CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA MARKS INAUGURATION OF PAU YOUTH FEST

Ludhiana, November 1, 2018: Colourful extravaganza marked the inauguration of Inter-College Youth Festival at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The cultural procession, presented by the students of four constituent colleges of PAU, highlighted panorama of themes, specifically, drug menace, social media addiction, youth going astray with misplaced sense of values, declining natural resources, stubble burning, rising pollution, etc. Mr Ashutosh Baranwal, Commissioner, Goods and Service Tax (GST), Ludhiana, was the chief guest while Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, presided over the inaugural ceremony. Dr D.S. Brar, Member, PAU Board of Management, also graced the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Mr Baranwal said, “I am seeing the youth festival after 35 years. Youth festival provides an opportunity to students to educate and liberate their inner-selves.” Punjab has made immense contribution to agriculture, Indian army and technology development but the problems of drug addiction and environmental pollution need to be tackled at the earliest, he added. Lauding PAU for its distinction of making country food secure and producing renowned artists, Mr Baranwal disclosed, “GST Commissionerate has donated two Happy Seeders to PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala for paddy straw management.”
In his presidential remarks, Dr Dhillon stated that participation was more important than winning. “Students should participate with full vigour and enthusiasm, and make a mark in diverse fields,” he remarked. Dr Dhillon also expressed his gratitude to faculty and students for enabling PAU to be decorated with “Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2017.”
Earlier, Dr R.K. Dhaliwal, Director Students’ Welfare, PAU, welcomed the chief guest, senior officials, faculty and students of PAU. She said, “Youth festival plays an important role in shaping the personality of students.”
Later, Dr G.K. Sangha, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, PAU, stated, “Robust youth is the voice of tomorrow.” You must lay foundation of disciplined life, she said to students, while proposing vote of thanks.
On the occasion, Dr Dhillon honoured the chief guest with a shawl and memento. The dignitaries also paid rich tributes to Dr A.S. Khera, former Vice-Chancellor, PAU.
Results
Cultural Procession: 1) College of Home Science, 2) College of Basic Sciences and 3) College of Agriculture
Folk Song: 1) Harpreet Singh (College of Agriculture), 2) Jaspreet Kaur (College of Basic Sciences) and 3) Gagandeep Kaur (College of Home Science)
Solo Dance: 1) Navdeep Kaur (College of Agricultural Engineering), 2) Saisha Jaryal (College of Agriculture) and 3) Gunjan (College of Home Science)

PAU SCIENTIST CONFERRED WITH INDIAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY, ASSOCIATESHIP AWARD
Dr.Anureet Kaur Dhaliwal, Assistant Agronomist at PAU, Regional Research Station, Bathinda has been conferred with Indian Society of Agronomy, Associateship Award at XXI National Symposium held at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) from October 24-26, 2018. She is working in AICRP on Irrigation water management and carries research on judicious use of poor as well as good quality irrigation water.

PAU FLORICULTURIST GETS YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD
Dr Madhu Bala, Assistant Floriculturist, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been conferred with “Young Scientist Award-2018” for her contribution to the field of floriculture. She received the award during the 2nd International Conference on “Advances in Agricultural, Biological and Applied Sciences for Sustainable Future-2018,” held at Meerut from October 20-22, 2018.
Dr Bala has been working on the development of new varieties and production technologies of various ornamental plants including Chrysanthemum, Tuberose, indoor plants and cut greens. She has been instrumental in releasing three varieties of Chrysanthemum namely Punjab Shyamli (cut flower), Punjab Mohini (pot culture) and Punjab Shingar (loose flower) for commercial cultivation under Punjab conditions. She has also been working for the promotion of floriculture in Punjab for the last eight years. She has published one bulletin, 13 extension articles, four book chapters, 23 research papers and been guiding master’s and doctorate students in Floriculture and Landscaping.
Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and Dr H.S. Grewal, Head, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, congratulated the scientist.

PAU HOLDS CERTIFICATE COURSE ON ORGANIC FARMING
A 30-day certificate course on “Organic Farming” concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. The Regional Centre of Organic Farming (RCOF), Panchkula and School of Organic Farming (SOF), PAU, had jointly conducted the course for the farmers of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The course threw light on latest organic farming technology, certification in organic farming and development of market channel to enhance organic trade in the state. Dr J.S. Mahal, Director of Extension Education, PAU, distributed certificates among participants. The course was supervised by Mr Ravindra Kumar, Deputy Director, RCOF and Dr C.S. Aulakh, Director, SOF and coordinated by Dr T.S. Riar, Professor of Extension Education.