The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Prepare Indian farmers for global competition: BKU
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 11
‘The national level kisan panchayat to be held in New Delhi on March 17 under the leadership of Mr Mohinder Singh Tikait will focus on the pressing demands of the farming community, including those for remunerative prices, reduction of debt burden and preparing the farmers’ for the WTO regime, which is to take effect from April 2005.

This was stated by Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, and Mr Manjit Singh Kadian, president and acting president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), respectively, in a press note here today. They said farmers from all over the state had responded to the kisan panchayat enthusiastically. District level rallies were being organised all over the state to mobilise maximum number of farmers.

The panchayat would make a strong case for the restoration of free of cost power and water for the farming community, besides demanding remunerative prices for agricultural produce. On the basis of wholesale price index for year 1966-67, the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat should be fixed at Rs 1,034 per quintal, cotton and oil seeds at Rs 3,250 per quintal and that for sugar cane at Rs 154 per quintal.

Both Mr Lakhowal and Mr Kadian maintained that in order to improve the financial condition of farmers and stop them from committing suicides, it was imperative for the government to write off all previous debts of farmers and fix an interest rate of not more than 4 per cent for agricultural loans to be given in future. They demanded suitable measures to provide a fair playing field and equal, if not better, facilities to the farmers in the country to enable them for global competition under the WTO provisions, which would come in force from next month.

EDUCATION

Move to remove trustee of girls college
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 11
Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town, here seems to be in trouble in coming days if the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Guru Nanak Education Trust is any indication. As per the notice of March 3, 2005, to the members, the president of the trust has asked for the removal of the secretary and one of the trustees from the managing committee.

As per the agenda, Mr Gurbir Singh, president of the trust, has asked for the removal of Mr Prithipal Singh, secretary and one of the trustees of the Guru Nanak Education Trust, on the basis of latter’s alleged misconduct and intemperate language against the staff of college, including, the Principal. The notice said that serious situation had developed arising out of the misconduct and the staff had threatened to go on indefinite strike till strong action was taken against the secretary. In an explanatory note attached to the agenda of the meeting, the president said that Mr Prithipal Singh, even refused to sign salary bills and cheques and had harassed the college administration and staff. The president said that in the interest of all concerned, it was better that Mr Prithipal should be removed as secretary and trustee of the trust.

Mr Prithipal Singh, in his reply to the president on March 7, said that he was shocked to receive the notice of meeting. He said that as secretary and trustee he always worked for the betterment of the college. He said that baseless allegations were levelled against him regarding misconduct and using indecent language. Names of the staff were not mentioned against whom abusive language was used, he added. He alleged that there was some false propaganda against him and he had never refused to sign any salary cheques. Mr Prithipal Singh said that time and again he had alerted the president about mismanagement and misutilisation of college resources, but to no avail.

“An illegal attempt to remove me from the post of secretary has been prepared by the president of the trust. He is also pressurising other trustees to sign the same”, alleged Mr Prithipal Singh.

It is pertinent to mention here that the meeting regarding the removal of the secretary will be held on March 29. Mr Gurbir Singh confirmed that a move regarding the removal of Mr Prithipal Singh was made.

Meanwhile, the principal of the college and the president of the trust, held a press conference here today. They said that Ms Tiwana had tendered a written apology for misbehaving with Principal Ms Mahal, so management would not take any action against her.

Non-govt college teachers to meet CM
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 11
Prof Gurbir Singh Sarna, general secretary of the Non-Govt Colleges Management Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh, has said that a deputation of the federation led by Mr S.C. Sanwalka, president of the federation will meet Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Higher Education Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal on March 14. They will be apprising the minister of the long-pending problems being faced by privately-managed aided colleges.

Farewell to director: The management and faculty of the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan campus gave farewell to the founder Director of the institute Dr (Mrs) A.K. bansal here recently.

