The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Best research paper award for city teacher
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 31
The Lovely International Trust that organised a national seminar on “Globalisation — opportunities and threats for developing countries” at the Lovely Institute of Management, Jalandhar, awarded the ‘Best Research Paper Award’ to Prof Ashwani Bhalla of SCD Government College here along with Prof Harblas, who assisted Prof Bhalla in making the presentation, on Sunday.

Prof Ashwani Bhalla made a research-based presentation on “Globalisation and future of financial services in India”. It was widely appreciated by the experts. Interacting with the media today, Prof Bhalla said they had done analysis of growth of financial services in India in the post-liberalisation era and found that in the last decade financial services sector had witnessed total transformation in terms of growth, product innovation, outlook, style and range of services.

In Indian situation, the financial services sector had a vast scope to grow because in spite of growth of this sector, 60-80 per cent of enterprises and individuals in the country lacked access to basic financial services such as savings and credit. India could achieve 8-10 per cent growth rate if its financial regulatory bodies expanded financial services access to more and more enterprises and individuals. The research paper reviewed the quantitative and qualitative growth of financial services . The paper had also projected the future outlook of financial services in India in respect of customers demand regarding provision of services and range of services.

Around 60 research papers were presented by participants from prominent management institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM Indore), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, NIT, Jammu, I,MS, Ghaziabad, FORE School of Management New Delhi.

Dr S.K. Salwan, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Technical University, inaugurated the seminar and Dr. R.S. Khandpur, Chairman, Pushpa Gujral Science City, and Dr Sucha Singh Gill, a renowned economist and senior professor at Punjabi University, Patiala, were the key speakers.

Dr Raghbir Singh of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Dr Chandra Shekar from the Fore School of Management and member of the Board of Control of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmdabad, chaired the technical sessions.

Two new PTU courses through distance education
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 31
Punjab Technical University (PTU) will introduce two new courses in distant education from this session. Dr R.P. Singh, Dean, Distance Education, said while addressing a professional training programme for counsellors that the university would introduce an advanced diploma in hardware networking technologies and a PG diploma in business management from this session.

He said the diploma in hardware and networking technologies would be offered at a fee much lower in comparison to that being charged by private institutes. It would target professionals who find it difficult to pursue MBA due to its long duration and transferable jobs.

The professional training programme conducted by the university was attended by more than 300 counsellors and learning heads.

Inaugurating the workshop, Dr S.K. Salwan, Vice-Chancellor, said there should be no compromise on quality of education. The university would be ensuring this, he said.

Ms Usha Albuquerque, career consultant, imparted training on using various techniques to help students opt for right courses.

Mr D.S. Sekhon, president of the All-India PTU DEP Associates, said more than 900 students of the PTU distance education programme had been selected teachers with the Punjab Government. He said the university was emphasising on developing soft skills among students.

From Colleges
180 students awarded B.Ed degrees
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 31
The annual convocation of BCM College of Education was held here on Tuesday. Dr Shardhindu, from New Delhi delivered the convocation address. About 180 students were awarded B Ed degrees. Dr Satinder Dhillon, Dean Education, Panjab University, was the guest of honour. The programme was presided over by Mr Satyanand Munjal, Chairman, BCM Education Trust. About 87 students were given prizes for academic achievements in B.Ed examinations.

Excelling in academics: Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women has maintained its glorious tradition of excelling in academics this year also. As per the result in B.Com (IInd) the students have secured 88 per cent as the over all pass percentages.

Preeti and Neha have brought laurels to the college by securing 78 per cent and 77 per cent marks, respectively.

Principal retires: Ms Indra Bhatia, Principal, SCD Government College, Ludhiana, retired today after putting in 37 years of service. She served as lecturer at Government College for Women for 32 years and later as Principal of Government College, Karamsar, before joining SCD College in 2004.

Brushing aside apprehensions voiced by many over the appointment of the first woman Principal of a Boys’ College, she worked with zeal and commitment.

Realising the needs of changing times, she built a new auditorium in the college, a seminar hall, a gymnastic and a computer centre.

Principal given warm send-off
Our Correspondent

Doraha, May 31
Mr Jaswant Singh Gill today retired as Principal , Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, after putting in 10 years of service. Members of the management, staff and students lauded his meritorious services in a programme organised in his honour at the Dr Ishwar Singh Memorial Hall. They appreciated his leadership and democratic approach.

