EDUCATION

Seminar on post-Green Revolution
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
Mr C. Roul, Secretary, Finance, called for the deregulation of India’s agricultural business and facilitating private trade and investment in the agricultural and marketing sectors. Mr Roul was addressing a seminar on “Post-Green Revolution: production and marketing strategies for India” organised by the Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University.

According to a statement, Mr Roul stressed the need for revamping of parastated organisations like the FCI, the State Marketing Board and cooperative institutions to improve efficiency in the existing agricultural marketing system.

Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, suggested that creation of efficient processing and marketing infrastructure for agricultural produce. In the absence of such a structure, the Punjabi farmers would not be able to compete in the international market.

Dr A.K. Bakshi, Professor and Head, Department of Food Science and Technology, delivered his talk on “Food processing — present status, problems and prospectus in Punjab”. He said that there was a great scope and potential for post-harvest value addition through scientific handling, processing and preservation from a large variety of raw material available in plenty in the state.

Dr P.S. Rangi, Senior Economist, PAU, discussed the recent issues concerning the agricultural marketing both at the national and state levels. He highlighted the imbalances and paradoxes in production and marketing of the agricultural sector. Although food stores were full, yet 300 million people and children below the age of 10 years were underfed and malnourished. 

Disha declared Ms Fresher
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
To welcome the first year students of B.Com, a freshers’ party was organised at Khalsa College for Women here last night.

A cultural programme was held in which students presented skits and songs. Folk dances of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana were presented. A choreography titled ‘Professor Rangeela’ was applauded by all.

Besides, a Ms Freshers’ contest was also held. Disha Kapoor clinched the Ms Fresher title, Roshni was declared the first runner-up and Sheena Bhandari won the second runner-up titles. Abha was chosen for Ms Graceful contest, Laffi was selected as Ms Most Beautiful Hair and Ravjot was selected for the Ms Most Beautiful Smile title. In a contest of talent hunt for freshers, Ishmeen was declared as the most talented student.

Ms Verinder Kaur, Ms Nirmal Rishi, Ms Charanjit Kaur and Ms Gurwinder Kaur were the judges. Radhika and Roopika, final year students, conducted the stage. Ms Harrinder Dhillon, Principal, gave away prizes to the students. 

Freshers’ nite
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
A freshers’ nite for hostelers of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women was organised here yesterday.

A cultural programme was organised which began with the recital of a shabad, ‘Deh Shiva bar’, followed by a prayer dance by Aman and her team. Students presented various group dances on songs including, ‘Jise dhudta hun mein’, ‘Rabba rabba’, ‘Udde jab zulfen teri’, ‘Mehboob mere’ and ‘Mujhe mast mahaul mein jine de’.

Nearly 20 girls contested for the Ms Fresher title. Three rounds were held in which the students had to introduce themselves, present a dance item and answer a question. Ms Divya Singh clinched the Ms Fresher title, Gurpreet was selected the first runner-up and Rubina was chosen for the second runner-up title. Besides, Ms Pankaj won the title of Ms Beautiful Hair, Shivani Batra was declared Ms Graceful and Shelley Sahdev won the Ms Charming title.

Ms Pankaj, Ms Abhineet and Ms Manmeet Sodhia from Guru Nanak Polytechnic for Women were the judges of the contest. Ms Anoop Kaur Bansal, Principal, appreciated the efforts of the students and congratulated the winners.

College staff on strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
Demanding payment of arrears and revision of scales, the non-teaching staff of Arya College has gone on a strike. Over 25 members of the staff association have demanded immediate acceptance of their demands.

Mr Satish Sharma, lecturer of the college, while supporting them, urged the government to accept their long-pending demands. Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the Punjab and Chandigarh Teachers Union, also addressed the striking staff and said that he would plead for the fulfilment of their demands with the official concerned.

NIFD programme
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
The local branch of the National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD) organised a “Week for technical excellence”, which started here on September 18.

Mr Arvind Gupta, director of the institute, said that Ziwan Kalia from Delhi would provide knowledge on concept design, page layout, user interface, global navigation, information architecture, loge designing and composition to the students throughout the week.

Ziwan Kalia, while sharing his experiences, said he had done set designing and art direction for TV productions, story-boarding for music videos, painting exhibitions. He said one of his prestigious works was a painting series which he had done with M.F. Hussain.

“During this week, my focus will be on illustrations, colour study, sketching of human forms, perspective drawings”, Ziwan added.

COURTS

Forum penalises transport company
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 21
In an ex-parte order, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Shree Mohan Road Lines to pay Rs 23,255 to the United India Insurance Company on account of short delivery of goods of a consignment sent to Jabalpur by Oswal Woolen Mills Limited. The forum further directed the transport company to pay interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from March, 31, 1999, (the date on which the claim of short delivery was settled by the insurance company), till the actual payment.

Oswal Woolen Mills Limited had hired the services of M/s Shree Mohan Road Lines to deliver a consignment of hosiery goods to M/s Big House at Jabalpur on November 19, 1998. The consumer stated before the forum that the said consignment reached at the destination in cut and short condition and open delivery was demanded. “On open delivery the consignment was found short and the transport company admitted the short delivery vide certificate issued on November 28, 1998”, the complainant disclosed.

The complainant alleged that the short delivery of goods was due to negligence, carelessness and mishandling on the part of the transport company. It was alleged that there was clear deficiency on the part of the transport company. Since the consignment of goods were insured with United India Insurance, a notice through registered post, was served to the company to settle claim of delivery of short goods worth Rs 23, 767 by the complainant and insurance company. But the transport company did not come forward to settle the claim and later, the claim was settled by the insurance company.

The form observed that according to the documents produced, there was short delivery of goods by the transport company of Rs 23, 255. The forum held that there was negligence on the part of the transport company.