Seminar on contract farming
Our Correspondent

Khanna, February 5
A seminar on ‘Diversification of Agriculture and Contract Farming’ was organised today at the local grain market by the Punjab Agro Food Corporation. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, was the chief guest.

Mr Aggarwal while addressing the farmers said no doubt Punjab had lead the country in green revolution but today the farmer of the state should stop practising traditional agriculture system. He said it was true that in past the farmers had suffered losses due to the diversification of the crops but now the state government would deal with them directly. He said Nafed, a Central Government marketing agency, had allowed the Punjab Agro Food Corporation to purchase the crops on its behalf.

The seminar was also addressed by Mrs Harbans Kaur Dullo, MLA, Mr Sumer Singh, ADC (Development), Mr Jaspal Singh, SDM, Mr Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, Mr T.S. Sahota, Dr Baldev Singh, Mr S.S. Bassi and Mr Bhalinder Singh.

Experts of the Agriculture Department told farmers about the benefits of diversification. They said maize needs only one fifth quantity of water per acre and a less quantity of fertiliser and pesticides. Later Mr Aggarwal visited Ikolaha and Khanna (Khurd) where the diversification system had been adopted.

Expressions-2003 concludes with fashion show
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 5
The three-day cultural festival “Expressions-2003” being held at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, concluded here today. Students got an opportunity to participate in 33 events like literary, art, music and theatre.

In the creative section, students participated in poster and collage-making events. The theme of poster-making was ‘Co-ed GNT’ whereas the collage-making event depicted the theme of ‘Mafia reign’.

The literary section had events like case discussion, declamation, JAM, mock press conference and quiz. The declamation contest witnessed the participants’ oratory skills as they spoke their minds on topics ‘ Will the IT bubble burst?” and ‘Leaders do the things rights’. The quiz competition tested the participants’ knowledge on topics like sports, politics, business, art, literature and international affairs. There were some surprise questions for the audience, too.

In the music section, students participated in Indian and Western vocal events. This was followed by presentations in short skit, choreography events, presentations in short skit and choreography events.

In the poster-making competition, Sangeena (MBA-II) and Baldeep (BCA VI-B) won first and second position, respectively, for their apt portrayal of the theme ‘Co-ed GNI’. The theme for the ‘collage-making’ competition was ‘the Mafia Reign.’ Neha (BCA VI-A) and Manka (BCA VI-A) were adjudged first and second in this event respectively. The team of MCA-IV comprising Nidhi Khosla, Banita and Ravneet were awarded a consolation prize in the ‘case discussion event.’

In the declamation event, Pragya (BCA VI-A) secured first position as she expressed herself on the topic “Leaders do the things right,’ Rasleen (BCA VI-A) was the winner in the JAM event.

In a battle of minds, Aneet and Harpreet (BCA VI-B) raced ahead while Manpreet and Pushpinder (MBA-II) were declared second in the quiz competition.

In the category of mock press conference, Shweta and Jasmeet, both from BCA- VI(A) were adjudged first and second, respectively. The dumb-charades event kept the audience in a light vein and the team of Simrat and Navneet (BCA IV-B) stood first followed by Rashmi and Gaganpreet (BBA-IV) in second.

These events were followed by competitions in the music and theatre category. MBA-II won the first position for their skit on the plight of Indian women and the MCA-II was ranked second for their comic presentation on the police department.

In the choreography section, the theme of Indo-Pakistan relations by MCA-IV was a winner while BCA-VI(A) was adjudged second. In the Indian vocal solo category, Inderjot (BCA VI-A) was declared the winner followed by the Kuljeet (MCA-IV). In the Indian vocal group segment, BCA IV-B was the best and MCA-IV was ranked second. Ridhi Nayyar (BCA IV-B) was the winner in the western vocal solo category while Atika Kapoor (BCA-VI-B) was adjudged second.

The three-day cultural festival concluded on February 5 and competitions like Sell it, Western solo and group dance, creative dance and fashion Show were held on the final day. In Sell it event, the team of BBA-IV was declared best. It was tough for judges to decide the winners in the Western group dance category but BCA VI- braced ahead in first position followed by the MCA-IV . In the Western solo dance event, Ridhi (BCA IV-B) was the winner.

The students were at their creative best in the creative dance category and BCA VI-A was declared winner followed by the MCA-II who got the consolation prize.

The glamour dolls of GNIMT sashayed down the ramp in the fashion show event which marked the grand finale of the event. The BBA-IV won the well-deserved first position in this category.

Irregularities in Irrigation 
Dept, allege diploma engineers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 5
The Punjab State Diploma Engineers Association has decried massive irregularities and corrupt practices in the process of granting promotions in the Irrigation Department. Addressing a meeting of the association here yesterday, the association president, Mr Pargat Singh Grewal urged the Punjab Government to speed up the vigilance inquiry against ‘outstanding’ SDOs and bring the culprits to book.

Apprising the members with the newly framed service rules for engineers in the Irrigation Department, Mr Grewal asked the government to frame the service rules for diploma engineers without any further delay and issue the notification soon. He demanded that the proposed schemes for promotion to so called ‘outstanding’ engineers should be scrapped forthwith and stern action be taken against those who were seeking promotions after manipulating changes in their respective confidential reports.

