Ludhiana, February 1
To boost oilseeds production, Punjab Agricultural University is encouraging the cultivation of rapeseed and mustard in the state. The area under these crops is increasing steadily. However, the damage due to the attack of aphids and some other insects and pests is proving to be a limiting factor in popularising the cultivation of these crops in Punjab.

Scientists in the Department of Agronomy and Agro Meteorology have informed that inclement weather makes these crops susceptible to the attack of aphids and other insect pests. At present nearly 38 different insects and pests have been reported that attack oilseed crops. Of all, mustard aphid is the most serious which can cause yield loss up to 75 per cent.

Dr Lakhvir Kaur Dhaliwal and Ms Sarbjit Kaur Chahal have monitored the growth of mustard aphid and concluded that cold weather plays an important role in the growth and attack of this pest.

The scientists have further informed that whenever there is sufficient rain, the severity of aphid attack is less as rain water washes away its colonies. Also continuous dense fog for 10-15 days limits the attack of this pest as it can not withstand longer periods of dense fog and dies.

The scientists have pointed out that to check the attack of this pest mustard should be grown at proper time. October sown crop is less prone to the aphid attack as it comes to flowering stage in November when the temperature is not very cold. Also the October sown crop comes in the pod bearing stage in December and at this stage there is little danger of damage by aphid. Thus by sowing rapeseed and mustard in October, farmers can escape the attack of mustard aphid and save money which otherwise is spent on insecticide sprays.

Ludhiana, February 1
The Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT) organised a seminar on ‘careers and courses’ available to students after graduation at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha here today.

Prof Gursharan Singh, head of the Post-Graduate Commerce Department of the college welcomed and introduced the resource Personnel, Dr R.S. Gupta Director, Prof V.J. Rai and Prof Ms Raman Bagga of the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology, Doraha. Dr Gupta initiated the discussion by telling the students about various careers and courses available after doing B.Com, BA and M.Com. Prof Rai emphasised the need for doing MBA, MCA, M.Sc. (I.T.), PGDCA, courses to compete in the global market.

He said Global competition is not affecting only the big units but also small and medium size enterprises. Ms Bagga informed the students about the minimum qualification and procedure for joining these courses. She also gave information about the existence of training and placement cell at the DIMT which provided coaching for the entrance test for MDA/MCA courses.

Principal Mr G. Jagdev Singh Grewal of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, thanked the speakers for giving valuable information to students to opt for right course.

Khanna, February 1
Sixty students of the A.S. College for Women, here, visited the Super Milk Plant, Malerkotla Road, here with the college Principal Ms Rekha Bhardwaj on Tuesday. The Principal said the aim of this trip was to widen knowledge of the students. The students were given information regarding the processing of milk and manufacturing of milk products such as paneer, butter and desi ghee etc.

Ludhiana, February 1
The College Development Council Fund, which is to be used for development purposes, seems to being spent elsewhere. The real beneficiaries of fund are wards of teachers and professors, who can bear the expenses of their studies.

Poor meritorious students are not only the sufferers but are also asked to put in their share of Rs 25 per annum towards this fund.

Mr Tarsem Bahia, eminent educationist and Senate and Syndicate member of Panjab University, Chandigarh said keeping this in mind, the standing committee of the College Development Council, at a recent meeting at Chandigarh, had asked the authorities to reconsider its decision on providing concessions to the wards of teachers.

He said rather, the fund should be used on poor deserving students. “We have recommended that 5 per cent of SC/ST or deserving candidates be supported by the fund”, said Mr Bahia.

According to sources, about Rs 77,57,849 of this fund is lying with authorities. About Rs 27.5 lakh were spent on concessions to wards of employees last year alone. Hardly 20 per cent, which amounts to Rs 5.65 lakh, was spent on development purposes. Remaining was spent on “non-development purposes”.

The meeting where these recommendations were made was chaired by Mr B.D.Budhiraja, Dean, Colleges, PU, on February 29 at Chandigarh.

Ludhiana, February 1
A seminar on ‘Focussing for Success’ was organised at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, here today. The resource person for event was Col Rakesh Beri (retd).

