PAUSA to take up vacant posts’ issue
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 18
Outlining his priorities a day after taking over as the new Punjab Agricultural University Students Association (PAUSA), Sarwan Singh Boparai yesterday said that he would continue the union’s struggle for the filling of hundreds of posts lying vacant in the state’s agriculture and horticulture departments.

Talking to The Ludhiana Tribune here, Mr Boparai said that about 500 posts of Agriculture Development Officer, Horticulture Development Officer, and Soil Conservation Officer, had been lying vacant for the past five years.

He said that besides building pressure on the state government to fill vacant posts the union would approach the private companies at its own level for holding campus interviews. Mr Boparai expressed hope that with the beginning of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime, employment avenues for agriculture students would increase.

The PAUSA president appeared satisfied with the basic amenities being provided at the hostels. He said that the union would leave no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of students and raise their problems before the university authorities. He said that a meeting of the new office-bearers would be held soon in which the union’s future course of action would be discussed. He said that the union would play a constructive role for the betterment of varsity students. 

Award for PAU scientists
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 18
Dr T.S. Thind, senior Plant Pathologist, Dr Chander Mohan, Plant Pathologist, Lakhvir Singh and Joginder Pal, research fellow of the department of plant Pathology, PAU, Ludhiana, have been awarded the Prof M.J. Narasimhan Commendation Medal by the Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi, for their research work published in Indian Phytopathology for 2003.

Their research work on “Monitoring for metalaxy resistance in populations of phytophthora infestans causing late blight of potato” has been adjudged the best and highly commended by this society of Plant Pathologists in India.

Dr T.S. Thind and Dr Chander Mohan had earlier been awarded Pesticides India Award by the Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology in recognition of their work on need-based fungicide use for the control of grapevine diseases. Dr Thind has also been nominated from India as a member of editorial board of international journal of the Pest Management Science, the UK.

Expressions-2005 begins
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 18
Expressions-2005, a two-day management techno fest, began at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujarkhan Campus here today. The chief guest, Dr M.S. Grewal, Registrar, PTU, inaugurated the function. In his address, he emphasised the importance of such events for the overall development of students. He enlightened the students about the role of self-control and discipline in making a person successful.

Dr A.S. Bansal, Director, GNIMT, welcomed the chief guest. Mr Balbir Boparai (lyricist and singer) and Mr Ravinder Ravi were honoured during the show.

The results were as follows: Indian song: PCTE, Baddowal-1, SGHCMT, Patiala 2, LCET, Katani 3; extempore: PAU, Ludhiana 1, PCTE, Baddowal 2, GGNIMT, Ludhiana 3; collage: PCTE, Baddowal 1, LIM, Phagwara 2, GGNIMT 3; Debugging: SGHCMT, Patiala 1, PAU, Ludhiana 2, SLIET, Longowal 3; S/W Development: PCTE, Baddowal1, SGHCMT, Patiala 2, GGNIMT, Ludhiana 3; web designing: PCTE, Baddowal 1, PAU, Ludhiana 2; computer quiz: PCTE, Baddowal 1, GGNIMT, Ludhiana 2, SGHCMT, Patiala 3; flower arrangement: GGNIMT, Ludhiana 1, PCTE, Baddowal 2, LIM, Phagwara 3; case discussion: PAU, Ludhiana 1, PCTE, Baddowal, Ludhiana 2 and GGNIMT, Ludhiana 3.

Essay-writing contest held
Our Correspondent

Doraha, February 18
The English Literary Society of Guru Nanak National College Doraha organised an essay-writing competition. Members wrote on ‘Are we happier than our forefather’, ‘Cowards die many times before their death’, ‘Fruits of Lahore are sweeter than the gifts of fortune’, ‘Life is a tale told by an idiot’, ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity’ etc.

Premdeep Kaur of BA IIIrd year stood first, Manpreet Kaur of the same class secured second position and Jaswinder Kaur of BA IInd year came third.

Prof Mohidner Kaur, Head Department of the English appreciated creativity of participants.

Music recital by eminent artistes
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 18
The Department of Music (instrumental) of Ramgarhia Girls College, Miller Ganj, organised a music recital by percussionist Anandan Sivamani and sitarist Niladri Kumar today.

The programme started with an invocation of Goddess Sarswati by the students followed by the lighting of ceremonial lamp.

Niladri Kumar is a fine sitar virtuoso equipped with a prodigious technique and deep understanding of the musical style coupled with years of learning and thorough pruning. He has extended his musical horizons to incorporate imaginative experience.

Percussionist Anandan Sivamani is a childhood friend and close associate of A.R. Rehaman. Inspired by eminent musicians like Billin Cobham, who he considers his role model, Sivamani joined the world of music at the age of 11. He has performed along side various eminent musicians, including Hariharan.

Both artistes mesmerised the audience with their over two-hour long performance.

HEALTH

Health awareness day 

Ludhiana, February 18
A health awareness day was organised by Lajpat Rai DAV College, Jagraon, and Adult Education Department yesterday on the college premises. A series of extension lectures on topics of childcare and nutrition, gynecology, dental care and awareness were delivered to the girl students who attended the function.

Eminent resource persons like Dr Molly Joshi, CMC, Ludhiana, Dr (Mrs) Tanveer Bara, PCMS, Dr N.C. Mann, Director (retd) Health Services Punjab, graced the function, which was presided over by Mrs Kusum Ahir. A number of prominent citizens and other dignitaries were also present.

A dental check-up camp was also organised in the college, which was inaugurated, by Mr D.S. Chhinna, DRO, Jagroan. A team of doctors from CMC, Ludhiana conducted a dental check up of students and provided the necessary medical advice. The students benefited form the useful tips and information given to them. OC

6 kg tumour removed from woman’s abdomen
Our Correspondent

Khanna, February 18
A six kg of ovarian mass was removed from the abdomen of a 40-year-old woman in a hospital here. Patient came to the hospital and we found it to be ovarian mass and the patient was operated upon on February 6.

SPORTS

Punjab, Rajasthan cyclists win gold
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, February 18
Cyclists from the hosts Punjab and Rajasthan circles dominated the proceedings, fetching one gold each which were at stake on the opening day of the 4th All-India BSNL Cycling Meet at the velodrome of Punjab Agricultural University here today.

R.K. Sharma of the Rajasthan circle won a gold medal. In the 4000-m massed start, R.K. Sharma took 7.03 seconds to bag the gold. Nirmal Singh (Punjab) and Hanuman Singh (Rajasthan) finished at second and third position.

Surjit Singh of the Punjab circle clocked 1.28:44 seconds to clinch the gold in the 1000-m time trial event. S. Philemon Raj Kumar and Paul Ross, both of the Rajasthan circle, secured the second and third spot.

Earlier, Mr G.S. Bhatia, Chief General Manager, Punjab Telecom Circle, inaugurated the meet in which teams from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh East, MTNL Nesw Delhi, MTNL Mumbai, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Northern Telecom Region, New Delhi, were taking part.