Dr A.K. Bansal, who retired as Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women (GNKCW) on February 28 was the founder director of GNIMT, established in 1997. She held the reigns of the institute for three years till Dr A.S. Bansal took over in September 2000. The institute was among the first few who started BBA/BCA classes in 1997 with affiliation to PTU.

Ms Sandhya Mehta, faculty member, GNIMT presented the farewell address. She highlighted the contribution of Ms Bansal in not only th development of the institute but also all round development of the faculty.

Seminar: Students of early Childhood Care and Education of Ramgarhia Girls College attended seninars yesterday. Dr (Ms) Sushma Jaswal, department of Human Development and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University talked on the topic ‘Importance of stimulating experience among children in early childhood”. She said according to a research 80 per cent of the brain developed in the early eight years of life. Dr Gurmeet Chaudhray, Department of Paediatrics, Christian Medical College and Dr Vaneet, Department of Gynaecology, CMC, today delivered a lecture on ‘Developmental tasks in early childhood’ and ‘care during preganancy’ respectively.

Prize distribution function: Govt College for Women held the prize distribution function today. Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner was the chief guest. The college Principal, Ms Prabhjot Kaur, welcomed the guest. In the function, the prize winners in academic and cultural activities were honoured.

Mr Verma distributed prizes and awards among the winners. Jaskanwal Sohi, head girl of the college was the honoured with the award of ‘Best all-rounder of the college for the year 2004-05.

The college honoured outstanding students in various fields, among which Jaskanwal Sohi was declared as ‘best student of the college’. Hena Bedi best creature writer, Megha-best home science student, meera- best dancer, Manpreet- best hosteller, Sukhwinder- best speaker, Richa- best artist and Supreet- best fine arts student. The students who excelled in academic sphere were also honoured.

In the humanities group: Shelly Jain, Neha Saini, Jaskanwal Sohi, sonia Goyal, Gunteshear, Monu Arora of BA III, Shivya Shanna, Deboshree, Samarjot, Maniswinee and Abha Devgan of BA II. Ronipreet, Richa, Shiwani, Neha, Sonia of BA I were honoured.

In the science stream: Pooja and Alka of B.Sc I, Rubby, Kirti, Supria of B.Sc II and Navkiran and Surinky of B.Sc were honoured.

Kajal topped the commerce stream.

Postgraduate; Charanpree, Sunita, Ramandeep of MA Punjabi, Supreet, Harpret of MA Fine Arts, Amandeep and Rajneet in MA music and Gurpriya in PG diploma in nutrition and dietician.

Members of the college student council were also honoured. Among them were Jaskanwal Sohi, Shvya Sahnan- head girl, Shikha- and Manasvinee.

Mr Anurag Verma congratulated the prize winners and encouraged them to excel in all the fields of life. He announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the college development.

HEALTH

Rich eating habits of Punjabis cause of concern
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 11
‘Rich eating habits, alcoholism, liver diseases, obesity and related problems like diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments in northern states in general and Punjab in particular, are a cause for serious concern. At the same time, the nutritional level of the teenagers is not up to the desired level and needs to be tackled effectively at different levels.’

These observations were made by Dr Molly Joshi, Professor and Chief Dietician, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), yesterday at a function to mark the release of a comprehensive ‘diet manual’. She said the manual was designed to cater to the general nutritional needs of a human being from birth onwards. Special sections were devoted to the specific nutritional needs of children, adults and elderly persons. The book would also deal with great detail with dietary needs of patients and sports persons.

A former president of Indian Dietetic Association and presently India’s representative at the International Confederation of Dietetic Associations, Dr Joshi further said diet planning for hospitalised patients and those with chronic or long-term illness or disorders was a strategic task. “Although diet counselling is easily available in hospitals of repute or in bigger cities, yet most of the hospitals and clinics in smaller cities or remote areas did not have qualified dieticians to guide the patients. The book is aimed to serve as a reference for doctors, nurses and paramedics serving in such regions.”

