AGRICULTURE

Short-term course on post-harvest technology
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 4
The Punjab Horticulture Post-Harvest Technology Centre (PHPTC) on the PAU campus will organise a short-course on maintaining quality of horticultural produce through post-harvest technologies in the third week of April. Dr Michael Redi from the University of California, USA, will be the main resource person, assisted by the faculty of the post-harvest technology centre.

In a press note issued today, Dr A.S. Dhatt, director of the PHPTC, informed that though our country was the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, yet only a small quantities are exported because of improper post-harvest handling and storage practices.

The major reason for this, according to Dr Dhatt, was that only good quality produce, free from filth, contamination and pesticide residues, was accepted in foreign markets. Moreover, the quality of packaging should be of international standards. The inadequacies in post-harvest technologies and infrastructure were major hurdles in expanding the exports of fruits and vegetables.

Trainees for the present course will be selected on the first-come-first-serve basis. The centre has earlier also oganised two short courses with the expertise of Dr S.P. Schouten from Holland.

PAU employees stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
Demanding immediate fulfillment of their long-pending demands, the Punjab Agricultural University Employees Union, on a call given by the Non-Teaching Employees Federation, Punjab, organised a rally on the campus here today.

The members said that they had presented a list of 63 demands to the university authorities, however, a majority of their demands have not been accepted till date. They said they had decided to intensify the stir.

Stating this in a press note, Mr D.P. Maur, president of the union, said their demands included implementation of the increment scheme, creation of posts for superintendent (grade2), release of grant of Rs 40,80,120, benefit to tractor drivers and promoting laboratory attendents in the 2:1 ratio.

EDUCATION

PU exams begin
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
Thousands of undergraduate students of the city appeared for their annual examination conducted by Panjab University, which commenced here today.

In the morning session, the examination of English for BA (I), physics for non-medical groups of BSc (I and III) and botany for medical groups of the same two years were conducted. In the evening session, BA (II) students appeared for examination of political science, classical dance and statistics. Besides, BCA (I) students appeared for English test and the BCA (III) students took examination of development programme.

The Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women, Kamalpura, was the new addition to the list of the last year’s centres. Over 250 students appeared for the examination at their own college this year.

At the three centres at Guru Nanak Girls College, nearly 725 students appeared for the examination in the morning, while 172 students appeared during the evening session. 

Protest against ‘overcharging’ by schools
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
Members of the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh protested against “overcharging” by private schools here and the government’s “failure” in punishing owners of such institutes.

They carried effigies of the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, and the Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, Mr Kehar Singh, in a procession and shouted slogans against them.

They demanded that the CBI should investigate how schools were “overcharging” parents of students.

The head of the body, Mr Suresh Gupta, said the school authorities were taking a 95 per cent grant from the government and overcharging parents of students at the same time. He said such schools could run without any financial assistance.

CULTURE

Ustad Jaswant Bhanwra honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
The all- time favourite, seasoned music director, composer and singer, Ustad Jaswant Singh Bhanwra, was honoured yesterday in a function held at Lal Chand Yamla Jatt Park, organised by Nachda Punjab Cultural Club. The function was attended by famous Punjabi writers and eminent singers.

In a colourful function, Mr Bhanwra was conferred the Nusrat Fateh Ali Award. Mr Jassowal, chairman of Bhai Mohan Singh Memorial Federation, said, “Mr Bhanwra has rendered a yeoman’s service in the field of music and yet he was denied the honours which he richly deserved. Today we feel proud to present a prestigious award after a famed singer, Nusurat Fateh Ali Khan to him. The younger generation has much to learn from him.”

The function started with a ‘sangeet darbar’. The president, Pardeep Suba, welcomed the gathering. Mr Gurbhajan Gill, vice-president, Punjabi Sahitya Academy, paid rich tributes to the artist’s contribution in the field of music. He also recalled that his National Music College at Clock Tower was the meeting point of all music trainees. The famous singer, Surinder Shinda, the artist’s disciple, recalled the days spent with Ustad Jaswant, with great fondness. He sang a song composed by him and written by Inderjit Hasanpuri.

Ustad Bhanwra rendered a nostalgic song ‘Main pardesi baitha,watan di ave mainu yaad’ penned by Dhanna Singh. Other eminent singers present at the function were Mr K.Deep, Mr Manjit Roopowalia, Mr Angrez Ali, Mr Bhag Singh Khera, Mr Rajinder Rajan and others.

Pre-test for Miss World Punjaban in city
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 4
The organsiers of Miss World Punjaban disclosed that the seventh Miss World Punjaban beauty contest based on Punjabi culture will be held at Calgary, Canada, in association with the Haseen Unique Modelling Academmy Inc. 

A pre-test for selection to the final round has been arranged Ludhiana, for April 8. Punjabans between 17 and 27 years of age, who are willing to compete, can come along with their photographs and testimonials. In the contest, the participants are to dress in their traditional attire and ornaments.