IGNOU convocation tomorrow 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 19
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will hold its 15th convocation on February 21. It will be a unique experience in the sense that it will be organised on an all-India basis through video-teleconferencing network of IGNOU with the main function being held at headquarters.

Students will be conferred upon degrees at the main function at the university. However, it is not compulsory for students to go to Delhi to attend the function. They can participate in it from the Regional Centre, which will be linked to the headquarters.

Giving this information, Dr Umesh Chandra Pandey, Regional Director, IGNOU, for Punjab and Chandigarh, said eminent space scientist Dr Kasturirangan, a former Chairman, ISRO, and former Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, would be the chief guest. He would deliver a guest lecture at the head office.

At the Regional Centre, Khanna, students of Punjab and Chandigarh will be awarded degrees through video tele-conferencing. Prof S.P.Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, will be the guest of honour. About 242 students will receive degrees and diplomas.

Dr Pandey further informed that IGNOU used the latest information and technology for the delivery of courses. He said, "besides curriculum-based education, the university also disseminates knowledge for the benefit of society in general through radio and television broadcasts on its educational TV channels (four channels of Gyan Darshan) and FM radio channels (10 at present) in different parts of the country”.

IGNOU is offering 88 academic programmes in diverse areas at doctoral, masters, bachelors, diplomas and certificates levels, covering major academic disciplines.

Pak dignitaries visit DMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 19
The Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, had two leading dignitaries from the medical faculty of Agha Khan University, Karachi, Dr Fauzia A. Khan, Chairperson, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care and Dr Mohammad Khurshid, Dean of Medical faculty here yesterday.

They visited the Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation at DMCH. They had come to the hospital on the invitation of Prof Tej K. Kaul, head, Department of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation, for interaction about the facilities provided to patients in Pakistan and India.

Dr Fauzia Khan appreciated the status to the Department of Anaesthesiology, DMCH. There was a detailed interaction on many topics like pain relief services and intensive care management of the critically ill patients’ between the faculty of anaesthesiologist of the DMC and the visiting dignitaries. It was agreed upon to have such more frequent exchange of faculty of anaestheioslogists between the two countries.

Later, they also visited Hero DMC Heart Centre, where Dr G.S. Wander, chief cardiologist, gave them the details of facilities available at the centre. The dignitaries had all praises for the services rendered at the DMCH at affordable cost. This was another step towards improving Indo-Pak relationship, said Dr Kaul.

Nagaland minister visits PAU
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19
Nagaland Agriculture Minister Huska Sumi today said the state would upgrade its College of Agriculture to a university. The minister, accompanied by directors of his ministry, visited the PAU and interacted with senior officials at a meeting, which was presided over by Dr G. S. Nanda, Director of Research.

Addressing mediapersons, Mr Sami said the main aim of the visit was to understand the infrastructure of the university for establishing an agricultural university in Meziphama in Nagaland.

The minister said the 25-year-old College of Agriculture required more scientists having theoretical and practical knowledge and modern agricultural techniques for the development of their state.

He said this expertise was available at the PAU and the Haryana Agricultural University(HAU). He had visited the HAU some time back.

Dr A.S. Sandhu, Director of Extension Education, said the directorate was the most important third component for the research work at the PAU. Dr Sandhu said nine krishi vigyan kendras demonstrate the latest techniques on dairy farming, poultry, piggery and fisheries to farmers.

The training was given to rural women to make them self-sufficient and the directorate organised kisan melas to bring farmers in the state closer to new agricultural techniques. Problems of farmers were discussed in question-answer sessions at the melas, he added.

Dr Darshan Singh, Dean, Post-Graduate Studies, highlighted rules and regulations for admission to post-graduate programmes and said the admission was done on a merit basis through entrance tests.

Dr M.S. Tiwana, Dean, College of Agriculture, talked about various disciplines of the College of Agriculture. He added that besides this college, the PAU had four more constituent colleges, the College of Agricultural Engineering, the College of Veterinary science, the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities and the College of Home Science.

Dr G. S. Nanda assured the minister of all help and cooperation for developing the agricultural university in Nagaland. The delegation also visited different departments of the varsity.

Dr V K Sharma, Registrar, PAU, informed visitors about the examination system of the university. Dr Supong Keitzar, Director of Agriculture, Nagaland, and Dr S. Arya, a former Vice-Chancellor, HAU, also accompanied the minister.

Mr Huska Sumi thanked the officials for hospitality and cooperation extended by the university.

Book exhibition begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 19
A two-day book exhibition being organised by the Department of Library, Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, was inaugurated as a part of the golden jubilee celebrations here today.

Dr R.G. Prashar, Chief Librarian, Guru Nanak Dev University, was the chief guest. Dr Prashar took a round of the exhibition as well as the stocks of books already available with the college. Stalls were organised by leading book publishers including USG Publishers, Lyall Book Depot, Lahore Book Shop and Sikh Book Centre.

Police officials skip Lok Adalat
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 19
Dr Indu Malhotra, SDM Malerkotla, heard the grievances of residents from three villages, at a Lok Adalat, held at Nathumajra village, near here on Thursday. As many as 100 persons came up with their problems, most of which were dealt with on the spot. Members of police department, however, were conspicuous by their absence while the CDPO office sent only its supervisors.

While talking to Ludhiana Tribune Dr Malhotra said many persons had complained about the cessation of their old age pensions. Property disputes and petty police cases were rated second. She disclosed that her office would hold Lok Adalat every Tuesday and Thursday and “priority would be given to the villages situated at a distance from subdivisional office. Commenting on the callous attitude of development offices, she said,” Many cases have brought to my notice where the department had presumed things. Pension of Mr Chanan Singh, a resident of Umerpura had been stopped, showing him to be ‘dead’ and that of Mr Yusuf Mohammad of same village had been stopped, showing him to be ‘non-resident.’ All complaints regarding the police department were referred to the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Malerkotla as no police official attended the adalat.

According to Mr Joginder Singh, Executive Magistrate and Sub Registrar at the local Sub Tehsil office, as many as 100 persons from Akbar Pur Chhanna, Umarpura and Nathumajra had come up with their problems, most of which were decided on the spot. As many as 51 pension cases were dealt with and staff concerned of CDPO office was advised to do the needful. Eight long pending cases of mutation were also decided.

Mr Inderjit Kaur, Sarpanch, Akbarpur Chhanna, informed that complaints regarding the non-issuance of free ration to about 35 families below the poverty line had been brought to the notice of officers.

Appreciating the administration’s move to provide justice at doorstep Mr Harinder Singh, Sarpanch Nathumajra urged the authorities that it should become a regular practice.

Mr Om Parkash Jain, secretary, Market Committee, Mr Rachhpal Singh, BDPO, Mr Sukhdev Singh tehsildar, Mr Nirbhai Singh, Member Planning Board and Mr Tejinder Singh Sarpanch Umarpura also attended the Lok Adalat.