Ludhiana, October 22
Leaders of five kisan organisations yesterday staged a protest against the tardy procurement process of paddy. They submitted a memorandum to the District Revenue Officer to be forwarded to the state government, wherein they pointed out various lacunae in the procurement process.

According to Mr Kuldeep Singh, spokesman of these organisations, which include the Kul Hind Kirti Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab Kisan Sabha and others, they brought to the notice of the government the harassment faced by the farmers in getting their paddy purchased.

The kisan organisations demanded extension of the deadline for the relaxation of the specifications of moisture from October 24 till the whole process is not completed.

Samrala , October 22
The local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) organised a demonstration on net house cultivation in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture at BG farm at Manupur village, 10 km from here, today.

The demonstration was conducted under the leadership of Dr G.S. Kalkat, Chairman of the Punjab Agricultural University, in which Dr A.S. Sidhu, Head of the Department of Vegetable Crops, Dr T.S. Tandon, Assistant Professor (Vegetable) and Dr P.S. Rangi also participated.

Dr Kalkat advised the farmers to grow pest-free quality vegetables in net houses to enhance their export potential. Dr K.S. Sandhu, consultant, Punjab State Farmers Commission, explained the advantage of net house cultivation of vegetables.

Dr R.K. Dhall, Assistant Professor (Horticulture), KVK, Dr Harmail Singh, HDO, and Dr Ranjeet Singh, in charge of the local unit of the KVK, motivated farmers to adopt net house cultivation of vegetable.

Officials of Punjab National Bank offered loan facilities for net house cultivation to farmers.

Ludhiana, October 22
A meeting of the Principals of schools affiliated with the CBSE of Ludhiana, Moga and Patiala was held at Green Land Senior Secondary School here today. Mr D.R. Yadav, Joint Secretary and Regional Officer, CBSE, Chandigarh, was the chief guest and keynote speaker.

In his keynote address to the Principals, especially of new schools, Mr Yadav asked them to be vigilant about the performance of the children while sending their names for Classes X and XI examinations. He also told them that the attendance of students should be 75 per cent and only under pressing circumstances it could be relaxed to 60 per cent. In case of internal assessment, the schools should maintain records of each child and be judicious in granting marks.

Mr Yadav said that each school should spare teachers for a few days evaluation work. “The teachers learn a lot about marking, and other for facts about evaluation.”

During the meeting, an appreciation Bill moved by the Ludhiana Sahodaya School Complex in the favour of the Chairman, CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguly, and his team for the novel and revolutionary work in the field of education, was passed.

The Director of the complex, Mrs Baldeep Pandher, said Mr Ganguly deserved a big applause for taking initiatives to bridge the gap between equity and excellence, paving way for the improvement of all affiliated institutions and making efforts to enlarge the vision of the board by bringing the entire spectrum of secondary education right from primary to senior secondary levels under its purview.

She said the CBSE was taking steps to develop an effective monitoring system to ensure uniform quality standards at all levels of school education. His efforts to enrich curriculum with programmes like population and adolescent education, environment studies, value education, human rights education, education in life skills, consumer education, work education, empowerment of women and girl child and disaster management were worth appreciating.

The Chairman-cum-Director of Green Land Senior Secondary Public School, Mr Rajesh Rudhra, presented a memento to Mr Yadav.

Ludhiana, October 22
The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, had told the children on his visit to Ludhiana two years ago that “to aim low is a crime”. I also repeat his profound words, said Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner . He was presiding over the annual day function of Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, last evening .

Mr Verma congratulated students and staff of the school for putting up a magnificent show. He advised the parents not to thrust their ambitions on their children and give them a chance to enjoy their childhood by getting wet in rain and climbing trees for childhood was the age of innocence. He said, “Children start their journey of life and during their travel they are bound to encounter failures . Failures should be turned into stepping stones to success for did Thoma Eddison and Abraham Lincoln not fail many times? Encourage your children to overcome failures”.

The function was held in the lighted, and new Ruby Jubilee Hall. The hall was inaugurated by Right Rev. Dr Symphorian, OFM Cap, Bishop of Jalandhar, last morning. The colourful and delightful function started with an invocation to God.

A prayer dance was performed by small children while a welcome dance and a colourful extravaganza comprising music, bhangra and songs were performed by senior students. A tableau tided awakening brought out the dire need of love, peace, and harmony in a dehumanising world where hatred, violence, avarice and anger ruled.

The annual report was a multi-media presentation by the Principal, Sr Maria Lena, vice-principal, Sr Oliva and head mistress Sr Zelie KG. Next item was modelled on the folk theatre of Rajasthan. They brought out social evils like female foeticide, corruption and exhorted people to get rid of it.

Little Mozarts created most bubbly and delightful melody on their different instruments. ‘My Flower Lady’ a play inspired by Pygmillion written by George Bernard Shaw was enacted very well. The sets were marvellous and only the costumes were not so apt. It was an hour of pride for the meritorious students when they received awards from Mr Verma.

Sadda Virsa-Rangla Punjab comprising bhangra and giddha gave a befitting end to the colourful function.

Ludhiana, October 22
Students of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) today organised an exhibition “Prachyodyat” which symbolises the prayer to God to bless everyone with wisdom, happiness and prosperity.

