase are being misunderstood by the IBA and the Government as its weakness. With utmost patience, for the past two years, UFBU has been making its best efforts to settle the demands amicably. At every point of time, we have shown our flexibility. But unfortunately, it is not being reciprocated by IBA.

Leaders further stated that wages and service conditions in the banking sector are governed by the industry level bipartite settlements signed between the Indian Banks Association and the trade unions of bank employees and officers. Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks and Foreign Banks who give their mandate to the Indian Banks Association are party to the Settlements and hence are covered by the same. The 9th Bipartite Settlement came to an end on 31-10-2012. Consequently, revision of wages and other service conditions have become due as from 1-11-2012. In view of this,  common set of demands for the employees and officers was submitted to the Indian Banks Association on 30-10-2012. UFBU requested the IBA to adopt a time-bound programme to hold the negotiations on the demands and to expedite the Settlement as early as possible. Even though the formal negotiations started in February 2013, a few rounds of discussions have taken so far. It will be appreciated that the alarming and unabated price rise have seriously eroded the income of the employees and hence the wage revision has become all the more important. The Consumer Price Index has gone up by almost 2400 points under (1960=100) Index series since November, 2007. Hence wage revision to catch up with the high inflation and price rise has become an urgent necessity. Similarly, the workload in the bank branches has gone up substantially due to increase in total volume of business and also due to non-provision of adequate staff and officers in the branches. Employees and officers are working under a lot of stress and strain. The job profile of the staff has also undergone a change and all these require to be properly remunerated with adequate increase in wages. For this reason also the wage increase has become important. But unfortunately, the IBA is delaying the Settlement.

The fact is otherwise :                              Profits of Public Sector Banks

Year	Total Profit	Provision for bad loans  etc	Net profit
31.03.2012	1,16,000 crore	66,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2013	1,21,000 crore	71,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2014	1,27,000 crore	90,000 crorer	37,000 crore

 ¨                     Thus the total profits are increasing but obviously net profit is less due to provision for bad loans which burden should not be passed on to the shoulders of the ordinary employees. In fact, the Unions have assured that we can find out the ways and means to recover the bad loans through stringent measures and improve the profits through better productivity etc but it is unfair to deny their legitimate wage crease. When the entire workforce in the banking industry is making every effort to implement the various programmes of the Government including the recent Jan Dhan Yojana, when employees and officers are working under lot of stress and maximum difficulty due to manpower shortage and increased volume of work, it is regrettable that the Government is remaining a passive spectator without initiating any steps to find an amicable solution to the genuine expectations of bank employees for a better and reasonable wage revision. We have been once again pushed to the path of struggle.  Since the increase in offer of 0.5% by IBA was paltry, inadequate and not satisfactory, UFBU decided to revive the strike programmes as under:-

20th February 2015	Badge Wearing & Demonstrations
23rd February 2015	Press Meet in all State Capitals
24th February 2015	Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
25th  to 28th February 2015	FOUR DAYS ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE
16th March 2015	INDEFINITE STRIKE

Comrades - March ahead with solidarity and unity – Let us exhibit clearly that our united movement brings Success and success alone.....

“WE SHALL FIGHT – WE SHALL FIGHT,TILL WE SUCCEED – WE SHALL FIGHT”

AAP Mass Contact Programme continued in Ludhiana

Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 5:19 PM

Road Show in Ludhiana West gets tremendous response

Ludhiana: 19 feb 2015: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

AAP Ludhiana today carried out a Mass Contact Programme cum Road Show in Ludhiana West, which got an overwhelming response from the public. AAP District convener Ahbaab Singh Grewal said that following the party’s phenomenal performance in the Delhi Elections, it was decided that AAP would carry out road shows in all constituencies of the district and tried to reach out to the people. In this regard a road road show was held today, which was welcomed by the city residents everywhere.  As per instructions from the state executive we will start a Mass Contact Programme on February 26 to strengthen party’s organization.   The route of today’s road show was Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar E Block, Orient Cinema, BRS nagar J Block, Western Mall, Ferozepur Road, Rajguru Nagar, Dashehra Ground, BRS nagar, Lodhi Club, Pakhowal Road, From Hero Bakery Chowk to Kochar Market, Bus stand, Bharat Nagar chowk, Durga Mata Mandir, Rakh Baag Road, Fountain Chowk, Old Court Chowk, Dandi Swami Road, DMC Road, Kitchlu Nagar, Hero Heart, Government  College Road, Rose Garden, Ghumar Mandi,  Aarti Chowk, Bhai Bala Chowk, Pakhowal to Hero Bakery, Malhaar Road to back to party office at Gurdev Nagar. 

