Ludhiana, April 19
The per capita consumption of edible oils in India is 12.5 kg per annum which is much below the world average and recommendations set by the Indian Council of Medical Research and World Health Organisation.

Throwing light on the subject, Dr Sawan Kumar of Department of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, PAU, said about 40 per cent edible oil worth nearly Rs 10,000-12,000 crore was imported every year to meet the domestic consumption. The per capita demand of edible oil in the country was increasing by 4 per cent to 6 per cent per annum, thus, requiring an increase in productivity and saving of precious foreign exchange, he reasoned.

Dr Virender Sardana of the same department suggested groundnut cultivation as a viable option to counter the shortage of edible oils in the country. He stated that groundnut had tremendous export potential and required less water and minimum input costs. Ground kernel encapsulated a unique combination of high percentage of superior quality oil, good quality protein, minerals like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium and vitamins E, K and B. Dr Sardana said its demand as a protein and mineral-rich edible food was increasing worldwide.

Veterinary day
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 19
World Veterinary Day will be celebrated by the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, on April 28. V.K Taneja, vice-chancellor, GADVASU, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

EDUCATION

Class V students not given certificates
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, April 19
Students of various schools, who appeared in the Class V examination held in February 2006, had not been issued certificates causing them inconvenience as some of them were to seek migration and admission in other schools.

When some parents contacted the local office of the Block Education Officer, the official showed his inability as he had not received the same from the head office. This has created panic among students and their parents. The people are raising finger at the working of the Education Department.

Cheques distributed

The Indian Ex-Services League Punjab and Chandigarh, Ludhiana, at its meeting held on the premises of the Lottery Club today, distributed cheques of scholarship to the children of former Army personnel. The audience also made suggestions for the sixth pay commission, which shall be discussed in the meeting of the league in Delhi on May 15. An appeal was made to the state government to omit the condition of income of Rs 25,000 and grant scholarships to the children and grant for marriage of the daughters of all former Army personnel, irrespective of their income. They demanded electric connections on priority and one rank one pension to be implemented. The others who were present included Col Bhag Singh, VSM, Col D.S. Grewal, Col Surjit Singh, Major Dayal Singh, and Capt Gulzar Singh. The meeting was presided over by Col M.S. Sandhu, Deputy Director, Army Welfare, Ludhiana

Two held with poppy husk

The Sudhar police has arrested Balvir Singh of Shahpur from Leela village and seized 10 kg of poppy husk from his possession. In the second incident, Gurdev Singh, alias Bhola, of Agwar Khawaja Baju was arrested by the police from kothe Hari Singh and seized 10 kg of poppy husk from him. Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered.

Six booked

Charanjit Kaur of Ludhiana, Rajinder Singh and his wife Jaspal Kaur, Mohinderpal Singh, Harjit Singh and Jaspreet Singh of Gujjarwal forcibly reaped the wheat crop by using the harvester combine of Dilsher Singh of Gujjarwal and took it away. The Dehlon police has registered a case under sections 379, 447, IPC. No arrest has been made so far.

Death of judge mourned

The local Bar Association today mourned the death of Justice M.L. Singhal, who had earlier served as sessions judge, Ludhiana, and later as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In the meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Baldev Goyal, a two-minute silence was observed and tributes were paid. The lawyers observed a holiday today.

Ludhiana, April 19
“School students must be apprised of the great cultural heritage, traditional folk art and literature of the Sufi saints, so as to promote the Punjabi language in true spirit”, said Dev Dildar, international Sufi singer, while interacting with more than 70 school teachers from different schools during a teachers training programme being held at Government In Service

Training Centre (GITC) here today.

Dildar advised teachers to use the medium of music and folk art for the promotion of historic traditions of Punjab and particularly Punjabi language and culture.

He also asked teachers and students to follow the teachings of the gurus and come forward to work for humanity and strengthening brotherhood. Lecturer Dawinder Singh Chhina introduced Dildar and spoke about his contribution to society and the cultural heritage of Punjab.

Centre principal Gurdeep Kaur and other staff honoured Dildar. Gurdeep Kaur also advised teachers to become innovative and follow the rich traditions of Punjabis.

