Standardisation of farm equipment stressed
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 25
Dr V.K. Sharma, Additional Director of Research (Engineering), Punjab Agricultural University, has advised the farm machinery manufacturers to opt for standardisation of farm equipment. Dr Sharma made this suggestion in his presidential remarks at the concluding session of the 20-day training programme for artisans on ‘Manufacturing technology for improved agricultural machinery’, organised by the Department of Farm Power and Machinery of the university. He said it would help in reducing the cost of production, besides improving quality, durability and market acceptability.

Dr S. R. Verma, former Dean, College of Agriculture Engineering, PAU, and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award winner, gave certificates to successful participants.

Dr Darshan Singh, Additional Director of Research (Agriculture), PAU, and Nodal Officer of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), said such training would help in improving the product quality and reliability besides bringing about standardisation and inter-changeability.

Dr I.K. Garg, Head, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, PAU, said 38 trainees from different districts of Punjab attended the programme. They were told about the latest farm manufacturing technologies being used all over the world. Dr L.N. Shukla, Senior Research Engineer, Department of Farm Power and Machinery, PAU, stressed the need for production of specialised machinery with more inter-changeability and better quality. Dr S.S. Ahuja, Senior Agricultural Engineer and programme coordinator, presented the vote of thanks.

PNB holds ‘Krishi Card’ distribution camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 25
In order to fulfil the announcement made by the Union Finance Minister in his last Budget speech on the issuance of a kisan credit card to each and every farmer in India, the Khanna branch of Punjab National Bank, in association with Samrala, Bija, Doraha and Panjgraian branches, organised a krishi card distribution and retail lending camp at Khanna. The camp coincided with the retail lending festival season bonanza being observed by the PNB up to January 31, which provided concessions like a lower rate of interest, nil processing fee and no other charges on various loans.
This was disclosed by Mr S.C. Malhotra, chief manager, Ludhiana Region, while distributing krishi cards and other loans amounting to Rs 86 lakh among the beneficiaries. Mr N.L. Anand, chief manager, Doraha, Mr V.K. Sharma, senior manager, Regional Office, branch managers and other staff members of the bank were also present on this occasion.

Seminar on chartered accountancy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 25
A seminar on “‘New scheme of education and training of chartered accountancy course” was organised at DAV Public School in BRS Nagar here by the University and Higher Secondary Board Liaison Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, New Delhi.

The seminar was addressed by Mr G.P. Dokania, Central Council Member and Chairman of the University and Higher Secondary Board Liaison Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and Mr A.K. Aggarwal, Joint Director, Board of Studies of the Institute.

In the morning session, about 600 students of Class XII level from leading schools of the city were present and the afternoon session, which was exclusively held for parents, was attended by about 50 parents. The seminar aimed at bringing awareness about the recently introduced new scheme of education and training for the chartered accountancy course by the Board of Studies of the Institute, which came into effect from October 1, 2001.

The speakers explained that the profession of chartered accountancy provided many exciting opportunities in fields like auditing, taxation, finance and management consultancy. With the liberalisation and globalisation of the economy, the profession of chartered accountancy was poised for much higher growth. They also advised the students to enter the profession at an early age.

The seminar was also attended by Mr Deepak Gupta, former Central Council Member of the institute apart from chartered accountants like Mr Ashwani Kumar, Mr P.K. Gupta, Mr P.C. Goyal, Mr Anoop Jain and Mr Sushil Singla.

Dharna by PAU employees
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 25
Members of the Punjab Agricultural University Employees Union continued their protest dharna on the campus to press for the acceptance of their demands today. As stated jointly by union president, D.P. Maur and general secretary, Amrit Pal, the Supreme Court issued its historic verdict in favour of autonomy of universities. Even then the Punjab government had been continuing its unwanted political and bureaucratic interference, particularly Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh, in the internal administration of the university. This ‘anti-employee’ attitude of the Punjab government was causing great resentment and anger amongst employees against the government.

The union leaders said that discrimination was being shown to non-teaching employees by the Chief Minister, in the case of regularisation of 63-day agitational period. The university teachers’ strike period of 25 days was regularised. Union representatives met Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh on his visit to the PAU on April 17, 2001. Similarly, about 50 requests in written and almost an equal number of verbal requests and meetings were held with the Chief Minister, the Finance Minister, the Agriculture Minister, etc. requesting to implement the long-pending demands of university employees.

Students display models
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 25
Students of DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, organised an art and craft exhibition here today.

The exhibition was divided into primary and secondary sections. In the primary section, kids displayed their models, charts and paintings. Several modern educational kits were also displayed. Ruchika dressed as a fairy with a magic wand cast spell on the visitors.

Students from Classes VI to XII gave demonstration of the working of solar cooker, blood testing and youth parliament. Several mathematical tricks to make calculations simpler were explained by students of senior sections. Models of mushroom-shaped rocks, latest automobiles, shopping plazas and resorts and sinking of Titanic amused the visitors. In the section, students were dressed up like various characters, including Sherlock Holmes and Pied Piper.

An exhibition of flower arrangements, mouth-watering dishes, table laying, napkin folding, mehndi, cultivation of indoor plants and candle making was also arranged. A short cultural programme with music and dance items was also arranged. Mr R.S. Patial, Principal, appreciated the efforts of the students.

Book on metallic alloys released
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 25
Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, here yesterday released a book entitled ‘Impurity scattering in metallic alloys’ written by Dr Joginder Singh Galsin, Professor of physics in PAU. The book has been published by M/s Kluwer Academic and Plenum Publishers, New York.

The book deals with the electronic properties of metallic alloys. It also gives a brief account of crystal structure of both pure metals and metals with impurities. Physical effects produced by impurities in metals are described in detail.

Dr Joginder Singh Galsin had joined the Department of Physics in September 1977 as Associate Professor and became Professor in January, 1995.

Consumer forum penalises BSNL for deficient services
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 25
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Bharat Sanchanr Nigam Limited to pay Rs 2,000 on account of deficient services to Sukhminder Singh, a resident of Satjot Nagar. The forum has also directed the BSNL to pay Rs 500 as cost of litigation to the consumer.

According to the complaint, the consumer had applied for a new telephone connection and deposited Rs 1,000 on October 24, 1997. The representative of the complainant, Mr S.D. Nagpal, stated before the forum that the consumer had not been provided the telephone connection in spite of his meeting the nigam officials a number of times.

Mr Nagpal said that the consumer was issued an advice note for providing the telephone connection, but those who had applied for telephone connections after him got the service before him. He disclosed that the consumer had filed a complaint regarding this before the forum. The forum had directed to provide the telephone connection and pay compensation alongwith cost of litigation, he added.

Mr Nagpal said that he was provided the telephone connection on February 16, 2001, without mentioning the advice note number, while the BSNL had provided a connection to June 9, 1998, to Sadhu Singh who had applied for a connection on November 19, 1997. It was alleged that there was clear deficiency in services on the part of the BSNL for providing a telephone to the applicant who had applied before him while he was not provided a telephone connection on the plea that the area was not feasible. The consumer had demanded the compensation for deficient services.

The BSNL pleaded that the consumer was intimated vide letter on August 11, 1999, the reasons for not providing the telephone connection. However, issuing of the advice note was admitted. The respondent stated that the area was not feasible so the telephone connection could not be provided. The respondent stated that there was no deficiency in services and the complaint was liable to be quashed.

The forum observed that Sadhu Singh had applied before the complainant, as such the consumer was senior to him. The forum stated that if the area was not feasible then why the BSNL official had issued the advice note to the consumer. The forum held that there was clear deficiency in services on the part of the BSNL.