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Bringing Progress To Farmers For Better Earnings

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Bringing Progress To Farmers For Better Earnings

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana cultivating traditional crops are looking for ways to diversify their crops, or shift to horticulture, dairy, poultry, fishery and piggery, etc. for better earnings. De Heus, a top 10 global animal feed company from The Netherlands, Northwestern Europe, brings hope to such farmers by setting up Rs 142 crore state-of-the-art plant in Rajpura, Punjab to produce quality animal feed, and bring best farm practices to help them increase their earnings.

This is the first major investment by a Dutch company in Punjab. The Netherlands is known to be the 2nd largest exporter of agricultural products in the world.

The plant, being set up by De Heus India, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the more than 100 years old De Heus (with a global turnover of 7 billion euros in 2022), will produce a full livestock product portfolio of compound feed, concentrates, base mix and dairy mineral mixes. In the first phase, to be realized in first quarter of 2025, the plant will produce 180 kilo metric tons (kMT) of animal feed, with a potential to increase it to 240 kMT. The factory will have two dedicated lines.

Top officials of the Netherlands’ global top 10 animal feed company De Heus, Rutger Oudejans (centre), Tanveer Malik (left) and Amit Mittan addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday to announce the company’s big investment in Punjab to set up a state-of-the-art animal feed plant at Rajpura.

Photos Courtesy: De Heus India

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be the Chief Guest in the groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s animal feed factory at Vividha Industrial Park, Rajpura tomorrow (October 1, 2023). Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal & Bhutan Marisa Gerards will be the Guest of Honour.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday to announce the investment in Punjab, Rutger Oudejans, Business Group Director (Premix & Specialties) and Country Director India; Tanveer Malik, General Director India; and Amit Mittan, Commercial Director, De Heus India, said, “As a global leading supplier of nutritional products for animals, De Heus supports the performance of farmers – the producers of milk, eggs, fish and meat.

It provides them not only with high quality products, but also with in-depth knowledge about animal nutrition, animal husbandry and animal science. We provide them with nutritional concepts that ensure maximum animal health and optimal performance for better earnings.”

On advancing De Heus’ footprint in the country, Koen De Heus, CEO of the company, said in a message, “India is an important market where we see a valuable role for De Heus, bringing advancement to farmers and local communities, having a positive impact on sustainable farming practices, increasing job opportunities and working in partnerships with local suppliers and partners, in short, powering progress. This is part of the company’s global expansion strategy, aimed at building a local presence to optimally serve farmers with high quality animal feeds and practical farming advice.”

In another message, De Heus’s Asia division CEO Gabor Fluit said, De Heus has more than 60 own production locations in over 20 countries, and exports to more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. “Wherever we operate, we dedicate ourselves to bringing prosperity to our customers along the entire value chain, from the farmers, to local communities and our marketing network.”

Focusing on Punjab and Haryana, Country Director India Rutger Oudejans said, “during our six years presence in this region, producing animal feeds on rented feed mills, we have fully realized the great potential of the two states in driving accelerated growth in the areas of animal husbandry and livestock.”

Noting that “While Punjab is the dairy region in India with over 3000 commercial dairy farms, Haryana is a key poultry region exporting broilers and eggs to nearby states,” Oudejans said, “both states are rich in raw materials used in production of animal feed, with multiple crops per annum and a long tradition in farming. This is a great advantage for the company in delivering good quality feeds and ensuring their uninterrupted availability.”

Emphasising on the company’s Dutch roots, and over 100 years history, he said, “De Heus has been a partner in animal nutrition to the agricultural sector for over four generations. Being a family owned and managed business (it is still owned by the De Heus family), it relates to, and bonds closely with its customers, which are also mostly family-owned businesses.”

The support services of De Heus focus on:

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  • Providing accessible knowledge and experience about feed, animal husbandry and cattle farming

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  • Establishing the proper nutrient requirements and a feed strategy adapted to the local situation

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  • Keeping the animals and their offspring healthy

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  • Improving the productivity of the animals

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  • Increasing the production efficiency

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  • Improving the management processes on farms

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  • Sustainable animal nutrition solutions for a changing world

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A rapidly growing world population and rising living standards are putting increasing pressure on food value chains. For a sustainable food system, production must be optimised and made more accessible and responsible. As a leading supplier of animal nutrition solutions, De Heus helps farmers improve their performance, and deliver high-quality produce efficiently and responsibly.

Every day, we work towards creating better access to safe and healthy food for a growing world population. We do so by providing our customers with the products and services they need to look after their animals and manage the sustainable development of their businesses.

As well as high-quality feed, our specialists help drive efficiency and technological progress for our customers – by offering in-depth knowledge on animal nutrition and health, as well as animal husbandry and farming. We also work with farmers to improve their environmental footprint.

Marisa Suggests Big Cycling Event In Punjab

The Netherlands’ Ambassador to India Marisa Gerards interacting with the media

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal & Bhutan Marisa Gerards while interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the press conference, said she has had wide ranging discussions with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier in the day.

In her meeting with the chief minister, she explored the areas in which the Netherlands and companies from there could cooperate with entities in the northern Indian state. She suggested to the Chief Minister that since Netherlands is a country of bicycles, her country would love to be part of a big cycling event in Punjab.

Other than agriculture, there is scope for cooperate with the state in many other fields, she added.

She shared with the media that two Indo-Dutch Centres of Excellence in potato seeds and floriculture are already functional in Punjab and another one on onions is under construction.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

From Galileo, To James Webb Space Telescope

Sanjeev Kochhar
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From Galileo, To James Webb Space Telescope

Noted astronomer and astrophysicist Prof Ajit Kembhavi on Friday took curious students of DAV College-10 Chandigarh on a journey of technological development of the telescope ‘From Galileo to the James Webb Space Telescope’ in a quest to more deeply and comprehensively understand the fascinating world of planets, stars, galaxies, constellations, the milky way, black holes, white dwarfs, neutron stars, supernovas, and more.