Among those who appreciated his dedicated efforts towards the institution were Mr Jageshwar Singh Mangat, senior vice-president, Prof B.S. Pangali, general secretary, Mr Tarlok Singh Jaggi, Mr Adarsh Pal Bector, executive members of college management committee, Dr H.S. Deol, former Principal Tarsem Bahia, Prof Gunwant Singh Dua, Prof Gurbhajan Gill, Prof J.S. Grewal, Prof Harninder Kaur, Mr Joginder Oberoi, Mr Harnek Singh, Mr Balwinder Singh, Mr Sohan Singh, Prof Kuldeep Kaur (GCW, Ludhiana)

“The perseverance with which he worked for the academic, cultural and administrative, growth of the institution, speaks volumes of his tactful wisdom and foresighted supervision,” the speakers said.

They recounted the commendable progress of the institution under his leadership. The counstruction of Dr Ishwar Singh Memorial Hall, college canteen , girls hostel, computer lab , staff room, introduction of MA (Punjabi and Political Science) and M.Com along with other subjects as sociology, music and vocational short-term courses, made the college develop academically.

Mr J.S. Gill graduated from GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, in 1965 and did his post-graduation in the subject of political science from Lyallpur Khalsa College in 1967. He worked as a lecturer in political science at GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, for a period of 26 years. He joined as Principal, GNN College, Doraha, on February 18,1995. He has been a member of the Board of Studies consecutively for four terms. He has also been a member of the arts faculty for six terms.

Mr Jaswant Singh Gill thanked the management, staff and students for recognising his services and assured that he would continue to offer the same whenever needed.

Among those who graced the occasion were Bibi Bhagwant Kaur, president, college management committee, other executive committee members and teaching and non-teaching staff.

Workshop at BVM School
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 31
Keeping in view multi-faceted development of students, the Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Trust has decided to hold workshops for students of the Kitchlu Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar and Shishu Vatika branches.

According to a press note issued here today, these workshops would be organised from June 1 to 10 during which students would be told about food perservation, art and craft, sculpture computers, science, maths, social studies, model making, fabric, oil, kashmiri glass and tin painting besides dance and music, soft toys and beauty culture etc.

These hobby classes are being arranged with a view to inculcate creativity to search hidden talent.

CULTURE

India charms Pak band
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, May 31
Bilal Maqsood and Faizal Kapadia that make up the Strings, an Urdu-Hindi rock band, feel that music should bridge the gaps between India and Pakistan. They said though the pace was slow, things were changing.

The band was here today to perform at LISTEN, a platform dedicated to promoting music of different genres from across India, with their Indian counterparts including Bombay Vikings, Shibani Kashyap and Rabbi Shergill. The event would be held in the evening at GRD academy here.

Bilal and Faizal feel that their music albums “Duur” and “Dhaani”, which were released in India had been liked India and Pakistan. In 2004, they had won the MTV Asia Award for the most popular band in India.

Bilal said Indians had welcomed them with open arms. “Pakistanis, too, welcome Indian singers with that spirit but limited programmes are organised in Pakistan. Artists like Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet and Shibani have been performing in Pakistan regularly and they have always got a warm response,” he said.

Talking about their albums, Faizal said they try to get the feedback of their music from all ends. “We try to bring something new. We focus on reinventing our music to be on the top charts”, Faizal said.

Shibani Kashyap of “Ho gayi hai mohabbat” fame feels that remixes had brought disrepute to the original music. “I am totally against it and I will never do a remix,” said the Delhi-based singer. She said she took the training of classical music from her mother Poonam Kashyap at a very tender age. She spent some time in London to be trained as a pop singer.

HEALTH

Advances in kidney, liver transplant discussed
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 31
Noted urologist and transplant surgeon at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here, Dr B.S. Aulakh, while focusing on recent advances in kidney transplant, discussed in details the issues like safety and health of donors, who were unsung heroes of any successful transplant programme. He stressed that every effort should be made to check up donors thoroughly so that donor morbidity could be prevented.

Dr Aulakh was delivering his keynote address at a one day conference ‘Transplant update’, hosted by DMCH here on Sunday. The conference was inaugurated by Prof J. whig, vice-principal of DMCH, which turned out to be a mega feast of academic activity on topics of today’s concern for transplant patients.

