Training camp on IPM ends 
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
An advanced training on integrated pest management for sustained crop productivity was organised in the Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, which concluded here yesterday.

Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, informed that there were 47 trainees from the disciplines of entomology, plant pathology, vegetable crops, agronomy, floriculture and plant breeding. The majority of trainees were from entomology and plant pathology. The training programme was divided into four components dealing with basic ecological principles and methods of pest management; integrated pest management in selective crop/pest systems and practical training to various aspects of pest management.

Dr V.K. Dilawari, Professor of Ecology, who coordinated the course, informed that the training was evaluated by conducting a test of trainees. Trainees’ perception of training was also sought.

According to Dr G.S. Nanda, Director of Research, such trainings were essential for updating the knowledge of resource personnel who were responsible for the transfer of technology to farmers. 

FMD prevalent in state
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
The veterinarians of Punjab Agricultural University have advised the farmers to get their animals vaccinated against the foot and mouth disease and haemorrhagic scepticemia. In a press note issued here today, the Head of the Department, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, said that the reports of spread of the FMD were received from many parts of the state.

He said that the vaccine was available in the market and the animals should be vaccinated under the guidance of veterinary doctors.

Pharmacists’ rally cancelled
Our Correspondent

Khamano, December 14
The Veterinary Pharmacists Union, Punjab, has cancelled its proposed rally at Ajnala on December 16 following a meeting with Mr Ratan Singh Ajnala, Animal Husbandry Minister, and senior officers of the department. According to Mr Gurbakhsh Singh Sidhu, president of the union, its demands were given a sympathetic hearing, and some of them were accepted immediately. He said that it had been agreed upon to recruit the unemployed veterinary pharmacists at the earliest.

Teachers resent additional duties
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
Resentment prevails among the government school teachers over additional duties being assigned to them during examinations.

The teachers said that they had been performing duties of collecting information regarding “sarb sikhya abhiyan” and data compilation for the past one week. They said they were hardly able to spare any time for taking examinations.

Stating this in a press note, Mr Rajinder Singh Garcha, General Secretary of the district unit of the Government Primary Teachers Union, said that much of their time was wasted on additional duties like collection of school fee, filling of examination forms for students, preparing votes, identity cards and conducting ETTs.

Mr Garcha also expressed his resentment against harassment of ETT candidates and newly appointed staff in procuring medical certificates from the office of the Chief Medical Officer.

Phagwara school wins declamation contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
The annual inter-school declamation contest of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, was held yesterday on the school premises. Students from various schools of the state took part in the contest. Mr R.L. Kalsia, IAS, was the chief guest.

Mr Kalsia blessed the students and congratulated them for their enthusiastic performance. Mr Hakam Singh Giaspura, Chairman of the Finance Committee, principals of various schools and Mr Rajinder Sharma, President, Association of PSEB Affiliated Schools, Punjab, honoured the chief guest.

On the occasion, sewing machines, fans, blankets, etc. were distributed among the needy women. Mr Rajinder Sharma was all praise for the participants and advised them to cultivate the spirit of leadership. Mr Hakam Singh Giaspura was honoured for his selfless service to the institution. Mr S.K. Sharma, Additional Commissioner, MC, gave away prizes to the winning students. He congratulated them for their excellent performance saying that these occasion provide a rare opportunity to the students for all-round development of their personality.

The running trophy was awarded to Sh Mahavir Jain Model Senior Secondary School, Phagwara. Sakshi Gupta of the same school got the first prize while Kirti Pathak of Everest Model School, Giaspura, and Sharanjit Kaur of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, got the second prize. Lily Sharma of Everest Model School, Giaspura, got the third prize.

Neha Sudhir of Sh Mahavir Jain Senior Secondary School, Phagwara, Amit Mittal of Lal Bahadur Shastri Public High School, and Richa Gaur, Everest Model School, Jaspalon, got the consolation prizes.

PAU youth festival on March 6, 7 and 8
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 14
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) inter-college youth festival will be organised on March 6, 7 and 8 on the campus here.

The dates of the youth festival were decided at a meeting of presidents, co-curricular activities clubs and members of the university dance and drama club held here yesterday. According to Mr M.S. Grewal, Students Welfare Officer, PAU, the music competitions wll be held on March 6, while the dramatics and dance competitions will be organised on March 7 and 8, respectively.