In a presentation on this topic, Prof Kembhavi, a former Director at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and ex-member of the Space Commission, shared that it was not Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei who invented the telescope, but he was the first to use a small optical telescope to study the universe. Beginning in 1609, he went on to make some startling astronomical discoveries.

Noted astronomer & astrophysicist Prof Ajit Kembhavi delivering a talk on the topic ‘From Galileo to the James Webb Space Telescope’ at DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, on Friday.

Photo courtesy: DAV College

According to Britannica, Galileo is credited with making fundamental contributions to the sciences of motion, astronomy, and strength of materials, as also to the development of the scientific method, his formulation of (circular) inertia, the law of falling bodies, and parabolic trajectories marked the beginning of a fundamental change in the study of motion.

The talk was organised by the Society for Promotion of Science & Technology of India (SPSTI ), Chandigarh chapters of National Academy of Sciences India (NASI), Indian National Science Academy (INSA) & Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS), and Vijnana Bharti (VIBHA) in collaboration with the research cell of DAV College-10 Chandigarh.

Explaining how our understanding of the cosmos has evolved with the rapid technological advancements in both earth-based optical and space telescopes, Prof Kembhavi, said the ability of a optical telescope to harvest light from distant stars depends largely on the area of its primary mirror.

So, to overcome the challenges of making bigger and bigger circular and curved mirrors, researchers have collaborated to develop segmented mirror telescopes, with an array of smaller mirrors designed to act as segments of a single large curved mirror.

Researchers have also deployed adaptive optics, a technique of precisely deforming a mirror in order to remove the effects of atmospheric disturbance, and allow a telescope to achieve diffraction-limited imaging from the ground.

Talking about the famous Hale telescope, built in 1948 at the Palomar Observatory, Southern California, USA, which ruled astronomy into the 1990s, Prof Kembhavi said it had a primary mirror of five metres, or 200 inches, in diameter.

With the knowledge of telescopes being able to detect infrared light outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, came the advent of space telescopes like the famous Hubble space telescope in 1990.

Named in honour of the trailblazing astronomer Edwin Hubble, the Hubble Space Telescope, a large, space-based observatory of NASA, revolutionized astronomy since its launch and deployment by the space shuttle Discovery. Far above rain clouds, light pollution, and atmospheric distortions, Hubble has delivered stunning images of stars, galaxies, and other astronomical objects.

The observatory has made more than 1.5 million observations over the course of its lifetime. Over 19,000 peer-reviewed science papers have been published on its discoveries, and every current astronomy textbook includes contributions from the observatory.

Another big observatory is the Las Companas Observatory on the edge of Atacama desert, on a plateau high in the Andes Mountain range in Chile, South America, one of the driest and darkest places on the planet.  It has a very large telescope, composed of four telescopes, each more than eight meters (27 feet) in diameter, and built by an international collaboration called the European Southern Observatory.

Eventually when completed, the telescope will have seven mirrors that together will act as a 22-meter-diameter telescope, roughly 20 times as powerful as at Palomar.

At night, calm, unruffled winds off the Pacific Ocean produce some of the most exquisite stargazing conditions on Earth.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest and most powerful space telescope to date. This $10 billion NASA infrared space observatory, launched in Dec 2021, aboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, has provided the deepest and sharpest infrared images of the early universe ever taken.

There are also radio telescopes. As opposed to optical telescopes which see light, radio telescopes see radio frequency radiation emitted by extraterrestrial sources, such as stars, galaxies, and quasars, etc. These are telescopes that are used to study much longer wavelengths than visible light.

Instead of using arrangement of mirrors and lenses, a radio telescope uses a dish to focus the radio waves onto a radio receiver for a precise, clear picture of things that the human eye cannot usually see. So, if you want to view black holes, remnants of the Big Bang, or remnants of supernovas, you are going to need a radio telescope.

One of the most famous, and among the largest radio telescopes in the world is Very Long Array (VLA) in New Mexico, southern USA. It uses massive antennas each 25 metres in diameter that can be moved along a Y-shaped rail system.

The Square Kilometer Array (SKA), once it comes up, will be the world’s largest radio telescope. It will use a network of thousands of antennas to be installed both in Australia and in South Africa. Combing the recorded signals, it will be possible to obtain a collecting area equivalent to a one parabolic antenna of one square kilometers.

At the end of the presentation, inquisitive students got their queries and doubts addressed by Prof  Ajit Kembhavi. 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
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Diversification Inescapable, But Govt Must Mitigate Risk

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Diversification Inescapable, But Govt Must Mitigate Risk

It was the culmination of a series of Innovative Farmers’ meets, organised by the CII Northern Region across four cities in Punjab and Haryana from July end through to mid September 2023, and the near consensus that emerged was that diversification of agriculture is inescapable, but for it to succeed, the government will have to take responsibility for mitigating the risks to farmers.

The meets were organised at Siwani and Hisar in Haryana and Amritsar and Sangrur in Punjab.

Addressing the inaugural session of the culmination ceremony held at the CII Northern Region headquarters in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Guest of Honour and Haryana Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Jai Prakash Dalal joined the chorus from farmers and farm experts that all stake holders, from policy makers, to bureaucrats, farmers, agricultural research institutions, to the industry, will have to join hands in making farming a profitable proposition through diversification of crops.

Haryana Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister JP Dalal addressing farmers at the inaugural session of the Culmination Ceremony of Innovative Farmers’ Meet, organised by CII Northern Region at its headquarters in Chandigarh, on Tuesday.

Photos courtesy: CII NR

For this to happen, the central and state governments, in conjunction with the industry, will have to take up the responsibility for creating the infrastructure, like storage and cold chains and an efficient marketing network, so that the farmers are assured of earnings better than the assured returns from the MSP regime for wheat-paddy cycle. Only then will be farmers feel confident enough to break away from the vicious cropping pattern, Dalal, who also holds the portfolio of Dairying and Animal Husbandry, candidly admitted.