Dr Aulakh, who was organising secretary of the event, dwelt upon latest methods of operation for donors and patients, while emphasising that the best and safest route of donor nephrectomy should be adopted. He also discussed the latest drugs which had made transplant surgery a great success. He expressed the hope that a day would come when patient would not need any drugs after transplant.

Leading liver transplant surgeon Dr Avi Soin from Delhi, discussed issues relating to liver transplant. He explained that living related donors could part with half of their liver to their needy relatives without any problems. “In our society, where cadaver donor is great problem (because society does not want to donate), living related donor has made liver transplant a big success in India. People should be persuaded to come forward to donate organs from cadavers,” he stressed.

Prof Yogesh Chawla, Head of Hepatology Department of PGI, Chandigarh, spoke on the liver viral infection (HBV, HCV, CMV) which often complicated pre-operative and post- operative course of transplant patients. Dr Vivekanand Jha, eminent kidney specialist from PGI, Chandigarh discussed as to how cost of transplant could be reduced by recent introduction of new drugs which had made it possible to reduce the dose of costly drugs and cut down the cost. He also provided rich data about post transplant tuberculosis management.

Dr S.K. Aggarwal, eminent kidney specialist from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, elaborated on the issue of post transplant diabetes and its management. He remarked that survival of patient and organ transplant was affected by post-transplant diabetes and every effort should be made to detect it by regular follow up of these patients.

Sessions were chaired by Dr J.S. Sandhu, co-organising secretary, Dr Rajoo Singh Chhina, Dr Ajit Sood, Dr Basant Pawar and Dr Kim Mammen. Principal of DMCH Dr Daljit Singh congratulated Dr Aulakh and his team for having organised the transplant update which would add immensely to the knowledge of medical fraternity and also benefit the patients.

Ways to beat the summer heat

Heat has the potential of being a blessing and a curse. To a certain point, it is comfortable, off soothing and welcome. Cross this point and it can be a nuisance. Fortunately, our bodies are so created that we can combat heat quite satisfactorily. The brain has specific centres that regulate response to heat. Conserving it or dissipating it, as the situation demands. These centres are set off by reflex mechanisms responding when the skin changes temperature. The temperature of the blood as it flows through these centres also influences their activity. To remain comfortable, the body must eliminate as much heat as it receives.

Here are some ways to beat the summer heat.

Increase fluid intake. The most important single factor in beating the heat is fluid intake. The temperature of the fluid is not so important as its quantity.

One should wear loose clothes. Light colours are preferred to dark ones because these deflect more heat rays.

Maintain regular salt intake. If salt intake is increased, the body would require more water to excrete it. This action deprives the body of fluid vitality needed to form sweat.

The best way to replenish salt loss in hot weather is by seasoning food in a reasonable manner.

Moderation in exercise is important. Take bath thrice a day. Avoid alcohol, junk food and overeating . Eat more protein and carbohydrates than fat and starch. Salads and fresh fruits are good for health.

Persons working under conditions of high temperature and humidity should drink around one litre of water per hour. For sedentary worker, requirement is half that quantity. Protective goggles, shields and helmets are useful.

— Dr Anil Dheer

ADMINISTRATION

DC orders probe into sale deed bungling
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 31
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma today ordered an inquiry into alleged registration of a sale deed in the office of Sub-Registrar (West) in the Mini Secretariat here late last evening by revenue officials. The SDM (West) Mr M.S. Jaggi has been entrusted with the problem with the directions to submit his report at the earliest.

High drama was witnessed in the office of the Sub Registrar when Mr Ravinderdeep Singh, a resident of Phullanwal village, rang up mediapersons at around 8.30 pm that certain revenue officials were in the process of registering a title deed for a controversial piece of land measuring about 37 kanals in Fatehgarh Awana village.

As soon as the reporters of print and electronic media arrived at the spot and proceeded towards the office of Sub Registrar (West), the revenue officials fled from the scene leaving the office and computer room unattended. According to the complainant, he, along with some other persons, had purchased the said land a couple of months ago. But the previous owner with the connivance of revenue officials, had resold the land to some other party at a much higher rate.

According to Mr Ravinderdeep, he had approached several officials to apprise them of this fraudulent transaction during the day time and he had been assured that no fresh title deed would be registered till the matter, pending in the court, was decided. However, the revenue officials concerned went ahead with the formalities to register the new sale deed late in the evening and had he not intervened with the help of the media, the former owner would have succeeded in his attempt.