Veterinary conference from Aug 9
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 5
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Government of India), the Department of Biotechnology (Government of India), the Departments of Animal Husbandry of Punjab and Haryana, Punjab Agricultural University, the IVA and the PSVOA are jointly organising 28th Indian Veterinary Conference and National Seminar from August 9 to 11 in the city.

Important personalities, including Mr Ajit Singh, Union Agriculture Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, Mr Rakesh Pandey, minister, Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, would be the guests of honour at the inaugural function of the conference. Over 1000 delegates, from country and abroad, are expected to participate.

On August 10, a medal and certificate distribution function would be held during which Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Minister of Transport, would be the chief guest. On August 11, a ‘kisan goshti’ programme would be held in which 300 dairy farmers would participate.

Recommendations made during the ‘goshti’ would be sent to the Government of Punjab for implementation, said Dr Jaswant Singh, Co-chairman of the press and publicity committee of the association.

Veterinary scientists of international repute would participate in the seminar, said Dr Harbans Singh Dhalla, organising secretary of the conference.

He said the topic of the conference, “Biological threats and disaster management role of veterinarian” had been chosen keeping in mind the threat of bio-terrorism. He said concrete steps should be taken in the direction and such endeavours were necessary to draw an effective mechanism against such threats.

EDUCATION

Science teachers’ arrest condemned
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
The act of the Punjab Government of arresting the science teachers under the Prevention of Corruption Act was condemned at a state-level meeting of science teachers held under the chairmanship of Prof Mahavir Singh at G.G.N. Khalsa College here yesterday.

Inaugurating the meeting in which science teachers from various government and non-government colleges of Punjab participated, Principal Gurdeep Singh Sobti of the host college lauded the role of science teachers in curbing the menace of copying in colleges, in cultivating the habit of hard work in students and in making them more open to analytical and rational reasons. He criticised the miniscule minority of such teachers who exploited the students for monetary gains.

Prof. V.K. Bhardwaj, member executive of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU), while addressing the teachers said that PCCTU would make every effort in getting the false cases withdrawn registered against some teachers. Prof. S.K. Gupta of Modi College, Patiala, said that the government had not yet banned tuitions through university regulations or gazette notification and its action in arresting the teachers in itself was wrong and unlawful

Prof. R.P. Singh of the host college said that tuition was not a need of teachers. On the contrary it was the need of students who wanted to perform better in competitive examinations.

Among others Prof S.K. Sharma of D.M. College, Moga, Prof Balbir Singh of G.N. College, Narangwal, Prof Jaspal Singh of Malwa College, Samrala, expressed their views. They advocated the withdrawal of cases registered against science teachers. Through a resolution passed at the meeting, the PCCTU and the GCTA were urged to work jointly for withdrawal of false cases registered against science teachers. It was also decided to hold a seminar here to discuss various aspects and issues related with tuitions and arrest of teachers. A state-level committee of science teachers was also formed to work with various teachers organisations for withdrawal of cases registered against teachers.

New academic session begins in PAU
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
After almost a month-long summer break, the campus of Punjab Agricultural University was once again abuzz with activity as the registration process for new academic session was held here today.

Fresh as well as old undergraduate and postgraduate students were seen standing in long queues in the administrative block to procure registration forms this morning. Students were also seen queuing outside the offices of the heads of their departments, deans, advisers and other faculty members for getting their signatures on their registration forms.

Of the total over, 3000 registrations, there were as many as 300 fresh admissions for postgraduate courses and 500 new admissions for graduate courses. Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, said while majority of the seats for postgraduate courses in the College of Home Science, College of Agriculture, College of Basic Sciences and College of Veterinary Sciences had been filled, few seats left in the College of Agricultural Engineering are likely to be filled in the second counselling.

Dr Sekhon said admissions through entrance test were held for the first time for the postgraduate students and such students were told to deposit their fee at the time of counselling. However, the process of registration for all students was completed today, he said. 