Himself practicing farming, and coming from a farming family, Dalal asserted that he had a deep understood of how the small and marginal land-owning farmers, as well as the landless contract farmers, were barely able to eke out a living for their families. They neither have the risk taking capacity, nor the appetite to take a risk by diversifying into other crops like maize, cotton, oil seeds, pulses, etc and into horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and the likes.

The massive and unpredictable fluctuations in prices of especially fruits and vegetables created by the forces of demand and supply, natural and man-made disruptions, inadequate infrastructure like storage facilities and cold chains, etc. and marketing support are weighing heavy on the minds of the farmers and dissuading them from moving away from the MSP-assured incomes, he added.

Under the circumstances, the governments will have to support the farmers with risk mitigation measures by facilitating creation of a robust infrastructure and an efficient and effective marketing network. The private sector will also have to play a greater role in this endeavour, Dalal stated.

Talking about his own state, the minister said Haryana is among the frontrunner states as far as providing facilities and incentives for diversification of agriculture is concerned. Work has already commenced on establishing a massive international horticulture market at Ghanaur in Sonipat district. To be executed in phases, the India International Horticulture Market (IIHM) will not only provide farmers from the entire region direct access to international markets.

He said during the weeklong visit to Japan by a Haryana delegation led by him earlier this year to study modern farm practices, opportunities were also explored for international funding of the backward linkages of IIHM down to the block level so that the farmers’ produce was picked up from their farms itself for being marketed in international markets.

The proposal under the mega project is to build hundreds of pack houses and set up cold chains, crop e-market and information & community data sharing platforms in the state. Sorting of the produce, packaging, branding and transportation will form part of the entire exercise.

Counting other successes of the state towards conservation of scarce water resources and diversification, Dalal claimed that two lakh acres more land under traditional paddy cultivation had been converted to the water-saving direct-seeded rice (DSR) technique, and one lakh acres had been brought under horticulture production.

As a result of various subsidies, support prices and other incentives, the minister asserted that farmers in the state had turned around their fortunes in various diversified farm practices like aquaculture, especially ‘jhinga’ fish, sunflower oilseeds, floriculture, etc.

He proudly shared that at different times progressive farmers from Haryana have been honoured with the Padma Shri national award for pioneering work in the field of diversification of agriculture. These are Kanwal Singh Chauhan from Sonipat district (for propagating baby corn as a profitable pursuit), Sultan Singh from Karnal district (fish breeding) and Narender Singh from Panipat district (dairy development).

Encouraging others to emulate these pioneers, Dalal informed that his vision and plan to encourage 10,000 small farmers from the state to become ‘crorepatis’ in the next few years through diversified farm practises was progressing well and expressed confidence that it will achieve success.

The other Guest of Honour, Punjab’s Horticulture Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra did not show up, giving credence to the growing impression that the present dispensation in the state does not value CII platforms as much.

Representatives of the state government have been missing from several conferences, seminars and meets organised by the prestigious industry body in recent times, unlike in the past when chief ministers, ministers, chief secretaries and other senior functionaries from the state were frequent participants.

Panellists at the inaugural session of the Culmination Ceremony of Innovative Farmers’ Meet, organised by CII Northern Region at its headquarters in Chandigarh, on Tuesday, pose for a group photograph.

Representing the Punjab government, KAP Sinha, Special Chief Secretary, Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Punjab, while emphasising the state government’s commitment to strengthening the critical infrastructure along the entire agricultural value chain, including storage, cold chains, marketing network, etc., called upon farmers to adopt modern farm practices to increase their incomes.

Giving the example of the expansive farms run by Namdhari Sikhs in Ramnagar area near Bangalore, he said it presented a perfect model of modern farm practices, all with minimal use of chemical pesticides and no government dependency, for the farming community in this region to emulate. He also offered to organise state sponsored study visits by farmers to the farms.

Intervening at this point, Gurmeet Singh Bhatia, Chairman of Ajooni Biotech Ltd. and moderator for the Culmination Ceremony of the Innovative Farmers’ Meet, offered that the CII Northern Region could organise one such visit for a delegation of farmers.

Established in the year 2000, Namdhari’s Fresh (https://www.namdharifresh.com/) has aggregated thousands of acres of farms belonging to a close network of farmers, and using modern farm practices, including network of pack houses and integrated cold chain, is exporting its nationally and internationally food safety certified produce of exotic and ethnic vegetables and fruits to markets in Europe, Middle East, South East Asia and Australia.

Dr Jaswant Singh, Director, Agriculture, Punjab, cautioned farmers against the indiscriminate spraying of pesticides and insecticides on their crops. He informed that to counter the challenge posed by unacceptable limits of chemical residues found in rice exports, and their consequent rejection in international markets, the state government had completely banned 10 different harmful pesticide products, found to be at the root cause of the problem.

Urging farmers to pursue progressive agricultural practices, Dr Shailender Kaur, Director, Horticulture, Punjab, emphasised that the road to farmers’ prosperity lay in practice of horticulture.

Listing out a host of horticulture crops being successfully grown in Punjab, which were giving much better returns than the traditional wheat-paddy cycle, she said setting up local level processing facilities by small entrepreneurs with an investment of up to Rs 25 lakh would prove beneficial for all stakeholders.

Sharing that Punjab farmers were already supplying seed potato to the entire country, she said there is still a huge untapped potential for horticulture development in the state. Stressing the need for farmers to cut down on pre-harvest input costs for profitability, she also suggested that the agricultural research institutions should work on developing new processing grade crop varieties for betterment of the farming community.

In a separate session on ‘Paving the Path to Progressive Agriculture’, while sharing their experiences with farmers, senior functionaries from various participating agri and agro tech companies, explained to the farmers how the use of modern practices would help them cut down on input costs, save the already scarce water resources, reduce reliance on the now hard-to-get labour, enhance productivity and decrease harmful chemical residues in their produce.

The participating companies were PI Industries, FMC Corporation, Dhanuka Agritech, Mahindra & Mahindra (Swaraj Division) and JK Tyres & Industries.

