Will check functioning of private schools: Capt

Saturday, 16/04/2016

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PATIALA: With the members of Punjab Parents’ Association up in arms against the private schools over re-admission fee and the monopoly of few shops over selling of school books and school dress for hefty amount in ‘connivance’ with these schools, former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Friday, assured that he would put a check on the working of private schools and make sure that fee was not arbitrarily increased by these schools.

He responded to this after several parents’ associations from Patiala and Nabha raised these issues during his “Coffee with Captain” programme at Yadavindra Public School.

He said there was a need to create balance where schools could get enough funds to run its services, but at the same time they should not charge too much that might put unnecessarily burden on the parents. “I have got several representations from parents from different areas and if voted to power, it will be my priority to deal with this issue timely,” he said.

Responding to a faculty from Mohindra College, who raised the issue of low wages to contractual staff, he said if his government would come to power, he would not hire any faculty in schools and colleges on contractual basis.

When a doctor told him that in the recent appointment of doctors in the state, they were offered just 16,000 per month salary, which was even lower than the fourth grade employees, he added that he would fix remuneration as per their qualification. “Yes I agree with you all that salaries should be at par with qualifications as paid in private sector and I would make sure that it will happen in my government,” he said.

Meanwhile, a city resident, Mahant Ravi Kant, sough his intervention in saving hundreds of acres of temples’ land which has been encroached illegally by few builders. Captain assured him that he would streamline the working of Dharmarth Board and make sure that encroached land of the temples was returned to their management.

CAPTAIN ASSURES INTERVENTION IN GIAN SAGAR FACULTY CRISIS

Speaking on the ongoing management-faculty crisis at Gian Sagar Medical College, Banur, he said he would soon intervene in this matter and would talk to, both, the government officials and the college management. He said it was a perfect case as how the government regulation was weak on the private education institutes, which should be overhauled.

ELDERDLY LEAVE THE VENUE EARLY IN DISGUST

Though it was a programme meant to interact with the youngsters, many elderly people, include MLAs, had come to the Yadvindra Public School Stadium to discuss their problems with Captain Amarinder Singh during his programme “Coffee with Captain”, here on Friday.

However, most of them left disgusted and dissatisfied as they somehow felt out of place among the youngsters who had come to the venue with questions, which were somehow ‘irrelevant’ as per the elderly crowd, who wanted to discuss on serious matters related to the state.

Darshan Singh (46), a resident of Samana, who left the show in the middle, said he got a message over his phone about the meeting with the Punjab Congress chief. With some queries in the mind, he visited the YPS, where he was disappointed with the interaction between the youngsters and the former CM. “I was expecting some productive discussion with Captain who can be next the chief minister. However, the youngsters raised questions that diverted the talk from the issues affecting the state,” said Darshan Singh.

Apart from this group of oldies, some elected assembly members and former leaders were also seen in the crowd. Dressed in their traditional politician’s attire, they seemed to be lost in the crowd of youngsters, who were all dressed for the occasion in colorful clothes.

Rajpura MLA Hardial Singh Kamboj, along with former MLA of Ganaur assembly, Madan Lal Jalalpur, accompanied by their supporters, too, participated in the programme. However, the elders were looking uncomfortable in the crowd of youngsters who seemed to be in a great mood to have a discussion with Captain Amarinder.

A man from Patiala in his 50s, Jagmohan Singh, said that they had high expectations and wanted to discuss about the Congress’ future plans about the state. “However, these youngsters with their immature and irrelevant questions spoiled the interactive session.”

LAST ENTRY OF PRENEET KAUR

Preneet Kaur, wife of Captain Amrinder Singh, came to the venue at the last moment. Addressing her supporters, the former MP said this was the show of youngsters, so the elders felt sidelined during the interaction.

Meanwhile, former MLA Madan Lal said they were here to learn communication skills from the party chief, as interacting with young people with sharp minds was also a tough job.

NSUI MEMBERS TAKE FRONT ROWS

It must be mentioned that though the students from the local colleges and institutes failed to get rows closer to the stage and had to sit far away from Captain, the members of National Student Union of India (NSUI) occupied most of the front seats and kept asking the same questions to the PPCC chief. The NSUI leaders in a show of strength had brought hordes of supporters from different parts of the state.