Ludhiana, January 10
Unidentified assailants killed a 54-year-old hosiery goods transporter in cold blood in the latter's godown located near a gurudwara on Sekhewal Road in the city’s Shivpuri locality late Sunday night. The motive in the crime has yet to be determined.

The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Sharma, a resident of Shivpuri, who was holding a franchise of Nav Bharat Transport Co and used to ferry hosiery products to various states. According to prima facie evidence Robbery did not appear to be the motive behind the murder, the police said.

The incident came to light today morning when Manoj Sharma, 22, the victim’s son, arrived at the godown and was taken aback when he found it locked from outside. He kept calling up his father on his mobile phone till 11 am but there was no response from the other end. Finally he scaled the gate and entered the godown.

"A trail of blood led me to my father's body lying in a pool of blood at the rear end of the godown," said Manoj. According to an eyewitness, he raised alarm and informed his relatives as well as colony residents about the incident.

Soon people gathered on the street and broke open the godown’s gate. In the meantime police including additional deputy police commissioner Harsh Bansal, assistant police commissioner Paramjit Singh Pannu and division No 4 SHO Davinder Kumar arrived at the scene with a dog squad and fingerprint experts.

Bansal stated preliminary investigations suggested personal enmity was the motive behind the killing as no loss of cash or valuables was reported from the crime scene. “The murder was committed after 9:30 pm on Sunday”, he added.

Sources said the police questioned two people who had reportedly visited the godown last night at around 8pm to 9 pm, respectively, adding the cops claimed to have seen a youth in his early 20s discussing something with Ramesh

However, the number of assailants is not known yet, but the injury at the neck suggested that the victim was first gagged and then his neck was slit with a sharp edged weapon. The victim was then dragged on the backside of the godown where he was stabbed again.

The police have also found two “country made” liquor bottles and steal glass from the spot, which suggest that the victim and the suspect might have drunk liquor together.

A dinner comprising ‘chapattis’ and ‘dal’ was lying on the table. The sources said after drinking Ramesh planned to have food when he was murdered.

The police could not recover the weapon used for the crime. The victim’s body was rushed to a city hospital for conducting a postmortem. A fingerprint expert lifted the fingerprints of the suspect from a steel glass and the lock put up at the godown’s main gate.

Ludhiana, January 10
Owing to acute shortage of LPG cylinders in the city, it seems to be a much sought after commodity even by thieves. In yet another such incident, 43 cooking gas cylinders were stolen from a godown near the Dhandra road here today.

The theft took place at the godown of a gas agency owned by Congress leader and former minister Malkit Singh Dakha last night.

Dakha said around 12 pm yesterday, a truck of LPG cylinders was received by employees at the godown. He said he suspected that the theft took place after midnight.

He said the thieves had entered the godown by scaling the boundary wall and may have also parked a vehicle near the wall.

He came to know about the theft this morning and rushed to the spot. Fortythree cylinders were found missing. When contacted, Assistant Commissioner of Police Narinderpal Singh Ruby said a case had been registered.

Ludhiana, January 10
Their mothers have committed heinous crimes including murder and drug trafficking peddling but they remain blissfully in the dark. Neither do they know for how long they would stay behind the huge prison walls.

However these 15 small children, aged between six months to 6 years appear to enjoy living, playing and studying at the women’s jail where their mothers are incarcerated. The jail’s warden, teachers, caretakers, inmates and other women staff are their companions.

A visit by the Ludhiana Tribune to the prison revealed how disciplined these small kids were even while living closely with convicts. The teachers, hired by jail officials on a contract basis, teach them English, Punjabi, math and other subjects, but they prefer to listen to poems and stories throughout the day.

Arpita (name changed), a two-and-a-half year-old girl, has become the jail’s "attraction". With her innocent demeanor she draws everybody's attention. Both her parents have been locked up for life-for committing murder - mother in the women’s jail and father in the central jail.

"Arpita likes chocolates and biscuits, she’s an active child. She hasn’t seen the outside world. She doesn’t even know for how long she would stay behind bars with her mother. Adhering to a Supreme Court order, the jail officials provide education to all such small kids. Unlike many other kids outside the jail premises, these kids are very disciplined and obedient", said one of the caretakers at the jail.