In todays  road show party’s  members  Col. Lakhanpal, Jai Reet Singh Dhindsa, Varinder Khara, Sartaaj Singh, Jeevan Singh Sangowal, Jagdeep Singh Ghumman,  Raj Fateh Singh, Nishant Kohli, Puneet Sahni, Sumit jaiswal, Amritpal Singh, Neeru Bala, Rajinderpal Kaur, Pawan Kumar, Pyush Kumar, Manjit Singh, Ravi, Daljeet Singh, Col. Darshan Singh Dhillon, Pardeep Kumar, R. P. Singh, Balwant Singh Minia, Tarlochan Singh Bedi, Atul Datta, Sarabhjeet Singh, Jagtar Singh Devgan, G. S. Kang, Udeavaan, Navpreet Singh Bedi, Hazura Singh (USA) and so on were present.

4 Days' All India Bank Strike from 25th February to 28th February

Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 6:27 PM

INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 16TH MARCH 2015

ñ    INDIAN BANKS' ASSOCIATION BACKTRACKS FROM ITS ASSURANCE

ñ    UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS DECIDED TO REVIVE THE STRIKE PROGRAMMES

ñ    4 DAYS STRIKE FROM 25TH FEB. to 28^th FEB.  2015

ñ    INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 16TH MARCH 2015 

On the decision taken and call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), officers and employees in all the Public Sector Banks are going to observe  4 Days' All India Bank Strike from 25^th February to 28^th February 2015 to demanding

 ¨                  Immediate Wage Revision

¨                  To stop Banking Reforms

 For the preparation of 4 days' strike, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana) held a General Body Meeting at Punjabi Bhawan, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana.  Com. S.K.Gautam, Joint Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association and General Secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation, Com. P.R.Mehta, President,  Com. Amrit Lal, Chairman, Com. G.K.Joshi, Secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation and Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana Unit) addressed the meeting.                                      

  

While addressing the bank employees, Com. S.K.Gautam said that in the background of the assurance given by Indian Banks' Association (IBA) towards expeditious wage settlement and considering the positive developments since last conciliation meeting, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) put on hold its call for 4 days' strike from 21^st January 2015.  In the meeting held on 3^rd February 2015,   IBA finally proposed to improve their offer from 12.5% to 13% and expected UFBU to scale down its demand.  Our sincere and persuasive efforts to negotiate a reasonable and mutually acceptable wage increase are being misunderstood by the IBA and the Government as its weakness. With utmost patience, for the past two years, UFBU has been making its best efforts to settle the demands amicably. At every point of time, we have shown our flexibility. But unfortunately, it is not being reciprocated by IBA.

 Com. Gautam further stated that wages and service conditions in the banking sector are governed by the industry level bipartite settlements signed between the Indian Banks Association and the trade unions of bank employees and officers. Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks and Foreign Banks who give their mandate to the Indian Banks Association are party to the Settlements and hence are covered by the same. The 9th Bipartite Settlement came to an end on 31-10-2012. Consequently, revision of wages and other service conditions have become due as from 1-11-2012. In view of this,  common set of demands for the employees and officers was submitted to the Indian Banks Association on 30-10-2012. UFBU requested the IBA to adopt a time-bound programme to hold the negotiations on the demands and to expedite the Settlement as early as possible. Even though the formal negotiations started in February 2013, a few rounds of discussions have taken so far. It will be appreciated that the alarming and unabated price rise have seriously eroded the income of the employees and hence the wage revision has become all the more important. The Consumer Price Index has gone up by almost 2400 points under (1960=100) Index series since November, 2007. Hence wage revision to catch up with the high inflation and price rise has become an urgent necessity. Similarly, the workload in the bank branches has gone up substantially due to increase in total volume of business and also due to non-provision of adequate staff and officers in the branches. Employees and officers are working under a lot of stress and strain. The job profile of the staff has also undergone a change and all these require to be properly remunerated with adequate increase in wages. For this reason also the wage increase has become important. But unfortunately, the IBA is delaying the Settlement.

The fact is otherwise :                      Profits of Public Sector Banks

Year	Total Profit	Provision for bad loans  etc	Net profit
31.03.2012	1,16,000 crore	66,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2013	1,21,000 crore	71,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2014	1,27,000 crore	90,000 crorer	37,000 crore

 Thus the total profits are increasing but obviously net profit is less due to provision for bad loans which burden should not be passed on to the shoulders of the ordinary employees. In fact, the Unions have assured that we can find out the ways and means to recover the bad loans through stringent measures and improve the profits through better productivity etc but it is unfair to deny their legitimate wage crease.

When the entire workforce in the banking industry is making every effort to implement the various programmes of the Government including the recent Jan Dhan Yojana, when employees and officers are working under lot of stress and maximum difficulty due to manpower shortage and increased volume of work, it is regrettable that the Government is remaining a passive spectator without initiating any steps to find an amicable solution to the genuine expectations of bank employees for a better and reasonable wage revision. We have been once again pushed to the path of struggle.