EDUCATION

‘India has big scope for knowledge exchange with New Zealand’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 22
New Zealand's Roving Ambassador for Trade, Mr. Jim Sutton who led a six member delegation on a visit Punjab Agricultural University, today said that exchange of knowledge and technology between India and New Zealand would provide better facilities for food processing and exports for the two nations.

Mr. Sutton, who earlier had been Minister for Agriculture said despite the apparent differences between the two countries, market mechanisms are similar and so are the obstacles which inhibit growth.

"In New Zealand we successfully abolished our old regime of subsidies and protective tariffs and opted for open trade. This shift has put us on a faster growth track and It has increased our productivity and reduced unemployment", he said.

Briefing the delegation about the university and the agriculture scenario of Punjab, Vice-Chancellor Dr. K.S. Aulakh said Punjab had been the most agriculturally developed state of the country and major contributor of food grains to the national pool. From higher productivity, the focus had now shifted to quality produce as well as its processing and value addition.

Dr. Aulakh said that the University, in a bid to strength the research in processing and value addition, has reconstituted the three different departments to form a new department of Processing and Food Engineering. A budget of Rs.47.5 million has been allocated to strengthen the research in this department. Also a significant portion out of Rs.100 crore grant by Govt. of India is being spent for food processing. Dr. Aulakh hoped the collaboration with Messey University will bring fruitful results.

PAU had signed a MoU with New Zealand's Land Care Research Centre and Messey University last year. Under the tripartite agreement the three organizations have agreed to co-operate and collaborate in the field of food processing, agri-business and post harvest management and sustainable use of natural resources.

Dean, Postgraduate Studies Dr. S.S.Chahal said that as per terms of MoU, there will be exchange of students and scientists between PAU and Messey University. PAU scientists can avail sabbatical leave to work on different projects in Messey University.

The members of delegation included, High Commissioner Mr. Graeme Water; Trade Commissioner Mr. Paul Vaughan and Deputy Trade Commissioner Ms Heather Ward. In addition, three senior scientists in the delegation - Prof. Paul Moughan, Prof. Harjinder Singh and Dr. Surender Saggar represented the Messey University.

Vice-Chancellor presented a set of University publications and a Souvenir to the visiting delegation.

From Schools
Basant Panchami celebrations in city schools
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 22
Basant Panchami was celebrated in GMT Senior Secondary School here today. Teachers dressed up in yellow attires signifying the spring season i.e. Basant. Yellow rice was made as per tradition. An inter-house bulletin board decoration competition was held . The boards were decorated beautifully . The first prize was bagged by Patel House.

Kids don yellow

Basant festival was celebrated by tiny students of nursery , LKG & UKG of Baba Isher Singh (N) Senior Secondary School here today. The students came in yellow dresses and sang songs and danced on famous songs. Poems related to spring were also recited by kids. Principal Aneeta Kundra said that such festivals are essential to celebrate as it gives time to students to relax.

Prizes awarded to students

A prize distribution function was organised by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and was dedicated to Shri Guru Ji of RSS on his birth anniversary. The function was arranged in BVM School. The winner of the first prize at the state level was given Rs 5,ooo, while the second prize and third prize winners received Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000, respectively. Students of different schools were awarded certificates too.

Martyrdom day

Ved Prachar Mandal organised martyrdom day of Veer Haqikat Rai at BVM School here yesterday. The function was presided over by Mr Sunil Arora. The chairman of Ved Prachar Mandal, Mr Roshan Lal Arya, paid rich tributes to Haqikat Rai and said that he sacrificed his life protecting religion A declamation contest was also held. The winners, Mani Mepal, Harsha, Paalvi, Supriya, Anuraag, Shobit , Isha, Shikha, Tarun Thapar, Kanika and Jyoti spoke well on the ideals propagated by Veer Haqikat, and later they were awarded prizes by Mr Sunil Arora and Mr Roshan Lal Arya.

From Colleges  
ICFAI in University Grants Commission list
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 22
The University Grants Commission, in a notification issued recently, has included The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI), Tripura, in the list of universities maintained by the University Grants Commission under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act 1956.

Mr Sukhpreet Singh, Branch Manager, ICFAI, in a press note said today that the ICFAI offered various programmes in finance, management, banking, insurance, accounting, law, information technology, arts, commerce, education and science and flexible learning formats.

The ICFAI represents India in several international bodies like the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts, Switzerland, and the Asian Securities Analysts Federation.

Medical camp

A check-up camp for skin diseases was organised by the Apex Laboratories and Youth Services Club, GGN Khalsa College, here today. Dr G.S. Ahluwalia, officiating Principal, GGN Khalsa College, welcomed the resource person, Dr Jasvinder Kaur Gill. Dr M.S. Komal and Dr Gurpreet Singh and Dr Gill threw light on skin problems faced by youngsters due to environment pollution. Free consultation was given to the students regarding various skin problems.

Cooking session

The Home Science Department of Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women organised a demonstration on cooking snacks and meals by Ms Shaina Jain, a leading cooking expert, here today. She demonstrated the method of cooking some simple snacks and meals. The whole session was useful and interesting. The Principal, Ms Prem Gupta, gave a vote of thanks.

Campus placement

CIPLA, a pharmaceutical company, conducted a placement camp at GGN Khalsa College of Pharmacy here today. About 12 students of D.Pharmacy II were selected by the placement team. Mr Rupesh Nair of the placement team said the team was impressed by the knowledge level and professionalism of students. He congratulated the Director Principal, Mr Kuldeep Singh. Mr Kuldeep Singh thanked to the company officials. 

COURTS

Aujla is Bar body chief

Ludhiana, January 22
Mr B S Aujla was today elected President of the New Courts Bar Association. He defeated Mr Rajinder Gupta, the sitting president by one vote.

Mr Dinesh Sethi was elected secretary. He secured 52 votes, while his opponent Mr T S Chandok got only 22 votes. Mr Jagdish Malik was elected as Vice President of the association. For the post of Joint Secretary, Mr Dev Kumar Verma was elected. Mr Dalip Singh Bhatia was elected as Vigilance Member. Mr Jagmohan Sharma and Mr Satish Verma were elected as Executive Members. — OC