AGRICULTURE

Experts’ advice on harvesting wheat crop
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 19
Experts at Punjab Agricultural University have advised farmers to harvest their wheat crop as soon as possible in view of the inclement and uncertain weather.

The experts said that light to moderate rainfall could be experienced in the region within the next two days and it is advisable for the farmers to harvest their crop to save it from further damage.

The experts have advised that the farmers should not wait any more and harvest their crops, including grams, mustard and African mustard as the delay can cause falling of the grains from ears.

The experts have further said that this is the ideal time for sowing of the cotton crop. The varieties that give good yield if sown during this time are LHH-144(American cotton), F-1378, F-846, LH-1556, LH-900 and LH -1134. 

EDUCATION

PAU absentees beware!
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 19
In a directive apparently targeting habitual absentees, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has issued a circular to its faculty members and staff to be punctual and devote their full time during working hours to the duties assigned to them.

The circular comes in the wake of reports of serious absenteeism prevailing in the university. It has been reported several times in the past that a number of varsity employees never reached office in time and also left their office much before the stipulated time. There were allegations that many employees of the varsity had “side businesses”, which prevented from attending the office regularly.

Sources in the varsity said that there were many employees who were running their own coaching centres and devoting their time to these centres by “bunking” offices. It was also learnt that many employees were helping their children to run their business. Sources also said that this circular was a warning for such people who had been taking advantage of the laxity of the authorities.

The circular reads “ it is necessary that the faculty and staff should observe punctuality and regularity in attending to their official duties and devote their full time during working hours to the duties assigned to them for attaining the objectives envisaged in the projects they are working on”.

The circular has been issued to all deans, directors, other officers, Additional Director of Extension Education, heads of departments, directors of seeds, school of energy, studies of agriculture, associate directors of research at other stations and extension specialists. The assistant registrars, superintendents and other employees have also been issued a copy of the same.

The circular further states that “it would be the personal responsibility of the office in charge to ensure meticulous compliance of these instructions. The circular also mentions about the surprise checks which would be made by officials and heads of the departments at certain intervals and if anybody is found violating the instructions suitable action may be taken against him.’’

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, said that “I also got reports that many employees of the varsity were not taking their jobs sincerely and devoting their office hours to some personal works. It is very difficult to single out such people. But to ensure that these instructions are followed strictly, I myself will be going for surprise checks and catch hold of such people.”

He also said that he had not shortlisted any such people till date but following the complaints he had issued the first warning in the form of the circular. He said after this such people would not be spared.

Schools taking sports charges without facilities
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, April 19
While scores of aided schools in the city are without any sports facilities or even a patch of playground, they are still charging sports funds, and the District Education Department seems to be least bothered about the situation.

Several such schools are even conducting physical education course for classes XI and XII and charging Rs 50 per student as annual sports funds. No practicals sessions are held. No games are ever played. During practicals, the schools manage to get good percentage for their students in the subject without even conducting the examination for them.

A majority of such schools fall in the old city area and have been running for more than 30 years. The schools are short of space and their buildings begin right from the doorstep, leaving barely a small lobby like pucca space between the rooms.

Ms Asha Chopra, Principal, Sanatan Dharam Girls Senior Secondary School, Haridev Mandir, said, ‘‘Since the school did not have its own playground, the students were taken to playgrounds of nearby schools. However, last year we could not take the students anywhere since construction was going on in our school and we were busy with it. The students could only be given yoga lessons in their class rooms.’’

She further added, ‘‘We have planned to send our students to Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Division Number 3. Most of the students have their own vehicles and would manage to visit the grounds on their own.’’

When asked about the school sports funds, Ms Chopra said that the Class XI and XII students were paying Rs 50 as annual charges and Class X and below were paying Rs 40.

In February this year, when practical examinations for Class XII were held, the school was used as a centre of examination for its own students as well as those from the schools’ branch in Civil Lines. Since there was no playground, only viva could be held at the Haridev Mandir branch and for practicals, the students were told to go to the Civil Lines branch which has its own playground.

The Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, near Gokal Road, is also without any playground or any other sports facility. Ms Subhadra Jain, Principal of the school, said, ‘‘Even if we do not have our own grounds, we do not have to depend on any other school. We are using the play grounds of Devki Devi Jain College at Kidwai Nagar, which is being run by the school management. Even the practicals for classes XI and XII are conducted in the same college.’’

It may be mentioned that the college is nearly 2 km away from the school.

Several other schools, including Arya Girls Senior Secondary School and Sanatan Dharam Pracharak Senior Secondary School are without any playground and are still taking sports charges, besides conducting physical education classes.

MBA exam results
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 19
Two students of the Punjab College of Technical Education have bagged top positions in the MBA first year examination, conducted by Punjab Technical University.

Manisha Dhiman has stood first with 81.6 per cent and Gurpreet Singh has secured second rank with 81 per cent marks. Ruchi Rana and Harpreet Kaur Gujral, both students from the same college, have together stood fourth in the university and Suriti Bali has bagged the 10th position.

Dr KNS Kang, director of the institute, said that 56 out of the total 62 students, got first division. He said that last year also the college students had stood first, second and fifth in the university.