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Award for scientist

HISAR: Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University will bestow Life-Time Achievement Award on Pt Dhani Ram Vasudeva, a former wheat scientist of the university. The award will carry a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a scroll of honour. The award will be presented to him on university’s foundation day in February, said Prof J.B. Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor.

Pt Dhani Ram, who started his career before Partition at Lyallpur in 1940, joined as in charge of Wheat Breeding Service Station at Gurdaspur, in 1951. In January 1963, he was posted on deputation to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and then was shifted to Hisar.

He pioneered to establish a full-fledged wheat breeding station for Haryana. After the inception of this university on February 2, 1970, he opted to work in the university. He was elevated to the rank of Economic Botanist in 1971 and later Senior Economic Botanist (Wheat and Barley) in 1978. His services were extended for two years on superannuation in 1980.

Prof Chowdhury said Pt Dhani Ram developed a large number of improved varieties of wheat and barley which helped in transformation of farmers’ economy in Haryana.

Wheat variety C-306 developed by him was the first released in 1965 under the All-India Wheat Improvement Coordinated Project. This variety was still performing well under rainfed conditions. Similarly another variety WH-147 had become popular among farmers of western Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for good yield under low input conditions and wide adaptability. In fact, this variety had contributed significantly towards the wheat revolution in the state. Barley varieties BG-25, BG-105 and BH-75 evolved by him were also notable.

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A national seminar on seed technology development concluded here recently which emphasised creation of seed villages at the block level. The move would help meet the increasing quality seed demand of farmers.

According to Dr B.S. Dahiya, coordinator, Seed Production Technology Centre, CCSHAU, and convener of the seminar, the participants — seed technologists, representatives of seed industry and progressive farmers — suggested that only agriculture graduates should be allowed to enter the seed trade and licences be issued to those graduates who had at least six months experience or training in seed quality assurance.

The participants observed that as India was gifted with diverse climate and equipped with well-organised R and D infrastructure and expertise, the country could emerge as a major seed exporter.

The seminar also emphasised the establishment of at least 20 well-equipped seed centres in different agro-climatic zones for producing trained manpower to handle this sector.

Dr Dahiya said the participants felt concerned at the introduction of weeds, disease, insects and pests to the country along with the seed being imported from other countries. In view of this, they urged the government to strengthen all entry points of seed like airports, land routes and coastal ports with well-trained staff so that the inflow of contaminated seed could be checked.

The Department of Plant Breeding has developed and released a high-yielding variety of fieldpeas. The variety named ‘Uttara’, is leafless and has better tolerance to rust and powdery mildew. Its seeds are medium bold and creamy white. In field trials this variety gave on an average 14 per cent higher yield than the check variety "Aparna."

The Central Variety Release Committee, Government of India, has recommended this variety for cultivation in north-west plains of the country including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and parts of Rajasthan.

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During the current rabi season, the university in collaboration with the state Agriculture Department, launched a campaign to popularise among wheat growers a newly invented zero tillage seed-cum-fertiliser drill. The machine fabricated by G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, is said to save precious time of farmers in field preparation for sowing of wheat, apart from checking the growth of a dreaded wheat disease called Phalaris minor or Mandusi.

A team of agronomists under the leadership of Dr R.K. Malik, Senior Weed Scientist, gave a number of demonstrations in major rice and wheat growing districts of Hisar, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Fatehabad, Yamunanagar and Karnal covering an area of about 1,000 acres.

Dr Malik said the response of farmers towards the new machine was "enthusiastic".

The university has decided to accord recognition to its scientists and teachers. The Academic Council of the university has accorded approval to the proposal in this regard which seeks grant of one increment to the teachers for winning national award. However, it has constituted a committee to discuss all such cases and decide the national awards to be considered for this purpose.

But for the selection of university teachers for the Best Teacher Award, the council has decided to follow recommendations of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

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The first All-India Inter-Agricultural University Athletic Meet (men and women) will be held on the synthetic track being laid at Giri Centre of the university.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has entrusted this responsibility to CCSHAU, perhaps, for the best infrastructure available here. Though the exact dates have yet to be decided, it is likely to be held in the second week of March.

