The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Workshop for kharif crops at PAU
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Feb 5 — The Agricultural Officers Workshop for Kharif Crops will be held in Pal Auditorium, Punjab Agriculture University, on February 6 and 7, 2001. The workshop will be inaugurated by Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU at 10 a.m. on February 6, 2001 and Dr Mewa Singh Sonar, Director of Agriculture, Punjab will preside over the inaugural session.

The objective of the workshop, which is a regular feature, is to bring research scientists and field extension officers on a common platform to finalise the package of practices for the next cropping season, so that these may be recommended to farmers without any confusion. On the basis of the deliberations of the workshop the package of practices for kharif crops will be revised by the university and sold to the farmers and extension workers on a no-profit-no-loss basis. The book will be available in the Kisan Melas to be organised by the university in March 2001, as well as at the district level training camps to be organised by the Department of Agriculture, Punjab. The book can also be procured from the offices of Farm Advisory Service Scheme (FASS) of PAU at all district headquarters.

COURTS

Society told to pay pension
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 5 — The District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed the New Bank of India Employees Welfare Society to pay a pension of Rs 500 per month to Mr Ram Nath Sood, a member of the society. Mr Ram Nath Sood, a resident of Chander Nagar, and a member of the society served the New Bank of India (NBI) till his retirement and retired on March 13, 1997, from the Punjab National Bank, (since NBI was merged in Punjab National Bank on September 4, 1993).

Mr Ram Nath Sood is the founder-member of the society, which has a membership of 2,360. The complainant stated before the forum that the society should have given him a pension of Rs 500 per month from the date of retirement, as per rules. After his retirement, the society issued him a cheque of Rs 2,800 on March 28,1998. After receiving the cheque, he immediately contacted the opposite party and was informed that the matter regarding his pension was still under consideration. The complainant alleged that after one week, the opposite party refused to make any payment of pension.

The society took a plea that the complainant did not retire after the age of superannuation, but got premature retirement and as such he was not entitled to pension.

The forum observed that there was no difference between retirement and premature retirement.

CULTURE

Orissa handicrafts on display
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 5 — Utkalika, an exhibition of traditional handicrafts and handlooms from Orissa, is going on at the Lakshmi Ladies Club. The Oriya craftsmen have been coming to the city with their latest creations for the last 10 years.

"The master craftsmen and women, who have kept alive their glorious fidelity of the ancient Oriya culture over the ages, are the torch bearers of this creative skill in today's context", said Mr A. K. Mallick, co-ordinator of the exhibition.

The exhibition present a variety of applique work handicraft articles like garden umbrellas with alluminium frames, multicoloured ladies umbrellas, wall hangings called turupa depicting village scenes, cushion covers, bed covers, lamp shades, ladies pouches, hand bags, door screens, partition stands in wooden frames and applique worked sarees and baby dresses.

"The artisans deftly stitch traditional and modern motifs such as elephants, peacocks and flowers on the cloth background to form harmonious colourful designs with embroidery work", said one of the craftsman present at the exhibition.

The stone carving of Orissa reflect a glorious cultural past. Mute stones are transformed into living expressions in multifacets of human life. The stone carvers from Puri, Bhubaneshwar create paragon art objects and different objects of modern living like ash-trays, bowls, vases with a traditional touch. These sand stone sculptures include debadasis, narayan of Kochila, jugal of Kachila, Vishnu, Krishna and Surya Narayana.

The silver filigree locally known as tarakashi is one of the prized handicrafts of Orissa. Elegant jewellery and decorative pieces of Krishna's chariot and Konark Chakra and a variety of silver ornaments are eye catching and a craze for the modern fashion loving folks.

The patta painting and palm leaf engraving was the other attraction of the exhibition. Patta chitra is a living art practiced by skilled traditional chitrakaras. Inspiration for the lively expressions and illustrations are based on mythological themes from Mahabharata, Ramayana and illustrative stories, tales of Radha, Krishna and Lord Jaganath. The artisans prepare a canvas by coating the cloth with a mixture of chalk and tamarind seeds. The artisans paint on the leathery finish with earth and stone colours giving meaningful expressions to their artistic skill and imagination.

The metal casting, dhokra was another main attraction at the exhibition. The products cast in brass by lost-wax-process present an intriguing wire work finish. The dhokra is an alloy of brass and zinc.

HEALTH

HERBS AND HEALTH
Arjun for a happy heart
by Dr R. Vatsyayan

ARJUN (Terminalia arjuna) is a sturdy, large evergreen tree that grows to be upto 40-foot tall. It is found throughout India, mostly along rivers, streams, ravines and dry water courses. In some parts of the country, arjun is revered and worshipped like peepal and its cutting is discouraged. Its bark and leaves have medicinal properties.

Ayurveda describes arjun as kshaya (astringent), dry, light and cool. It reduces kapha and pitta, but aggravates vata. It is one of the most acclaimed herbs that are used in the prevention and treatment of heart diseases. The bark of the tree is also styptic (which stops bleeding), expectorant and anti-inflammatory.

The arjun bark contains crystalline compounds called arjunin and arjunetin, besides essential oils, tannin and colouring matter. It also has a good concentration of calcium carbonate, aluminium, magnesium and some organic acids in it. The bark is a prominent cardiac tonic, according to ayurveda. Experiments on arjun show that it has many positive effects on the cardiovascular system.

It stimulates the heart muscles, which helps these maintain the strength needed for the contraction of heart. It is also used to cure many other diseases like swelling, chronic fever, obesity, cough, asthma and skin problems. It also helps one achieve vitality and longevity.

Arjun, as a medicine, is consumed in a number of ways like powder, decoction and juice. Arjun’s ksirpak, which is prepared by boiling its bark in milk, is good for the heart.

As it is rich in calcium, the decoction of arjun’s bark is used to reduce the deficiency of calcium and treat fractures.

The powder of arjun bark and dry leaves of bansa are crushed together in equal proportion and given to patients of dry or productive cough after mixing these in honey. It is also helpful in controlling occasional streaking of phlegm with blood.

Dry powders of arjun and white sandal are used to cure burning micturation, bleeding piles and some gynaecological diseases also.

Arjunarishta is a classic formula with arjun as the main ingredient, besides self-generated alcohol. It is used to cure increased palpitation and prevent heart disease. Arjun is also widely used in many proprietary formulas. A normal daily dose of dry powder of arjun bark is upto 10 g (in two or three divided doses).