“The Punjabi language could be promoted a lot through Punjabi music, Punjabi poems and spiritualism and the Sufiana styles,” said Gurcharan Kaur Kochhar, an expert on Punjabi.

Dev Dildar enthralled teachers with his poems on the five rivers- “Tun Rani Panj Darayawan Di, “Kafi of Sultan-bahu”, “Murshad mera ibadat da darya” traditional folklore Jindra and shabad. Dildar also remembered Bulle Shah and gave a lecture on him.

Gurcharan Kochhar and lecturer Balvinder Singh from Dehlon School delivered lectures on “teaching of Punjabi” and “teaching of science”, respectively. Among those present on the occasion were Balbir Kaur, coordinator of the science seminar, lecturer Pradeep Kapoor, lecturers Savita Chadha, Shivani, Dr Shashi Trehan and H.S. Manocha, Prem lal Sharma, Surinderpal Kaur, Asha Joshi and Bansi Lal. 

Ludhiana April 19
The Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology (KIMT), Civil Lines, organised an educational tour to Dharamsala and Mcleodganj for the students of MCA, BCA, MSc (IT) and BBA recently.

Dr R.S Gupta, Director, KIMT, in a press note issued today said the purpose of the tour was to acquaint students with the culture, religion, tradition and heritage of Tibetan lamas.

Students visited very old "Bhagsu Nag" temple and offered prayers for good results in the university examinations and inter-college competitions.

Students also saw natural waterfall and fresh water springs nearby. They reached there after trekking through the hills and enjoyed a lot as it was a memorable experience. The students also visited headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile. They saw the seat of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama and one of the main and the oldest Buddhist monastery in Dharamsala. It is the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama which has huge statues of Buddha, Avalokitesvara and Padmasarnbhava. The monastery also has an institute for learning, where, lamas were taught with higher Tibetan studies.

Students also took part in prayers that were being conducted there. They also spent time in the museum of the monastery.

Ludhiana, April 19
Diana Du Chemin, admission officer of the international office of the registrar of Humber College, Canada, and Col Harjap Singh, director, management and education consultant, at the Humber Institution of Technology and Advance Learning with other dignitaries visited BCM School, Chandigarh road, this morning.

The principal and the school authorities accorded a floral welcome to them. Diana and Col Harjap Singh visited all wings of the school. They expressed satisfaction over the working, infrastructure and other facilities at the school.

A counselling session was held for students of Class XII during which the visitors answered the queries of students regarding studying in Canada. They also familiarised the students with various courses, scholarships, training programmes, fee structure, accommodation facilities, job opportunities and placement facilities and allotted working hours for students available at Humber College.

Doraha, April19
The Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT) celebrated Baisakhi with fervour and enthusiasm on its campus. Director of the DIMT Dr R.K. Lekhi said the celebrations began with the welcome of chairman Sukhpal Singh. and director of Guru Harkrishan Public School Umal Kaur. Chief coordinator of the DIMT Japvir Singh, coordinator of the DIMT Supreet Kaur, Tapvir Singh (DCE) and Jaspreet, besides members of the teaching and non-teaching staff and students of BCA. BBA participated in the celebrations.

The entire institute was decorated with Punjabi adornments such as charkhas, phulkaris, pakhis and rangoli. The students were dressed in a traditional colourful Punjabi dresses.

Interacting with the gathering, assistant professor V.I. Rai spoke about the educational, cultural and historical importance of Baisakhi. The results of various competitions are:

Sell IT - (MBA II) Parul Sharma, Amandeep Vaid and Alok Sharma I, (MBA-II) Surinder Singh, Ankit Kumar and Sunil Bector II.

Bindas Bolb - Ramandeep Kaur (MBA IV), I, Ankit Kumar (MBA II), II.

Power point - Pardeep Singh and Amandeep Singh (BCA II) I, Sukhjeet and Harpreet Kaur Cheema II.

Web designing - Ajay Pal Singh Maan and Harkamal Singh (BCA IV) I, Harpreet Kaur and Kavita Sharma (BCA-VI) II.