The competitions in fine arts and literary events will start on February 19. Meanwhile, the university is sending a 27-member contingent to participate in the third inter-state agricultural universities youth festival to be held in the last week of February at Kerala University. 

Annual day celebrations
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
The tiny tots of Children Valley School created magic here last evening at Guru Nanak Bhavan while celebrating their annual day.

The programme was prepared by the principal and staff of the school and was laced with songs and dances. The children were dressed like parrots, rabbits, elephants, monkeys and peacocks.

The function started with the solo dance performance by Krita who in her actions depicted the purity and vastness of the Ganges in turcoise-coloured Bharathalyam dress.

In the second item, a jungle scene was created in which animals (small children) shared their joys and sorrows with each other and enjoyed and welcomed the spring season.

The stage was tastefully decorated and created an ambience of a fairyland with stars, moon, beautiful trees decorated with multicoloured lights and flowers all around.

The annual day was first of its kind where such elaborate sets had been designed for kindergarten by Ms Taran K. Bal and the event was choreographed by Mr Amit Verma , an eminent theatre personality of Doordarshan.

Self-realisation week concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 14
Students of Punjab Agricultural University celebrated Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary in a unique way this year. The week-long celebrations, organised under the banner of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, were part of “Self Realisation Week”. The final part of this was held at the girls hostel last evening.

Ravinder Singh, performed kirtan in the beginning which enthralled students. Alamjit Singh accompanied him on tabla. This was followed by a talk on self-realization. Prof Sarbjit Singh of the Aas Kiran fame and an Assistant Professor of journalism in PAU, gave various tips for shedding tension and depression. He emphasised on the need to be spiritual rather than religious for attaining peace of mind.

The programme drew good response from students who asked questions from the speakers.

Gagandeep Kaur, a second-year veterinary student, disclosed she was very tense before the start of this function as she had an exam tomorrow, but the thoughtful exercise was so motivating that all her tension was gone now.

Mr Gurmit Singh, while speaking on the occasion, called upon students to adopt a winning and positive attitude in life. Dr Paramjit Kaur, warden of girls hostel, thanked those present on the occasion.

People happy with K3G
Kamal Kishore Shankar

Ludhiana, December 14
After producing hit romantic movies like Dil Wale Dulahania Le Jayen Ge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karna Johar has produced another winner having a high star-cast revolving around the relationship of a stepmother and a stepson, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, was released here today. The superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Kajol, Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and heartthrob of millions Hrithik Roshan, are playing main characters of a family where love is the essence of life.

However there are many hit Hindi movies in which the good and bad relationship between stepson and stepmother, have been shown. But this is probably the first Hindi movie which depicts the various aspects of this particular relations for a long time. The movie is a story of a family where the love between a stepson, Shahrukh Khan and stepmother, Jaya Bhaduri, does not decrease, despite many complex situations.

It seems from the viewers’ comments who viewed the first show of the movie at Aarti cinema, here that Jatin-Latit duet has once again succeeded in their effort to please audience by their melodious music. Although viewers liked all songs, but the title song, Kabhi Khushi Kabhei Gham was on lips of every one coming out of the cinema hall.

An undergraduate student, Ritu Sharma, said that after a long time such a good family oriented movie had been produced. She was of the view that this movie would definitely do well.

Another viewer, Ritesh said that the movie was a very good combination of every film production technique. He was of the view that this was the kind of movie to which the Indian audience was awaiting for a long time. According to Ritesh, this movie should do good business.

Another undergraduate student, Gurmukh Singh, said that the film was an arrangement of small episodes of a Hindu family and the arrangement was wonderfully supported by music and excellent lyrics by Sameer.

A migrant labourer, Sri Ram, said that this was a perfect movie to be seen with all family members which depicted the rich culture, good social system and our inherited values. He said “I have seen this movie along with my friends but I would definitely see this movie once again with my wife and children are residing in Uttar Pradesh at the moment.”

Another migrant labourer from Bihar, Avdesh Kumar also liked the movie because the famous super-star Amitabh Bachchan was in it, besides this, the story and music of the movie was very entertaining.