The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

From Schools & Colleges
Seminar favours FDI in retail sector
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 28
Foreign direct investment in retail sector has to be promoted if India wants to achieve at least 10 per cent growth in GDP in the next five years. This was the consensus at a national seminar on “Retail Management”, which concluded at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology here today. It was organised by the Punjab Commerce and Management Association (PCMA).

The speakers at the seminar urged the government to act immediately to allow foreign direct investment in retail sector in a phased manner. Most of the researchers also suggest certain guidelines regarding this issue for the smooth growth of retailing in the rural and urban sector.

Prominent among those who took part in the deliberations were Mr V.K. Goel, Chief Executive Officer of the Vardhman Group of Industries, Mr Anil Kumar, Executive Director, Shriyans Industries Limited, Dr M.A. Zaheer, Director, Synetic Business School, Dr Raghubir Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Prof S.K. Singla, Head, Department of Business Management, Punjab Agricultural University, and Prof Geeta Mangla, from Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Mr V.K Goel, who chaired the session on FDI in the retail sector, said most of the apprehensions regarding the bad effects of foreign direct investment in the sector were baseless. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ashwani Bhalla, joint secretary, PCMA, said researchers should conduct empirical studies for the growth of the retail sector to find out their relationship with the other sectors of the economy.

Dr Prem Kumar, president of the association, said the PCMA would undertake various research studies on retailing in India with the help of various educational institutions. He made a theme presentation on “Retailing — A Journey from Small Outlet to Shopping Malls”.

Educational tour: The PG Department of Economics of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharma College conducted an educational tour to Aitiana village, near Sudhar, for familiarising the students with the practical aspects of farming and its techniques. The students, along with accompanying faculty members, visited the office of the Agricultural Cooperative Society in the village. It is the nodal cooperative, covering nine adjoining villages.

The chairman of the society, during an extended interaction, apprised the students of the working of the cooperatives and how the body worked for the benefit of the farmers. The students were told that the society, which started in 1926 with 11 members, at present had a strength of 927 members with a capital of Rs 4 crore and advances to the extent of Rs 1.89 crore.

The students gained knowledge about various farm practices, right from cultivation of crops to marketing of produce and related problems. After enjoying a ride in tractors and feasts of makki ki roti and sarson ka saag in the clean and peaceful environment of village, the tour members returned to be a part of the stressful and hectic city life again.

Book released: A function to release a book carrying poetic collections, “Almi Parwaz” and “Bliss of Life”, by a Punjabi poet and editor of international “Sahib”, Mr Tara Singh Alam, was organised on the campus of Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women by Baba Bulleshah Foundation International here on Monday.

Dr Surjit Pattar, a wellknown name in Punjabi literary world, presided over the function while Mr Amarjit Singh Chawla, Prof Gurcharan Singh, Dr Tejwant Singh Gill, Mr Jaswant Singh Grewal and Mr Daljit Singh Matharoo also graced the occasion.

Mr Gurcharan Singh, chairperson, Baba Bulleshah Foundation International, welcomed the guests. The Principal of the college, Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, in her welcome speech, stressed upon the great honour bestowed upon the college through such occasions. She said the book would serve as a light house to our youth which would enlighten their path.

Cultural function: Little nestlings of the elementary section of Sat Paul Mittal School presented “udaan”, a cultural extravaganza at Pandey Auditorium of the Nehru Sidhant Kendra Trust here on Monday. The programme depicted the flight of these little heart throbs taken towards realisation of their ultimate destination.

The programme commenced with a vandana, evoking the Almighty to shower His blessings. This was followed by the ABC carnival, wherein the children seemed to have made the best of the opportunity to collectively educate their parents about the phonetic approach to learning the English alphabet.

An exhilarating western dance “best friend” turned out to be the highlight of the show while the traditional folk dance of Punjab bhangra had everyone tapping to the beats of the dhol.

Ms Suneeta Sidhu, Headmistress of the school, read out the annual report and Dr D.B. Sharma, director of the school, welcomed the chief guests, Dr S.B. Khurana, former Principal of Dayanand Medical College.

Joseph's School: The annual prize-distribution function of Joseph’s School, Dugri-Dhandra Road, was held here on Monday. Sister Maria Leena, Principal, Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, presided over the function and gave away the prizes to students for academic excellence in matriculation and middle examinations.

A colourful show of dances was presented by the students. Arshdeep Singh of 7th standard, who had qualified for state-level U-14 badminton tournament and placed third, was also honoured at the function.

