EDUCATION

CDC’s fusion starts
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Jan 31 — Fusion — the five-day carnival organised by the principal, staff and students of Christian Dental College was inaugurated by Dr Charles Silas, director, Christian Medical College and Hospital here today. The guest of honour on the All India Inter-College Medical/ Dental festival was Dr L.S. Chawla, former Vice-Chancellor at Baba Farid University.

More than 450 students from 13 medical and dental colleges from all over the country were to take part in the festival. The festival started with a seminar on Aesthetic Dentistry, in which renowned dental surgeon from Chandigarh, Dr Birinder Sachdeva, talked about various dental problems and their remedies. He focussed on the need for dental awareness among people in the region. Experts in the field shared the latest trends and techniques with other surgeons, practitioners and students. The seminar was organised by Dr Deepak Arora.

Various inter-collegiate sports events (both indoor and outdoor) like basketball, badminton, volley ball, cricket, table tennis, carom and chess were also held on the inaugural day. Dr Manpreet Singh, Dr Nino John, Dr Darrel Singh and Mr Kenneth Gabriel were among the organisers for sports activities.

A colourful rangoli competition was held at the reception of the college organised by Mr Amarinder Maan. A pot painting competition was also held by the medicos at the college premises.

Dr J.L. Joshi, principal, CDC, said that this was a first attempt towards extra curricular activities by dental students. He said, “Our aim is to teach and train students to take up challenges and work in rural areas as well”.

It may be mentioned here that the funds collected through the carnival would be utilised to replace the old dental van by the college management.

US varsity students in PAU
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Jan 31— Eight students of Michigan State University are in the city to study various aspects of rural life in Punjab. The students, along with their two professors, arrived at the Punjab Agricultural University today. They plan to stay here for a week.

Soon after their arrival here, the students took a round of various departments of the College of Home Science. They took interest in the research projects taken up by the Department of Home Science Extension.

Later they went to the Museum of Rural Life of Punjab, located in the college. The students were fascinated by phulkari work, traditional kitchen ware and wedding garments displayed in the museum.

While talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Professor Mary Andrews, in charge of the group, said that during their one-week sojourn, they plan to visit a few villages of Ludhiana and Amritsar. ‘‘This is my seventh visit to the city and I want to show to my students the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. During the visit, we would also go to the Golden Temple,’’ she said.

Another professor from the university, Mr Harry Andrews, said, ‘‘I have clicked hundreds of photographs and I would put these on a site, www.seattlefilmworks.com, so that the parents of the visiting students and the university authorities in the US are able to see what we are doing here.’’

Besides studying the rural life, Erica Pych, a student, would be studying microbiology and Chris, another student, would be studying religious aspects of the country.

HEALTH

Medical check-up camp for industrial workers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Jan 31 — A two-day free medical check up camp for industrial workers was inaugurated here yesterday by Mr P. Nandwana, General Manager of Poddar Tyres Ltd. It was arranged by Labour Department (Factory wing) and ESI Department Punjab, under the guidance of Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Labour Minister (Punjab) and Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab.

As many as 600 workers in hazardous jobs at Poddar Tyres Limited are being examined and tested for chest, eye, skin and ENT diseases. The necessary equipment and medical staff have been provided by ESI and Poddar Tyres Limited. The medicines and other expenses are being borne by the management of Poddar Tyres Limited. Mr B.K. Aggarwal, Deputy Director, while explaining the objectives of the camp said such camps were being held in the state. Dr Daljit Singh Kochhar, Mr S. N. Gupta, Mr Daljit Singh, Deputy Directors of factories and Mr M.P. Beri, Mr S.S. Chopra and Mr Kashmir Singh, Assistant Directors of factories and other officers were present at the camp.