AGRICULTURE

PAU to set up seed farm in Mansa
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 30
PAU Vice-Chancellor K.S. Aulakh has approved the creation of a revolving fund scheme for seed production at KVK, Khokhar Khurd, in Mansa district.

The grant of Rs 1 lakh, received from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, will be used for procurement of seed, fertiliser, plant protection chemicals, etc.

The main objective of the approved scheme will be to produce seeds of various approved varieties of rabi crops and vegetables for sale. Besides, demonstration units will be established for imparting practical to trainees in beekeeping, dairy farming, agricultural engineering, poultry, etc.

The profit to be earned from the sale of seeds will be ploughed back into the scheme in subsequent years.

 

EDUCATION

Village girl bags Canadian scholarship
Our Correspondent

Ghungrana (Ahmedgarh), August 30
A girl from this nondescript village of Ludhiana district has been selected by the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, for a Rene Descartes Scholarship, worth $ 7,000, for full time study in the faculty of mathematics at the university.

Puneet Dhillon, the recipient of the scholarship, has left for Canada to undertake higher studies in the subject. Ms Dhillon, granddaughter of Mr Jagjit Singh Ghungrana, former Chairman, Punjab Agro, besides aspiring to achieve highest target in the stream, wished to prove that the Punjabis could compete at the international-level in any field .

“I wish to prove that the Punjabis, known for having greatest regard for moral values and cultural heritage, can compete at the international-level in any field,” Ms Dhillon had told the Ludhiana Tribune before she left for Canada.

She said she had developed flair for maths when she used to live with her grandparents at Ghungrana village a decade ago. Mr Pawan Inder Singh Dhillon and Ms Tejinder Kaur, her parents, used to send her to the village every summer so that she could learn more from retired math teachers of the area.

Perusal of correspondence between the authorities and the scholar showed that Puneet had been selected for the scholarship on the basis of an international contest in the Euclid Mathematics conducted by the university.

While pursuing her course, the scholar could obtain on-the-job-training in the setting of her choice.

“You have also earned a place in our highly respected Cooperative Education Program. Co-op allows you the opportunity to obtain on-the-job-training in an employment setting of your choice,” reads the letter written by Mr Tom Coleman, Dean, and Faculty of Mathematics.

Govt teachers to observe Sep 5 as protest day
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 30
Thousands of government school teachers will observe the Teachers Day as a protest day and hand over memoranda to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister through their respective District Education Officers on September 5, claim the office-bearers of union.

Addressing activists of the union at local Municipal Children Park, Mr Sikander Singh Jartoli, district general secretary said the state body had decided to observe the day as a protest day and would lodge their protest with the government through DEOs.

“The union has observed that the state government, that had adopted insulting attitude towards teachers in the past, is trying to exploit the sentiments of the builders of the nation by performing a ritual on the Teachers Day.

To lodge our protest with the government, we will demonstrate at our respective DEO offices by wearing black badges and will present memoranda to the DEOs,” said Mr Jartoli.

Referring to the information received from Mr Daljit Singh and Mr Sucha Singh Khatra, president and the general secretary of the state body, respectively, Mr Jartoli claimed that members of the union would boycott the felicitation functions scheduled to be organised by the government.

Mr Jartoli alleged that the government had ruined the future of the students by imposing a ban on recruitment for more than four years.

“What to talk of appointing new teachers, the government kept already burdened teachers busy in non-teaching jobs, a trend that spoiled the results of all board classes,” said the union leader.

Polytechnic staff oppose privatisation
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 30
The Joint Action Committee of the Punjab Polytechnic Staff Association held a gate rally at the Government Polytechnic for Women here today in protest against the government’s move to hand over polytechnic special trade organisations and societies to private parties.

Mr Devinder Singh Virk, one of the office-bearers, said if the decision was not revoked, the union would intensify its agitation.

The students and teachers said the government was already charging hefty fees from polytechnic students as compared to their counterparts in other states but the privatisation move was unfortunate.

Students vow to follow medical ethics
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 30
Outgoing students of the Hind Institute of Paramedical Sciences vowed to conform to medical ethics. Mr Vijay Kumar presided over the function organised to honour outstanding students. Mr Jagpal Singh Khangura was the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Khangura stressed on the need to improve the quality of paramedical sciences. “Providing excellent medical assistance to a patient would be of no use until the paramedical staff was equipped with the latest knowledge in the field,” he maintained.

Tej Pal Singh, Ravinder Singh, Palak Thakur, Sandeep Kaur, Karamvir Kaur, Sachin and Irfan were honoured for their achievements.

Choreographies, skits, folk song, bhangra and gidha were also held.

Dr Sunit Hind, Director, Mr Vijay Kumar, Principal, Mr Jatinder Bhola, MC president, and Dr Jyotsana Kapoor also spoke on the occasion.

Freshers' party at Khalsa College

Ludhiana, August 30
It was a day of fun and enjoyment for the PG Department of Commerce of GGN Khalsa College here as it organised a freshers' party today. Dressed in their best, participants looked smart and attractive on the occasion.

Welcoming the M.Com I students, Sunny of M.Com II introduced all juniors with them. There was a dance performance by juniors. Giddha was appreciated by the audience. They witnessed some interesting moments during question-answer round. Judges Jatinder Kaur, Amandeep Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur had a tough time while compiling the results. — OC

Manoj makes it to superstar show
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, August 30
Manoj Batra from Ferozepore has reached the finals of reality show ‘Fair and Lovely Menz Active Super Stars’, to be telecast from September 11 on SaharaOne. The budding star is at present being groomed in Mumbai for the mega show.

The auditions were held in Ludhiana by Bollywood acting trainer Kishor Namit Kapur on August 9 and 10.

In a telephonic conversation with the Ludhiana Tribune today, Manoj said he felt on the top of the world. “It is like a dream come true. My one and only dream since childhood has been acting. Though I could not get training in acting as there is no acting school here (Jalalabad, Ferozepore district), I am sure to prove my worth,” he said.

“At present my focus is to gain knowledge and experience. I am not thinking about money or a movie contract at this moment. I have to show the best to Shiamak Dawar and Urmila Matondkar—the two prominent judges for the finals,” said Manoj.

Born on December 2, 1980, Manoj describes himself as a God-fearing, honest and straightforward individual. “The blessings of my elders and my dream and passion for acting have driven me so far,” said Manoj.

A total of 120 candidates selected from regional auditions were invited to Mumbai for grooming by experts in the field.

These participants were judged on the parameters of originality, similarity and performance abilities.

Finally, the superstars will be declared by Urmila Matondkar and Shiamak Dawar on the basis of appearance, presentation, movements and singing abilities.