New variety of paneer developed by PAU
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 5
In a recent experiment that will enhance the nutritive value as well as the taste of cottage cheese, the Department of Food and Technology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has prepared a new kind of paneer variety called vegetable impregnated paneer.

The new variety has been developed by incorporating green leafy vegetables into it. It is prepared by adding mint and coriander leaves into it when the milk is boiled to convert it into paneer.

According to Ms Usha Bajwa and Jaspreet Kaur of the Department of Food Science and Technology, the new variety of paneer has additional benefits as it is highly nutritious as it contains additional minerals such as iron, calcium and vitamins, including vitamin C and beta carotene.

Moreover, the shelf life of impregnated vegetable paneer is higher as compared to the plain paneer due to its salt content. Its appearance and flavour can make it a popular snack. It can be further fried or used to make pakoras, fried snacks or vegetable curry.

Ms Bajwa also said that the new variety is easier to prepare and its preparation does not need any extra expenditure as the mint and coriander leaves are easily available during summers as well as winters. Being a value added product it can fetch higher market price than plain paneer.

Talking about the ingredients and method of preparation, Ms Bajwa and Jaspreet Kaur said that only 30 g of leaves are required for paneer prepared with 2 litres of buffalo milk. The impregnated paneer is prepared by heating the fresh milk to around 85 degree celsius in a stainless steel vessel on a low flame. The leaves of mint and coriander are put in boiling water for 2 minutes. The leaves are then chopped into small pieces.

The heated mix is then allowed to cool down to about 75 degrees celsius and finely chopped leaves are added into it and stirred with a ladel so that the leaves are uniformly distributed throughout.

As the temperature of the milk falls to 72 degrees celsius citric acid solution is added and stirred until a solid coagulated mass is separated. The liquid is then drained and coagulum is collected in a muslin cloth. The prepared paneer is then dipped into salt solution for 30 minutes. 

PAU names trophy after Dr Kakkar
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 5
Providing some reprieve to the family of the late Dr Som Nath Kakkar, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has named after him the trophy awarded to the champion team in the university youth festival.

Disclosing this to the Ludhiana Tribune here today, a university official said the decision was taken to help the students and not to hurt anybody’s sentiments. Earlier it was reported that the university might take this decision in order to appease the family members of the late professor, known for his contribution to development of cultural activities in the university.

Giving a new twist to the controversy, the university official disclosed that the decision was necessary as participants in the youth festival had been experiencing difficulties in getting gradation on the certificates due to the name, which gives an impression that it was some kind of private festival. Interestingly, the university realised 22 years after the inception of the festival that the students were experiencing ‘difficulties’.

Mr J.S. Toor, Director Students Welfare, also reitereted that that the name of the youth festival had not been changed to hurt the feelings of Dr Kakkar’s family.

He said that the students had been facing problems during the grading of their certificates given away to them for the participation in the youth festival.

Chaos at interview centre
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 5
Utter chaos prevailed at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, where interviews for the posts of science master were conducted by the District Education Department here today.

Several candidates complained that their applications had been lost by the department and the officers were telling them to bring the draft numbers for being accommodated. The candidates said they were told that the applications might have been lost due to the transfer of files from Chandigarh to Hoshiarpur and then to Ludhiana. The candidates also said no arrangements for sitting or providing drinking water were made.

The interviews were being conducted by Ms Parkash Kaur, District Education Officer (Primary), Mr Harikrishan Mayer, physics lecturer at Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School, and Ms Parveen Kumari, chemistry lecturer at Government Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar.

Besides, appointment letters were given to 277 newly appointed elementary teachers for Ludhiana. 

College teachers continue rallies
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 5
Continuing their protest rallies for the second day today, teachers from over 24 government aided and unaided colleges of the district assembled outside the Mini Secretariat here today.

The agitated teachers raised slogans against the Punjab Government and blocked traffic on the Ferozepur Road.

However, it was restored on the orders of the SSP, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu.

The teachers were sore about the arrest of the 18 members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) at Chandigarh yesterday.

