Mailbag

Entrepreneurship awareness

Sir,

Refer the news item 'Seminar on entrepreneurship awareness amongst women organised' published in the Daily Excelsior on Oct 12.

The seminar focusing on creating awareness among women was indeed a step in right direction. It has been observed that women in this part of the country are not coming forward to set up small enterprises, which would make them financially independent. The literate women are still hankering Govt. jobs. If these are not available, they therefore prefer to do the jobs of receptionists, typists etc. If they have to more forward, they would have to rise to the occasion. First of all, they will have to develop confidence, self respect and power to break social taboos. Once they have done that, it is surely expected that they will encroach the male dominated fields. Though this process has begun in metropolitan cities, but its impact is yet to be felt in small cities like Jammu. On the other hand, the Government and the NGOs have to play an important role in this process. The Government has to provide training facilities, and huge funds in this direction.

This step is surely going to help to in the empowerment of women which is the need of the changing times.

Yours etc...
Sunaina Koul
Gandhi Nagar

Revive "Chhinj"

Sir,

"Chhing" or Dangal is traditional rural wrestling sport of North India. This ancient game was very popular till a decade back but due to lack of official and private support it has lost its charm especially in younger generation. During harvesting season of autumn whole of the atmosphere used to be surcharged with the sounds of particular "Dhol" beat reserved exclusive for this game in rural areas. After strict discipline and diet control the participants show their body and muscles to general public assembled at akhara witness the annual bouts. They (wrestlers) are source of inspiration and envy to younger generation. But now a days why are usually glued to television or attracted to social evils as alcoholism or drug addiction because there is no spirit of competition and healthy atmosphere.

Chhing is usually organized by local elders with voluntary contribution and wrestlers from far off places compete to win a token prize called "Mali". Every wrestler has his own style and tricks to pin down the opponent and enjoys wide support in rural areas irrespective of any discrimination. The Mali is usually a bundle of colourful clothes tied to a tall pole fixed on akhara. For each prize only one bout is held. At the start of competition small boys also participated and are initiated to game. The refrees are chosen by the organizers who are old wrestlers and their decision is final. It is a healthy sport and creates a sense of competition by improving the health of participants through adopting a healthy life style. Whole of population develops an atmosphere to live healthy life. The young boys are trained on daily basis by elders at their home as this game doesn't need special ground or equipment.

Now a days glamorous sports as cricket, football, etc. are getting the attention of Govt. and private sponsors. Whole of day kids are glued to TV sets to watch these games. This inactivity is injurious to health as well as psyche of younger generation. The game of Chhing deserves the attention of Govt. as well as private sponsors. The players should also be given benefits in job quota on pattern of the other games. Efforts are also needed to include this game is state and National games.

Refugees Welfare & Educational society Sunder Bani a Regd. NGO wants to hold Chhing competition at Sunder Bani is the month of November 2004 and seeks private sponsors and individual donations.

Yours etc...
Dr. Ram Chander Sharma
Chairman RWES
Sunder Bani (A Regd. NGO)

Abolish home exams

Sir,

Examination is one of the most important components for raising educational standard. Good examinations means good educational standard and bad examinations means poor educational standard. I here suggest that present system of home examination of 11th class should be abolished and this examination should also be conducted by the J&K Board of School Education in the examination pattern of 10th and 12th classes.

At present it is seen that some student secure more than 80 percent marks in 12th class but they do not qualify the entrance test for MBBS and Engineering. What is the reason? In my opinion home examination of 11th class is also one of the reasons. The syllabus of entrance test is whole syllabus of 11th and 12th classes. But due to home examination of 11th class, majority of the students take study of the class very lightly as they have least fear of failure in this class because it is seen that almost no student is failed in 11th class. Even many students start taking private coaching of 12th class while studying in 11th class. In this way, many students inspite of having more than 80 percent marks in 12th class and inspite of having full preparation of 12th class, they have almost only 50 percent preparation of the syllabus of entrance test for MBBS or engineering due to their lack of knowledge of 11th class. Due to this they could not excell in entrance test.

At present the syllabus of 11th class contains almost all the basic chapters of the subjects. For example the syllabus of mathematics in 11th class contains the chapters logic theory, set theory, relation, functions, boolean algebra, logarith, series (AP. GP & HP), permutation and combination, statistic, principal of mathematical induction, coordinate geometry, trigonometry etc. All these chapters costitute base for whole mathematics. Any student who is weak in these chapters cannot study mathematics successfully in the higher classes. Due to home examination as I have mentioned earlier many students take study of 11th class lightly and consequently remain weak in the foundation of the subjects.

It is also listened from the teachers that they cannot fail any student in home exams of 11th because of the social pressure and on the other side some students say that some teachers exploit home examination of 11th class and they force the students to take private tuition from them. On the basis of this, one can say that home examination of 11th class in damaging the career of the students.

Yours etc...
Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Raina
Department of Mathematics
Govt. P G College Rajouri