Applications invited for progressive farmer award
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 4
The Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, has invited applications from the progressive farmers of Punjab for Sardar Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award for Innovative Farmer which will be given on the eve of kisan mela to be held at Ludhiana in March.

In a letter written to the Chief Agricultural Officers in Punjab and all District Extension Specialists (SM ) in Punjab and Chandigarh, of the Farm Advisory Service Scheme of PAU, Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension Education, has circulated the prescribed proforma.

The interested farmers may procure the proforma from the above mentioned officers and send their duly completed applications through the Chief Agriculture Officer on DEs (SM) concerned, to the office of the Director of Extension Education, latest by February 24, 2003. The award has been instituted by the family of innovative farmer Mr Dalip Singh Dhaliwal in recognition of the contribution of PAU towards the progress made by Mr Dhaliwal in agriculture.

For further details, the interested farmers are requested to contact Dr S S Sokhi, Additional Director Extension Education (FASS), Punjab Agricultural University.

Declamation contest winners
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 4
The Department of Extension Education, PAU, organised a state-level declamation contest at Government Senior Secondary School, Nurpur Bet, Ludhiana. The winners of the district-level contests held at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr participated in the contest. Dr V.K. Sharma, Registrar, PAU, was the chief guest, while Mr Bachittar Singh, District Education Officer, presided over the function.

Addressing the participants, Dr Sharma said participation in co-curricular activities helps in developing self-confidence. The participants spoke on different topics like: ‘ To keep away from superstitions,’ ‘Keeping a balanced mind’, ‘Diversification in agriculture,’ ‘Developing self-employment avenues’ and ‘Role of education in personality development.’

Dr (Ms) Gita Goel, Head, Department of Extension Education, Dr G.S. Mavi, Professor of Entomology, Dr J.L. Sharma, Professor of Agri. Economics and Mrs Rupinder Kaur, Assistant Professor of Home Science were the judges. Mrs Jaswant Kaur Walia, Principal of the school, extended the vote of thanks.

The winners are: Honey, Govt High School, Ayali Khurd (Ludhiana) — (first), Rupinder Kaur, Govt Senior Secondary School, Nurpur Bet (Ludhiana) — (second), Neelam Rani, Govt Senior Secondary School, Bhullarai (Kapurthala) — (third). Maninder Singh of DAV Public School, Mukandpur (Nawanshahr), was given a consolation prize.

Seminar on student, teacher relationship
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
A seminar on student-teacher relationship was held here yesterday in which principals, professors and students, who had gathered under the auspices of Central Students’ Council of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, resolved to strengthen the relationship.

The seminar was the first in the series of such seminars to be organised in preparation for the International Students Conference to be held in February next year.

Dr S.S. Johal, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala and patron, Central Students Council, presided over the function. Dr K.S.Sekhon, Dean PG Studies, PAU, Principal Surjit Singh DPI (C) retd, Punjab, and Prof Pritipal Singh Kapur, a former Pro-Vice-Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University were the guests of honour. Principal Ram Singh, chief organiser, Study Circle, Mr Jatindrepal Singh, deputy chief organiser, Mr Inderpal Singh, Mr Partap Singh, Prof Suba Singh, Prof Davinder Kaur, Principal Hari Singh (retd), and about 200 principals and professors from various universities and colleges of Punjab participated.

Later a press conference was held by Mr Gurmit Singh, Chief Secretary, Mr Gursangatpal Singh, president and Dr Manmohanjit Singh general secretary of Central Students Council of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle. Mr Gurmit Singh said Ludhiana would witness international students’ conference which would be dedicated to the international decade for a culture of peace and non violence (2001-2010) and international movement for promotion of volunteering.

He further said the conference would focus on five main issues viz promotion of culture of peace, promoting the spirit of volunteering, building a drug-free society, removing disparities. Students and delegates from over 50 countries were likely to participate in the conference.

Teachers’ protest on December 11
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
The Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab, in a press release today said that all its district-level committees would protest against the new education policy 2002 in Chandigarh from December 11 to 13 in front of the Education Directorate.

They would also hold meetings at the block and district levels to discuss the problems that were the off-shoots of the policy. Members of the front, Mr Bhajan Singh and Mr Joginder Azad said that the front had realised that the government was changing the policy of functioning of primary schools and putting it under the village Panchayats on instructions from the World Bank.

The vacancies in future would be filled on a contractual basis. The new policy was not for the benefit of teachers but was aimed at maximising their workload without granting them any promotions.

The front noted that the promotions channel had been closed. Now new qualifications would be required and new rules would be followed. Candidates would be admitted directly.

The front also criticised the language policy of the government and demanded that keeping in mind the primary child’s mental, family, psychological state, it was tough for them to learn three languages at their age.

Science and English, to be taught in English from 1X class, was also not welcomed and was against the students’ interest. The Congress government was taking anti-teacher, anti-student stance. 

NAAC team to visit college
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
A four member team constituted by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, will visit Malwa Central College of Education for Women on December 10 and 11 to grade the institution according to its standards.

Dr Antony Stella, Adviser, NAAC Banglore, will also visit the college with the peer team. Malwa Central College is the first college of Ludhiana district and is fourth college of Punjab to be accredited by NAAC. NAAC is an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC)

Private schools to hold meeting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
The Association of the Private Schools will hold its annual meeting on December 7 at Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Tenti Foot Road, said press secretary of the association Deepak Manan.

The main topics of discussion would be the new problems being faced by private schools and find solutions. The association would also describe the projects undertaken by it and future plans would also be discussed. Heads of all private schools were invited to participate in the meeting.

Truck driver’s conviction upheld
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 4
Dismissing the appeal filed by a truck driver Harjinder Singh and Meheli, accused of causing death of two youngsters, by his rash and negligent driving, the sessions court has upheld the conviction of two years awarded to him by the trial court.

Delivering the verdict, Mr H.S. Madan, Additional Sessions Judge held, “Accused having caused death of two youngmen by his rash and negligent driving of a truck on a public way, does not deserve any leniency and was rightly awarded deterrent punishment. There is no scope for any reduction in the sentence. The impugneda judgement does not call for any interference, the same is upheld.”

Harjinder Singh was booked by the Ludhiana police on the statement of Hari Singh of Jamalpur Awana village. He had alleged that his nephew Jaswant Singh and another person, Gurdeep Singh, were on scooter, when their scooter was hit by a truck being driven by the accused. The driver was driving his truck very fast in a rash and negligent manner. The truck hit the scooter and both occupants died on the spot.

Later, the Judicial Magistrate Mr Sanjay Agnihotri awarded him two years, imprisonment, finding him guilty of rash and negligent driving.