Ludhiana: Dr. G. Chinna Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Rural Development paid an official visit to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recently.

He was accompanied by Mr. P. Chinnathataiah, Regional Project Director of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Department of PR & RD, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Welcoming the minister, PAU Registrar and acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr. R.K. Mahey highlighted the organizational setup and research programmes of the varsity.

Dr. Chinna Reddy, who himself is a Doctorate in Plant Breeding, showed keen interest in the research programmes of PAU.

Dr. Reddy and his accomplice visited the Museum of Social History of Punjab on the varsity campus. They showed keen interest in the artifacts depicting social and rural life of Punjab and discussed about the background for the creation of the museum.

He appreciated the vision and artistic acumen of Dr. M.S. Randhawa who was the soul behind the creation of the museum.

Dr. Reddy said that like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh also has a rich culture and heritage and that he has a plan to setup a similar museum at Hyderabad wherein the culture and heritage will be displayed artistically.

He informed that all the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh will be covered in the proposed museum and the very purpose of his visit to PAU was to study the Museum of Rural Life of Punjab.

Dr. Reddy explained that his government has started a number of projects and programmes aimed at women empowerment, that he said is considered as a model in the entire country.

The Minister was received in the museum by Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Additional Director of Communication and the museum staff. Dr. Dhiman responded to the queries of the Minister about the museum and presented him the museum brochures and a set of PAU Publications.

In his remarks entered in the visitors book, Dr. Reddy mentioned that he was greatly impressed by the displays in the museum that date from ancient civilization to modern times.

Dr. Reddy was honoured with the presentation of a Phulkari motif by Dr. Mahey on behalf of PAU.