Shimla-Crossing milestones in academics, disabled students of Himachal Pradesh continue to achieve what is otherwise considered insurmountable for them.

Eleven differently-abled students have cleared UGC’s National Eligibility Test (NET). Two of them qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship. Five of these students are visually impaired.

It’s important to mention that disabled students had to fight a legal battle to claim their right to higher education in Himachal Pradesh University. Even after ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill – 2016’ was passed, the students had to fight for its implementation as the government did not make it easy for them.

Two students who qualified for the JRF include Saveen Janha, an M.Phil in Hindi, and Pankaj Sharma, P.hD in Tourism Administration. Both are physically disabled, informed Ajai Shrivastava, a member of the State Advisory Board on Disability and HPU Executive Council (EC).

Indu Kumari, a visually impaired student, who is pursuing her M.A. in Political Science, cleared the NET examination in her very first attempt. Similarly, visually impaired Roma Negi, a resident of Rampur, has cleared the exam in History in her first attempt. She wants to pursue her P.hD from HP University.

Other names include Anuj Kumar (Economics), Vinod Sharma (Political Science), Jasbir Lubanand (Political Science), Vinod Sharma Yogacharya (Yoga), Priyanka Thakur (Law), Ajay Kumar (History). Some of these students have cleared the NET examination twice. Raj Kumar is a Ph.D in Education and has cleared the NET exam in the same. He had also passed the NET examination in History and this time cleared the exam in Political Science.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sikander Kumar has congratulated all these students and appreciated their hard-work despite facing hardships due to their disability. He said these students have brought laurels to the State.

Solan-The Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has invited applications for its one-year Diploma in Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Bakery products. The diploma will be run by the Department of Food Science and Technology of the university.

This year, the university has also reduced the fee charged for the diploma to Rs 5000. Earlier, the fee for this diploma was Rs 20,000. The decision was taken to ensure that more and more people can apply for the programme.

In addition, the programme has also been linked to the Skill Development Allowance scheme of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Any person enrolled in the programme can also apply for this allowance.

The minimum educational qualification for this diploma programme is Class 10+2 with at least 40 per cent with no age cap for admission. The last date of application is 17 January 2019 and the counselling will be held on 19 January.

A total of 35 seats are available in the programme. Prospectus and application form can be downloaded from the university website(www.yspuniversity.ac.in).

Solan-Dr RK Aggarwal, Scientist of the Department of Environmental Science at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has bagged second prize from the Government of India for his book on through solar drying of fruits and vegetables.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GOI has awarded the national level prize under its natural energy award scheme. The prize has been awarded for the year 2016 to Dr Aggarwal’s Hindi book titled, ‘Saur Urja Dwara Fasalon se Aaye Vridhi’.

It includes a cash award of Rs 60,000. The book contains various aspects of solar drying technology based on his field experiences since the year 1990.

While thanking the University for providing opportunities to work in the field of renewable energy, Dr Aggarwal said,

The book is focused on improving the quality of dried products along with considerably enhancing markets rates of the produce. Because of it being highly cost-effective, solar drying will immensely benefit the farmers, particularly women. The value addition of products will not only increase the income of farmers, but will also empower the women.

He added that the book would also be useful for students and other stakeholders working on solar drying. He also thanked the MNRE and Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) division of DST for funding the projects for over 25 years to develop solar dryers for the farming community. These dryers established under this project have been established in various parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand.
Dr Aggarwal has an experience of over 25 years in research and development in the field of renewable energy and seven years experience in climate change and environmental science.

He is credited with the development of indirect solar drier of 25 kg capacity for the drying of fruits, vegetables, seeds and medicinal plants.

Indirect Solar Drier & Improved Stove for High Altitude Areas

He has also developed an improved version metal cook-stove for the high altitude areas for cooking, water heating, and space heating under the National Programme on Improved Cook-stove.
He completed his B.Sc, M.Sc, and M.Phil from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. In 2003, he completed his P.hD from the Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut.

Dr HC Sharma, Vice Chancellor of the university, congratulated Dr Aggarwal for bringing laurels to the university and the state. He added that the solar drying techniques elaborated in the book could help to meet the twin goals of reducing food waste along with enhancing farm incomes.

Dr PK Mahajan, Dean College of Forestry and Dr SK Bhardwaj, Professor and Head of Department of Environmental Science also congratulated Dr Aggarwal on the occasion.