Quiz contest 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Students of plus one and plus two participated in an inter-house quiz contest organised by New Senior Secondary School in Sarabha Nagar, here today. During the contest, “Ludhiana ko jaano”, questions based on history, achievements, personalities and political scenario of the city were asked.

The four Houses of the school were represented by a team of two students. There were four rounds and eight questions were asked in each round.

The team from Tagore House, represented by Mandeep Batra and Sahil Sharma, won the first prize. Second prize was bagged by Ravneet Goel and Ravinder Singh from Subhash House. Third prize went to Aroojpal Singh and Gaurav Soin from Nehru House.

Gagandeep Singh and Aman Sehgal from Lakshmi Bai House got the consolation prize.

Sonia Bajaj was the quiz master and Shelly Sharma and Sarita Joshi looked after the score board.

Mr H.C. Gupta, Principal of the school, gave prizes to the winners. Mr Brij Bhushan Bansal, president of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, and Mr Jagir Chand, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, were also present on the occasion. 

Students celebrate foundation day
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Students, staff and management of Spring Dale Public School organised its 21st foundation day at Guru Nanak Bhavan, here today.

The programme began with the recital of shabad ‘Deh Shiva bar mohe ehai’. Group song ‘Jhumein jhumein yeh nazare’ was presented by students of middle section. A solo dance performance on the song ‘Ik pal ka jeena’ was given by Nitin Kumar. Tiny tots dressed up like tomatoes, brinjals, lady fingers, bananas, mangoes and apples explained the nutritive value of fruits and vegetables.

A choreography ‘Save the environment’, depicted effects of deforestation, industrial and automobile pollution ‘Andhvishwas’, a skit on social myths was much appreciated.

Besides the 300 students were given prizes for achievements in academics. Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, MLA, was the chief guest and the programme was presided over by Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mayor, Municipal Corporation.

Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, founder Director, Ms Sandeep Raikhi, Principal, and Ms G.K. Itten, Director (academics), were also present.

Dumb serials on idiot box: director Dhadha
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
“The TV serials on every channel portray the lives of only metro people and are detrimental to family relationships. The characters in all these serials include manipulative men and malicious women,” said film director Sukhwant Dhadha, who was in the city yesterday. He has directed Rishi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Poonam Dhillon and Kulbhushan Kharbanda in ‘Ek Chaddar Maili Si’ based on a story by Rajinder Singh Bedi.

He said he was producing a feature film, ‘Gatha’, being directed by Shahji N. Karun, award winner at various film festivals. ‘Nishaad’, a film that he directed taking Rajat Kapoor and Archaana, will be screened at the Fukuoka Film Festival in Japan.

Dhadha is shooting a TV serial, ‘Surkhaaab’, in Punjab, in which regard, he was here. The serial will be telecast from August 15 on Alpha Punjabi. The serial is based on the true story of an NRI who is falsely implicated in a murder case. Eventually, he falls in love with the girl of the family that had framed him. Dhadha says that he wishes to see an end to serials with clichéd themes like ‘saas-bahu’ and the other woman. He says that ‘Surkhaaab’ will be different.

“The serials currently on air fail to promote right values, for which, directors can hardly be blamed because competition among channels forces producers to copy successful serials,” he said. Dhadha has directed several successful TV serials like ‘Swabhiman’, ‘Kanyadaan’, ‘Ghar Ek Mandir’, ‘Lajja’, ‘Pratibimb Ke Sahare’, ‘Ganga’, ‘Tauba Tauba Sasu Ji’, ‘Rishte’ and ‘Wajood’. There is hardly any channel that has not telecast his serials.

He wants to make a film on the lives of women prisoners. He said, “All characters in this film will be foreigners and the movie will be shot in Punjab.” Sukhwant has directed several meaningful films like ‘Antim Nayaye’ and ‘Siyasat’. Masses have liked his comedy series, ‘Ghuggi Express’.