Farmers were advised to switch to newly developed bio molecule based pesticides, which are safe to use on crops, and strictly use them in prescribed quantities and at suggested intervals. They must also avoid random spraying of these chemicals and choose the right chemicals for their identified crop-specific problems.

The use of modern spraying techniques like drone tech and boom sprayers was also emphasised. The farmers were informed that now early warning systems have been developed which can timely warn them against the onset of disease and threat of pest attack.

Reminding farmers of the heavy crop losses suffered due to the use of uncertified seeds during last year’s crop season, they recommended that the farmers use only certified seeds to harvest a good crop.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

 

Now Route Your Low Value Exports Via India Post

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Now Route Your Low Value Exports Via India Post

The concept of cross-border e-commerce is catching up and the ‘Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras (DNKs)’ being opened at the grassroots level in nearby India Post offices across the country are expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating medium, small and micro enterprises, start-ups, traders, rural artisans etc. to conveniently and directly export their products without having to rely on complex supply chains.

This facility, provided under the provision of the new Foreign Trade Policy 2023, was highlighted at the inaugural session of the Conference on Demystifying Trade and Investment organised by the CII Northern Region at its headquarters in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Canada’s Consul General in Chandigarh Patrick Hébert addressing a Conference On Demystifying Trade & Investment, organised by CII Northern Region, at its hedquarters in Chandigarh, on Monday.

Photos By: LifeInChandigarh.com & CII NR

The conference brought together industry leaders, policy makers, and experts to deliberate on the pivotal role standards play in enhancing India’s exports, and the essential preparations required by the industry to seamlessly integrate into the global supply chains.

An initiative of the India Post and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), hundreds of DNKs are already operational and opening of 3,000-4,000 more has been fast tracked.

The aim of setting up DNKs is to provide ease of booking and transmission, electronic filing of Postal Bill of Export and customs clearance, while ensuring visibility and transparency in the whole process.

The DNKs work in a ‘hub-and-spoke model’ with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to facilitate cross-border e-commerce. Their integration with e-marketplaces/aggregators will ensure end-to-end logistic support to the exporters registered on such e-marketplaces.

The government is encouraging exporters to leverage technologies such as UPI, e-Rupee, and the robust e-commerce infrastructure in the country to expand the reach of Indian products worldwide. Goods up to value of Rs 5 lakh can be exported through this channel.

The move comes in the backdrop of declining exports amid slowing global trade, and India looking for new avenues of exports and exploring new markets for its goods and commodities.

Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Som Prakash (centre) poses with panellanists at the inaugural session of the Conference On Demystifying Trade & Investment, organised by CII Northern Region, at its hedquarters in Chandigarh, on Monday.

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash, the chief guest, highlighted various measures taken by the central government to facilitate and spur growth in exports in line with the goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India a developed country by 2047, when the country celebrates 100 years of its independence.

With a view to reduce dependence on imports and realize India’s vision of becoming AatmaNirbhar, the central government has introduced Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for 14 key sectors to spur indigenous production, and enhance exports, he said.

Continuing with measures aimed at enhancing Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Som Prakash informed the audience that the Government of India has reduced 39,000 compliances. Recently, various Acts have been amended and 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts administered by 19 ministries have been decriminalized.

Further, he mentioned that the Centre’s initiatives such as the PM Gatishakti and National Logistics Policy, aimed at drastically reducing the cost of logistics from 40 per cent to 10 per cent are bold measures in this direction. More than 24 sectors will be selected for implementation of the Logistics Policy, he added.

Addressing the gathering, Canada’s Consul General in Chandigarh Patrick Hébert, despite the persistent irritants in Indo-Canadian relations, and Canadian government having called a pause to the negotiations over a free trade pact with India in the run up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India to participate in the G20 summit, expressed confidence over the successful conclusion of Early Progress Trade Agreement, which will be a precursor to the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

He noted with satisfaction that the trade between the two countries is growing at a fair clip. The economies of the two countries are mutually complimentary. India is currently focusing heavily on green and clean energy and agri foods sector and Canada has the requisite expertise to help India in these areas. Artificial intelligence and data analytics are other technology areas in which the two countries can collaborate, he added.

Hébert stressed that Canada offers an attractive destination for investments since it opens the doors to several lucrative markets globally with the country having free trade agreements (FTAs) with 50+ countries, which make up for more than a half of the global GDP.

He cited a recent tie-up between a Canadian company and Mahindra & Mahindra Limited which will have a direct positive impact on the agriculture sector, especially the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and other affected states.

The Saskatchewan, Canada based Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. earlier this year signed a MoU with Mahindra and Mahindra Limited to bring the SMART Seeder MINI-MAX™, and related technologies, to Indian farmers with a goal of helping eradicate stubble burning, reduce input costs, boost crop production, enhance water conservation, and protect agricultural soils from further deterioration, caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers and extreme tilling.

Vrindaba Gohil, Commissioner of Customs (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh), Customs Commissionerate – Ludhiana, encouraged businesses to take full advantage of various schemes floated by the central government to empower them to become competitive in the global market, like Manufacturing and Other Operations in Warehouse (MOOWR) scheme and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme, which streamlines customs procedures and is currently undergoing changes to enhance the efficiency of the supply chain further.

Informing the gathering that Certificates of Origin are now being issued by DGFT (Director General Foreign Trade) without charging any fees to facilitate trade and exports, Utpal Kumar Acharya, Joint DGFT – Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir & Leh Ladakh, also urged exporters to take advantage of the one-time Amnesty Scheme to address default on export obligations.

He encouraged traders and exporters to keep themselves updated on various new developments and regulations on relevant websites of the central government and also keep sending their written feedback for consideration by the government so that  necessary amendments, if found necessary, can be made from time to time.