The jail authorities have hired seven teachers and eight caretakers to look after these 15 children. Dressed in their school uniforms including navy blue caps, sweaters and socks, these kids were seen taking keen interest in their "syllabus". For taking good care of their health, they are given one fruit and vegetables along with ‘dal’ (pulses) and ‘chapatis’ (unleavened flatbread) in their daily diet.

Women’s jail superintendent Snehjot Kaur said these kids were so affectionate that everyone in the prison had grown fond of them. "They’ve become part of our life. Many of these kids were born to their mothers during the latter’s sentence period at the city’s Civil Hospital. The prison’s staff members celebrate various festivals with them", she added.

SP Khanna, superintendent of the central jail, stated the state government had recently sanctioned Rs 13 lakh for constructing a nursery school for these kids. "A building where these kids can study properly is likely to ready within two to three months. Presently a room has been allotted for them, where they remain for four hours at a stretch to study", he added.

Ludhiana, January 10
With no respite in sight from the harsh weather conditions prevailing in the region, the state government has extended the winter vacation of primary classes of all schools till January 16. The primary sections of all schools, private as well as government, will now reopen on January 17.

While parents have welcomed the move, the school authorities have expressed disappointment. They feel with such a prolonged winter vacation, the syllabus would not be completed in time, affecting the overall result of the schools.

Doraha, January 10
The visit of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to the town brought cheer to only a few faces, as others were left high and dry, only to resume their effort of running from pillar to post to get their demands fulfilled.

For many, it proved to be a disappointing day, as, contrary to their expectations of getting a patient hearing and solution to their problems from Badal, they were turned away, for no individual complaints were entertained.

Mahesh, Som Nath, Varsha and Heera Bai, residents of local Mahavir Kusht Ashram, wished to meet Badal as they had been issued notice to vacate the ashram.

To their dismay, they were initially not allowed to enter the hall where the Chief Minister was holding the programme and later could not meet him as he left the spot in a hurry.

The same was the case with Sukhwinder Kaur, a riot victim and widow of Jagjiwan Singh, who could not meet Badal as no individual complaints and requests were entertained. Also, Swarna, wife of Rikhi Ram, failed to hand over her application related to water bill.

“If Badal had planned a sangat darshan programme here, he should have given full time to those in attendance, many of whom returned frustrated as they were not given the time to meet the Chief Minister,” rued a justice-seeker.

As the Chief Minister was about to leave, a local lawyer, Tarlochan Singh Sethi, shouted to draw the attention of Badal towards his problem.

He rued that in spite of his having filed a PIL in the alleged Rs 7.5 crore house development tax scam, he had still been denied justice and that he had been running from pillar to post for the past four years.

Members of various organisations and associations who had assembled to get their demands fulfilled, had to content with the mere submission of their files.

The local municipal authorities, who had prepared a charter of demands, including the opening of registries in the town, setting up of a water and solid waste treatment plant, relocation of dispensary in the town, mortuary land, hydraulic crane, construction of streets, also could not get a hearing and they only succeed in submitting their application.

“At least an announcement would have given us solace,” rued a resident.

Ludhiana, January 10
With the change in rates of value added tax (VAT), cellphones, power inverters, spectacles, UPS systems, LCD and LED TVs and plastic goods will cost dearer. On the other hand, VAT on Punjabi ‘juttis’ (shoes), rice and bran and deoiled rice bran has been abolished. VAT on pulses and unbranded ‘besan’ (chickpea flour) has been lowered to 1 percent from 4 percent earlier.

The new VAT rates will be applicable from January 7, according to a notification issued by the excise & taxation department. For the first time 8 percent VAT has been levied on some items. These include plastic granules, plastic powder and master batches, spectacles, goggles/sunglasses, contact lens and lens cleaners, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems and power inverters.

At the same time VAT on some items has been hiked from 5 to 12.5 percent. These include telephone answering machines, transmission apparatus other than that for radio or TV broadcasting, walkie-talkie sets, cordless phone handsets, car telephones, cellular phones, marine radio communication and amateur radio equipment, LCD and LED panels and parts, permanent magnets and articles and electrical equipment for telephony or line telegraphy.

