Srinagar, Oct 28 (KNS): Department of Student Welfare in collaboration with IDP-NAHEP today conducted Zonal level Elocution competition under the theme “Energy & Agriculture: Challenges in 21st Century” under the chairmanship of Prof. J. P. Sharma Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir. The competition forms part of the National Level competition being held at BHU, Varanasi in the ensuing month. Two nominated students from eight Universities from Zone VI will participate in the event.

Prof. M. A. A. Siddiqui, Dean Students Welfare welcomed the guests & the participants who have been selected through a marathon activity conducted at all the universities of Zone-VI. He congratulated all the participants for making it to the zonal level competition and appreciated the efforts of all the organizing committee members of the event.

Director P&M Prof. N. A. Ganai motivated the participants by highlighting the importance of the theme and need to think out-of-box in order to ensure sustainable agriculture.

Prof. J. P. Sharma in his inaugural address highlighted the importance of such competitions for developing the soft skills of the students which are highly desirable traits in today’s world order. Prof. Sharma congratulated Dean Student Welfare, Director Planning and Student welfare officers (SWO) of SKUASTK for organizing such competitions in an immaculate manner.

He also congratulated all the members of the jury from eight different universities of zone-VI for putting their best efforts in selected the best talent. He conveyed his message that all the participants are winners, however, we need to select 02 best performances from Zone-VI for onward participation in the mega event at BHU Varanasi. He attended all the presentations throughout the day. He appreciated the efforts participants have put in preparing the presentations and presenting the same in front of the audience.

The function was attended by Directors, Deans, Associate Deans, Student Welfare Officers of the University. Director Education Prof. M. N. Khan, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. A.H. Hakim, Dean Faculty of Horticulture Prof. S. A. Wani, Prof. K.N.Qaiser, Controller of Examinations, Dean Faculty of Forestry, Prof. T.H.Masoodi , Dean Faculty of Fisheries Prof Masarat Khan , Associate Dean COTS, Prof. M.F. Baqual encouraged the participants continuously and posed questions to the participants from various universities.

Two students were nominated from eight Universities of Zone-VI making it a total of 16 (sixteen) participants who did present their innovative idea to be developed based on the theme. The first position was secured by Dr. Ambreen Hamdani from SKUAST-Kashmir and the second position was secured by Gurkanwal Kaur from PAU, Ludhiana. These two candidates will have to face another competition at the National level competition in order to make space in the final contest at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

The universities of Zone-VI who participated in the event were CSK-HPKV Palampur, GADVASU, Ludhiana Punjab, PAU, Ludhiana, CCS-HAU Hisar, YSP-U H & F Solan, SKUAST- Jammu, SKUAST- Kashmir and NDRI Karnal.

One nominated member of the Zone-VI universities from the faculty members was a member of the jury for evaluation of the presentations. The evaluation criterion for the presentation was communicated to all the participants well in advance in order to help them in preparing for the zonal level competition. (KNS)