COURTS

One-year jail in cheque bounce case
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 28
Judicial Magistrate Tarsem Mangla has sentenced an employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Mohan Lal, to one-year imprisonment in a cheque bounce case. A fine of Rs 2,000 was also imposed on him.

The complaint in the case was filed by Bikramjeet Singh of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Pakhowal Road, Ludhiana. He had submitted that the accused, who was working with the PSEB, Lalton Kalan subdivision, had approached him with Jaswinder Singh for a personal loan of Rs 1.5 lakh.

A loan of Rs 1.5 lakh was advanced to him. He assured to repay the loan within a month. But when he demanded back his money, he started making excuses. Ultimately, with the intervention of panchayat, he issued a cheque for December 10, 2001.

But when the cheque was presented to the banker of the accused, the same was dishonoured for want of sufficient funds. Despite serving a legal notice, the accused failed to make the payment.

On the other hand, the accused had pleaded that in fact he had taken loan of Rs 15,000 from one Jaswinder Singh in December, 2001, and no loan was taken from the complainant.

He also submitted that to secure the loan, the said Jaswinder Singh had got signed some blank papers and cheque from him. But finding him guilty, the court convicted him. However, he was granted bail for filing appeal against the conviction.

SPORTS

Pratishtha, Akhil adjudged best athletes
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 28
Pratishtha Verma of Class V in the girls’ section while Akhil Jain, a student of the same class, in the boys’ section were adjudged the best athletes in the 61st Annual Athletics Meet of the Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, which concluded today.

Pratishtha won title in the long jump and finished runner up in the 100 m and 200 m races to emerge the best among girls. Akhil Jain romped home victorious in 100 m and 200 m and also secured third position to bag the best athlete title.

Mr Pushkar Vohra, AEO (Sports), CBSE, New Delhi, was the chief guest for the closing ceremony. The member of the school management committee, faculty members, parents and prominent personalities of the city graced the occasion.

Results: senior boys- 4x100 m relay race: Patel House 1, Gandhi House 2 and Nehru House 3; 800 m: Sanchit 1, Jatin Kaushal 2 and Sunny Preet 3; long jump: Piyush Mehra 1, Nitin Sharma 2 and Sanchit Bhardhwaj 3; high jump: Rohit Sahi 1, Deepak Sehgal 2 and Ayush Sharma 3; discus throw: Piyush 1, Aneesh 2 and Karan Khangura 3; triple jump: Abhishek Bajaj 1, Rohit Sahi 2 and Sumit Sahi 3; 100 m: Salil Kapoor 1, Sahil Gulati 2 and Sanchit Bhardwaj 3; 200 m: Aditya Sharma 1, Saurabh Chhabra 2 and Madhur Ahuja 3; 1500 m: Nitin Arora 1, Rajan Sharma 2 and Sanchit 3; shot put: Abhishek Bajaj 2 and Karan Khangura 3; javelin throw: Piyush Mehra 1, Tejender Singh 2 and Vaibhav 3.

Junior boys: 200 m: Atishaya Lamba 1, Akashdeep Singh Gill 2 and Tushar Aggarwal 3; long jump: Aditya Sharma 1, Akashdeep 2 and Atishya Lamba 3; shot put: Raghav Kapoor 1, Mayank Jain 2 and Varun Puri 3; 1500 m: Aditya Sharma 1, Saurabh Sharma 2 and Madhur Ahuja 3.

Senior girls: 4x100 m relay: Tagore House 1, Raman House 2 and Nehru House 3; high jump: Vedika Thapar 1, Ekta Loomba 2 and Shabda 3; long jump: Kanika 1, Pallavi Maria 2 and Supam Sandhu 3; discus throw: Vedika Thapar 1, Sandeep 2 and Pallavi Maria 3; 400 m: Supam Sandhu 1, Srishthi 2 and Ekta 3; shot put: Vedika 1, Supam Sandhu 2 and Sandeep 3; 100 m: Kanika Likhi 1, Srishthi 2 and Shabda 3; 800 m: Vedika Thapar 1, Sunakshi 2 and Jyotika.

Junior girls: 100 m: Anjali Goyal 1, Eshana Jain 2 and Sukriti Chopra 3; long jump: Sukriti Chopra 1, Anjali Goyal 2 and Devika Sood 3; 4x100 m relay: Subhash House 1, Nehru House 2 and Tagore House; 400 m: Arshia 1, Ritika 2 and Nidhi Kanika 3.