With the change in VAT rates traders and tax professionals can expect to face difficulties while e-filing their VAT returns. "With the imposition of new VAT rates we’ll have to update our software.

Earlier 8 percent tax was not applicable on any item, now it’s been added in the list," said Jatinder Khurana, a tax professional.

Meanwhile, city residents have welcomed the decision to reduce VAT on pulses. "The move was long awaited. VAT on pulses has been lowered from 4 to 1 percent and now we hope their prices will come down a bit," said Rekha Aggarwal, a homemaker in Aggar Nagar.

Ludhiana, January 10
With prices of food items going through the roof, a tasteless Lohri is on the cards for poor and middle-class families.

Groundnut, at Rs 100 per kg, is no longer the poor man’s cashew nut and “chikki” between Rs 130 and Rs 150 per kg, too, has lost its charm of being the poor man’s chocolate.

“Reori”, another popular food item consumed on Lohri, too, is acting pricey at Rs 160 per kg. Dry fruit items are even dearer at Rs 240 per kg while a kg of “bhugga” will leave your poorer by Rs 240 to Rs 300.

The sharp rise in the prices of these Lohri-special food items has left the masses high and dry, who look towards groundnut and “chikki” to keep them warm in winters.

“Come winters and groundnut becomes the main food of all programmes, be it a bonfire party, chat session in the college or leisure hours in the office. However, this year, the poor man’s cashew nut is nowhere to be seen due to the steep rise in its prices,” Radhika Chadha, a BA IInd year student said. This year’s Lohri will be tasteless for the middle and lower classes without groundnut, “gachak” and “reori” on the menu.

“With winter at its peak, demand for groundnut tends to rise many folds, and so does its price, but this year, the sharp hike of almost Rs 50 per kg in its price has left the people disappointed,” remarked Narinderpal, a trader.

Groundnut surely has gone out of reach of common man. Says banker Harleen Chawla, “What once used to be the favourite time pass for common man, is now a luxury for the elite.”

Jagjeet Singh, a local groundnut seller, who runs his trade in Kochar Market, says, “Every year, the price of groundnut rises by anything between Rs 5 and Rs 10 per kg. However, this year it has become costlier by Rs 40. Such hike is unprecedented. But this is not all, two to three days before Lohri, the prices will further shoot up.”

Due to the rise in prices of groundnut, groundnut “chikki” has also become dearer by Rs 25 per for 500 gram. Whereas “reori” has become costlier by Rs 25 per 500 gram, he added.

Harjinder, another groundnut seller, says, “This is the peak time of sales every year. But this time, sale of groundnut has dipped by almost 40 per cent with such a massive price hike.”

Doraha, January 10
On the second day of his tour undertaken to disburse development grants to various villages and towns in Payal constituency, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today arrived at Dr Ishwar Singh Memorial Hall of Guru Nanak National College and distributed cheques worth Rs 81 lakh among 13 panchayats of the surrounding villages, apart from taking up the problems of the beneficiaries.

In his address, Badal said contrary to the custom of the common man approaching the government for the fulfillment of his demands, the Akali government had vowed to reach out to the masses to redress their grievances.

“Our government has planned to disburse Rs 3,000 crore among various towns and villages for the purpose of sewerage, water supply and basic amenities. The aim of the sangat darshan is to see the difficulties being faced by villagers and residents and provide an adequate solution promptly,” he added.

The villages that got grants were Begowal (Rs 6.5 lakh), Chankoian Khurd (Rs 7.5 lakh), Chankoin Kalan (Rs 7 lakh), Jaipura (Rs 5 lakh), Kaddon (Rs 7 lakh), Rampur (Rs 7 lakh), Dugri (Rs 5 lakh), Katana Sahib (Rs 6.85 lakh), Gurditpura (Rs 5 lakh), Rajgarh (Rs 9 lakh) and Araichan (Rs 6 lakh). Ajnoud and Malhipur villages, too, received similar grants.

The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for Guru Nanak National College.

There was little cheer for local residents as no cheque or announcement came through for the town.

