Amritsar, October 7
In a significant decision, the Guru Nanak Dev University in its senate meeting today decided to set up new model college each in three educationally backward districts --- Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala--- under the UGC scheme.

Disclosing this, Vice-Chancellor Ajaib Singh Brar said the varsity had submitted a proposal in this regard to the state government. He added that these would be opened at Narot Jaimal Singh College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Narot Jaimal Singh village (Gurdaspur), Chung College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Chung village (Tarn Taran) and Mithra College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mithra village (Kapurthala) and would be affiliated to the university.

Meanwhile, the university senate co-opted eminent scientist, Dr. Harjit Singh, famous surgeon Dr. Santokh Singh and reputed advocate Prem Singh to the Syndicate of the University.

The VC said the internationally renowned scientist and Padam Shri Dr Govardhan Mehta and famous Punjabi literati personality, Gian Pith and Padam Shree awardee, Prof. Gurdial Singh would be honoured with D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) degrees in the annual convocation to be held on October 27.

Prof. Brar said Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India, had awarded Rs 5 lakh to the university on account of securing second position in Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the year 2007-08.

He said the UGC under 11th five year plan sanctioned Rs 1,072 lakh as general development grant and Rs 658 lakh for merge schemes.

He said that apart from this a grant of Rs. 5 lakh has also been approved for the establishment of Internal Quality Assurance Cell.

Batala, October 7
As farmers of this region have been waiting for the past many days to get their paddy produce procured by the government agencies, the state Congress unit has decided to attack the SAD-BJP government on the same.

Ashwani Shekri, chief spokesman of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC), who visited the local grain market and met the farmers, who have been sitting here for the past one week or so to dispose of their produce at minimum support price (MSP), today demanded the resignation of Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, for his failure to protect the interests of farmers.

“Due to anti-farmer policies of ruling SAD-BJP alliance and Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, the farmers have left with no other option than to sell their paddy crop much below the MSP,” alleged Shekri adding that farmers had now been badly missing former Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh, who ensured procurement and payment of crop within 24 hours after its arrival in purchase centres.

Shekri said two big rallies would be held at Kotkapura and Batala on October 12 and 14 respectively to ask Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that why he had not been sincerely working for the protection of interests of poor peasantry. Not only this, the Congressmen across the state had been directed to meet the farmers in the purchase centres and raise voice for them.

Meanwhile, Mangal Singh, a farmer of Sandalpura village, said he had been sitting in the local grain market since September 30, 2009 and so far he could not sell off his produce. Ranbir Singh, another farmer of Dalla village said he had been waiting for his turn since September 29, 2009.

DC Karamjit Singh Sra said problems, which had been hindering the procurement operations in Batala town, had been removed. The procurement process had been speeded up.

Nawanshahr, October 7
Director General School Education (DGSE) Krishan Kumar has made changes in the monthly tests being conducted in the subjects of mathematics, science, English and social studies from Class VI to X in government schools. 

In the month of October, there will be no monthly test in these subjects for Class IX as the first semester examination of the class has already been conducted. Besides, in the month of October, there will be no test in the subjects of mathematics and science for the students of Class VI, VII, VIII and X. However, the monthly test in the subjects of English and social studies would be taken as per the earlier schedule for these classes, informed Balihar Singh Bains, District Science Supervisor. — OC

Amritsar, October 7
A three-member team of the Medical Council of India (MCI) today visited Government Medical College (GMC), facing derecognition, and its affiliated hospitals for on-the-spot inspection to see whether the government has rectified the various flaws pointed out by the previous MCI teams, which visited the college in 2007 and 2008.

It was learnt that the MCI was also conducting simultaneous visit to Government Medical College, Patiala. Earlier, the teams, which had visited the college, had pointed out many shortcomings and had asked the government to comply with the MCI norms, failing which the oldest premier medical institute could be derecognised.

About two months back the government had sent a compliance report regarding fulfilling the norms and removing the deficiencies regarding faculty, infrastructure, including availability of seminar rooms, libraries, etc, to the MCI. The government had initiated a number of steps to follow the MCI guidelines.