Anshul bags top honours, BSF School adjudged best

Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 31

Anshul Verma of Border Security Force (BSF) Senior Secondary School, Paloura, bagged the top honours in the inter-school debate competition on the topic, “Is India facing an economic slowdown”, organised by The Tribune, at RM Public School, Chowadhi, here, today.

Kritika Sambyal of Carmel Convent School, Kunjwani, and Aman Sharma of BSF Senior Secondary School, won the second and third prizes, respectively. The BSF Senior Secondary School was also adjudged the best school in the debate competition.

First consolation prize was bagged by Chaitanya Basotra of Army Public School (APS), Miran Sahib, while second and third consolation prize went to Arpit Garain of APS Ratnuchak and Jasmeen Kour of Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, Jeevan Nagar, respectively.

The winner of the debate competition received a cash prize of Rs 5,000, while the first runner-up and the second runner-up in the contest were given cash prizes of Rs 4,000 and 2,500, respectively. The first three consolation prize winners received a cash prize of Rs 1,500 each. The best school received a cash prize of Rs 2,500.

It was a treat to watch the students expressing their views both in favour and against the given topic with utmost ease and conviction. The Dignitaries as well as the audience were all ears for the participants who exhibited tremendous confidence on the stage to put forth their views and virtually convinced everybody with their oratory skills.

Judges in the competition, Prof Sujata Slathia from the Government College for Women (GCW), Gandhi Nagar, and Assistant Professor Vikram Singh from Government MAM College, had tough task declaring the winners of the competition as each participant explained his or her views in a perfect manner and that too in the allotted three-minute time.

Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was the chief guest in the debate competition. Rameshwar Mengi, chairman, RM Public School, Chowadi, was the guest of honour. Arun Joshi, Senior Resident Editor, The Tribune, J&K, Pankaj Sharma from the Advertisement Department, The Tribune, Chandigarh and Srikant Balasaheeb Suse, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), South, were also present on the occasion.

Rameshwar Mengi and Arun Joshi jointly gave away the winners, runner-ups and consolation prizes, in the presence of other dignitaries. Arun Joshi was impressed with the confidence level of all the participants and the way they had expressed their views both in favour and against the motion with clarity.

Rameshwar Mengi also complimented all participants for their oratory skills they showcased in the competition. He also congratulated The Tribune for organising such competitions to bring out the hidden talent in the students. Mengi was all praise for drawing competition, wherein more than 300 students from different schools, including the government ones, participated.

Earlier, the debate competition started with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries followed by Saraswati vandana.

An enthralling cultural item was presented by the students of the host school before the participants expressed their views in the competition. In the end, a solo cultural performance by a girl student enthralled the audience receiving thunderous applause after she delivered her performance.

The seven schools that participated in the competition were Army Public School (APS), Ratnuchak, APS Miran Sahib, BSF Senior Secondary School, RM Public School, Carmel Convent School, Shiksha Niketan High School, Gandhi Nagar and Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, Jeevan Nagar.

Arti Rajput was the coordinator in the debate competition while Meenu Dutta was the stage coordinator. Music and sound was handled by music teacher, Naresh. The proceedings were conducted by the students of RM Public School, Nandani and Suryanshu.

Is India facing an economic slowdown?

Immediate policy interventions needed to bring the economy back on track. — Aman Sharma, BSF school (in favour)

There is no economic slowdown in India. — Anshul Verma, BSF school, (against)

The current slowdown has been unprecedented in 70 years of Independent India. — Harshvardhan, Army Public school, Ratnuchak, (in favour)

There is no such situation like economic slowdown in the country. — Arpit Garain Army Public school, Ratnuchak (against)

India’s GDP growth crumbling in the present economic slowdown. — Jasleen Kour, Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary school, Jeevan Nagar,(in favour)

India is having a healthy economy. — Kritika Rajput, Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary school, Jeevan Nagar,(against)

The crisis brewing within the Indian economy has gained unanimous acceptance by now. — Riya, Shiksha Niketan High school, Gandhi Nagar,(in favour)

It is a false campaign being run by vested interests in the country. — Harsh, Shiksha Niketan High school, Gandhi Nagar,(against)

The GDP growth rate of the economy has slipped to 5 per cent in the first quarter of FY20. — Devam Khullar, RM Public school, Chowadhi, (in favour)

Indian economy has been strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — Sharandeep Singh, RM Public school, Chowadhi, (against)

Multiple datasets released recently show that the Indian economy is facing a multi-year slowdown. — Chaitanya Basotra, Army Public school, Miran Sahib,(in favour)

Indian economy is not facing any slowdown it has rather received a boost in the last couple of years. — Saransh Sharma, Army Public school, Miran Sahib, (against)

Many sectors that contribute to the Indian Economy’s growth are lagging behind in achieving the desired growth rate. — Kritika Sambyal, Carmel Convent school, Kunjwani, (in favour)

India’s economy no less than any developed nation. — Palak Saini, carmel convent school, Kunjwani, (against)