Colonel Beri has served as the Deputy president of the Services Selection Board for three years and has also been the Deputy Director-General of NCC for the North eastern states. He gained experience in interviewing and testing candidates for commission in the Army and also prepared the NCC cadets for getting in to the Army. The seminar was attended by 150 MBA students. The seminar was divided into four parts, i.e. resume writing, preparing for interview, facing the interview and follow-up after the interview.

The seminar was followed by question-answer session and personal discussions. 

Ludhiana, February 1
The advent of the spring festival, Basant, was celebrated at BCM Arya Model School by the kindergarten section today. Tiny tots were happy to be dressed in yellow-yellow caps, scarves, flowers, bows and ribbons .

They showcased their talent through group songs , poetry recitation and patriotic songs competition.Parents were invited as judges.

The results are:

Best dressed category: UKG-A, Sidhut & Sidarth, UKG-B, Manlen, UKC-C, Arshdeep,UKG-D, Gursimran,UKG-F, Arpit, UKG-F, Sunali, UKG-Mehak, UKG-H, Prachi, UKG- I, Abhishek.

Best in patriotic song- UKG-A

Best in group song and poetic recitation , LKG-, & LKG -G.

Students from class VI to XII of Santan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School participated in "Yellow Dish & Rangoli "competitions to celebrate Basant Panchmi in the school here.

Students of the primary section presented a dance and song show.Kids came dressed as stars and fairies whereas.Pre-nursery kids came dressed up as Radha and Krishan .

The judges ,Ms Meena Gupta , president ,Lakshmi Ladies Club, and Ms Sukarma, Vice-President of the club, adjudged Nishtha of class II as Basant Queen and Ashish of class IV-A as Basant King whereas Priyanka of pre-nursery was chosen as Basant Princess and Vipul of pre-nursery won the title of Basant Prince.

Senior students had prepared mouth -watering dishes like dhokla, rice and halwa .

Principal Sadhana Sharma explained to the students the significance of Basant Panchami. She said spring was the season when flowers blossomed and the students should also blossom like flowers.

She said in the Bhagwad Gita, Lord Krishna, referred to himself as 'Basant Ritu' and gave the message of universal love and brotherhood.

Mr Rajesh Kashyap, President, MCL Sachdeva ,Manager, Mr Harish Sachdeva , Vice-President of the school managing committee, along with the judges presented awards to the winners.

Result of "yellow dish competition": First- Deepika-VII B, Daizy-IX B, Heena -IX B;second- Sarabjit -VII A, Heena & Sonam- XII;and third Shruti - VIIA, Dimple and Neeti XI

Fancy dress competition: First- Priyanshu; second- Vipul and Avnee;third-Umang

Rangoli competition: First- Rashmi XI;second Shabnam and Lovleen IX;and third-Baljinder andGursharan VII

Basant Panchmi in Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, was celebrated by the primary students of the school offering yellow paper flowers to deity Saraswati. The students wore yellow paper flowers and danced to the foot-tapping numbers. All students showed their talent through wonderful performances . Ms Sunil Arora explained to the students the significance of the festival.

BVM Shishu Vatika celebrated yellow day on the occasion of Basant Panchmi here today. The students of nursery and KG were in yellow dresses and presented a cultural programme on the occasion. Ms Indu Bala, Principal, appreciated the efforts made by the students.

Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Kitchlu Nagar, started the Basant Panchmi celebrations with deep prajwalan and Saraswati Pooja. Students enjoyed singing folk songs, flying kites, and ate sweet yellow rice. Cultural competitions were also held.

Ludhiana, February 1
In its recent judgement, the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has held students, who have deposited the money or fee are to be considered as consumers and the non-refund of deposited amount as ‘Consumer Dispute’.

Giving details about the judgement, Mr L.D.Gupta, Advocate, Rt Assistant Commissioner, said in case the school managements do not refund the money, the concerned person, who has deposited the amount can file a complaint under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ludhiana, for the refund of the amount with interest. Besides, the complainant can claim compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.

Mr Gupta further elaborated that procedure for filing the complaint was simple and did not require the services of a trained advocate. In similar matters, a joint complaint through one person could be filed after obtaining permission of the Consumer Forum under Section 12 (C) of the Act. The complaint should be on a simple paper giving all details and photocopies of proof of deposited amount, accompanied by a demand draft of Rs 100, if the claim was upto Rs 1 lakh, said Mr Gupta.