Prof R.T. Sharma, Dean, College of Sports, said 17 agricultural universities had confirmed their participation in the meet.

What is the difference between a Chartered Accountant and a Cost Accountant?

Bhupinder Gadagkar, Chandigarh

To become a Chartered Accountant, one has to clear the examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICA) and also complete 3-year articleship. But for becoming a Cost Accountant one has to merely pass the examination conducted by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWA). There is no need to do articleship. While a Chartered Accountant is empowered to verify and certify all accounts including the balance-sheet of an organisation, a cost accountant or a cost manager as he is now called, has no power to verify the balance-sheet of an organisation.

I am keen on taking NDA exam. Could you please tell me about the eligibility criteria and also the pattern of this exam?

Atul Kaushik, Ambala Cantt., Haryana

In order to take the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam, you must be unmarried and between 16½-19 years of age besides having passed in Class XII. Students with Commerce and Arts streams can join the Army wing as a Cadet and not the Air Force and Navy wings (as these require a pass in Class XII with Physics and Maths as subjects).

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts this examination twice-a-year for admission of cadets to both the National Defence Academy, Pune, and the Naval Academy, Goa.

Selection is on the basis of a written exam followed by tests and interview conducted by the Services Selection Board (SSB), and a medical exam.

The written exam is held at examination centres of all over the country and consists of two papers:

Paper-I: consists of arithmetic, mensuration, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. The levels is of Class X (Matriculation).

Paper-II: has two parts. Part A of 200 marks, tests the candidate’s understanding of English and covers grammar, comprehension, vocabulary and usage. Part B of 400 marks deals with General Knowledge and covers subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History & Civics, Geography and current events.

All questions are in English and are of objective-type.

Be on the look out for the advertisements published in Employment News and other leading national dailies usually in the months of April/May and October/November each year.

I am keen on applying for lectureship. Is it essential to qualify the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the UGC?

Adarsh Mehta, Dhawan Colony, Firozepore City

In accordance with a revision of the rules of recruitment, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it optional for the universities to exempt only Ph.D degree- holders from qualifying the NET for appointment as lecturers.

The rules also provide for a 5% relaxation from 55 per cent to 50 per cent aggregate in postgraduation for SC/ST candidates as well as for Ph.D degree holders who have passed their postgraduation prior to 19 Sept. 1991. However, since it is not incumbent on all universities to waive the NET and also since the exact implication of the term ‘optional’ in the notification is not every clear, it may be safer to pitch in for the NET. In case you are a science scholar, the next CSIR-UGC test is on June 20, ‘99, so there is sufficient time to prepare. However, don’t forget to apply before Feb. 15, ‘99 should you decide to give it.

I have completed my B.Com. I am keen on taking up a bank job. Could you please provide me the details of the Bank P.O. Exam?

Ashish Bansal, Veer Colony, Bathinda

The Written Examination for Probationary Officers in nationalised banks consists of a two-part test: Objective and Descriptive.

The Objective Test has 4 sections

• Reasoning (75 questions, 80 marks)
• Quantitative Aptitude (50 questions, 60 marks)
• General Awareness (50 questions, 60 marks)
• English Language (50 questions, 50 marks)

There is negative marking.

The Descriptive Section (60 marks) is allotted a total time of 45 minutes. Of the four questions, you have to attempt three. This is only a qualifying test and marks secured in this section will not be added to your final tally. In order to prepare for this section, you will have to read one or two newspapers daily and General Knowledge magazines. Subscribing to a good competition magazine may be a good idea as also getting your basics in Maths (of the level of Class IX and X) clear.

After clearing the Written Examination, you will be called for an interview.

I am keen on doing B.Ed. Could you please tell me about the universities offering a correspondence course in B.Ed.

Vandana, Veer Colony, Bathinda

Under the guidelines issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the apex statutory body established by an Act of Parliament for coordinating and monitoring teacher education in the country, only working teachers with minimum three years of teaching experience in a recognised school (primary, secondary or higher secondary) within the jurisdiction of the concerned university are allowed to enrol for correspondence courses in B.Ed. All others must enrol in a regular face-to-face programme. This rule has been formulated with a view to achieving planned and coordinated development and also maintenance of norms and standards in teacher education system throughout the country.

