P.S. Rao, Executive Director of Gujarat Refinery and Chairman of TOLIC, inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural speech, Rao emphasised propagating the use of Hindi in Information Technology. About 200 West Zone officers from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa from PSUs, Banks, Insurance Companies and Central Government officers participated in the conference.

Privatisation, globalisation, computerisation and Hindi were the main items of discussion. Dr Dungal Jhalte, Joint Director of Rajbhasah Vibhag, advised the Hindi Officers to work with dedication. Dr S.P. Sharma, head of Hindi Department of Saurashtra University, Rajkot and Nafis Khan, Director of VNM, were honoured by Mr Rao for their excellent work in the field of Hindi. TOLIC Member Secretary and Deputy Manager (Hindi) of Gujarat Refinery Dr Manik Mrigesh conducted the inaugural session.

Parents' awareness lecture: A programme on parents' awareness on the development of children was organised on Nov 28 at Community Hall, Gujarat Refinery Township, by Gujarat Refinery Reserved Employees Welfare Association (GREWA) and Gujarat Sanskar Samaj. A prominent psychologist, Dr.Mukesh S. Dalal of Vadodara, gave a talk in which he explained through examples how to deal with children so that they come up as good citizens of the nation. What should and should not be done was explained by him. The over-400 audience, including children, showed great enthusiasm. After the talk, a large number of questions were asked by the parents and children which were clarified by Dr. Dalal.

Earlier, while inaugurating the programme, Executive Director P S Rao said that such programmes should be organised at-least twice annually. The fact that employees from varying cultural backgrounds or amajams came together to organise such programmes shows that Gujarat Refinery employees are united for the development of society, he said. The programme was also attended by senior executives, DGMs & HODs.

Guru Nanak's birthday celebrated: Guru Nanak's birthday was celebrated by Gujarat Refinery Punjabi Samaj on Sunday, Nov 28. Devotees thronged from all concerns of city to the venue, the multi-purpose hall in Refinery Township. Sabad-kirtan was rendered by the renowned Mumbai group, Kulwant Singh & Party, for 2 hours, in which the teachings from the Guru Granth Sahib were narrated. A saropa was presented to Refinery Executive Director P.S. Rao by Punjabi Samaj President N.K. Khosla.

An ardas was made for the health and happiness of all present. At the end of the program, guru-ka-langar was served in which around 1500 township residents and other followers participated. Punjabi Samaj thanks to all for making this holy program a success, as evident from the spirit and enthusiasm which charged the atmosphere.