While addressing the rally, Prof R.S. Brar, state committee member of the union, condemned the repressive action taken by the Punjab Government in arresting the leaders.

He said the teachers were demanding the implementation of the pension-cum-gratuity scheme, review of posts, covering of unaided colleges, enhancement of grant-in-aid, rural area allowance and lecturer designation to DPEs and librarians.

While supporting the strike of the college teachers, Prof Jaipal Singh, president, strongly condemned the arrest of the teachers and demanded immediate acceptance of their genuine demands.

Mr Bhajan Singh, president, Democratic Teachers’ Front, also extended help to the college teachers during the struggle. Besides, several teachers went to Chandigarh today to support the arrested teachers.

Arrest of college lecturers flayed
Our Correspondent

Doraha, December 5
Dr Ishwar Singh, president, Government Colleges Management Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh, has strongly condemned the arrest of college lecturers in Chandigarh.

In a press note here, he appealed to Mr Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, to implement the pension-cum-gratuity scheme and cover the unaided colleges under the grant-in-aid scheme. He stated that the state government should find a permanent solution of the problem through talks so that peace could be restored in colleges.

He said a meeting of the joint action committee would be held at Guru Nanak National College here on December 9 at 2 pm. He warned the government that if necessary action was not taken, all the three federations and unions would intensify their struggle.

Debate on role of lawyers, police
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 5
The Young Lawyers Welfare Association Ludhiana will organise a debate on “The role of lawyers and police towards the judicial system” on December 7 in the old courts compound.

Disclosing this Mr Harish Narang, chairman of association said Mr A P Pandey, Inspector-General of Police, Punjab will be the chief guest. The DIG Ludhiana Range, Mr Suresh Arora will the guest of honour, whereas Mr Harish Dhanda, president, District Bar Association Ludhiana, will coordinate the debate.

Mr Ashok Kumar, president and Mr Sanjeev Malhotra, general secretary of the Young Lawyers Welfare Association has appealed to the lawyers to participate in the debate.

Sambhav — cultivating culture
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, December 5
Sambhav also aims to make Ludhiana clean and green by 2010. Yes, it believes, it is possible. And since there is a goal involved, each and every resident is a prospective member. Hierarchy in Sambhav is replaced by equality and each member is powerful to make the impossible possible. Moreover, it wants to inculcate a healthy attitude which may help in building a better future for residents of Ludhiana. The organisation is active in propagating the feeling of empathy towards surroundings among people, besides making the city clean and green.

Adopting abandoned parks in the city and making them green and organising special awareness camps in schools are part of its endeavors. In colony awareness camps, campaigns are launched to clean colonies by taking residents along.

Sambhav, a year-old voluntary organisation, feels that there is a need to explore the possibilities in art and literature, which may help in building better future. The distance between literary intellectuals and common people is widening. Most of the ‘ivory towered’ limit their creative powers to carving out their identities only.

To reduce this distance and to bring quality art and poetry to the public and members of the organisation, a unique day-long festival is being organised at Punjabi Bhavan on January 8. The programme would be titled ‘Surchaap’, which means rainbow in Punjabi. Different colours of art would be presented in the festival. Internationally known poet Surjit Patar will inaugurate the festival at 10 a.m. Eminent critic Dr Satinder Singh from Delhi University will read a paper on the relevance and role of art and literature in building a better future. As many as 10 poets will talk about their creative processes, their interests and themes in their poetry. The participants would be Dr Ramesh, Dr Ravinder, Ram Singh Chahal, Darshan Buttar, Gurtej Keharwala, Sukhwinder Amrit , Jaswinder, Gurpreet, Jaipal and Mandeep.

A one-of-its-kind, one actor play, ‘Jhooth’, will be staged by Samual Johan. Scripted by Balram, the play in Punjabi is a theatrical adaption of Om Parkash Valmiki’s autobiography. Photo artist Kamaljit will present a slide show depicting dialogue with dreams for a better future. Dev Dildaar will bring the mela to conclusion with his melodious singing. Entry cards, being sold at selected outlets, are compulsory for those attending.