Ludhiana, October 15
While inaugurating the zonal workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Zone-I comprising Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir here today, the PAU vice-chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, said although significant research and development output had been generated in the National Agricultural Research System (NARS), yet it could not be made useful for farmers due to the inadequate extension mechanism or some other factors.

The concept of KVKs, ushered in the country since 1974, has tried to bridge this inadequacy to a great extent. There are currently 557 KVKs in the country of which as many as 62 fall in Zone-I. Through the mandated activities of KVKs, including on-farm research, vocational training, extension personnel training and field-level demonstrations on oilseeds and pulses, they have played a useful role in changing the attitude and aptitude of farmers and farm women through a motivational approach, said Dr Kang.

Earlier, Dr A.K. Mehta, zonal coordinator, presented the report of work carried out in Zone-I. He emphasised that the multi-disciplinary teams provided in various KVKs attend to a great variety of activities such as soil testing, rainfed agriculture, farm mechanisation, processing agricultural produce, seed processing and addressed the day-to -day queries of farmers and farm women.

While welcoming the delegates from various KVKs of Zone-I and directors of extension education of various participating SAUs, Dr N.S. Malhi, director of extension education, PAU, said Punjab agriculture was confronted with a multitude of problems and constraints, including ecological and economic challenges, problems of small farmers, non-profitability issues, increasing cost of cultivation, etc, which need to be focused in the framework of KVK system. "We have to look beyond the transfer of technology ambit", he said.

The workshop will hold different sessions during October 15-18 wherein issues relevant to different KVKs in Zone-I will be deliberated on. Earlier, an exhibition on farm power and machinery was held wherein energy efficient and precision machines such as reaper binder, fodder harvester, power tiller, happy seeder (for resource conservation) and laser leveller (for precision land levelling) were displayed.

While presenting the vote of thanks to all participants, Dr S.P. Mehra, additional director of extension education, PAU, said KVKs could help to enhance profitability of farmers through providing technical guidance on cottage industries and allied agricultural ventures such as nursery production, bee-keeping, mushroom growing, weaving etc.

Ludhiana, October 15
While addressing a specially-convened meeting of deans, directors, officers and heads of departments, PAU vice-chancellor Manjit Singh Kang said today that disciplined team work was necessary for ushering in an environment of work culture. Under the prevailing situations, need-based innovations were needed. For this, the heads of the departments will have to play a pro-active role in carrying their task ahead, he added.

He said the recently attempted SWOT analysis had led to the identification of a few strengths and weaknesses. The strengths were good but weaknesses need to be addressed through pro-active approach. He categorically stated that e-communication would play a significant role in achieving this objective.

Registrar Raj Kumar Mahey said the ICT component could play a significant role in making the administration expeditious. PAU additional director of communication Jagtar Singh Dhiman said the paperless administration could play a major role in fostering better communication with all stakeholders of the university. — TNS

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 15
The budding scientists, painters, artists and pre-primary kids proved their mettle under one roof by projecting their work through annual Science exhibition-2007 at Om Parkash Bansal modern school. Farooqui IPS was the chief guest. The assorted projects on how to save environment, electricity, water, were work of finesse.

There was orchestra corner and G.K. corner which was centre of attraction. The school children were at their best playing ‘Dilruba’, Sitar’, Banjo’, Keyboard’, Guitars’, ‘Maracuss’, etc. The chief-guest quizzed the children so as to see how every kid could prove the hard-work being put in by the school. The commerce zone won kudos for highlighting the rising sensex and the rising value of the rupee.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 15
About two hundred girls from colleges of Zone B of Panjab University, Chandigarh, were congratulated for their performance at the Youth and Heritage Festival that concluded at Khalsa College for Women at, Sidhwan Khurad, in Ludhiana district.

Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MP and SAD leader, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar SSP Ludhiana (Rural) and Gurlovleen Singh SDM Jagraon, were chief guests.

Addressing the concluding day of the event Dhillon called upon residents of the rural areas to ensure higher educations of their daughters and encouraged them to participate in extra-curricular activities. He claimed that rich cultural heritage of the state could be preserved and perpetuated through women as they would be better able to transmit elements of culture to next generation.

Results of the festival were as follows: Folk Dance ‘Sammi’- Dev Samaj College Ferozepur 1, Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad 2, Pawan Deep of Dev Samaj College was adjudged the best performer in this event and Khusdeep Kaur and Harpreet Kaur were runners up.Var Gayan - SDS College, Lopon 1, Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad 2, Jagat Seva College for Women, Mehna 3. ‘Kali’ - SBBS College for Women, Sukhanand 1, Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 2. ‘Kavishari’ - SDS College, Lopon 1, SBBS College ,Sukhanand 2, , Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 3. ‘Satires’ ( Sithnian ) Jagat Sevak College for women, Mehna 1, Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 2, SD College, Moga 3. ‘Gidha’ Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 1, Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad and SD College, Moga 2, Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 3. ‘Group Dance’ Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 1, Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad 2, Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 3.

‘Quiz Contest’ Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 1, DAV College, Ferozepur 2, Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 3. ‘Poetic Recitation’ Baljit Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad 1, Sonia Sharma of Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 2 , Paramjit Kaur of SD College, Moga 3. ‘Short Story writing’ Vir Pal Kaur of Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 1, Rajwinder of Swami Ganga Giri College for Women, Raikot 2, Sandeep Kaur of Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 3. ‘Indian Orchestra’ Dev Samaj College ,Ferozepur 1 , Swami Ganga Giri College for Women ,Raikot 2, GGH Khalsa College for Women, Kamalpura. ‘Folk Instrument’ Rajni Sharma Swami Ganga Giri College for Women ,Raikot 1, Bhupinder Kaur of Dev Samaj College, Ferozepur 2, Pawan Deep Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurad.Dr Jaspal Kaur Brar principal of the host college passed a vote of thanks. 

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 15
RIMT-Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Mandi Gobindgarh arranged a campus placement drive for Hyderabad based SVEC Constructions Ltd., in which students from civil engineering department appeared and were selected.

Dr. Pritpal Singh, Principal of the institute, welcomed the company officials headed by S.S.Rao.Recruitment process started with company presentation by Rao who briefed that SVEC is an ISO 9001:2000 certified. As many as 16 students were selected.