The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Revised MSP criticised
Our Correspondent

Samrala, March 24
Reacting to the increase of Rs 30 per quintal in the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat to Rs 610 for this season, Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the BKU, called it a cruel joke on the farmers.

Talking to mediapersons here today at the local Civil Rest House, Mr Rajewal posed a question as to how would the farmers come out of the debt trap when the minimum support price demanded was less by Rs 125 per quintal than that demanded by the Punjab Government which was Rs 735.

Calling the ‘Chandigarh dharna’ by communist organisations as a sabotage attempt to defuse the ‘Kisan movement’; Mr Rajewal said that the dharna demands were conspicuously kept vague. The MSP for wheat was always declared in the second fortnight of March and the demand for compensation was slashed to Rs 100 crore for the distress sale of paddy. The compensation for the loss of 1998 by untimely rains was calculatedly kept out of the Charter of demands, he alleged. He also said the Punjab Government received the first instalment of Rs 123 crore for payment to farmers, but instead adjusted this amount against arbitration cases of rice millers and nothing had been paid to farmers for the loss of 1998 till date.

Mr Rajewal also declared that the farmers’ agitation would continue more vigorously. Farmers were in a severe debt trap and the problem of electricity had been plaguing them in all states. Mr Rajewal said that in support of WTO and on the issue of indebtedness and electricity, a nationwide stir would be declared on 6th April in the ‘biggest ever kisan rally’ being held in Delhi at the Nehru Stadium.

EDUCATION

Lecture on stress management
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 24
A lively and informative lecture on ‘Stress management in children and role of teachers’ was organised at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, here yesterday.

Delivering the lecture, Dr Ravinder Kala, an eminent psychiatric counsellor, said that teachers played a major role in grooming the child and, therefore, adequate measures need to be taken so that the child does not feel emotionally weak.

Elaborating the issue, Dr Kala said that the causes of stress varied in school going children and the means to handle the child also varied. She said that the stress was of two types — adapted stress and stress on personality. Adaptive stress gave an exhilarating feeling, that made a person fulfil his targets within a period of time. This kind of stress lead to aggressiveness, apathy and withdrawal, she said. Stress on personality was basically due to genetic reasons said the doctor.

Regarding the causes of stress, Dr Kala said that in the age group of six to 12 years, the major cause of stress was competition, low self-esteem, conflicts with teachers and body changes. Among teenagers, sexuality, identity crisis, inability to develop proper relationship with elders lead to stress and disappointment, she said.

Dr Kala emphasised that to curb stress, teachers and parents need to work together, recognise stress and maintain a balance of discipline while handling hyperactive children. There should be no criticism and no exaggerated praise, she said.

Dr Kala’s address was followed by a question answer session in which she tried to solve queries regarding handling over-confident, nervous, indisciplined, stubborn and tantrum-throwing children.