AGRICULTURE

Bhartiya Kisan Union intensifies stir
Our Correspondent

Doraha, March 19
The district president and general secretary of Bhartiya Kisan Union stated in a press note that in order to revolt against the wrong policies adopted by the government as regards the farmers, they would be united in going to Chandigarh in 17 tempos and trucks to become a part of the agitation.

According to Mr Sadhu Singh Ghaloti, district president, BKU and Mr Balwant Singh Ghudani, district general secretary, BKU, “Our agitation would continue till the government announces the minimum support price of rabi crops on the basis of price index.

Also, the government should provide subsidies to farmers on account of the loss suffered by them under distress sale and natural calamities.”

Mr Sadhu Singh Ghudani, district committee member added, “The government should fix compensation for the family members of the farmers who have ended their lives in distress after seeing a bleak future for themselves.”

EDUCATION

182 students awarded degrees
Our Correspondent

Doraha, March 19
“Education is a continual process that keeps on enriching the lives of everyone around. In the real sense of the term, for an educated person, classroom interaction is must, “said Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, in his convocation address at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, today. Brain functions as the industry of today. It is not the faculty that matters but technology and scientific knowledge that must be generated among the youth. For the past 20 years, the technological developments have become so rapid that it appears as if the knowledge double itself every year, he added.

Dr Gurm also congratulated the President and the Principal of the college for successfully running such as esteemed institution where 80 per cent of the students belong to the rural background.

Dr Gurm awarded degrees to 182 arts and commerce graduates. Besides, 5 roll of honours, 55 college colours, 21 academic prizes and 100 merit certificates were also given to the students for their outstanding performance in academics, sports and cultural activities. 180 students were awarded certificate for their achievements in house examination.

After the academic procession had moved, Dr Ishwar singh, president of the College Managing Committee, welcomed the guests and Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, Principal, read out the college report. A website of GNN college, Doraha, was also launched on the occasion.

The function was presided over by Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Technical Education Minister, Punjab, who in his address to the degree-holders asked them to root-out the deep-rooted corruption from the society by dint of hardwork and dedication. He also announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the college and gave his approval regarding the commencement of BCA classes in the college. Mr Ramesh Vinayak, special correspondent of India Today, and Prof Gurbhajan Gill, a renowned literary personality, were also honoured on the occasion.

PAU convocation today
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 19
The Punjab Agricultural University will honour Dr Rattan Lal, professor, School of Natural Resources, director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Programmes and director of South Asia Initiative of the Ohio State University, USA with a D.Sc. (honouris causa) degree at the annual convocation to be held here tomorrow.

Dr Rattan Lal, a graduate from PAU, will be awarded this degree for his contribution to agricultural research at the international level.

While giving this information, Mr Alok Shekhar, Registrar of PAU, said that the convocation address would be delivered by Dr R.S. Paroda, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India and Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Lt. Gen J.F.R. Jacob, Governor of Punjab, and Chancellor of PAU, would preside over the convocation. As many as 325 students would be awarded doctorate degrees.

PCCTU meets SGPC chief
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
To discuss the problem of underpayment to teachers in colleges managed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the members of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union held a meeting with Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, SGPC chief, at Guru Nanak Engineering College here.

Mr Talwandi assured the PCCTU members that he would look into the matter. He said that a teachers’ welfare committee would be constituted by all the SGPC managed colleges of Punjab.

Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, President, PCCTU, said when it was pointed out that certain rules and regulations as per the Panjab University calendar were being flouted in colleges, the SGPC chief said that he would make checks in all the colleges.

COURTS

Forum quashes PSEB’s demand
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 19
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) of Rs 6,369 on account of sundry charges from Mr Bhushan Kumar, a resident of New Kundanpuri. The forum further directed the board to refund the said amount with interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit till the date of refund along with Rs 500 as cost of litigation.