No immediate solution to solving the issues of opening of registries, setting up of a water and solid waste treatment plant and relocation of dispensary to the town came from the Chief Minister.

Former deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, former minister and SAD in-charge Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, SS Board chairman Sant Singh Umiadpuri and OSD to Chief Minister NS Sangha were also present.

Doraha, January 10
As expected, the local authorities ensured that the convy of the Chief Minister, who was on a visit to the town today, did not have to face a bumpy ride. For, no road, be it the national highway or a link road, that was part of the VIP’s route was left untouched or unrepaired.

All roads that led to the venue were either metalled or patched up temporarily.

The hitherto non-metalled dusty roads that provided an uneven passage for motorists were finally smoothened, much to the surprise of the residents.

Even the municipal committee was up and about and fixed potholes on the roads used by the Chief Minister’s convey.

“The temporary and uneven stretches had become a source of nuisance for motorists. These were either not visible from a distance due to the absence of sinages or were too dusty to take. The temporary diversions only acted as a source of nuisance for motorists as these not only caused inconvinience to them but also damaged vehicles,” said a resident.

The local residents were seemingly happy with Badal’s visit, as they felt the authorities only acted when a VIP was to arrive in the town.

Payal/Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 10
Even a year after the execution of a Punjab Government’s proposal to raise the standard of sports in the state, the authorities in the sports department have failed to promote sportsmanship and camaraderie among the rural masses.

Though the government has announced to give a grant of ` 1 lakh to each village to establish gymnasia at a common place, there is little enthusiasm among office-bearers of civic bodies at villages situated under Ludhiana and Sangrur districts.

During his two-day sangat darshan programme in the area, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had to appeal to civic bodies repeatedly to come forward to accept the grant and establish gymnasia at their respective localities.

Though exact number of civic bodies receiving grant for the purpose was yet to be ascertained, sources in the administration suggest the situation is not encouraging.

Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune reveal that office-bearers of civic bodies of the region have shown little interest in government’s initiative to promote sports in the rural area.

So much so that a model gymnasium consisting of equipment for physical exercise and playing traditional games drew little attention of those coming to receive grants during the sangat darshan programme yesterday.

Let alone seeking grants for stadia and sports academies, civic bodies even hesitated in accepting grants for setting up gymnasia at their respective places.

Apprehension of disputes over control over equipment is being cited as the major reason behind the tendency.

“Though we want to establish a gymnasium at our village, we are afraid of factionalism that will erupt over its control. There are so many groups of players in our village and each will stake claim over the equipment,” said sarpanch of a village that received cheques worth Rs 7 lakh for the construction and repair of public utility buildings.

Baljit Singh, an office-bearer of a sports club, said the government should bind civic body chiefs to arrange suitable premises for opening gymnasia in each locality and appoint a facilitator to look after the equipment.

Various groups should be asked to use the equipment at different times in rotation, he suggested.

The SAD-BJP government had envisaged to make Punjab a leading state in sports by creating adequate infrastructure, promoting rural games and adopting maximum disciplines of the Olympic Games.

It was decided to harness the talent of rural youngsters at the grass roots and nurture potential sportspersons by launching an awareness drive among the rural masses.

Though a large number of sports clubs and organisations came forward to share the responsibility of sports promotion with the administration, civic bodies of the area showed little interest in it.

Ludhiana, January 10
Now with a five per cent rise in steel prices, automobile and home appliance companies have decided to pass the heat marginally to its customers.

While some of the brands have already increased the prices, others are soon expected to follow the suit.

Due to rising input costs, Tata Motors has raised prices of its passenger and commercial vehicles by Rs 3,000-30,000. While the company raised prices of passenger cars by Rs 3,000-15,000, the hike ranged between Rs 1,500 and 30,000 for commercial vehicles.

Hyundai has raised its prices by 1.5-2 per cent. Mahindra & Mahindra is also planning to increase its prices by this month, while Maruti Suzuki India, along with General Motors, has indicated that they were also planning to increase the prices.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has increased the price of its car, Polo, by over 2.9 per cent from this month. One of the city dealers for Tata Motors said the company is facing constant rise in its input cost since past few months. “Now with further increase in the prices of steel they have no option, but to increase the prices,” he added.

