Seminar for home scientists concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 9
A two-day national seminar on ‘Technical advances in home science for rural development’, being organised by the Society for Home Scientists for Agricultural and Rural Development, Punjab Agricultural University, concluded here today.

During the seminar, several technical sessions were held in which delegates from various state agricultural universities presented their research papers based on five sub-themes, including ‘Improvement of health through nutrition’, ‘Technologies for better household environment’, ‘Rural oriented clothing and textile technologies’, ‘Child care industry: technological innovations’ and ‘Empowering women for rural development’.

Reading out their paper on ‘Nutritional and organoleptic evaluation of selected frozen vegetables’, Dr S.K. Mann, Dean of the College of Home Science, and Ms M.K. Dhillon, PhD student, said that preserving off-season vegetables by freezing method could prove to be a profitable business for rural women. They said if preserved properly, the vegetables would retain their nutritive value, colour and flavour.

Dr Rajesh Dahiya and Dr Lali Yadav from Haryana Agricultural University spoke on ‘Fruit and vegetable processing technology — a boon for farm women’. They said that the technologies if used by the women could not only help in preventing perishing of surplus production of fruits and vegetables but also help in generating revenue by sale of pickles, jams and jellies.

Similarly, deliberations were held on various avenues for farm women, which included opening of small-scale bakery units, doing bamboo work, utilisation of leaves of apricot, banyan and mango for wool dyeing and manufacturing knitted garments for toddlers. Based on improving the health of rural folk, research papers were read on ‘Nutritional intervention to improve iron and vitamin A status of rural school children’, ‘Extending the use of recommended practices for personal hygiene and sanitation practices by rural mothers’ and ‘Indigenous infestation control practices’.

EDUCATION

Balwadis run by Red Cross in poor state
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 9
Balwadis run for children of economically weaker sections of society by the Red Cross are in a poor state. Six balwadis here have been operational since 1972. Two of these are run in Punjab Agricultural University, one each in Barewal, Haibowal, Jammu Colony and Bal Bhawan in an orphanage run by the Red Cross in Sarabha Nagar.

A survey by Ludhiana Tribune revealed the sorry state of balwadis. A balwadi run in a small room in Pavate House, PAU, had benches and desks, which hardly left any freedom of movement for the little kids. Earlier it was a creche but now has been converted into a nursery school. There were no toys and no games. The walls have not seen a coat of paint for many summers. The room was cramped. Similar conditions prevailed in other balwadis. The other nursery in the PAU had three small rooms. The benches were rickety, the cane chairs broken and the glasses the children drank water from were unclean. Sadly there was no pitcher to cool water. The children had to drink tap water. However, some balwadis had toys.

Ms Manjeet Kaur, balsevika of nursery in Bal Bhavan said that earlier members of the Rotary and the Lions Club gifted some new toys along with old. Most of the children belong to localities around the balwadis. Around 30 to 35 children study in each balwadi. Sheela and Paramjit, balsevikas say that admissions are on these days and would continue for a fortnight.

Earlier the children got some kind of refreshment but from last year every thing has been stopped.

Ms Manjit Kaur and other balsevikas say utter confusion prevails about their status. Earlier they were employed by the Child Welfare Council. Last March, they got intimation from the department that balwadis were going to be dissolved. They went to the local administration to ask them to continue as they had worked for 25 to 30 years. Mr S.P. Malik, secretary, Red Cross, too pleaded their case, so they were allowed to continue. But to start with a salary of Rs 320 almost 25 years ago and presently to be earning only Rs 750 seems gross injustice to them when the minimum wages fixed are more than three times the salary they receive. The helpers get just Rs 375 these days. Despite their many pleas to former chief ministers, nothing has changed for them. Mr S.P. Malik, secretary, Red Cross, said the Children Welfare Council had stopped sending any sort of aid. The Red Cross has limited funds as it is running an orphanage, a senior citizens home, a school for deaf and dumb and helping thalassemia patients, besides running the balwadis. “Our hands are tied,” he rued.