The following are the only universities offering recognised B.Ed correspondence courses:

• Himachal Pradesh University, International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005, HP.
• Kota Open University, Rawatbhata Road, Kota 324010, Rajasthan.
• Kurukshetra University, Department of Distance Education, Kurukshetra 132119, Haryana.
• Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana.
• Punjabi University, Directorate of Correspondence Courses, Patiala 147002, Punjab.
• Tripura University, PO Agartala College, Tripura West, Agartala 799004, Tripura.

A word of caution: Do not fall prey to local institutions offering B.Ed courses of XYZ universities. It is always best to entrol directly with the university concerned. And this holds true of most other courses as well.

What are the career prospects for someone specialising in Environmental Sciences?

Brinda Kamath, Chandigarh

Due to increasing environmental degradation and the subsequent need and awareness of environmental conservation, career opportunities are bound to multiply in this field. Already, the demand for Environmental Scientists, Environmental Engineers, Environmental Biologists, Environmental Planners, writers and lawyers in the areas of forests and wildlife management industry, research & development, social development environmental journalism and environmental law has registered a spurt.

Environmental Scientists are usually appointed by large industries in their environmental R&D departments. They focus on issues of pollution control, efficient waste and effluent control, management and planning. While in small-scale industries, the manpower to control environmental pollution caused by industrial wastes may not be large, in bigger organisations, there is a full-fledged department dealing with this aspect. Public sector organisations like ONGC, NTPC, SAIL, BHEL, IDPL, IPCL, Hindustan Insecticides etc, and private sector companies like TELCO, TISCO, JK Industries, Shriram Industries, Birlas, Modis, and Industries manufacturing paper, cement, dairy products, chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides etc. employ environmental specialists.

Consultancy firms provide environmental impact assistance both for industry and the Government by assessing the ecological viability of large projects.

Organisations like National Productivity Council (NPC), Metallurgical Engineering Consultants (MECON) and institutes like IITs and CSIR laboratories also provide consultancy services apart from the private consultancy organisations.

The Government of India and various universities offer avenues for R&D. Prominent bodies working in the field of environmental engineering and research are the CSIR; National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI); National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Chennai; NPC, Delhi; Central Leather Research Institute (CLR), Chennai and the Indian Toxicological Research Institute, Lucknow.

Many NGOs committed to the cause of environmental protection and awareness, also offer jobs for environmental specialists.

While the industry’s requirement for an Environmental Scientists is an M.Sc in Environmental Science or an ME in Environmental or chemical engineering, NGOs even take on those with a B.Sc or M.Sc in Environmental Sciences.

After completing your graduation, you can also appear in the Indian Forest Service Examination, conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Recruitment to the State Forest Service is however made by the respective State Public Service Commissions.

Feb 9: Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications, WPC Wing, COP Section, 20, Ashoka Road, Sanchar Bhavan, New Delhi-110 001.

Radio Telephone (Restricted) Certificate of Proficiency & Licence.

Application Form: Send a self addressed, unstamped envelope (28 cm x 12 cm).

Management Feb 10 Institute of Public Enterprise, Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad-500 007. Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management. (2 years).

Eligibility: Candidates should have appeared for Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by IIMs on December 13, 1998.

Selection: Based on CAT result, group discussion and interview.

Application Form: Send Rs. 700/- by DD in favour of "Institute of Public Enterprise" payable at Hyderabad or Rs. 600/- in cash at counter.

Feb 23 Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Post Box No. 137, IMT, Rajnagar, Hapur Road, Ghaziabad-201001.

(1) Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) (2 years).

(2) Postgraduate Diploma in Executive Management (PGDEM) (1 year). (3) Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA)

(3 years).

(4) Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM-P/T) (3 years, part-time).

(5) Fellow Programme in Management (FPM).

