05092026-LT-01.qxd 9/5/2026 12:30 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PAU’S DIGITAL KHETI MELA RETURNS ON SEPT 18 CITY SWIMMER TO REPRESENT STATE IN JUNIOR N’TL MEET » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C CRISPY CRUST, WARM FILLING ON WORLD SAMOSA DAY! Hardik Bhatia has been named in state contingent for Junior National Aquatic Championship. P2 It seeks to bridge gap between traditional farming practices and cutting-edge digital technologies. P2 FORECAST On World Samosa Day, meet celebs for whom this triangular delight is not just a snack but an emotion. P4 » SUNSET SATURDAY 6:40 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:02 AM » SATURDAY | 5 SEPTEMBER 2026 | LUDHIANA TEACHERS’ DAY TODAY School fee, free classes: Rly officer lends a hand to struggling kids Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 A Railways officer in Ludhiana has been quietly taking on the role of a teacher for the past 19 years for children who might otherwise struggle to continue their education. The country observes Teachers’ Day on Saturday. Chief Office Superintendent Komaldeep Kaur has been paying the school fees of children from underprivileged families for the past 19 years, and for the past six years, she has been running free evening classes for children of domestic workers at her home in Barewal. What began in 2007 with an additional Rs 1,000 a month received after the pay commission upgrade has grown into a long-term commitment to education. Instead of spending the extra Rs 12,000 she received annually, Kaur decided to use it to support the education of children who needed financial help. Ever since, she has paid the full school fees for seven children, supporting some of them right from Nursery. Two of the children have now moved into professional courses. One is pursuing medical attendant training and another, Krishna, is studying physiotherapy at All Saints College of Physiotherapy in Ludhiana. Krishna, whose mother works as a house help and father passed away around 15 years ago, said Komaldeep’s support had made a major difference to her education. “I have been studying with ma’am for several years. My fee is Rs 45,000 per semester and ma’am is paying for my fourand-a-half-year course. She has been guiding me for nearly two decades. With her guidance and support, I have been able to pur- WANT TO GIVE KIDS RIGHT DIRECTION ❝Parents working as domestic workers Chief Office Superintendent Komaldeep Kaur conducts a class at her home. been studying with Komaldeep ma’am ❝I haveper semester and ma’am is paying for myfor years. My fee is ~45,000 four-and-a-half-year course. She has been guiding me for nearly two decades. ❞ spend most of their day earning a livelihood. Many of them don’t have much formal education and may not be aware of opportunities available for their children. I want to give the children the direction they need. Krishna, STUDENT sue the course,” said Krishna. The initiative took another step in 2020 as Komaldeep started teaching children of domestic workers living in and around her neighbourhood. Eight children now attend classes at her home every evening from 7 pm to 9 pm. Will be among 55 educators from across state to receive honour at an event in Mohali today 23 years of teaching, consistent results Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 For three teachers in the district, Teachers’ Day this year will bring recognition built on years of classroom work, academic results and efforts beyond routine teaching. The three teachers will be among 55 educators from across the state to receive the State Teacher Award 2026 at a function in Mohali on Saturday. Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon, Sarabjit Singh and Sukhpal Kaur from the district have been selected for their contribution to school education and work in their respective institutions. For them, the award is also a recognition of the impact that teachers can make when classroom teaching is combined with work for wider development of students. From 180 to 725 students at Moti Nagar school Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon, headmaster of Government Smart School, Moti Nagar, has been selected for the state honour for his work in Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon Sarabjit Singh Sukhpal Kaur improving school infrastructure, increasing enrolment and introducing activities beyond regular academics. He has served at several government schools, including government primary schools in Khwajke, Nehru Memorial and Sukhdev Nagar, before joining the Moti Nagar school. After his joining, the school’s student strength increased from around 180 to 725, according to his profile. The school has introduced facilities and activities such as free abacus and yoga classes, badminton, art and calligraphy, two computer laboratories and the Mindspark programme. Activities with DCM Presidency, including academic seminars and initiatives such as a ‘Waste-to- best Diwali mela, have also been organised. His work has not remained limited to academics. Students under his guidance have participated and won at district and statelevel sports events. He has also been associated with plantation activities, with over 20,000 saplings planted and efforts to support education and health of girls. The school has also been associated with painting activities under UDAAN2026, aimed