Ludhiana August 29
The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU) staged its third successful protest rally in the city today. A large number of teachers from various districts, including Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar, Chandigarh and Ferozpur, working in colleges affiliated to Panjab University applied for casual leave and assembled in front of the new courts, Bharat Nagar, to hold a protest rally.

The teachers working in colleges affiliated to other two universities Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Punjabi University, Patiala, observed a strike for two periods and held protest dharnas on the college campus in front of the offices of principals.

PCCTU general secretary Prof Kuldip Singh criticised the government for not fulfilling its pre-poll promises like pension and gratuity to teachers, full 95 per cent grant in aid without any financial cut, lifting of ban on recruitment and leave encashment etc. “Not only had the government failed to keep its poll promises but also imposed a further financial cut of Rs 26 crore in grant in aid to colleges in its maiden budget. Already a reduced grant in aid to the colleges is being provided for Rs 80 crore whereas it should be Rs 111 crore. The maiden budget of the SAD-BJP government allocated only Rs 60 crore for the aided colleges”, said Prof Kuldip Singh.

Union president S.S. Hundal condemned the government for its dilly-dallying attitude. He said the union submitted a memorandum to the education minister, the education secretary and the DPI, colleges, on June 6 but the government did not initiate any dialogue with the union to resolve their long pending demands until the union started an agitation. “Under such adverse circumstances, teachers do not have any alternative than to launch an agitation. Though the union firmly believes in democratic and peaceful means like table talks, the government’s indifferent attitude compelled the teachers to adopt aggressive means like court-arrest”, he said.

The PCCTU mounted pressure on the government to initiate a dialogue with the union. The government has called the union leaders on August 31 at Chandigarh. Prof Kuldip Singh said if government did not accept their demands, the programme of court-arrest of teachers would be executed as per schedule.

Meanwhile, Prof Rajinder Bhandari, president, BJP state unit, while assuring the agitating teachers said he agreed with the teaching community and he would pressure the government to meet their just demands.

Ludhiana, August 29
The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association is all set for a triangular contest tomorrow with candidates of three factions making all-out efforts to woo the voters.

The panels are being led by S.K. Singla, K.N. Sharma and M.S. Mahal.

The main contest is likely to be between the Singla and Sharma panels as they represent two strong groups which have shared power in the university over the year. Mahal has been asserting that his panel was trying to present a neutral forum for teachers which would be without any preferences or prejudices.

Mahal, professor of entomology and international cricket umpire, maintains that the faculty was fed up with the growing rivalry between the two traditional groups and was desperately looking for an alternative, which his team would provide.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Forum, led by Harmeet Singh Kingra, has extended its support to the Singla panel. Kingra claimed that he was confident that once elected, the Singla panel would work towards getting the central university status for PAU.

The Sharma panel, which seems to be posing a tough challenge to the incumbent team, asserted that there was a lot of resentment among the faculty since PAUTA had been made like a pawn at the hands of the former vice-chancellor. 

Ludhiana, August 29
The Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, M.S. Kang, today felicitated five National Service Volunteers of PAU. Prabhleen Kaur, Pawan Kumar, Rohini Garg, Sonia Gupta and Anupa Garg were given certificates awarded by the Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina State, USA.

The certificates were given in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention, risk reduction and intervention training programme in India being carried out under the guidance of K.S. Verma, project coordinator of the HIV/AIDS collaborative project. The principal investigator of the collaborative project, Omar Bagasra, passed on the certificates to Verma. He represented the university at the international forum in which more than 100 delegates participated from universities of about 20 countries. He presented his paper on ‘Culturally-Sensitive HIV/AIDS Reduction, Intervention Programme in India’ at the forum.

students WELCOMED: The Home Science Association of Punjab Agricultural University organised an orientation programme for the new entrants of the College of Home Science under the supervision of Jatinder Gulati and Rippen Jassal, advisors of the association, here yesterday.

Dean of the college S. Jaswal welcomed the students and wished them an enjoyable and rich academic experience during their stay at the college. She also introduced the various department heads, who gave information about various courses being offered and also acquainted the students with their respective faculty members.

President of the Dance, Drama and Music Club Dr Manjit Kaur Virk provided information about different co-curricular activities and competitions organised at the university from time-to-time and underlined the significance of participating in these events.

Entrepreneurs honoured: The rural youth engaged in agro-processing activities were honoured and presented mementos by Dr N.S. Malhi, director, Extension Education, PAU. This was done during the concluding function of a five-day training course on Agro-based Industries for Rural Youth organised by the Processing and Food Engineering Section, Department of Food Science and Engineering, PAU, from August 20-24. These young entrepreneurs have established their own agro-processing centres after obtaining training in a similar programme held earlier by the erstwhile Department of Processing and Food Engineering. 