Earlier, welcoming the delegates, Amit Thapar, Chairman, CII Northern Region Task Force on Exports, and President of Ganga Acrowools Limited, emphasized the need for the manufacturing sector to be ready to produce world-class products at world-class prices, or run the risk of closure of businesses. In the process of manufacturing there cannot be any compromises on safeguarding critical issues of health, safety and the environment, he added.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Non-Tariff Barriers: Going beyond just Technical Standards’, exploring the impact of varying quality standards, improving national quality infrastructure, sustainability in Non-Tariff Measures, and the challenges posed by comprehensive free trade agreements (FTAs).

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Allow Students Freedom, Space To Think Out Of The Box

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Allow Students Freedom, Space To Think Out Of The Box

Emphasising that humans are natural learners, hence the challenge and primary goal of education must be to nurture already curious, flexible, and potentially critical thinkers, a noted educationist and behaviour analyst has raised questions whether our schools are killing creativity, and whether we are not snatching the children of their childhood?

Delivery a colloquium lecture, 69th in a series, on the subject “Need For Educational Transformation: Why, What & How” on the Panjab University Chandigarh campus recently, Prof. Santoshi Haldar, from the University of Calcutta, observed that for a significant proportion of children enrolled in schools, the quality of education being imparted to them remains in question.

Prof. Santoshi Haldar delivering the PU Colloquium Lecture on the topic “Need For Educational Transformation: Why, What & How” on the Punjab University campus.

Photo By: Life In Chandigarh

In her presentation, she reflected on some of the evidence-based strategies and approaches of experiential learning from some of the best minds in the world. It also carried some excerpts from the presenter’s own research findings and current ongoing work.

The occasion exposed the ill-preparedness of the university authorities in handling exigencies during such important events. First there was a power failure at the venue, the SS Bhatnagar University of Chemical Engineering & Technology Auditorium, with apparently no viable power backup. And, the presentation would not run on the laptop, with the organisers failing to find another one. Finally, the issues were resolved but not before a substantial delay.

The poor quality of projection of the presentation on the wall for the benefit of the audience and output of the sound system thoroughly exposed the university’s outdated infrastructure.

Coming back to the insightful and thought-provoking presentation, Prof Santoshi pointed out that the important questions before us today are: Are we preparing students for a meaningful future? Are we making good human beings and responsible global citizens with desirable moral and ethical code of behaviour and actions?

Among other questions are: Are we going in the right direction? What’s lacking? What are the gaps? What are the appropriate strategies for the right direction and how to go about it? What is education, and what should be the goal education for a sustainable, inclusive and equitable society?

In response, she quoted Sir Ken Robinson, British author, speaker and international advisor on education, to say “If you design a system to do something specific, don’t be surprised if it does it. If you run an education system based on standardisation and conformity, that suppresses individuality, imagination, and creativity, don’t be surprised if that’s what it does.”

Robinson advocates that “Clear, critical thinking should be at the heart of every (teaching) discipline in school, and a cultivated habit outside it too.”

Stressing on the need to give children, and students, freedom and space to think on their own, and encourage them to go beyond their boundaries as part of their learning process, Prof Santoshi quoted another expert to say that when children are in charge of their learning, and it’s engaging, they explore for the answer. They own the information in a way they don’t when you just tell them the answers.

So, the teachers have to learn to let go, and not over condition their students. A teacher’s job is not to provide the answers, but to pose “Big Questions” that motivate their students to do their own investigation, she added.

Dwelling on the importance of emotion-based pedagogy in learning, Prof Santoshi said we only think deeply about things we care about. Therefore, meaningful thinking and learning are inherently emotional.

Emotions are powerful motivators of learning as they activate brain mechanisms that originally evolved to manage our basic survival, which is why educators must find ways to leverage the emotional aspects of learning, she explained.

Presenting another quote she said to unlock their confidence and find their passion, students need help in overcoming emotional barriers that cause them to resist studies. She motivated teachers to play a major role in this process.

Focussing on the urgent need for re-skilling especially in the light of the fact that by 2030, Indians are expected to account for 18% of the global population, she said it is important to ponder over how we are educating our youth, and whether they are sufficiently skilled to face the future.

In this context, she quoted political scientist and public intellectural Andrew Hacker to say that “The world economy no longer pays for what you know, but for what you can do with what you know…. this challenges not only the content of what we teach but the ways in which we teach.”

In conclusion, Prof Santoshi advocated that school cultures need to promote entrepreneurship, global awareness, and a humanistic outlook that includes an appreciation of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints. At the same time the importance of traditional knowledge and practices for sustainability cannot be underestimated, she said, adding that youngsters need to be made aware of their local and traditional knowledge.

About Prof Santoshi Haldar

Prof Santoshi Haldar, a post graduate in Education and a Ph.D in Applied Psychology, is also a certified Behaviour Analyst from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, USA. Recipient of several national and international awards and prestigious fellowships, Prof Santoshi has been working for the past over two decades in various international and national academic and research endeavours for the inclusive growth of people from secluded and marginalised communities through engaging and effective pathways.

Dr Santoshi also provides behavioural intervention services, especially to people with autism spectrum disorder along with training the parents and practitioners.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
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9815617676 

Immerse In Sea Of New Concepts In Ceramic Tiles

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Immerse In Sea Of New Concepts In Ceramic Tiles

With rapid urbanisation, a resurgent real estate sector after the pandemic and an ever expanding middle class, aspirations are running high, and with it the demand for upscale housing and commercial properties. A perfect setting, one would say, for a boom in the ceramic tiles industry in India, 2nd largest in the world, after China.

And, Somany Ceramics, one of the major global players in this field, is strengthening its nationwide network to cash in on the demand.

As part of this expansion, the Rs 2500 crore company, which claims a 20% market share in India’s organised ceramic tiles industry, on Monday opened a mini mall style ‘Somany Grande’ showroom in JLPL Sector 82 Mohali, covering 8,000 square feet area spread over four floors, to be managed and operated by Nirmanghar Traders Pvt Ltd.

Interacting with your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com on the sidelines of the launch ceremony Abhishek Somany, MD & CEO, Somany Ceramics Limited, said this expansive outlet showcases a distinctive assortment of Somany’s premium collection and is set to invigorate and enhance the company’s market presence in Mohali.

