Felicitating the gurus…

Mukul Mudgal,Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court,who was the chief guest on the occasion,gave away the awards that have been instituted by the Jan Seva Trust to recognise the efforts of school teachers in building and strengthening the foundation of society.

The Tara Chand Saboo Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Pritam Singh Serai,founder of Satluj Public School,Panchkula. Neerja Jain,teacher at Government Model Senior Secondary School,Sector 16,was the recipient of the Excellence Award for school teaching (secondary classes) while Paramjeet Kaur from Government Model Senior Secondary School,Sector 33,got the award in the primary class category.

Premlata of Government Middle School,Sector 46,received the award for teaching underprivileged children.

Addressing the gathering,Justice Mudgal said,“A society which honours teachers and treats them well,in fact,honours itself.”

Teachers play a vital role in shaping our lives and they are role models who influence in building the personality of students,he added.

Hailing teachers as those who shape leaders of tomorrow through providing education and character building,Justice Mudgal said a true teacher always inspires his students. “Schools are the first stepping stone for every child as by the time he passes out,he is a finished product. The least that could be done is to add finishing touches to him,” he added.

Chairman of the trust,R K Saboo,in whose father’s name the awards have been instituted,said the recognition was aimed at encouraging teachers who go beyond their call of duty to shape the character of their students. He said nominations are shortlisted by an executive committee and the final decision is taken independently by a jury set up each year.

This year’s jury comprised Justice S S Kang,former Governor of Kerala and member of National Human Rights Commission,Dr Kavita Sharma,director,India International Centre,New Delhi,and former principal of Hindu College,University of Delhi,Vipin Pubby,Resident Editor,The Indian Express,and Satish Bagrodia,president,PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.