at involving students in awareness activities. school service as an social studies teacher. Over the years, he served in different schools and took up responsibilities related to school development and student activities. His profile highlights his involvement in improving school facilities and encouraging students to participate in academic, cultural and co-curricular activities. Later, he took charge as an economics lecturer at PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Gagla, in Ludhiana district in October 2024. His work has included efforts to improve the learning environment and encourage students to take part in activities outside the classroom. Three decades in teaching, focus on pupils, community Sarabjit Singh’s teaching career goes back to 1994 when he joined the government Faith beckons For Punjabi teacher Sukhpal Kaur, the award comes after about 23 years in the teaching profession. She said throughout her service, her students had consistently secured over 80 per cent marks. Besides teaching Punjabi at PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Gagla, in Ludhiana district, she has been associated with the NSS programme and has also been involved in conducting leadership training camps for students. She said the recognition was encouraging as it acknowledged not only academic performance but also the work teachers undertake to develop confidence, leadership and a sense of responsibility among students. The official State Teacher Awards 2026 list has 55 teachers from the state in the main category, besides separate honours under young, special and administrative categories. The district teachers will receive the award on Saturday, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Youth abducted; kin allege ~10L ransom demand Lovleen Bains Devotees offer prayers at a beautifully decorated temple on Janmashtami in Ludhiana on Friday. ASHWANI DHIMAN c m y b SUPERINTENDENT The classes are not merely aimed at helping children complete their homework. She teaches their school subjects, helps them Three dist teachers to get state award for academic excellence Sukhpreet Singh ❞ — Komaldeep Kaur, CHIEF OFFICE Sahnewal, September 4 A 30-year-old youth was abducted by some persons on Tuesday on the Kotla Afgana road here. His family members, who were clueless about the whereabouts of the victim, approached the Sahnewal police, which registered a case under Section 140 (3) of the BNS against the suspects on Thursday. Bagh Hussain, the brother of the victim, said when he along with his brother Sadam Hussain (30) were grazing cattle near Nawapind on the Kotla Afgana road, the suspects came in a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle and forcibly bundled his brother into the vehicle and fled the scene. The family of the victim has alleged that the miscreants were demanding a continued on page 2 prepare for examinations and encourages them to think beyond their immediate circumstances. Komaldeep talks to them about higher education, competitive examinations and possible career options. She also identifies children who face difficulties in learning and gives them additional attention as per their needs. One of the children she guided recently secured admission to the government school for meritorious students here. “Parents working as domestic workers spend most of their day earning a livelihood. Many of them have not had much formal education and may not be aware of the opportunities available for their children. I want to give these children the direction they need,” she said. The Railways officer says she wants to ensure that a child’s financial circumstances do not determine how far he or she can go. Her experience of seeing her own son become a quantum physicist further strengthened her belief in the role of education and guidance in changing lives. Today, her home in Barewal turns into a classroom every evening. For the eight children who walk in at 7 pm, the twohour session is more than a tuition class; it is a space where they receive academic help, career guidance and, perhaps most importantly, the confidence to imagine a future beyond the limitations of their families’ circumstances. On Teachers’ Day, Komaldeep’s nearly two-decadelong efforts offer a reminder that teaching does not always begin and end inside a school. Sometimes, it starts with one person deciding to use what she has to give another child a better chance. Two city women join spouses to perform mother-in-law’s last rites Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 Breaking with tradition and adhering to their belief in gender equality, two city-based women shouldered the body of their mother-in-law Sukhdev Kaur, who died on Thursday, as the family took her mortal remains to an ambulance for donating to a medical institution for research. The two women, accompanied by Sukhdev Kaur’s two sons, carried the bier for a few metres before handing it over to the persons concerned for transportation to the Harmony Ayurveda Col- The women take part in the last rites of their mother-in-law. lege and Hospital, Ferozepur. Her family had pledged her body for medical research nearly a decade ago while her eyes were donated separately to an eye surgeon, the family members said. A video showing the daughters-in-law carrying the body was being circulated on social media, drawing attention to continued on page 2