Asking Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal not to politicise the black list of Sikhs, Congress MLA Jassi Khangura on Tuesday alleged that the state government had failed to approach the issue in the right manner.

In a letter to the chief minister, the Qila Raipur MLA said that he was “shocked at the selective treatment of the black list issue“ by the Badal government.

Khangura said: “You (chief minister) are seeking to use it as a political tool in the buildup to the SGPC elections. In my opinion, you should have considered this to be a non-partisan NRI issue.“

According to the Congress leader, the state government “has still not appreciated“ that resolution of this issue was not merely about deleting a few names and ignoring others.
The MLA demanded that the state government “reveal how many additional names“ were added to the black list as a result of Badal government's actions.

“Please accept reality and start campaigning for the issues that really matter to those on the black list,“ reads the letter.
f Khangura said that “fraudt ulent blacklisting“ of NRIs by the Punjab police, which was behind the “systematic loot of NRI property“ should be stopped and that the government should campaign for making the black list officialt ly public.
t “There is need for an effect tive and independent Appellate Authority in order that those . whose names do feature on the black list have the ability to argue their case,“ he said.

The MLA said that if the govt ernment wished to deliver true . justice to NRIs on the black list issue, it should give “due consideration“ to the problems faced by those on the list.

The District Youth Congress (DYC) today launched a signature campaign against drug abuse in Block No 4, Gandhi Nagar, in the course of its ongoing drive against drug addiction. The DYC president, Dimple Rana, led the campaign and a large number of residents and shopkeepers signed the pledge form against the use of drugs and other intoxicating substances.

Rana said the “navi saver” campaign initiated by the party to motivate people to shun drugs had received good response.

“We are distributing pamphlets and hand bills to focus on the disastrous effects of drugs on health. At the same time, awareness lectures and seminars are being organised to motivate people, especially the youth, to fight against the menace of drugs,” he stated.

Dr Manjeet Singh, Research Engineer and Consortium Principal Investigator (NAIP sub-project) of Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana attended the tenth nternational Conference on Precision Agriculture (ICPA) held at Denver, Colorado, USA rom July 18 to 21, 2010.

Head Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr Jaskaran Singh nformed that more than 500 participants from all over the world attended the conference.

Dr Singh presented a paper on `Development of Yield Monitor for Small Plots' durng the conference. The international conference on precision agriculture highlighted the significant research and its applications in precision agriculture including showcase of emerging technologies and information management for agriculture.

During the conference a nonprofit professional scientific organisation “International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA)“ was constituted.
Precision Agriculture Specialist and Professor at Colorado State University, Dr Raj Khosla, was elected founder president of the society. The mission of ISPA is to advance the science and practice of precision agriculture globally.

Over 250 patients were examined and rendered a follow-up advice at a free eye check-up camp held at Shiv Shakti Mandir in Partap Singh Wala (New Kitchlu Nagar) here today. The camp was inaugurated by Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari.

A team of doctors and supporting staff led by Dr IL Gogi conducted the free eye check up. A total of 60 persons were given free spectacles and some two dozens were selected for free corrective surgery.

At another free eye check up camp organised by the Baba Amar Nath Langar Committee with the assistance of New Hope Netra Dan Society at Basti Jodhewal here, a team of eye specialists headed by Dr Ramesh examined nearly 500 pilgrims. Free medicines and spectacles were distributed among the needy persons.

Trees are symbol of selfless and dedicated life. Besides providing oxygen, wood and clean environment, they motivate us to serve even the unknown. These views were expressed by Dr VK Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University while launching a plantation drive by GADVASU Green Club.He appreciated the cause by students’ community. He said if youth would take responsibility only then we would be able to save our planet.

About 80 saplings of Neem, Arjun, Pulmeria and Jamun were planted. All the dean, directors and officers of the university planted saplings. The president of the club Harsukhmanpreet Singh Maan said they would take care of all trees in their studentship and will hand over the baton to our successors. Some plants were dedicated to the senior students who were about to pass out. He said they were raising funds for an orphanage home.

Dr Darshan Singh Aulakh, co-ordinator cultural activities, who organised the campaign, said students would plant more than 1,000 saplings this season.

Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College and Hospital organised a free dental check-up and awareness camp at DCM Presidency School, Jamalpur.

As many as 500 students availed the benefit of comprehensive dental check-up extended by a team of senior dental surgeons led by Dr Pawan Arora and Dr Ashish Kumar. The camp started with dental awareness talk educating children about common dental aliments especially tooth decay and gum diseases that lead to mobile teeth and eventually the need for replacement.

Dr Arora further added that eating patterns and food choices among children and teens were important factors. It was emphasised that to control the amount of sugar consumed one should choose foods and beverages that were low in added sugars. "Added sugar is usually present in soft drinks, candies, cookies and pastries," he said.

Jasdeep Kaur Ratol of Phallewal village near here has brought laurels by securing a top position in MBA (tourism and hospitality) of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara.

Though she understands that a career in the Hotel Industry will earn her more money than being in education field, Jasdeep values teaching more than wealth.

Hailing from a middle class peasant family from Phallewal village on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road near here, Jasdeep topped the LPU by securing 9.34 CGPA (cumulative grade point average). Besides, showing gratitude to her school teachers she acknowledged contribution of Anjali Khanna, head of hotel management department, who not only motivated her to strive hard, but helped in preparing presentations and seminars, too.

After being selected as a lecturer in English by the parent university, Jasdeep is undergoing induction course on the campus.

Dr Mohinder Kaur from the department of vegetable crops, Punjab Agricultural University, was conferred with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for outstanding postgraduate agriculture research on genetic transformation in brinjal.

The award consists a cash prize of Rs 20,000, a medal and a citation.

Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar conferred the award on Dr Mohinder Kaur at a recent function organised at the National Agricultural Science Centre Complex (NASCC) on the foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi.

Dr Mohinder Kaur is awarded for her work on in-vitro plant regeneration and genetic transformation in brinjal. She has standardised efficient plant regeneration protocols for brinjal for genetic transformation.

Members of the Raikot Loins Club undertook the project of planting saplings in various schools of the area as an imitative to save environment for a healthy future.

The club has decided that they will also take care of the plants after planting them so that they may not die due to non-irrigation or some other disease. The club started their drive from Tagore Model School at Bassian village by planting 50 plants of medicinal values and fruits. Lions Club president Subhash Passi and others were present.