Arya College row finally settles down
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 9
History repeats itself. It is quite true in the case of the unceremonious exit of the principals of Arya College. Earlier last year in September, Mr V.K. Mehta, the Principal of the college (who had served the college for more than three decades), was forced to go on leave with only six months to retire as he chose to side with the present management against Lalaji. Only when he changed his stance, he was allowed to go on leave and accorded a warm farewell in February this year. Similarly when acting Principal S.S.Verma did not favour the new management , he was transferred to D. M. College, Moga, when only two months were left for his retirement. One faction of the college sat on dharna for a few days and they claim that they were instrumental in getting his transfer revoked whereas Mr Devinder Joshi, Secretary (ACTU), also said that they supported Mr Verma as he was their colleague despite his rude behaviour towards them.

But this correspondent read the letter written by S.S. Verma to the new management whereby it becomes clear that he expressed regrets over his behaviour. The contents of the letter dated May 4 says:” I have accepted the transfer orders. Due to bad health I was not able to join the duty I regret my signatures on the undated letter written to Indian Oversees Bank.”

“I may be kindly allowed to continue my service at Arya College, Ludhiana, till retirement and my non-reporting of duty at D.M. College , Moga be condoned.” The letter was not signed off as acting Principal but senior lecturer in physics. Mr S.K Sayal, secretary of the new management, said they have forwarded the letter to Jalandhar and were waiting for a written reply. However, Mr Vijay Sathi, president of the new management committee has given assurance that he would be given a warm farewell when it is time for him to retire. Mr Verma is supposed to join tomorrow and proceed on two months leave to avoid any further confrontation.

From the last month moves and counter moves by the previous and present management were going on to manage the affairs of college. Arya College is a prestigious college with a strength of over 3000 students. The first scene of drama started on April 26 when the new management headed by Vijay Sathi took over as per orders of Harbans Lal Sharma, President , Arya Prathinidi Sabha, and Arya Vidya Parishad, Punjab. Mr S. S. Verma was replaced by the next seniormost member of the faculity, Mr Jivan Ahuja.

Homeopathy council to give results to varsity
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 9
The anxiety of homeopathy students seems to be over with the decision of the Council of Homeopathy Council and Medicine (CHSM) Punjab to hand over the results of the practical exams of about 80 students to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFU) by tomorrow. The results of these students had been held up due to internal conflicts.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the board of studies (BoS), headed by the council Registrar, Dr Sunil Gautam, at Chandigarh today.

The three members of the BoS who attended the meeting included Dr S.K.Puri, Dr Tejinder Pal Singh and Dr K.C.Batish.

Dr Sunil Gautam, Registrar, told Ludhiana Tribune though all six members of BoS were informed in advance about the meeting, only three members turned up. “But finally the issue has been resolved and the university will get the results by tomorrow”, said Dr Gautam.

Dr Tejinder Pal Singh, one of the members, said the council wanted to hand over the results of practical examinations of homeopathic students to the State Government. “But the conflict was peacefully resolved and it was decided that results should be given directly to the university as the career of several students was at stake”, said Dr Tejinderpal.

Meanwhile, the Council has again written to the State Government to know the status of Baba Farid University.

Earlier the homeopathic colleges were affiliated with CHSM, Punjab, and the from 1997 academic session the colleges got affiliation with the BFU. The practical exams of 1996 batch were conducted by the CHSM as the university had no proper infrastructure since it was the first batch. The students were worried as they were not able to get their results even after three months of exams.

COURTS

Rape suspect acquitted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 9
Mr V.B. Handa, Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, has acquitted Balbir Singh of Kaunke Khas village in Jagraon district from the rape case. An FIR was lodged against him on October 28, 2000, at the Jagraon police station under Sections 376, 452 and 455 of the IPC.