EDUCATION

PAU’s impressive Flower Show concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 25
A two-day flower show organised by the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, concluded here today.

Contests for fresh and dry flower arrangements, cut flowers, flower ornaments, potted plants and bonsai plants were held in which many school and college students, owners of private nurseries and other government and semi-government institutions participated. Prizes to the winners were given away by Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of the university.

For the fresh flower contest, participants were divided into three categories. Ranjana from DD Jain Memorial College for Women won the first prize in the category open to institutions and nurseries. In the amateurs category, Jasdeep Kaur, a resident of PAU campus, was declared first. Harpreet Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School won the prize in under-15 category.

Similarly, participants of dry flower arrangement were also divided into three categories. Magandeep Kaur Bedi won the first prize in the category open to institutions and nurseries. In the amateurs category, Damanjot Kaur was declared first. Gunveet Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School won the prize in under-15 category.

In flower ornament-making competition, the winners of first prize were Manpreet from Government College for Women for buttonholes and ear rings, Sudesh Patial from DAV Public School for flower bouquet, Ram Dheeraj from Trident Group for garlands and Parminder Oberoi from BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School for bracelets and hair rings.

In cut flower competition, the prize winners were General Manager of Verka Milk Plant for aster, calendula and sweet peas, Timcy Jain from Surya Florist for carnation, Nishant Jain from Surya Farms for gladiolus, gerbera and lilium, DAV Public School for marigold, pansy, sweet william and Shairy Dua from Trident Group for rose.

In contest for flowers grown in pots (open to individuals), winners were Ram Dheeraj from Trident Group for aster, R.S. Gill from Guru Nanak Public School for calendula and Gyan Singh from BRS Nagar for ice plant. In the same contest for institutions and nurseries, DAV Public School won prizes for aster, brychocome, cineraria, dahlia, nemesia, sweet peas and sweet william. Guru Nanak Public School won prizes for calendula, gerbera and African marigold. Dr S.P. Thapar from Dayanand Medical College won prizes for ice plant, French marigold and pansy. Technocare nursery was declared winner for salvia.

In contest for foliage, cacti and succulent potted plants (open to individuals), Baljeet Singh of BRS Nagar won prizes for cacti, non-grafted cacti, succulents and ferns, R.K. Sharma of Bengal Nursery won prize for crotons, Prem Chand was declared winner for palms, Kamlesh Kumar was declared winner for begonia and Raj Sharam was declared winner for variegated shade loving plants. In the same contest for institutions and nurseries, Maharaja Aggarsen College won the first prize for cacti, Technocare nursery was declared winner for succulents, crotons and variegated shade loving plants, Verka Milk Plant won prize for succulents, Guru Nanak Public School was chosen for crotons, Tagore Public School was declared winner for palms, Pushpa Gujral Science City won prize for begonia and Dayanand Medical College was declared winner for ferns. 

Teachers’ body poll results
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 25
Prof Bhag Singh Sandhu and Prof Jaipal Singh were elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the Punjab Government College Teachers Association here today. The results were declared by Returning Officer Prof Jagpal Singh and ARO Prof Harbans Singh.

In all 1, 033 votes were polled out of a total of 1,166 votes. Prof Bhag Singh Sandhu from Government Mahindra College, Patiala, and Prof Jaipal Singh from SCD Government College, Ludhiana, got 496 and 533 votes, respectively, whereas Prof Darshan Singh and Prof Manjit Singh Saini, both from Government Mahindra College, Patiala, got 414 and 378 votes, respectively. Prof Hardeep Singh from Government Bikram College of Commerce, Patiala, and Prof Ashwani Bhalla from SCD Government College, Ludhiana, got just 115 and 105 votes, respectively.

Prof Sandhu and Prof Jaipal Singh thanked the teaching community for reposing faith in them. They said their main tasks were to get the UGC notification implemented in toto, relaxation for participation in refresher/ orientation courses up to March 31, 2004, to fight against the government move to privatise higher education under the garb of autonomous colleges and going in for single-faculty colleges.

They said they would strive for higher standards in education. They appealed to the teaching community to be prepared for a long-drawn struggle besides warning the government not to force teachers to take that path for getting their long-pending demands accepted.

Old PAU students revive memories
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 25
Around 700 alumni of the College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, got together at the Pal Auditorium for their two-day annual meeting that began here today.

Retired alumni, national and international award winners, best extension workers, meritorious students and national and international sportspersons were honoured on the occasion. S. Bishan Singh Samundri Medal was presented to Dr S.S. Johl, eminent economist and Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board. Dr A.S. Atwal, former Dean of the college, was also honoured. Dr Rajinder Randhawa and Dr P.R. Premi from the USA, and Dr B.S. Ahluwalia from Austria, who represented foreign alumni, were also honoured.

Nine teachers who brought laurels to the alumni association by winning various awards in their respective fields of specialisation were also honoured by the Vice-Chancellor. Twentynine retired teachers and six students were given awards. Mr Baldev Singh, Fodder Development Officer, Mr Gurdeep Singh, Assistant Director of Horticulture, and Mr Baldev Singh Kahlon, Chief Agriculture Officer of Jalandhar, won prizes for being the best extension workers. Special prizes were given to Dr Rajinder Singh Pandher, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ludhiana, and Mr Neeraj Tiwari of Crop Health Products.

A technical symposium was also held in which Dr S.S. Johl delivered lecture on ‘Future of Punjab Agriculture vis-a-vis new production priorities’. He said in his recommendations made to the state government, he had suggested that one million hectare land, currently being used for the production of wheat, should now be used for production of oil seeds and pulses. This would lead to a net profit of Rs 5,000 crore to the government, he said. Dr Johl said over production of wheat had resulted in a loss of Rs 8 million crore. He said the government should create an agency for diversification under a Minister of State as in charge who would directly hand over the reports to the Chief Minister.

In his address, Dr M.S. Tiwana, Dean of the college and president of the association, said the meeting would focus on strengthening and re-orientation of college programmes with respect to teaching, research and extension activities. Dr B.S. Sooch, Dr G.S. Sandhu, Ms P.K. Chahal and Mr Satvinder Bir Singh recited poems on the occasion.

107 students receive prizes
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 25
Harjot Kaur was adjudged the best orator in English, Deepinder Mann in Hindi and Chamanpreet Kaur in Punjabi at the annual day function of Guru Nanak International School here today. Simranpreet Singh was given the first prize for topping the school in matriculation examination conducted by the CBSE.

The best singer award was given to Deepika, while Sanam Preet was declared the best artist. Paramjot Kaur and Sukhdeep Singh were awarded the best dancer and the best tabla player, respectively.

A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. The function started with a shabad gaan. The Principal of the school, Ms B. Gulati welcomed the chief guest and read out the annual report. The chief guest gave away the prizes to 107 students for excelling in academic and extracurricular activities.

Mr Shiv Singh, former Chairman of the Improvement Trust, was the chief guest on the occasion.

School delegation meets PU VC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 25
A delegation of the Association of the Punjab School Education Board Affiliated Schools, Punjab, met the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University in connection with experience certificates countersigned by the education board for admission to B.Ed. (correspondence) and rejected by Panjab University at the convocation ceremony of IGNOU at Khanna.

The delegation members intimated Dr K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, about the matter and gave a memorandum to him.

The Vice-Chancellor assured them that the matter was being discussed with the Education Minister.