The association, while pointing out towards rampant corruption in the Irrigation Department, sought immediate remedial steps by the government since the corrupt and opportunist elements were blatantly working against the anti-corruption drive launched by the government. Mr Grewal asked the government to issue directions to the Chief Engineers to initiate action for the acceptance of the pending demands of diploma engineers. 

Seminar on fashion designing
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 5
Fashion Designing has become the most sought after course. To upgrade the knowledge of changing fashion trends, seminars on fashion designing are organised from time to time. A seminar on fashion designing was organised this morning at Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, Ludhiana. The Department of Fashion Designing had organised the seminar.

Ms Gursharanjit Kaur Dhillon, incharge of the Fashion Designing Department, introduced the eminent guests to the audience. Ms Charanjit Mahal, Principal, welcomed the guests and hoped that students would learn from the seminar.

Ms S.P. Sidhu, head of the Clothing and Textile Department, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, delivered the premier lecture and spoke on “Fundamentals of Designing”. She explained about the various elements of designs such as colour, line, texture, form and space. She also told the students about principles of a design i.e. harmony, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis etc.

Ms Poonam Thakur from the Institute of Fashion Technology, S.A.S. Nagar, talked on traditional embroideries of India in the afternoon session. She explained the importance of embroidery in aesthetics of a dress. Ms Arvinder Kaur and Ms Jaskirat Kaur thanked the guests for giving them valuable tips. 

Scholarships for 10 BVM students
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 5
Recognising their achievements at the state as well as national level competitions, the management of the Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, here felicitated 10 students. According to a press note issued here yesterday by Mr Baljeet Singh Gill, sports in-charge of the school, these students, including nine girls, have been given a scholarship of Rs 6,000 each for the academic year 2002-2003.

The students were honoured at a function organised on the school premises. It was attended by the students, their parents along with Mr Mitter Sen, Mr O.P. Sabharwal, president and secretary, respectively, of the BVM Trust and other members of the committee — Mr P.C. Goyal, Mr Manmohan Mamba, Mr Ashok Setia and faculty members.

The students who received scholarship were:- Priya Bawa, Kalika Gupta and Noleena (athletics); Nirdosh Sood, Kirti Aggarwal, Shweta Lamab and Jagdeep Singh (table tennis); Parul Khanna, Nidhi Arora and Manjeet Kaur (judo).

Jaspreet is Basant Prince
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 5
A ‘Basant Prince’ and ‘Basant Princess’ contest was organised at Swami Dayanand Hall today to celebrate ‘Basant Utsav’. Students of all nursery sections, attired in different yellow dresses, took part in the contest. The Principal, Ms Paramjit Kaur, was the chief guest. Jaspreet Singh and Muskan Sharma were crowned ‘Basant Prince’ and ‘Princess’, respectively. 

The results are as follows:

‘Basant Prince’-Jaspreet Singh; ‘Basant Princess’ -Muskan Sharma; Special prize-Surchi.

Runners up (boys) — Arshjot Singh first runner up-Shivam Dhingra; second runner up consolation prizes to Ashlay and Naman.

Runners up (girls) — Rupal Saluja; first runner up-Muskan Kathpal; second runner up and consolation prize to Aastha and Mohika, respectively.

Harbhajan asks youth to shun drugs
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 5
Famous Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann addressed a political rally of the Lok Bhalai Party at Guru Nanak National College here. Addressing students at the rally, he said he wanted to make them aware of their democratic rights.

The Punjabi singer laid stress on conservation of Punjabi culture and advised the youth to remain away from drugs. He also urged them to love their mother tongue, besides adopting Hindi — as it was their national language — and learning other languages. He also recited some of his popular numbers before the students.

Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president of the Lok Bhalai Party, said: “I have come to activate the young students of this college. My aim is to channelise the energy of today’s youth in the right direction and provide them with a purpose.”

He urged the students to join his party and distributed 500 membership forms among them. He enlisted the aims of his party, which included the provision of an honourable position for the teachers by stopping their exploitation and providing allowance to the unemployed youths.

He claimed that his party would emerge as a third front in Punjab.

Kamaljeet wins poetry contest
Our Correspondent

Samrala, February 5
DAV Public School, Samrala under the directorship of Mr Surya Kant Verma organised poetry and declamation contests here today. At last-12 government and non-government schools took part in the contests. Judges of these contests were Prof. Hamdardvir Nausheharvi, Mr Malkiat Singh Ghuman and Mr Harpal Singh.

In first poetic group —Kamaljeet Kaur of National Public School, Samrala won the first prize, Jaspreet Kaur of Guru Nanak Public School, Madpur, stood second and Hardeep Singh of National Public School won the third prize. In senior group —Harjot Kaur of Guru National Public School Madpur and Bhupinder Kaur Government High School Ottalan won the first prize, Amrinder Singh of Ottalan stood second and Amrinder Kaur of National Public School, Samrala, won the third prize.

In the declamation contest —Manpreet Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School Samrala, won the first prize, Navdeep Kaur and Amarjot Kaur got the second prize, respectively, Gaganpreet Kaur of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Public School, Machhiwara won the third prize, Sandeep Kaur of Kotala and Navneet Kaur of Kinder Garden School, Samrala got the consolation prizes.

Mr Surya Kant Verma, principal gave away the prizes. Prof Hamdardvir Nausheharvi also addressed the students.