She said the diet manual did not have recipes but a combination of various food components with sample diet plan were discussed. The alternate combinations in preference to taste and vegetarian or non-vegetarian choices were also suggested. The book would prove to be of equal benefit to house wives for reference in the same was as it was to the physicians.

Releasing the book, Ms Sandra Mullholland, a visiting dietician from Ireland and a former Head of the Dietary at CMCH remarked that the manual had a wide application area and would prove to be useful for the students of dietetics and medicine.

UK-based docs hold eye camps
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 11
Continuing their three-year-old tradition of sponsoring eye-check and operation camps in rural areas of the district, two England-based NRIs — Mr Mohan Singh Saggu and Mr Surinder Singh Kalsi — were here again to organise two free eye camps with the active association of respective village panchayats of Toosey and Chachrari in the district yesterday.

Led by Dr Ramesh (Mansooran wale) of Punarjot Eye Bank of Punjab, a team of doctors and supporting staff conducted free eye check-up of more than 1800 patients for common eye ailments like cataract, glaucoma, sight testing and intra-ocular lens implants. Patients in need of glasses were provided these free of cost and those in need of corrective surgery were registered on the spot for operations to be performed at base hospital here.

Speaking on the occasion, the NRIs asked people, especially elderly persons, to take comprehensive care of their eyes since any carelessness in this regard could cost them dearly by leading to partial or complete loss of eye sight. They also emphasised the need to promote the movement for eye donation after death. “Eye donation is one of the noblest deeds, as it can lead to restoration of sight to more than 30 lakh corneal blind persons in the country.”

Dr Ramesh, while interacting with the patients at the camp, observed that lack of competent eye surgeons in remote and rural areas was one of the major factors for increasing eye ailments. With a poor doctor to patient ratio of 1 : 2,50,000 in the villages, the number of persons with congenital blindness in India had touched almost 2.5 crore and the number was increasing at the rate of 7 lakh persons every year, including 2 lakh of them losing eye sight due to cataract.

SPORTS

Annual sports meet at Jhar Sahib college
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, March 11
The Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women, Jhar Sahib, organised its first sports meet which concluded here today. A former minister and MP from Akali Dal, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, made was the chief guest at the prize distribution function.

Results: badminton — Kirandeep Kaur 1, Davinder Kaur 2, and Harpreet Kaur 3; throwball — BA II team 1, BA I team 2 and BA III team 3; kho-kho — BA II team 1, BA II team 2 and BA III 3; kabaddi — BA II team 1 and BA I, 2; discus throw — Mandeep Kaur 1, Amanpreet Kaur 2 and Surinder Kaur 3; shot put — Amanpreet Kaur 1, Harmanjit Kaur 2 and Parwinder Kaur 3; javelin throw — Kirandeep Kaur 1, Amanpreet Kaur 2 and Harmanjit Kaur 3; long jump — Harmanjit Kaur & Tejinder Kaur 1, Amarjit Kaur 2 and Iqbal Kaur 3; 100 metre — Amarjit Kaur 1, Gursimran Kaur 2 and Gurvinder Kaur 3; 200 metre — Tejinder Kaur 1, Davinder Kaur 2 and Amarjit Kaur 3; and 400 metre relay race — BA 1 team 1, BA II 2 and BA III 3.

The Principal, Dr Parmjit Kaur Tiwana, appreciated the contribution of physical education lecturer Ravita Saini for preparing the students for this first annual sports meet.

DMCH on winning spree
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 11
Hosts Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) reigned supreme, establishing lead over others in a majority of the events on the second day of the North Zone Inter Medical Indoor Games Tournament- NOZIT 2005 here today.

In the preliminary round matches played today, the DMCH dominated the proceedings. In chess, carrom and badminton (boys section), the DMCH won their respective matches and advanced into the knock-out stage, while in the table tennis (women’s doubles), Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, prevailed over the DMCH. In singles, Shruti of the GMCH, Chandigarh, got the better of Divya of the DMCH.