“It will serve as a platform to discover a diverse range of wall and floor tiles across multiple categories. The store will also showcase an extensive collection of our top-tier sanitary ware and bath fittings, delivering a holistic home enhancement journey to cater to the demand for aspirational products coming from Mohali,” he shared.

The company is a complete solution provider in terms of décor solutions with widest product selection of Ceramic Wall and Floor Tiles, Polished Vitrified Tiles, Glazed Vitrified Tiles, Sanitary ware, Bath ware and Adhesives.

With a capacity of 80 million square meters of ceramic tiles annually, manufactured in two company owned plants and seven strategic alliances in different parts of the country, Somany Ceramics, apart from catering to the domestic demand, exports to over 80 countries across 6 continents.

It also has two manufacturing units for sanitary ware and bath ware. The company boasts of over 500+ exclusive outlets and 15,000+ dealers and sub-dealers across India.

Coming out of the pandemic, Somany Ceramics has added 25% to its manufacturing capacity over the last couple of years. In recent years, Somany has also expanded its portfolio of offerings by adding sanitary ware, bathroom ware, tile adhesives and geysers (water heaters).

Commenting on the differentiators of the company, Abhishek said “Somany has been in the forefront of design and innovation for over five decades, and we continue to grow from strength to strength adding more exclusive stores and redefining customer experience.”

Expanding on the innovation aspect, Abhishek said a couple of our technologies, developed in-house, have already won Indian patents, and a couple more are awaiting approval. So, our VC Shield technology provides a protective layer that safeguards tiles from wear and tear, scratches, stains, and weather damage. This remarkable achievement earned the company its first Indian patent (No. 227692) in 2009, he said, adding that similarly their Slip Shield, Temp Shield and Hydrophobic technologies are trend-setters.

North India, especially Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, is Somany’s largest market, contributing 40% to its overall business, followed by South India and West India with roughly equal share of 30% each.

The most significant development in the ceramic tiles industry has been the accurate replication of the natural stone and wood finish down to the minutest detail, opening up new avenues for the industry. People are increasingly going for larger tiles of up to 4 ft. x 10 ft. size.

The ceramic tiles industry continues to grow at a fair clip in high single digits or more annually. It was estimated to be worth around Rs 30,000 crore before the pandemic in 2019 and has since been estimated to have grown to Rs 40,000-plus crore.

Rough estimates have it that 40% of the industry is organised and 60% largely unorganised, comprising players from Morbi (home to about 95% of India’s ceramic tiles producers) and Rajkot in Gujarat and other clusters, but the ratio appears to be reversing.

A large share of the world production of ceramic tiles comes from the Asia Pacific region, with China being the largest manufacturer and consumer of ceramic tiles in the world, followed by India, which is also a leading exporter of ceramic tiles.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

City Girl Personifies Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

Sanjeev Kochhar
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City Girl Personifies Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

The tall and ravishing Shweta Sharda presents a personification of beauty, glitz and glamour today with a glittering crown on her head, her beautiful long hair resting on her shimmering silver sari and a vivacious smile, good to kill a million hearts. But behind The Chandigarh girl’s stupendous achievement in winning the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2023 (Miss Universe India 2023) contest is an engrossing and worthy story of fortitude which will inspire many a youngster.

Having received a warm reception by family and friends on her brief homecoming to the city, 22 year old Shweta stopped by at The Lalit on Tuesday for a customary interaction with the media during which she frankly shared her story of grit, determination and persistent hard work to reach this stage. During this journey she had to overcome most challenging times, when the family struggled to eke out a living, and the subsequent shattering breakup of her parents when she was only 12. Her father was an auto rickshaw driver.

Shweta Sharda interacting with the media in Chandigarh, her home city  

Photos courtesy: LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2023 organisers & Social Media handles

Right through the interaction, the beauty queen, who exuded supreme confidence that she will bring the Miss Universe crown back to India in the finale to be held in the Latin American country of El Salvador in November, did not lose an opportunity to give credit for all that she has been able to achieve in life so far to her single mother. “In fact, my life revolves around my mother. I cannot thank her enough for her support in making me what I am today,” she gushes with gratitude.

Reminiscing her mother’s contribution in her life, she says, “However difficult the circumstances, and no matter what the sacrifices she had to make, my mother always stood behind us two siblings like a rock. I own it to her for the motivation and passion I am able to generate in whatever I do. She also inculcated in us the values of always being grateful for whatever you have, and whatever someone does for you, and remaining patient, humble and grounded all the while.”

Shweta has excelled in dancing, choreography and modelling over the last few years, ever since she relocated to Mumbai to pursue her dreams.

“I participated in five reality shows and made it to every finale. These include Dance India Dance Season 6 and Dance Plus Season 6. The occasion when I got an opportunity to choreograph my childhood favourite diva Madhuri Dixit Nene, among many other top Bollywood actors whom I taught dancing steps in different shows, was a memorable moment for me,” she shared. Madhuri was on the judge’s panel of Dance Deewane on Colors.

“I developed a passion for dancing at a very early age, and used to feel good about the all round appreciation I used to receive in school (she has studied in Government Model Senior Secondary school in MHC Manimajra and then Sector 18 Chandigarh).”

A self taught dancer, she worked extremely hard on improving her dancing skills. “After the regular school hours and tuitions, I used to practice dancing for up to 6-8 hours every day. That was the level of motivation and determination to excel. So, when I was 16 years old and decided to move to Mumbai to pursue a career as a professional dancer, I had my mother’s full support, despite strong opposition from relatives and family friends,” relates Shweta.

Shweta Sharda waving to crowds at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, Chandigarh on her arrival in her home city

Apart from participating in reality shows, she has also organised dancing workshops, taken up modelling assignments and acted in several Hindi and Punjabi music videos.

Having won the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2023 contest, Shweta says the crown comes with a lot of responsibility and expectation. At the same time, wearing the crown has given her enough motivation to work harder under the expert guidance of various mentors, to whom she is very grateful. She expresses confidence that she will not let go the opportunity and bring back the Miss Universe crown, which has been won at various times by Sushmita Sen (1994), Lara Dutta (2000) and Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu (2021).