After copper, major constituent in consumer durable is steel, used to make metal cabinets, frames, compressors etc. So categories that would be directly affected include air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and micro-wave ovens.

Samsung has decided for a hike of 1.5-3 per cent in refrigerators and 1.5-2 per cent hike in semi-automatic washing machines, while Voltas will also increase its prices by 5 per cent, officials in the company said.

Ludhiana, January 10
With fog enveloping the city and chilly winds blowing since early in the morning, most residents preferred to keep themselves warm inside their houses, shops and offices. However, after the sun emerged from the clouds in the afternoon they came out for a while. Sitting in the mild sunshine for about half an hour provided the much needed relief from the severe cold.

The maximum temperature recorded in the city was 12 degrees Celsius while the minimum dipped further to 4.2 degrees. According to meteorological experts at Panjab Agricultural University, PAU, the weather was expected to remain cold and dry in the city and its adjoining areas with the possibility of frost during the next 24 hours.

KK Gill, assistant agro meteorologist at PAU, said due to western disturbances rainfall was likely after January 13. "If there is rain the weather will clear up and the night temperature will rise. However, there’ll be little respite from the intense cold", she added.

Rashmita, a homemaker, said it was very difficult to wash clothes in such cold conditions as they remained wet in the absence of sunlight. "When the sun appeared in the afternoon, I took all the washed clothes outside. Sun, which appeared for about an hour, provided much warmth to residents. We're eagerly waiting for bright and sunny days", she added.

Mullanpur Dakha/Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 10
The administration has announced to construct and repair roads connecting major towns of the region with villages falling under Ludhiana district. Over Rs 13 crore will be spent on the improvement of roads measuring over 60 km.

Claiming that the administration had taken serious notice of reports of dilapidated condition of roads connecting various localities, Ludhiana zila parishad chairman Manpreet Singh Ayali said grants worth Rs 8 crore had been released for the construction of over 47 km of new roads in the area falling under the Dakha constituency alone.

Grants worth Rs 5 crore had been sanctioned for the repair of an equal length of roads.

More grants would be fetched to widen and strengthen other roads connecting villages of the constituency with localities of adjoining segments, claimed Ayali.

Work on Pandori-Mullanpur (2.30 km), Khadoor-Pamal (2.5 km), Chakk Kalan-Humbran (3.15 km), Hassanpur-Lalton Khurad (2.10 km), Saholi-Budhel (2.90 km), Bhoondri-Gorseean Makhan (4.25 km), Talwandi Khurad-Majri (2.42 km), Detwal-Birmi (3 km), Kothepona-Akhara bridge (2.5 km), Hanskalan-Hans bridge (2.75 km), Kular-Hans bridge (3 km), Chachrari-Chhajjawal (2.5 km) and Bahadur Ke-Dholan (3 km) roads would be started soon, claimed Ayali.

Other roads to be widened soon include Jodhan-Ahmedgarh, Chaukiman-Bhoondri, Haveli-Jodhan and Boparai-Dhatt Kalan.

LF Road-Dakha, Issewal-Fagla-Birmi, Sujapur-Hans Kalan-Chachrari-Dholan, Rurka-Khadoor, LF road-Gahaur Detwal, LF Road-Mor Kariman-Swaddi-Talwandi Kalan, Baddowal-Pamal, Mullanpur-Talwandi and Dakha Girls College-Society Road are among the list of spans to be repaired soon.

GS Bedi, in-charge of the team looking after the maintenance of Sahnewal-Dehlon and Dehlon-Pakhowa roads said the process for repair of damaged portions of roads falling under his jurisdiction had already been started.

Phillaur, January 10
Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna has urged the government to provide the right to vote to Hindu and Sikh families which have migrated from Pakistan.

Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, he has expressed concern over worsening condition of Hindus and Sikhs families staying on in Pakistan, which are being harassed there.

Khanna has alleged that most Hindu and Sikh families are being prevented from performing last rites of the dead and half-burnt bodies are being pulled out of pyres.

Commenting on migration from Pakistan because of fear, he has said about 500 families have shifted here, but are facing problems as they do not have citizenship.