The young students had put in at least two weeks of hard work to conceive the ideas and convert them into practical designer articles like candles, diyas, gifts, greeting cards, envelopes, flower arrangements, wall hangings, paintings and photo frames. The articles were finely displayed at the exhibition that added charm to it.

The variety of candles on display included candle cakes, octopus candles, gel candles, landscape candles, foam candles, flower candles, perfume candles, diya candles and floating candles.

For making envelopes and cards, the students used materials like hand-made sheets, velvet, organdy and nets. Keeping in mind the latest trends for trousseau packing, the budding designers made cane baskets and bases decorated with satins, nets, artificial flowers, tissues and bows.

Geetika, a IInd year student of Interior Designing, said, “These pooja thalis are must for Divali. These have been specially designed for evening pooja with all required things in it. Small home accessories like M-seal key chains, bookmarks, ring boxes, envelopes have been created and you can also carry them away in hand-made designer carry bags.”

Murals with mythological themes made of POP, logs, sculptures, rudraksh and clay, cloth and mauli depicted the rich Indian culture. Variety of lampshades created by hand-made sheets, golden leaves and wires, beads, shells, nets and organdy added light to the exhibition. Dry arrangements of artificial flowers in containers, bunches and bouquet in different variety of fabrics added to the festive mood of the season.

Famous torans and paintings of Gujarat could also be seen at the exhibition.

Exotic photo frames made of paper mash, ceramics and acrylic sheets seemed to be an ideal gift for a perfect photo finish. Ms Anjali Taneja, a visitor, said, “It’s like entering the world of new generation of budding MF Hussains where these young designers have painted their imagination on canvas. Pots and sculptures of Gods like Ganesha and Radha Krishna have made the exhibition special.”

Ludhiana, October 22
‘Realm of Physics’, a week-long inter-school physics festival, has concluded at BCM School here.

Various competitions were held in which nearly 20 teams from various CBSE schools of the district participated.

The following are the results:

Microsoft Power Point presentation on the themes of “Discoveries and challenges of physics” and “physics in daily life”: Sanya, Manik and Ayush-BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar I; Uday Rana and Monika Kwatra-BCM School, Basant Avenue Dugri II; and Kamalpreet and Harshit- BCM Arya Model School, Shastri Nagar, III.

Collage-making competition: Uparika and Garima — BCM Arya Model School, Shastri Nagar, I; Sapandeep Kaur and Harmanjot Kaur — Guru Hargobind Public School, Sidhwan Khurd, II; and Sankalp and Devenderen (Shubhra and Harnoor) — BCM School, Shastri Nagar, III.

Poster-making competition: Group A: Jashanjit Kaur, BCM School, Shastri Nagar, I; Amanpreet Kaur, GGN Public School, II; and Tripti Kushwaha, Tagore Public School, III.

Group B: Ist Manjot Kaur, GGN Public School, I; Palak Arora, BCM School, II; and Amandeep Sharma, GMT Public School, III.

Physics Olympiad: Category A: Saurabh Saini, BCM School Shastri Nagar, I; Ramnik Singh, GNPS, Sarabha Nagar, II; and Prabhjot Kaur, GNPS, Sarabha Nagar, III.

Category B: Anurag Shahi, Sacred Heart Convent, Sarabha Nagar, I; Ishan Aggarwal, SHC, Sarabha Nagar, II; and Abhay Kalra, BCM School, III.

Model-making competition: Secondary: Harmanjit and Pavneet, GNI Public School, I; Somay and Nitin, LSMS Vidya Mandir Khanna, II; and Jaskaran and Raman, BCM, Dugri, III.

Senior Secondary: Karan and Shruti, BCM School, Shastri Nagar, I; Sagar and Avijeet, USPC Jain Public School, II; and Apeksha and Natasha- LSM S Vidya Mandir, Khanna, III.

Special prizes: Neerav and Rupal BCM School, Shastri Nagar; Satveer and Amrinder Kaur — GHG Public school.

Prize distribution ceremony was held here today. The chief guest was the District Science Supervisor, Mr Varinder Sharma.

Ludhiana, October 22
Pretty of BCA-II, Department of Computer Science and Applications, Ramgarhia Girls College, has won the inter - college declamation contest organised by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar Chowk, here today.

Doraha, October 22
Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC), today released a grant of Rs 5 lakh for Guru Nanak National College, Doraha. A draft of Rs 5 lakh was handed over by her to Bibi Bhagwant Kaur, president, College Management Committee, along with Prof. Balwant Singh Pangali, secretary, and Mr Jagdev Singh Grewal, Principal, at Doraha here today.

Bibi Jagir Kaur had announced a grant of Rs 15 lakh for developmental purposes on the occasion of the Founders Day celebrated in the college in the memory of late president of the college, Dr Ishwar Singh, on August 31, 2005. The draft released today is the first instalment of the grant.

Ludhiana, October 22
A speech competition was held at SKN Model High School, Tilak Nagar, here, yesterday. Principal K.D. Arora presided over the function. Mr Krishan Rajpal was the chief guest and municipal councillor Shubh Malhotra inaugurated the function. As many as 16 students took part in the competition and delivered their speeches on various subjects .

Vanita, Sheena and Usha got the first, second and third prizes, respectively whereas Baby Krishma and Heena got consolation prizes.