Shweta Sharda greeted by her mother and brother

Though right now completely focussed on the November finale of the Miss Universe contest in El Salvador, Shweta does not hide her long cherished dream of joining the film industry.

Wishing her all the very best! 

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Come, Weigh Your Australian Dream, First Hand!

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Come, Weigh Your Australian Dream, First Hand!

With India and Australia recently raising the level of their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic level, the country Down Under, which is home to three of the top 20 and nine of the top 100 world ranking universities, is eyeing a greater share of the pie of Indian students studying abroad.

Australia is already one of the top four destinations for Indian students pursuing higher studies abroad, apparently for better career prospects, and eventually getting an opportunity to seek permanent residency there. As per the latest QS World University Rankings 2024, released in June 2023, three of the top 20 and nine of the top 100 world ranking universities are Australian. Also, 95% of all Australian universities are included in the global rankings.

Dr Monica Kennedy, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, Austrade, interacting with the media in Chandigarh on Tuesday regarding the upcoming Study Australia Roadshow in the city.

Photo courtesy: Ajay Jalandhari

At any given point in recent years around 1,00,000 Indian students have been enrolled in Australian universities, especially in the Melbourne region, out of the total 5,00,000 foreign students the country attracts. But the Australian government has recently made its offer packages for foreign students coming to study in Australian universities more lucrative to attract larger numbers, especially from India.

Rolling out an outreach programme in this direction, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) on Tuesday announced that a Study Australia Roadshow will  be organised at Taj Chandigarh on September 4, a first of such roadshows planned in six cities pan India, the other cities up next being New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Interacting with the media in Chandigarh, Dr Monica Kennedy, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, Austrade, based out of the Australian Consulate General in Mumbai, said the event will bring under one roof 26 world ranking Australian universities, government representatives of Australian states and territories, departments of education and home affairs.

It will provide a great opportunity to interested students, parents, education leaders and even school counselors to get their queries regarding all aspects of studying in Australia addressed first hand, she said, adding that during their interactions they will also be able to better understand the emerging trends in the education sector of Australia and get valuable insights into choice of universities and destinations Down Under.

The visitors will be able to cover key aspects that students need to consider before deciding on studying in Australia – from fees, popular intakes and highly sought after courses to life as a student in Australia, Dr Kennedy shared.

The Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, Austrade, emphasized that though Australia is a large country, with just over 25 million population and only 43 universities, it has one of the best education systems in the world, tightly regulated to safeguard the interests and rights of foreign students.

Not only are three Australian universities among the top 20 and nine among the top 100 universities in global rankings, besides 95% of all Australian universities being world ranked, the variety of courses in a gamut of academic streams and spheres of skill training offered in these universities is extremely diversified and geared to produce industry ready work force, she stated.

Plus, the country offers a safe environment with a very low crime rate, which gives confidence to foreign students to study in Australia, she noted.

Under tweaked student visa rules, Indian students studying in Australian universities can now work in the country for up to eight years without requiring visa sponsorship.

All international students in Australia holding student visa are allowed to work a maximum 48 hours per fortnight while studying, so that they are able to keep a balance between their academics/training and work. However, when academics/training is not in session, there are no restrictions on their work hours.

Addressing the issue of increasing cost of living, which adversely impacts foreign students too, Dr Kennedy said through this is a worldwide problem, Australia is reasonably placed in this regard with inflation hovering below 7% and unemployment pegged at 3.6%.

The Australian universities in the top 20 QS World University Rankings 2024 are The University of Melbourne (14th), The University of New South Wales, Sydney & The University of Sydney (joint 19th).

The other universities in the top 100 are Australian National University, Canberra (34th), Monash University, Melbourne (42nd), The University of Queensland, Brisbane (43rd), The University of Western Australia, Perth (72nd), The University of Adelaide (89th) and University of Technology, Sydney (90th).

What: Study Australia Roadshow
When: September 4, 2023
Where: Taj Chandigarh
Timing: 1:30 p.m. onwards

For more information:
www.studyaustralia.gov.au/india
https://www.facebook.com/StudyAUOfficial/ 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Nothing Can Beat A Photographer’s Unique Perspectives

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Nothing Can Beat A Photographer’s Unique Perspectives

The wow pictures speak for themselves, and one might think there isn’t much of a need to write about them. But it always makes good reading to know what goes on behind the scenes to capture those wow moments. So here we are in conversation with, and sharing the exceptional clicks, of a talented and passionate Nature photographer, a relatively late starter, who is increasingly making his presence felt in this fascinating field.

Sitting in his expansive shop, retailing garments in Chandigarh’s City Centre, Anuj Jain (45) could go as a typical businessman, deftly overseeing the walk-ins and walk-outs.

Nature photographer Anuj Jain

Photo courtesy: Anuj Jain

But there’s a clear differentiator. His observant eyes are apparently wired up to a very discerning brain which allows him to quickly identify and lock on to an opportunity, which he then pursues with utmost commitment and extreme patience to produce remarkable Nature photography, recognised by international professional magazines and organisations.

A selection of this engineer-businessman’s amazing Nature and wildlife clicks is reproduced as part of this write-up some of which have found their way into international professional magazines like Nat Geo India, National Geographic Traveler India, The Times UK, Daily Star UK and Sanctuary Asia, besides the UN Annual Calendar 2021.

The interesting part is that Anuj, by choice, does not travel to far off places and necessarily depend on high end equipment to capture wildlife, especially birds, in their natural habitats. Most of his works of art have materialised during his numerous trips to the far side of the Sukhna Lake, Thapli Nature Camp and the local parks in and around Chandigarh.

He also does not believe that a person can pursue serious photography only if he/she has a knack for it. He feels that interest in photography can be inculcated and developed at any age. Giving his own example, he says though he always harboured a deep interest in Nature and wildlife, he took to serious or productive photography quite late in life.

