Convocation of HPU, Shimla ON June 9
Shimla: The XXII Annual Convocation of Himachal Pradesh University Shimla will be held on 9th June, 2015. VC Prof ADN Bajpai said Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari would be the Chief Guest. Governor of Himachal Pradesh and Chancellor of the University Kalyan Singh will preside over while Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh will be the esteemed Guest of Honour. Bajpai said this will be a historic day in the history of the University as this is the second time any Vice-President is visiting the campus, first being the then Vice-President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma on 20th May, 1992. Sharma delivered the address during the 11th convocation of the university. He said President of India Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest in the Convocation during 2013 while Tibetan Spiritual leader His Holiness The Dalai lama delivered the Convocation address during 2014.
CM RElEASES BOOK ‘DIl DIMAAG DI VAARTA’
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday released the book ‘Dil Dimaag Di Vaarta’, by eminent writer and poet Gursewak Singh lambi, in a ceremony. Felicitating the writer for making concerted efforts to publish this book, the Chief Minister, while highlighting the significance of books in the human life, said that these play a pivotal role in imbibing moral values besides giving right direction to the society. Badal underscored the need for creative and healthy literature to carve out a good and harmonious society. He also batted for promoting book culture in the society, books were the real friends of the mankind and act as a mirror to reflect one’s personality in the right perspective. This was the third book penned by lambi.
Scholarship for children of labourers
Chandigarh: Punjab Government on Tuesday announced special scholarships for the school and college going children of labour working in the construction industry. A spokesperson said that Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCW), has made operational a scheme in which children of registered labour studying from 1st standard up to 5th standard will get Rs2,000 as scholarship per year and Rs800 as Uniform Allowance. The children studying from 6th to 8th standard will get Rs3,000 as scholarship per year and Rs1,000 as uniform allowance. A scholarship of Rs5,000 annually and Rs1,000 as uniform allowance is given to the children studying in 9th-12th standard. For the students pursuing graduation and post-graduation, scholarship worth Rs15,000 per year is awarded and in case the student happens to be a resident of hostel then scholarship of Rs30,000 per year and an allowance worth Rs4,000 is given for purchasing books. The spokesperson elaborated that scholarships worth Rs19 lakh 36 thousand to the school and college going children of registered construction workers have also been given during the past 2 years.
EX-GRATIA INCREASED FROM Rs1.50 lAKH TO Rs2 lAKH
Chandigarh: Punjab Government on Tuesday increased the ex-gratia grant given to the next of kin of workers in the cases of accidental death during duty from Rs1.50 lakh to Rs2 lakh. The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, labour Department, Punjab has taken initiative under which an ex-gratia grant of Rs2 lakh would be provided to the next of kin of workers who die during the course of their duty. The grant has witnessed an increase of Rs50,000. Earlier, it used to be Rs1.50 lakh. A spokesperson said that in the event of a registered construction worker incurring disability, then he gets entitled to financial relief on the basis of ‘Disability Certificate’. The spokesperson said a sum of Rs1.50 lakh is provided as financial relief to the registered workers and their dependents for the treatment of life-threatening ailments. Workers who are engaged in the trades of Masonry, Carpentry, Plumbers, Road Construction can also become beneficiaries of the welfare schemes of the board. They have to pay a one- time registration fees of Rs25 and after that nominal charges of Rs10 Per Month would be levied from them. For the purpose of Registration, any construction worker can approach Assistant labour Commissioner, labour and Advisory Officer and labour Inspector.