Eligibility:

Graduation in any discipline For Course (2): 3-year executive-level work experience. For Course (4): 2-year work experience (1-year for postgraduates or those with professional qualifications). Age: For courses (1) & (3): 19 years. For courses (2) & (4): 22 years. For Course (3): Mathematics till 10+2. For Course (5): Postgraduation with 55% aggregate, MBA/PGDBM 65% or BE/BTech with 60%.

Application Form: Send Rs. 600/- by DD in favour of "Institute of Management Technology", payable at Ghaziabad along with two self-addressed labels, to the Chairman (Admissions) or in cash at counter. Write your name and address on the reverse side of the DD.

Last date for issue of forms: Feb. 22, ’99.

Medicine

Feb 28 All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta-700073.

1. MD (PSM) (3 years).
2. Diplomas in Public Health (DPH), Maternity & Child Welfare (DMCW) Industrial Health (DIH) (2 years).
3. Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) (2 years).
4. Master of Engineering in Public Health (MEPH) (18 months).
5. Diploma in Dietetics (12 months).
6. Diploma in Health Education (DHE) (12 months).
7. Diploma in Health Statistics (DHS) (12 months).
8. Diploma in Public Health Nursing (DPHN) (10 months).
9. Certificate in Public Health Nursing Supervision (CPHNS) (13 weeks).

Eligibility:

(For (1) & (2): Any bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from recognised university.

(3) MBBS/BVSc/AH.

(4) BE/BTech in Civil Engineering or equivalent.

(5) Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery/Degree with Physiology or chemistry or clinical nutrition with dietetics as a subject/Degree in Home Science or Nursing.

(6) Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery/Masters degree in arts, science, commerce with two years community work experience.

(7) Medical graduates of BA/BCom with mathematics or statistics as a subject.

(8) Matriculation/10+2 or Pre-Univ with certificate/diploma in general nursing and midwifery plus two years work experience in clinical or community nursing.

(9) Diploma in Public Health Nursing/Nursing Education and Admin. plus 3-years work experience in urban and rural field.

Preference to government sponsored candidates. Those who have passed examination from open university must not apply.

Application Form: Apply on plain paper along with self-addressed, Stamped envelope.

Lectureship

Feb 15 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Human Resource Development Group, Examination Unit, NPL Campus, Dr. K. S. Krishna Menon Marg, Pusa, New Delhi-110 012. Joint CSIR-UGC Test for Junior Research Fellowship and Eligibility for Lectureship

Exam: on 20 June, ’99.

Eligibility:

55% aggregate at Master’s level (those who have appeared in the final year of MSc or equivalent can also apply), in the areas of Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric Ocean & Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences or related areas. Age: For JRF: 28 years as on 1.1.’99 (relaxable up to 5 years for SC/ST/OBC, physically handicapped and females). For Lectureship: No upper age limit.

Application Form: See Employment News dated 23-29, Jan., ’99

Engineering

Feb 22 Union Public Service Commission, Post Bag No. 2, Dholpur House, New Delhi-110 001. Engineering Services Examination, 1999. Exam: on 2 July, ’99.

Eligibility: BE/BTech or must have passed Section A and B examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Degree/Diploma in Engineering or must have passed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India) or must have passed Associate Membership Examination (Parts II and III/Sections A and B) of the Aeronautical Society of India or must have passed Associate Membership Examination (Sections A and B) of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (India) or must have passed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London. Age: 21-30 years as on 1 Aug., ’99 i.e. born not earlier than 2 Aug., ’69 and not later than 1 Aug., ’78 (upper age limit relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST)

Application Form: See Employment News dated 23-29, Jan., ’99.

Apr 26 Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal-148 106, Dist: Sangrur, Punjab Degree, Diploma and Certificate-level courses in Engineering & Technology. Eligibility: For Degree programmes: Diploma-holders. For Diploma Programmes: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as subjects and Certificate-holders of SLIET. For Certificate Programmes: Class X.

Selection Procedure: Entrance Test to be conducted at various centers on 12th and 13th June, ’99.