He has urged the government to provide permanent citizenship to these families and demanded that these be brought under the schemes for terrorism victims.

Khanna headed a three-member committee on rehabilitation of Pakistan-based Hindus and Sikhs. He had raised the issue in the Rajya Sabham and met Union minister Perneet Kaur in this connection.

Ludhiana, January 10
The Central Excise Commissionerate today launched “Income Tax Single Window Help Desk” facility at the Central Excise House, Rishi Nagar, to redress the queries of the trade and industry in a prompt and smooth manner. The help desk was inaugurated by Central Commissioner Excise Charanjit Singh.

In his address, Charanjit Singh said the economy of any country depended on the growth of the industry and the industry could grow only if it got a free hand and the systems/procedures were made hassle-free.

Keeping this in mind, the government had been liberalising the policies and trying to provide more facilities to the trade and industry so that industrialists could concentrate more on the quality of products to compete in the international market. The helpline is another step towards this direction.

More such help desks at divisional offices will be opened soon, he added.

Ludhiana, January 10
The municipal corporation is not only “allowing” installation of illegal advertisements in the city, but also averse to the idea of increasing the house tax on buildings where private advertisements have been put up. A proposal regarding this is awaiting the nod of the top brass for the last over six months.

According to information, there are a large number of private buildings in the city where advertisements have been put up by private advertisers, and they pay a huge amount to building owners. Though the advertisers themselves earn a huge amount of money, they pay very little in fee to the MC due to which it is incurring losses. Though the MC authorities have tried to tighten the noose around these advertisers several times, they are let off due to their links with politicians and officers.

In a bid to increase the revenue from these advertisements, the MC had mooted an idea to enhance the tax on such buildings, but it is still hanging fire. Additional Commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar, the then in charge of the house tax branch, had sent the proposal to the top brass of the civic body. But even after six months, the MC has not been able to take any decision on it. Sources revealed that the idea of imposing the house tax had been vehemently opposed by a lobby consisting of advertisers and politicians. Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar confirmed that the proposal was in the pipeline, but refuted the allegations that there was any pressure on the MC authorities. “There is no question of any pressure. The matter is still under consideration,” she added.

Ludhiana, January 10
Taking a stern stand for getting the Utilisation Certificates (UC) of around Rs 15 crore spent under various government schemes, the district administration has now decided to lodge FIRs against those officials and organisations who failed to submit the mandatory certificate.

According to sources, the district administration had allotted funds worth Rs 15 crore to various departments and NGOs during 2004-2005 to 2009- 2010 for conducting development works. But in turn it has received the UCs from only 35 per cent of them against these development works.

Despite the fact that top brass of the district administration has asked for the data from lower officials, panchayats and NGOs, but now taking a stern stand against them, the administration has decided to get lodge FIR against those who don’t submit the UCs.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Pradeep Aggarwal told the officers at the meeting of the District Planning Committee here on Friday that if the UCs were not submitted by the executing agencies soon then they would get the FIR lodged against them.

According to sources, UCs for more then Rs 11 crore from 2004 to 2010 are pending for general works. Similarly, UCs for the Punjab Nirman Scheme worth Rs 3 crore have also not being received from the same period.

UCs for Rs 1.54 crore spent on grants for clubs, welfare of the scheduled caste, dharamshalas and mahila mandal are also lying pending.

As most of these grants had been issued by the previous government, possibility of misuse couldn’t be ruled out. Due to this the administration has now resorted to act tough with the defaulters, the sources added.

Ludhiana, January 10
As many as 35 students of various institutes were honoured by Punjab Technical University for excelling in various fields in a function organised at Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology, Gujjarkhan campus, here today.

The university had decided to honour students who had set a new record in any event in sports/events or had represented the PTU in inter-varsity youth festivals and won gold, bronze or silver medals.

The bhangra team was honoured for winning a gold medal at the North Zone Inter-varsity Youth Festival.

Fourteen athletes who had set new records in various events and 11 students, who had won in cycling, swimming and cross-country events, were also honoured. Out of the 35 achievers who were honoured, 15 belonged to the GNIMT, Gujarkhan campus, Model Town, Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, January 10
A teacher training programme “Effective teaching methodology” was held at Ludhiana Group of Colleges (LGC), Chaukimann, on the Ferozepur Road.