Ludhiana, August 29
Dr Hari Mohan Saxena, Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, presented a paper at the international workshop, ‘Capacity Building in Areas of Avian Viral Diseases and Animal Biotechnological Applications’ held at Chennai from August 21 to 23.

The workshop was attended by as many as 250 scientists, including scientists from Virginia Polytechnic and the University of Maryland, USA. The workshop was sponsored jointly by the US Department of Agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research under the US-India Agricultural Knowledge Initiative.

He was invited to present the lead paper on ‘Infectious Bursal Disease in chickens’ in the session chaired by the renowned scientist Dr Siba K. Samal, Associate Dean, University of Maryland, USA. 

Ludhiana, August 29
Vanmahotsava was celebrated with much enthusiasm at Herbal Gardens, Government College for Women, in collaboration with Lion’s Club Vishal today. The function was presided over by college principal Prabhjot Kaur, who was also the chief guest. Lion’s Club president Dr V.K. Gupta and other senior members were also a part of the celebrations. The NSS and the NCC units, along with the Rotaract Club, also participated in the function.

Head of the Botany Department Mahinder Kaur Grewal spoke about the advantages of planting trees and how the motto of ‘Each One Plant One’ could make the surroundings beautiful.

Pooja, a student and a volunteer, recited a poem on tree plantation. In her speech, Prabhjot Kaur acknowledged the efforts of the NCC, NSS, Youth Club and Rotaract Club members. She elucidated on how global warming was changing the course of environment. She added that happiness could be ensured only if all we were connected to nature and its beautiful sights and sounds.

Lecture on nanotechnology: An extension lecture was organised by the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science of Guru Nanak Girls College, here today. The speaker was Dr Paramjit Singh, an associate professor at the Department of Physics, PAU. Principal Dr Charnjit Mahal welcomed the guest speaker. Dr Paramjit Singh delivered an informative talk on ‘Nanotechnology’.

National Sports Day: To mark the National Sports Day, an extension lecture was organised by the Department of Physical Education, Kamla Lohtia College, today. HoD Prof Rohit Kumar welcomed the guests while a vote of thanks was presented by principal Deepak Kaushal. While Dr Gurpreet Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, delivered a lecture on the role of physical education in modern society, Dr Nishan Singh Deol talked about the professional opportunities in physical education. The lecture concluded with a question-answer round. 

Doraha, August 29
The Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas was celebrated at Government Senior Secondary School, Kaddon, here today.

Gurmit Singh, naib tehsildar of Payal, was the chief guest on the occasion. He along with school principal Habhajan Das and senior teacher Major Singh distributed prizes to the winners.

Harpreet Kaur of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School was declared first in the chart making competition, Manpreet Kaur of the same school stood second while Keerti Bector of Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School was stood third.

Similarly, in the model making contest, the team of Deepanshu and Gurmanpreet Singh of Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School stood first, Manpreet kaur of Government High School, Rampur, and the team of Manjit Singh and Jaspreet Singh of Government Senor Secondary School Kaddon were declared second and third, respectively.

In the declamation contest, Jaspreet Singh Nagi of Shri Guru Harkrishan Public School was declared first, Manjot Kaur of Government High School, Rampur, and Rajvir kaur of Shakti Public School, Dhamot, were declared second and third, respectively. — OC

Ludhiana, August 29
Various events were organised for primary students today at Ryan International School on its Founder’s Day. The senior students visited an old age home, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and a deaf and dumb school where eatables and clothes were distributed to the residents.

Dental checkup camp: A dental checkup camp was organised at Guru Gobind School, here on Monday. Dr Rashi Bahl carried out the medical examination of the students and the members of the faculty. Dental health packs were also distributed on the occasion. The doctor advised the students to avoid consuming sticky toffees, chocolates and aerated drinks.

Rakhi celebrated: The girl students of Jatindera Greenfield School tied rakhis on the wrists of boy students at a function held yesterday. Principal Dr Taranvir talked about the importance of the festival and also conveyed the good wishes of school chairman Dr H.S. Dhaliwal.

Ludhiana, August 29
Judicial Magistrate Harinder K. Sidhu today adjourned the case involving Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, former media adviser to Capt Amarinder Singh, to September 5, as the prosecution failed to deliver the documents despite court directions.

Chahal was produced here in connection with an attempt-to-murder and land-grabbing case registered against him and his several relatives at the Sadar police station on June 10 following a complaint of Harchand Singh Chahal of Daad village.

On the last date of hearing, the counsel for Chahal had moved an application seeking directions that they be supplied all documents annexed with the challan filed in the court. It was pleaded that they were not provided complete documents at the time of presentation of the challan against the accused.

Thereafter, the court had directed the prosecution to supply the remaining documents. In this case, all accused have been granted bail. But Chahal is still in custody as in a corruption case registered against him in Patiala, he has not been granted bail.