Anuj purchased his first camera, a basic Olympus point-and-shoot digital camera, when he enrolled for a two-year MS in engineering course in the USA way back in 2001. He did some photography to capture the fun moments during his various outings during this period, including a trip to the famous Niagara Falls. He unfortunately lost his entire collection with his laptop, which was stolen.

After his return to India he nearly completely lost touch with photography for over a decade, before, having planned a leisure trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2014, he gifted himself a first basic DSLR camera, a Nikon D3200 with 18-55 mm & 55-200 mm lenses and also did a very short duration basic course in photography to learn the controls of the camera.

However, his photography in the world famous game reserve was nothing much to write home about, though he did continue to pursue it to justify his investment in the camera.

Gradually, as he became more and more comfortable with the Nikon D3200 and his frames began to get noticed, he upgraded to a Nikon D750, a camera he used for seven long years before very recently pampering himself with a real high end Nikon Z8.

During this journey in pursuit of photography, Anuj tried his hands at capturing landscapes, street life and still-life photography, but in 2019 he began to focus on birds, and soon realised that he felt most comfortable and satisfying doing that.

“Fortunately for me, I started receiving success at every stage whether in terms of my photographs being displayed in photo exhibitions, prominently carried in prestigious professional magazines, or winning photographic contests,” shares Anuj.

Ever since then, he has been concentrating exclusively on framing these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat, and giving the world of photography remarkable frames which tell a story.

He feels, “In Nature photography, especially, it is important to be able to capture those fleeting moments which inspire awe in the beholder. It is painstaking work, observing the behaviour of the birds in their natural habitat without disturbing them, while at the same time being mindful of your own safety. And, when the birds are comfortable with your presence, and go about their routine, wait patiently for that story-telling moment and make sure to capture it in your frame in a split second.

“Having a good understanding of your gear, using the right equipment, understanding the light and the background, and using the right shutter speed are other important factors to be kept in mind for optimum results. Having a mentor helps. You can always fall back on him for a critique of your work and advice,” he adds.

YouTube is another good teacher for Anuj. He closely follows the works of exceptional photographers, Mark Smith for example.

In his opinion, despite tremendous advancements in photographic technology and the challenges posed by the deployment of AI (artificial intelligence), there is nothing to beat a good photographer’s “unique perspectives”.    

Failures are an integral part of any pursuit, more so in Nature photography, Anuj says and advises against getting disheartened. “Patience and persistence pays, though luck also plays a role. Learn to enjoy the moments spent in the lap of Nature while going about your work. There cannot be a more natural form of meditation,” he avers.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Transforming Mindsets Key To Future: Prof Renu Vig

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Transforming Mindsets Key To Future: Prof Renu Vig

Public universities in India find themselves at crossroads, their relevance in an increasingly competitive and transforming world being at stake. Fortunately, the realisation appears to have finally sunk in that bold, innovative and path-breaking corrective measures need to be taken quickly to arrest the slide into potential oblivion.

Orchestrating this thought process Panjab University’s first women vice chancellor Prof Renu Vig made some candid observations while delivering a lecture on ‘Vision for Panjab University, Chandigarh’ in the Prof BM Anand Auditorium of the university’s Physics Department on Friday.

Panjab University’s first woman Vice Chancellor Prof Renu Vig delivering a lecture on ‘Vision for Panjab University, Chandigarh’ at the Prof BM Anand Auditorium on the university campus, on Friday

Photo By: Life In Chandigarh

This was the concluding lecture in the series ‘Vision for Institutions’ organised by the Society for Promotion of Science & Technology in India (SPSTI) from 2021-23 to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence.

A day before the university received its first ever highest NAAC A++ grade with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.68 from a maximum 4 points from the National Assessment & Accreditation Council, Prof Vig said fundamental changes needed to be made in mindsets and motivation levels raised to new heights at all levels, in tune with modern times.

Aptly, she was speaking from the auditorium named after Prof. BM Anand, who, as first head of Physics Department of Panjab University, Chandigarh, with his high level of motivation, commitment and innovation, found an opportunity even within the limited resources at the command of a fledging department post Partition, and helped it on its way to becoming one of the premier physics departments of the country. He was a lifelong learner himself and inspired others who came into his influence to do the same.

Expressing her thoughts while running a presentation on the Vision Document @ 1947 adopted by the Panjab University, the vice chancellor said in keeping with the times, nomenclature and curriculum of courses across all teaching and research disciplines needed to be modified urgently, faculty needed to be made more broad based with the induction of industry experts, and their motivational levels raised.

Though the level of research happening in the university was quite high, she felt that many faculty members and other researchers were happy working in their individual silos. This needed to change as sharing of data had become critical with the rapid transformations happening around us. Intra departmental and inter departmental collaborations were the need of the hour for optimising the outcomes of the research efforts, she said, adding that inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches should also be deployed.

At the same time, we have to marshal funds for the maintenance and renovation of old and dilapidated infrastructure for teaching and research, Prof Vig said and expressed optimism that the recent approval of Science & Technology cluster for the region led by Panjab University and IIT Ropar, and opening of centrally sponsored RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) labs in various disciplines to foster enhanced learning, research and innovation, will go a long way in raising the level of research and resulting in much needed incremental funding to the institution.

Comparing expenditure, and revenue sources, of Panjab University to two of the top universities in the world Harvard and Stanford, she said while Panjab University matches allocations in percentage terms for research activities with them, these universities are optimising their allocations on establishment in a far better way. We are spending an estimated 83% of our Rs 750 crore annual budget on salaries, pensions, other benefits, alone.

While 36% of Harward’s revenues come from endowments, a staggering 61% of Stanford revenues are contributed by cutting edge healthcare services, including running of hospitals, provided by the university, she added.

Describing the university alumni as a pillar of strength, she hinted that in the future it will be involved in a much more meaningful way in making Panjab University a future-ready university by helping in designing modern courses and curricula, attracting industry experts as faculty and forging associations and collaborations with the industry as well as foreign universities.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

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