Prof Harpreet Singh, head of management section, was the resource person.

Interacting with teachers, he said will was more important than skills and one should not have a mental block in order to excel in career, especially in the field of academics. He said prioritisation was necessary otherwise students would not be able to comprehend the subject.

“Teachers should imbibe the same habits in students so that they are able to meet the challenges of the future. The teacher is the curriculum and natural flair of teaching is human interaction,” he said.

Dr MP Kaushal, principal of the institute, said teaching was a noble profession but needed a lot of hard work.

Rajeev Gulati, general secretary, LGC, said senior teachers should guide new teachers to ensure effective teaching. — TNS

Ludhiana: A four-day training programme on “Processing, packaging and marketing of medicinal plants and oilseeds”, organised by the department of Processing and Food Engineering (PFE), College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, PAU, in association with the Punjab Horticultural Postharvest Technology Centre (PHPTC), started here on Monday. The programme saw the participation of farmers of Farm Produce Promotion Society (FAPRO), Hoshiarpur.

PHPTC director Dr BS Ghuman said subject experts from the departments of plant breeding, food science and technology, processing and food engineering and business management would familiarise the participants with the production technologies of oilseed crops in Punjab, quality and nutritional value of oilseeds/oil, milling of oilseeds and its machinery and packaging and storage of oils. Eight participants were already engaged in agro-processing activity, he said.

Dr Jarnail Singh, head, department of processing and food engineering, PAU, said the thrust would be on the scope of medicinal, aromatic and spice crops in Punjab, nutritional and therapeutic properties of Aloe vera, importance of ayurvedic medicinal plants and their uses as medicine, strategies for marketing of oils, preparation of amla products and cultivation of suitable medicinal plants in the state. To enhance the knowledge of farmers, practical training in processing, packaging and marketing of medicinal plants and oilseeds would also be imparted to them.

LUDHIANA: Kundan Vidya Mandir has initiated a movement to inspire youngsters to do something for their country. The school, under the guidance of officiating principal Navita Puri, has started a Journalists’ Club in the school where students get the opportunity to express their ideas concerning the society freely. The second meeting of the club was held in the school library on Monday. Students from class X attended the meeting. The principal presided over the meeting. Guest speaker UK Sharda, editor of The Egalitarian, motivated students to polish their communication skills.

Sharda highlighted the role of media in building a strong nation. “Media should not sell news alone but create awareness among people. Budding writers should think positive and be optimistic,” he said.

Ludhiana, January 10
More than 150 participants competed in the Junior Punjab State Bodybuilding Championship organised by the Ludhiana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (LABFA) under the aegis of the Punjab Amateur Bodybuilding Association (PABA) at Luxmi Narayan Mandir, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, here yesterday.

Dr Randhir Hastir, general secretary, PABA, inaugurated the championship and Punjab Cabinet Minister Hira Singh Gabria distributed the prizes.

Dr Diepak Prashar, GL Sharma, Dr Raj Hastir and Vijay Kumar, all international judges, national judge Brijesh Kaushal and state judges JS Ubee and Arvinder Singh supervised the contestants.

Results: Jr Mr Punjab: Below 55 kg: 1 Honey Mittal, 2 Jagdeep Singh and 3 Surya Bahadur; 55 to 60 kg: 1 Robin Masih, 2 Gurdeep Singh and 3 Ramandeep Singh; 60 to 65 kg: 1 Ashok Kumar, 2 Narinder Singh and 3 Adesh; 65 to 70 kg: 1 Vishal Kumar, 2 Hardit Singh and 3 Varinder Sharma; 70 to 75 kg: 1 Vishal Khanna, 2 Rajesh Kumar and 3 Nishant Bansal; above 75 kg: 1 Satbir Singh, 2 Parminder Singh and 3 Gurbhej Singh. Veterans: Above 40 years: 1 Shashi Kapoor, 2 Sat Pal Singh and 3 Raj Kumar.

Punjab handicapped bodybuilding: 1 Avtar Singh, 2 Tinku and 3 Sandeep Kumar.