EDUCATION

PAU’s distance courses benefiting farmers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 22 — Apart from numerous other ways in which Punjab Agricultural University is lending a helping hand to the farming community of the state, it is also running correspondence courses for both practising farmers and farm women. In fact, it is PAU, which has taken a lead in providing education and training in scientific farming and home science to the farming families through correspondence courses. The farmers, it is learnt, benefit immensely from such courses.

According to Dr Labh Singh Gill, Professor of Extension Education,who is in charge of the correspondence courses, PAU was the first among all farm universities in the country to launch a one-year certificate course for both farmers and farm women.Through this course the University’s technical advice is being communicated to farmers in the most economical way.

Dr Gill has revealed that through this course so far over 1,8000 farmers and 8,000 farm women have been imparted training in agriculture, home science and allied areas.

Dr Gill has also disclosed that the Department of Extension Education of the university is running two correspondent courses. —Integrated Course In Agriculture and Home Management and Family Life. While the first course aims at imparting practical knowledge and training in the subject of soil science, agronomy, horticulture, vegetables, botany,entomology, plant pathology, animal husbandry, poultry, farm machinery, farm management, etc, the second course, as the name suggests, is meant for farm women whom it endeavours to give some useful guidance on food and nutrition, family life, child development, health and hygiene, home management, food preservation, kitchen gardening,maintenance of household assets and appliances, selection and care of seeds and so on.

According to Dr Gill, lessons on different topics are written by subject experts who keep in mind the specific needs of the trainees. These are further modified by language and communicated precisely and unambiguously. As the lessons are in Punjabi script, the trainees find little problem in understanding these. Dr Gill adds that the main emphasis in these lessons is laid on the explanation of basic principles which are involved in the use of various farm inputs.

To ensure that the trainees make the most of the reasons sent to them, the Department of Extension Education organises personal contact programes twice a year when the trainees get an opportunity to talk to the subject experts and seek clarification of their doubts for a proper comprehension. While the first such programme is organised at the district-level with the help of the staff of the Farm Advisory Service of PAU, the second personal contact programme — in which trainees from over the state participate — is held at the main campus of the university.

While the trainees are at the campus, they are taken on guided visits to the experimental areas and laboratories of the university. The trainees get an opportunity to have personal discussion with the experts on their individual problems.

Dr Gill has disclosed that admission to the two courses, each of which is of one-year duration — is restricted only to prasticing farmers and farm women, who are at least matriculate and can read and write the Punjabi language. The university provides free boarding and lodging facilities when the trainees come to attend the personal contact programme at the main campus.

IT export units seek help
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 22 — The Association of Computer Entrepreneurs celebrated Divali nite at a resort here on Friday. Several local software engineers, hardware dealers and website designers took part in the celebrations.

The chief guest on the occasion was Dr Sanjay Tyagi, Additional Director of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) at SAS Nagar, who gave a presentation on the role of the STPI in the nation’s IT exports growth.

Mr Tyagi said, “the STPI, now, has an office in the heart of Silicon Valley at San Jose in California. Units of the STPI are offering an array of services and facilities from its SAS Nagar office. Its representatives regularly visit the USA to bring business to India.”

Mr Tyagi also said the STPI had recently opened its gateway in Simla and would soon open another in Srinagar. He said the STPI would provide a high-speed data communication service to various IT trade units and general amenities to small and medium enterprises.

Mr Vinod Loomba, President of the association, said members of the association had been demanding for long that the Punjab Government should not focus exclusively on SAS Nagar as an IT export hub. He said, “Members of the association are eager to enter the high-growth area and some of them have already begun IT exports. However, the necessary infrastructure needs to be upgraded. Various departments of the government should also realise the importance of this sector for Punjab.

Mr N.S. Dhami, Vice-President of the ACE, said, “Even though the STPI units get a Green Card from the Government of India so that these are given priority by all its departments, the card is hardly recognised anywhere. Even getting a telephone connection sometimes becomes difficult for the IT export units.” 

Founder’s day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 22 — The students, staff and the management of the four Sidhwan institutes, Guru Hargobind Public Senior Secondary School, Sikh Girls’ High School, GHG Harparkash College of Education and Khalsa College for Women, celebrated founder’s day on the campus here yesterday.

The Minister of Technical Education, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, who was the chief guest, paid tributes to the founder, Bhai Narain Singh. Later the students of the institutes performed kirtan, recited poems and delivered speeches.

The girls of GHG College of Education recited shabads Prabh ki saran and Suraj kiran mile. The group of Khalsa College for Women led by Harpreet Kaur sang shabad Mann kyon bairag karega. Rupinder Singh of GHG Senior Secondary School recited poem Kadardan and Gurinder Kaur recited poem Rooh wale bande.

Those who attended the function included Ms Shivinder Sidhu, general secretary of the Sidhwan Trust, Mr Tarlochan Singh, manager, Mr Kirpal Singh Bhattal, trustee, Ms Satinderjit Kaur, Principal of Guru Hargobind Public School, Ms Jaswinder Kaur Sohi, Headmistress of Sikh Girls High School, Ms Nirmal Kaur, Principal of GHG Harparkash College of Education and Ms Jaspal Kaur, Principal of Khalsa College for Women.

Painting contest a big draw
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 22 — A painting competition was held at Arya Boys’ Senior Secondary School, Old Sabzi Mandi, here yesterday. All the students of the school participated in the competition. The contest was divided into five groups.

The results were pronounced by Mr Vijay, Ms Seema and Mr Rajinder Kumar, all teachers from the same school. Principal Mr B.K. Verma gave away prises to the students.