The Pink City – Jaipur, was the site for the 42nd Annual Convention of professionals from the pest management industry from the country. The venue was Chokhi Dhani, the ethnic resort created in the Rajasthani village theme, with the event being held from 07-09th August 2009.
After the AGM and elections, the exhibition stalls were formally inaugurated by Shri Subodh Kumar, CWE, Jaipur Zone. The inaugural function that followed in the evening was presided over by Mr. N.S. Rao, also called the Father of Pest Control in India, who was Chief Guest, and Brig. R.S Pathania, Chief Engineer, MES, Jaipur Zone, who was Guest of Honour.
The technical sessions were in keeping with the theme : “Integrated Pest Management & Environment” and boasted a gallery of imminent speakers and experts from India and abroad. The morning technical sessions on day one commenced with a presentation on Ants : The Super Organism, Friends or Foe, by Dr. Himender Bharti of Dept. of Zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala, followed by Food Safety by Ms. Julie Na of Rentokil Malaysia. The pre-lunch session had presentations on Lessons of a lifetime in Pest Control by Mr. Norman Cooper of the USA, followed by Quality Management System w.r.t. IPM, by Mr. Jayant Dandawate, VP – Services, Pest Control India, Mumbai.
Post lunch session had presentations from Mr. Craig Martelle of AP&G, USA on Using Glue Traps for Green Pest Management, followed by Pest Management in Hospitality by Dr. Pradeep Kumar of ISS HiCare. Post-tea saw presentations by Mr. Subodh Kumar, CWE Jaipur Zone, on Anti-termite Treatment in Green Buildings, thereafter by Dr. Kuljeet Singh on IPM & Biological Control, followed by Dr. V.S. Vyas, on survival of small scale businesses in recessionary times.
Day two, started with Mr. Norman Cooper and his presentation on Start Thinking Long Term, followed by Mr. Atul Mehta of Indo-Gulf Pest Control, Delhi, on pest control – small scale business, which was followed by Mr. N. Ahuja presenting his views on Labour Laws for small-scale entrepreneurs. The pre-lunch session had presentations from Dr. Samit Banerji on application of behavioural science in daily life and from Dr. Sher Jagjit Singh, CWC, Delhi, on Customer Relations & Marketing.
The cultural programmes on both evenings were a hit with the participants. The first evening was a show of Rajasthani dancers. The second evening was a Lakhnavi Baithak theme, with a performance by the renowned Qawwal and exponent of Sufi music, Ms. Chanchal Bharti, which had the audience enthralled.