Training course for farmers ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
The Department of Vegetable Crops, Punjab Agricultural University, organised a training course for farmers on ‘Hybrid seed production of tomato, brinjal and chillies’ that concluded here yesterday.

About 33 farmers from various districts of the state attended the course. The programme was sponsored under the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) on ‘Development of hybrids in vegetable crops’. It was coordinated by Dr M.S. Dhaliwal, in charge of the project. The farmers were imparted training on seed production of tomato hybrid TH-1, brinjal hybrids BH-1 and Bh-2 and chilly hybrids Ch-1 and CH-3. The concluding session was chaired by Dr A.S. Sandhu, Director of Extension Education. He said such training could help in generating employment opportunities for those interested in dealing in hybridisation of crops.

Two-day workshop on scientific paper writing
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
A two-day workshop on “Scientific paper writing and paper presentation”, organised by Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), started here today.

The event, which is being attended by about 100 delegates from North India, aims at improving skills of doctors in preparing and presenting scientific research papers for medical journals.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr L.S. Chawla, former Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, and former Principal, DMCH, by lighting a lamp. Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, DMCH, and chairman of the conference, delivered the welcome address.

Mr Amrit Nagpal, secretary, managing society of the DMCH, said the conference would be helpful in teaching the art of scientific paper writing by improving the skills of doctors with the help of experts.

Dr Satyanarayana, Coordinator of the conference and Deputy Director, ICMR, said the ICMR was established in 1911 in order to promote national-level research.

Pulse Polio, DOTS programme, etc were the concepts of the ICMR and it keeps on sensitising medicos to take up research work by organising workshops.

The conference began with the talk of Dr S.C. Chopra on the need and importance of scientific communication.

Dr K. Satyananrana talked about language and style. Dr Krishan Vij talked about. “Ethical considerations” and Dr O.P. Murthy talked on plagiarism, fraud and copyright. There were also lectures on technical aspects of paper writing like title, abstract, material, methods, etc.

Dr Daljit Singh gave tips on proof reading, while Dr Rakesh Aggarwal talked about audio-visual aids. Dr Sita Naik threw light on poster presentation and Dr Praveen Sobti gave a lecture on presentation skills.

VC blames vested interests for varsity ills
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 27
Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Swaran Singh Boparai has said some university employees in the name of promoting Punjabi Language, were to protecting their posts and furthering vested interests. He said that by demanding the study of Punjabi up to matriculation for qualifying as a teacher, these persons were only trying to block the entry of deserving candidates and to facilitate entry of their wards into the university.

Mr Boparai made these comments in Kharian Kharian programme to be aired by Lashkara TV on Sunday at 7.45 pm. He was reacting to allegations that he had taken anti-Punjabi steps by scrapping the above condition from the university recruitment rules and also by changing the status of Punjabi language in the science syllabus. He claimed that status of languages’ subject including Punjabi, had been changed on the basis of a referendum held among science students of the colleges affiliated to the university.

Without naming anyone, the VC said that many of his predecessors joined the university with their personal and political agendas. This led to groupism among the employees and created other complications for the university management. Describing the failure of leadership as the main cause of some turbulent incidents witnessed on the university campus, he claimed that last student agitation was ‘best handled’. Denying that his decisions were influenced by a coterie, Mr Boparai described it as propaganda of the elements who had their way in the university by cosying up to former VCs. He indicated that they were frustrated as he had ignored their overtures.

Justifying a bureaucrat as a VC Mr Boparai commented that the job of a VC was more of administrative in nature than that of a scholar.

US agency officials visit education centres
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 27
Officials from US-Aid organisation yesterday visited TARAKendra in Khanna to access the working of the centre. The kendra runs IT education centres in rural areas which are funded by the US body.

The delegation is visiting various parts of the state to oversee the working of the centres. The officials talked to students and people who had came to enquire about different programmes being offered at the centre. The delegation also met Mr Jaspal Mittal, SDM, to discuss the scope for other programmes which could be run in the rural areas with the help of administration.

Mr Vikas Kapila, kendra coordinator, described different programmes which are being conducted in the centre and plans for future programmes. 

