EDUCATION

PAU panel to review research
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Acting on the advice of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here has constituted PEER Committee for reviewing the research, extension and teaching work in the university. 

According to PAU sources, the committee will be headed by Dr Kirti Singh of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi. Members include Dr R.M. Acharya, former Deputy Director, ICAR, Dr B.S. Pathak, Director, Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute, Mr Bhagwant Singh from Chauni Kalan village in Hoshiarpur district, Dr G.S. Sekhon, soil scientist, and Dr Raghbir Singh, former head of the Department of Extension Education, PAU. 

The committee is expected to assess its work in research education and extension during the past ten years. The review assumes significance, particularly in the present context when the agro-economic scenario of the country is undergoing a change. The members of the committee visited the university recently and had detailed discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, the Comptroller and the Director Research, besides several other leading scientists and other officials of the university. It reportedly asked all the heads of departments in the university to submit their comments on various activities, including the difficulties faced in research. 

Recast of college governing bodies to be mandatory
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — With the publication of the Panjab University gazette of this year, implementation of certain major amendments regarding the restructuring of managing committees of non-government colleges, decided earlier by the university Senate, will come into operation.

The major amendments made are those regarding including one nominee of the Vice Chancellor and one nominee of the Director Public Instructions (DPI ) of colleges in the 15-member managing committee. The nominee of the VC has to be an academician and that of DPI should not be below the rank of the Deputy Director, Colleges.

The new directives also state that the names of all members of the governing body have to be approved by the VC and reported to the Syndicate. In case a criminal offence involving moral turpitude is registered against any member of the governing body, he will cease to function as member till he is acquitted of the charges. However, if the member is convicted, he will be removed from the management committee from the date of conviction.

Principal Tarsem Bahia of A S College, Khanna, informed, ‘‘These amendments have been made so that some sort of uniformity in management committees is introduced and disputes are avoided. The amendments have empowered the university which will now not remain a silent body in case of any malfunctioning in any college.’’

Regarding the enforcement of the rules, Principal Bahia said, ‘‘If the colleges do not make changes as per the new amendments, their managements will be considered illegal bodies and their decisions too will not get any legal support. The matter of strict implementation is likely to be taken up by the Senate and the Syndicate of the university shortly.’’

Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Association too is in favour of the implementation of some new directive. ‘‘It will impart more transparency, thus, ensuring that proper rules are being adhered to. The provision of taking two members from the staff also needs to be implemented with force as it will help in safeguarding the interests of the teachers,’’ he said.

It is learnt that some colleges of the SGPC have already restructured their managements as per the new directives. More colleges are likely to restructure their managements soon.

Students made aware of dengue
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — To educate the students about causes, effects and prevention of dengue fever, an awareness programme was organised by the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha at the Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School for Girls and S. N. Jain Senior Secondary School here today.

Dr Arun Mitra, general secretary, said the viral fever caused by the bite of the aedes mosquito could be fatal if it resulted in haemorrhage in which bleeding from various body parts occurred lowering the platelet count.

Laying stress on preventive measures, he said, "Water should not be allowed to stand for long as the mosquitoes breed in clean stagnant water of air-coolers, buckets and ditches around the house. Kerosene should be sprayed over pits in areas close to homes."

Dr Balwant Singh, vice-president, called upon the students to work actively for promotion of a healthy environment.

Grewal refutes Gurbir’s claim
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Dr Gurinder Singh Grewal said today that he continued to be the president of the Guru Nanak Education Trust. In a statement issued here, he said that Mr Gurbir Singh, who had filed an application in a civil court at Jalandhar two years ago praying for an injunction to restrain him (Dr Grewal) from functioning as president of the said trust had not been able to get relief. His application was dismissed by the court as infructuous in its order dated February 1, 2000. Mr Gurbir Singh’s claim that he continued to be the president of the said trust, was false and misleading. 

Dr A.P. Galhotra
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — Dr A.P.Galhotra, Professor Veterinary Medicine, Punjab Agricultural University delivered two lectures in the “2nd International Dairy and Food Technology Expo-2000” held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. He discussed the prevention of major bacterial and parasitic infections in growing calves in the said Expo-2000 with the theme challenges in dairy production in India in the new millennium. His views were appreciated by the participants from India and abroad.

CULTURE

Dance drama on Oct 29
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 12 — The Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam (LSS) will present a unique dance drama titled “Ram” by the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) here on October 29. This was announced here today by the LSS president, Mr Sunil Kant Munjal. Last year, the LSS brought to audience of the city a presentation of “Ramlila” by the SBKK in a form as present by the SBKK for the past 50 years. 

However, culture is a dynamic thing. This year, the SBKK has reorganised the story and the concept of conquest of good over evil has been given more contemporary interpretation. The new format of presentation, as covered in newspapers, has been greatly appreciated and is totally state-of-the-art presentation keeping in pace with advent of electronic media. 

However, sanctity of Ramayana is in tact and more contemporary to younger generation. This presentation has tried to add a new dimension to the character of Ram through the popular verb “to err is human and to forgive divine.”