Application Form: Send Rs. 230/- by DD in favour of "Director, SLIET", drawn on Central Bank of India, Longowal or Sangrur, or Rs. 200/- in cash at counter. Forms available from 25 Feb., ’99.

In Punjab, Forms are also available at the following centres:

Office of the Director, Technical Education, Punjab, Plot No. 1-A, Sector 36-A, Chandigarh.

Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering & Technology, Bathinda.

Beant Engineering College, Gurdaspur.

YMCA, Faridabad.

Guru Nank Dev Polytechnic, Ludhiana.

Mehr Chand Polytechnic, Jalandhar.

Government Polytechnic, Amritsar,

Regional Engineering College, Hamirpur.

Computers

Feb 15 National Open School, (Department of Education, MHRD, Govt. of India), B-35, Kailash

Colony, New Delhi-110 048.

Certificate in Computer Applications (CCA) (1-year).

Certificate in Library Sciences (CLS) (1-year).

Application Form: Rs. 20/- in cash at counter. Forms also available at the following institutes:

For CCA: IWS Licence of Et & T, Scd 3031-32, Sector-11-C, Chandigarh-160 011. Y.M.C.A. Computer Centre, Sector-11-C, Chandigarh-160 011. For CLS: National Open School, B-35, Kailash Colony, New Delhi-110 048. Medicine Feb 28 All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta-700073.

1. MD (PSM) (3 years).
2. Diploma in Public Health (DPH) (2 years).
3. Diploma in Maternity & Child Welfare (DMCW) (2 years).
4. Diploma in Industrial Health (DIH) (2 years).
5. Master of Veterinary Public Health (MVPH) (2 years).
6. Master of Engineering in Public Health (MEPH) (18 months).
7. Diploma in Dietetics (12 months).
8. Diploma in Health Education (DHE) (12 months).
9. Diploma in Health Statistics (DHS) (12 months).
10. Diploma in Public Health Nursing (DPHN) (10 months). Eligibility and Application Form: Apply on plain paper along with self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Note: The above-mentioned dates are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms.

UNICEF warns Europe

UNICEF is warning of a "major educational meltdown’’ in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet countries, where thousands of public schools have shut down and fewer children are attending classes. More than 32,000 pre-schools have closed down across the region and the number of children attending kindergartens has fallen from 61 per cent to 44 per cent — primarily because of economic and social crises in the past 10 years, says UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. Russia, where 23,000 pre-schools have closed down, is also facing strikes by teachers who are refusing to work until they receive pay arrears. "These are serious threats to early childhood development, and in the worst case we could be witnessing a major educational meltdown,’’ Bellamy said in a statement, reports AP. UNICEF figures show that in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, fewer than one in 10 children attend kindergarten, compared with one in three 10 years ago.

British teens surf Net freely

British parents are largely unaware of what their pre-teen and teenage children are doing when they access the Internet, but the children themselves are enjoying the risks of the unregulated medium, new market research shows. One in 13 children aged 11 to 13 and one in 10 aged 14 to 16 told market researchers NOP Family in a survey earlier this year that they regularly used the Internet at home. The main uses were for games, homework, and making friends. In a follow-up survey last month called "Kids.net," NOP found that many children over 11 claimed to have accessed pornography on the global computer network. Some spoke of being bothered by adult men when talking in chat rooms. "Children are sophisticated users of the Internet and their knowledge and experience is progressing far faster than some of us are aware," NOP Family director Barbie Clarke told a conference on marketing to children, Reuters. "They certainly don’t want any adult to supervise them," Clarke said, adding that some children in the panel of 3,900 6-year-olds to 15-year-olds interviewed in schools said they had found sites on how to make bombs or hack into television satellites!

Computers and posture

According to a study by Cornell University (USA) researcher Shawn Oates, which will be published in the May issue of the journal "Computers in the Schools," some elementary school computers are set up without accommodation for healthy typing postures, and that could put children at risk of developing the painful repetitive stress injuries that have affected office-workers in recent years. During the study, researchers watched 95 elementary-school children from 11 schools as they worked at computers in classrooms and computer labs. The study found "striking misfits" between the children and the computer workstations, says a The New York Times report.