Students celebrate annual day
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
Students of Swiss International Public School (SIPS), Model House, celebrated their first annual day in auditorium of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women here on Thursday.

The programme began with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guest, Mr Sajjan Singh Cheema, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Ludhiana. Sarabjeet Cheema, Punjabi pop singer, and Ms Anoop Kaur Bansal, Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, were the guests of honour.

Ms Daisy Pruthi, Principal, read out the annual report of the school.

Kids dressed up in white and red presented a ketchup song. Children wearing denim jeans and jackets presented a dance item on the song ‘Chandu ke chacha ne’. A scintillating dance performance was presented on ‘It’s time to disco’ and “Idhar chala main udhar chala”. A guest performance was also given by Sarabjeet Cheema.

Seminar for parents, teachers ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
A three-day seminar on counselling techniques being organised for teachers and parents of children studying in DAV Public School concluded here today.

During the valedictory session, Dr Ashok Sahni, Professor and honorary director of the Indian Society of Health Administrators (ISHA), Bangalore, stressed on the role of counsellors in eliminating certain social evils like drug addiction and sexual abuse. During a discussion, he called upon the participants to give their views on factors responsible for the success of an institution.

Dr Sahni said a perfect counsellor must have an understanding of human nature. He said the parents must devote as much time with their children as possible and impart values so that they become responsible citizens. Mr R.S. Patial, Principal, gave a vote of thanks.

Malwa college students get prizes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
The Malwa Central College of Education for Women, Civil Lines, here organised the annual prize distribution function today. Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice President and Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises, was the chief guest. He distributed prizes to 93 B.Ed., 15 NTT and four M.Ed students.

The following students were awarded for excellence in various fields: Best speaker — Triptu Sethi; best performer (histrionics) — Karamjit Kaur; best NSS camper — Gumreet Kaur; best NSS volunteer — Mandeep Kaur; best athlete — Avneet Kaur.

Mrs Ravinder Kaur, Principal of the college, presented the annual report and highlighted the achivements of the college during 2002-2003.

Mr Pritpal Singh Grewal, president, Khalsa Dewan, Ludhiana, presented the vote of thanks.

Mr Sudarshan Singh Deol, Mr Gurdish Grewal, Dr S.S. Grewal, Mr Daljinder Singh, Ms Sarbrinder Kaur, members of Khalsa Dewan were present during the ceremony.

Anjuman 2004 inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
Anjuman-2004 organised by the Management Science Association, Department of Management, PAU, was inaugurated here today by Dr Darshan Singh, Dean, Postgraduate Studies. Dr S.K. Singla, Professor and Head of the Department of Business Management, presented memento to Dr Darshan.

Addressing the audience, Dr A.P.S. Mann , Dean COBSH, PAU, said cultural events like Anjuman played an important role in the life of the students.

The event had competitions like Taal se chaal mila, rangoli, cartooning, poster making, quiz, jhankar beats, flower arrangement , hand painting, hair styling, and Jalwa. Mr Rajinder Gupta, Managing Director of Trident Group of Industries, will give away the prizes.

32nd Jashn-e-Sahir on April 24
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 27
Adeeb International (Sahir Cultural Academy) will organise the 32nd Jashn-e-Sahi 2004 celebrations and a mushaira on April 24 to mark the 83rd birth anniversary of Urdu poet, Sahir Ludhianvi, in which Urdu poets from India and Pakistan have been invited to participate. The annual Sahir/Adeeb awards will also be presented.

Dr Kewal Dheer, general secretary of Adeeb International, said it was a rare occasion that living legends of Urdu poetry like Ahmed Faraz, Iftikar Arif, Mozaffar Naved, Qauiser Najfi Bushra Rahman, Busha Ejaz, Shahi Wasti, Saroor Ambalvi, Gulzar Javed, Qauser Najfi (all from Pakistan) and Gulzar Nida Fazli, Rahat Indori, Sheen Kaaf Nizam, Nasm Nikjhat, Ana Delhi (from India) were likely to participate in the celebrations.

Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, a former Prime Minister, will be the chief guest. The annual celebrations are usually held in March but due to the Indo-Pak cricket series, the celebrations had to be delayed.