Ludhiana October 3
A 21-day training course on 'Plant disease diagnostics' organised by the Department of Plant, Pathology, PAU, in collaboration with the ICAR, was inaugurated here today.

In her inaugural address, Dr S.K.Mann, PAU Dean, Postgraduate Studies, said effective crop disease management strategies could be formulated if proper diagnostic techniques were perfected.

Although, significant advancements had been made in the science of disease diagnostics in different parts of the globe, yet this needed to be made accessible to researchers, extension workers, plant pathologists and students for practical application, she said, adding that thorough quick and reliable disease diagnostic techniques and tools could make the existing quarantine systems more effective.

Scientists, representing 10 agricultural universities from different states of the country, are participating in this training course.

The host institute has 45 scheduled lectures by plant pathology experts from NBPGR, New Delhi, CPRI, Shimla, DWR, Karnal, IARI, New Delhi, etc. on different topics concerned with the theme of the course.

During the programme, a hand-on-exposure on various field and laboratory diagnostic tools would be provided to the participants. They would also be provided with a complied document of all scheduled presentations.

Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman, additional director Communication, PAU, delivered a talk on "Punjab Agricultural University: A centre for research and development for agriculture in India", wherein he highlighted the mandate, achievements, impact of PAU technologies and shared the future thrust area for the agricultural development in the state during the XI Plan.

Dr. S.S.Kang and Dr. T.S.Thind are coordinating different sessions of the course. During the today's interactive session, Dr V.S.Varma, of SKUAST, Jammu, presented his reflection that PAU had become a guiding spirit of education and research for the neighboring institutes in North India. Earlier, Dr H.S.Rewal, head, Department of Plant Pathology, welcomed the participants while Dr. T.S.Thind proposed the vote of thanks.

Ludhiana, October 3
Though students’ elections have been banned in the state for over two decades now, the boys belonging to different political parties have chosen or nominated their own leaders in many colleges of the city. Taking a cue from their male counterparts, the girl students too want their own representatives now.

Ludhiana Tribune spoke to a number of girl students who spoke about the need of having their leaders in women colleges. They maintained that it was not feasible to approach the faculty members or principal every time there was a problem; hence a need for student leaders.

“If there is a student leader, we can ask her to find a suitable solution instead of approaching the authorities. She can be a voice of the girl students,” said Archana, a student of BA-II at Government College for Women.

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) recently chose Neha Jain as president of the union for women colleges. “The boys alone don’t have problems. In fact, there are issues that can’t be discussed with male student leaders. After becoming the president, I visited many colleges where girl students accepted me wholeheartedly. Some of them spoke candidly about getting bullied by seniors - something they did not feel comfortable talking about with other leaders. Students from the arts stream told me about the teachers’ disinterest in taking classes and finishing the syllabi on time. If the girls have their own representatives, it will be easy for them to open up and take up issues,” Jain said.

Gavneet Kaur, a member of Punjab Agricultural University Students’ Association (PAUSA), felt that the boys’ associations were more active in the university as compared to the girls’. “Though the boys belonging to PAUSA are very cooperative, we sometimes feel hesitant to contact them for every problem. Girl leaders, on the other hand, will act as an intermediary between the students and the officials. Also, they will be empathetic to the problems,” she added.

Cheenu Gupta (name changed), a student of Khalsa College for Women, said no freshers’ party was organised for BA students in the college this time. She opined that in the presence of women student leaders, it would have been possible to raise this issue properly.

PAUSA president Mandeep Singh Jawaddi said girls often approached them with their problems, which they tried to solve on a priority basis. “However, they are not bold enough to raise a voice against the management or teachers. I feel if they are allowed to choose their own representative, they will be able to solve small issues on their own,” he said.

President of Government College Teachers’ Association, Punjab, Prof Jaipal Singh said girls should also be given a right to choose their leaders. “It should be an elected and recognized body. The elections can be fair if political parties do not play dirty games for their vested interest. If students (both boys and girls) observe proper rules and regulations, then they should be allowed to elect their representatives,” he said.

Ludhiana, October 3
The local police had a few months ago asked the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, to prepare a software for keeping the records of the vehicle. The same was provided to them.Later on, GNIMT organised a computer training course for the children of police personnel during their summer vacations. Now, the SSP has asked GNIMT to organise a month-long computer training programme for its non-gazetted and gazetted officers.

The training programme of the first batch of 50 officers started here today. It was inaugurated by SSP R.K. Jaiswal. In his inaugural address, Jaiswal emphasised on the need of having basic computer knowledge in order to bring efficiency in their working.

The working of the police department has become complex and the central and state government is keen on modernising the police force and every police station and gazetted officer was going to have a computer.

As such, the computer training of non-gazetted and gazetted officers has become inescapable, said Jaiswal.

Two batches of police officers of 50 each shall be given training from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m and the other batch from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on completion of these two batches, the other batches will be detailed by the SSP.

Jaiswal advised police personnel to grasp as much knowledge as possible.

After completion of the course there will be a test and the top 10 personnel shall get certificates from the DGP, Punjab. Those who fail shall have to repeat the course.

H.S. Singha, director, GNIMT, welcomed the chief guest and emphasised on the importance of lasting association with the police department to be helpful to them in their drive to enhance the image and bringing in efficiency.

He assured the SSP that the faculty and the staff of GNIMT would do their best in imparting training to the police personnel.