According to the complaint, the board had given a bill to the complainant on May 2, 2000 in which Rs 6,369 was wrongly included as sundry charges. The complainant stated before the forum that the problem started when board officials changed the electricity meter of the complainant on February 23, 2000. He was told by the board officials that the meter was tested and the seals were found tempered with. He was allegedly threatened by an official that if he would not deposit the bill, his connection would be disconnected.

Bhushan Kumar alleged that at the time of changing the meter, the board officials had not sealed and packed it in a card board, which was mandatory as per the rule of the department. The complainant further pointed out that he had not been present at the time of testing the meter in the M.E. Laboratory which was also mandatory.

The complainant stated that when he asked the official that why did not they informed him to be present at the time of testing the meter, the board official told him that since he had no technical knowledge as such there was no need to call him. The complainant alleged, “The board is over-charging meter rent and service rentals as they are charging at the rate of Rs 32 for his single phase connection.

The board pleaded that meter was changed in the presence of the complainant and the MCO was signed by the complainant. The respondent stated the meter was sent to the M.E Laboratory but the meter was not accepted on the grounds that the seals of the meter were tampered with. The respondent further stated that the complainant was stealing the energy by tempering with the seal as such the account of the complaint was overhauled as per the sanctioned load and the disputed demand was raised. The board stated that the complainant was informed to be present at the time of testing of meter on February 28,2000 but he did not reach there. However, the board denied overcharging the meter rent and service charges.

The forum observed that the meter had not been got examined from the laboratory whereas it was mandatory that whenever theft was suspected the meter had to be got examined from the laboratory.

The forum stated that there was no endorsement on the MCO that the meter was packed and sealed at the time of its removal and as such its proper sealing was not proved. Moreover, the report of the laboratory was not there, the forum added.

The forum held that there was no evidence of theft of energy by the complainant and accordingly board quashed the disputed demand of Rs 6,369.

CULTURE

Harbhajan Komal, a versatile poet
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March19
‘Waris Shah wrote with passion about Heer and glorified her, but it is probable that he would not have wanted a Heer to be born to him, for there is always a difference in the truth written in the books and real life,” said Harbhajn Singh Komal, who had come from Karnal to participate in a function organised by the Punjabi Gazal Manch.

PAU Sahitya Society president, Mr Gurbhajan Gill, had invited Mr Surjit Singh Patar, Mr Panchi and other literary figures to have a brain-storming session about latest trends in Punjabi Literature and to know more about the works of Mr Harbhajan Komal.

Mr Komal said that he was asked to recite a poem at a religious function at the age of eight, and people, after listening to him, encouraged him by giving him small change. By chance, he found a paper with a poem on it and it had the last two stanzas missing. After a great deal of thought, he completed the last two stanzas,which were well received by the audience and thus a poet in him was born.

His anthology of poems were based on the incidents that affected him deeply. During the partition, he saw 15-16 relatives being massacred before his very eyes. His uncle gave him a copy in the refugee camp at Karnal to record the entire journey. He said, “In fact that was my first literary work though no one ever read it.” Frustrated by events, he joined the leftist movement and came out with his first book. His second book ‘Suraj De Sagar’ touched upon social topics, whereas his third book ‘Mukh Band’ also dealt with contemporary themes.

Providence gave him a chance to go to Germany. The travel broadened his horizon and his vision. He wrote a travelogue ‘Mitran De Ghar De Naam Te’, which was very well received. The Vice-President of India awarded him with a gold medal for this work. ‘Tapash’ was created during the period of terrorism that gripped Punjab during 1980-85. All the poems during this period were based on ‘Sant ap.’Then there was silence- no publications.

All the while, he did not get his ghazals published. He collected his hundred gazals and got them printed under the tile ‘Chanvein Baithe Dhup’. His latest book Dharti Grehan published in 2000 was also well received.

Surjit Patar commenting on Mr Komal’s works said, “His modesty is touching. Like his name, he has displayed tender feelings and he has displayed shiddett (intensity) shilp (craftsmanship) and shaoor (awareness) in his writings. He also added that the purpose of literature was to bring ‘Chetna’ or awareness among the masses which all the writers were always trying to do.