Rs 7 lakh research project on ‘magur’ for PAU dept
Naveen S. Garewal
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 26
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has granted a Rs 7 lakh research project to study “Culture and Seed Production of Asiatic Catfish” commonly known as “magur” to the Department of Zoology and Fisheries, PAU.

According to Dr S. K. Battish, Professor and Head, Department of Zoology and Fisheries, this fish possesses fewer bones, is good in taste and flavour, has high therapeutic value and commands a high market price. Dr (Ms) Asha Dhawan, Zoologist (Fisheries) and Principal Investigator of the project, said catfish farming had been identified as national priority by the Government of India.

Dr G. S. Nanda, Director of Research, PAU, said findings of this research project would lead to practical use for the farmers for rearing this fish under the Punjab conditions.

Meanwhile, a five-day training course on fisheries organised by the Department of Extension Education in collaboration with the Department of Zoology and Fisheries, PAU, concluded here recently. While addressing the participants on the concluding day Dr G. S. Momi, Head, Department of Extension Education, stressed the importance of subsidiary enterprises like fisheries, dairy farming, poultry to supplement the income of farmers and to provide better nutrition to our population.

Dr H.S. Sehgal, Technical Coordinator of the course said the farmers were given theoretical and practical know-how about the importance of fisheries, selection of site for fish ponds, preparation of pond before starting fishery farming, nutrition of fish, economic vitality and marketing related to this enterprise. Dr Jaswinder Singh Bhalla, Coordinator of the course, said 34 farmers from different parts of the state attended this training course. During the training a guided tour in the fish farms of Mr Darshan Singh Hiyyatpur and Mr Karaminder Singh was also conducted.

Meanwhile, in yet another achievement for the PAU, Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Additional Director of Extension Education (Training) and formerly Head, Department of Horticulture, has been appointed External Examiner of Ph.D. students in Horticulture of Curtin University of Technology, Muresh, Western Australia. This is for the first time that a scientist in the field of Horticulture from an Indian agricultural university has been appointed as External Examiner of a postgraduate examination of Australian university.

The title of the thesis is ‘Biochemical aspects and control of chilling injury in mango fruit.” Dr Sandhu has a vast experience of 32 years in the field of horticulture and he has guided five Ph.D. and 10 M.Sc. students in Horticulture. Moreover, Dr Sandhu had been External Examiner of many postgraduate students of Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni (Solan), H.P., G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttranchal; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar; CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar; Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand.

Earlier, postgraduate students and faculty members of Curtin University of Technology, Muresh, Australia, has visited the Department of Horticulture, PAU, Ludhiana. The team was impressed with the research and teaching infrastructure and research being conducted by the horticulture faculty of PAU, Ludhiana.

Study centre opened
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 27
The Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences (DAMS), Delhi, has opened its study centre which is the first of its type in Punjab at Ludhiana.

According to a press note, the DAMS has conceptualised some highly successful courses with the objective of training the postgraduate MD/MS entrance exam aspirants. The inauguration was done here yesterday by Dr Tejinder Singh, Professor, Department of Paediatry, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) who stressed the importance of postgraduate medical entrance exams and its approach.

The designed courses will be conducted by the faculty that will include eminent authors and teachers from various medical colleges of Delhi.

Special emphasis will be laid on psychological preparation, goal setting, time management, stress management and methodology of study, which makes all the difference between success and failure.

Around 60 medical graduates from different parts of Punjab attended the classroom session and got themselves registered with the centre.

Seminar on vocational courses
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 27
The District Education Office and the District Employment Office jointly organised a seminar in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, today to mark the district-level vocational week.

Mr Surinder Singh, District Education Officer, and Ms Daljit Inder Kaur, District Employment Officer, presided over the function in which experts had an interaction with students on vocational guidance.

Mr Karanjit Sharma, placement officer, ITI, talked about different courses offered by the institute, admission procedure and employment prospects.

Mr Pawan Modi, functional officer, Industries Department, explained about the self-employment schemes with sources of financial assistance and marketing strategies.

Ms Daljit Inder Kaur and Ms Sarbjit Kaur Grewal apprised the students of different educational and vocational courses and their employment opportunities.

Mr Jaswinder Singh Virk spoke about avenues in the field of commerce, Mr Suresh Kataria about yoga and health care as careers and Mr Kulwant Jagraon on employment prospects in journalism.

Mr Surinderpal Singh Dodhar, guidance councillor, and Mr Surinder Singh, Deputy District Education Officer, also addressed the students.

Ms Sudesh Bajaj, Principal of the school, appreciated the idea of a vocational seminar for the students.

She said it would be beneficial for the students to go in for courses which suited them and had good employment prospects.

SPORTS

BVM school win carrom title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 27
Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, won the carrom title (u-14) in the District Level Schools Tournament organised by the District Education Department, held at Hindi Putri Pathshala, Khanna, from August 21 to 24.

According to Mr Baljeet Singh, in charge sports, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School, in the final, BVM students defeated Tagore Public School, Ludhiana, 2-0. In the first match, Abhay Sharma of BVM School outplayed Maninder Singh of Tagore Public School and in the double’s match, Abhay, pairing with Bhishan defeated Maninder Singh and Abhinav Goel.

In chess (boys u-14), Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School finished runners-up. In the final, they went down 1-3 against Sargodha National Public School, Ludhiana.