AGRICULTURE

Commission agents warned by DC
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 22
The licences of two commission agents at the Gobingarh grain market have been suspended by the Deputy Commissioner. He is on a visit to the various grain markets of the district.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune at Sirhind, Mr Vikas Partap, the DC, said during the checking, certain bags were found to be overweight. The licences of all erring commission agents would be suspended, he warned.

He also said all agencies involved in wheat procurement had been directed to procure promptly. The harassment of the farmers would not be tolerated. The government had taken immediate measures to ensure that the farmers got their payments within 72 hours of the sale. The officials concerned were told not to ask for leave during the procurement period.

On this occasion, a few commission agents of Sirhind mentioned their problems with FCI officials. Earlier, they had decided not to sell wheat to the FCI but after the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner, the procurement process had begun. Many problems had occurred due to a communication gap.

Mr Raghbir Singh, DFSC, said till yesterday, 24,801 MT of wheat had been purchased.

EDUCATION

Sahit shiromani awardees honoured
Lovleen Bains
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, April 22
The sahit shiromani awardees, Ajaib Chitarkaar and Dr Faqir Chand Shukla, were honoured today at Sahnewal, by the Rampur Sahit Sabha(regd) and the Sahit Kala Sangam, Sahnewal.

The honour carried a memento and a cash prize.

Dr Faqir Chand Shukla ,a professor of food technology at the PAU, has 21 books to his credit, which have fetched him one award or the other. Apart from being a scientific and literary personality, he is also an environmentalist. He has written plays on scientific themes and worked to created environment awareness among thousands. He has been awarded the Sahit Shromani Award for popularisation of science. He owes his success and inspiration to his late wife.

Ajaib Chitarkaar, another writer, who was also honoured at Sahnewal today, has 15 books to his credit. He has translated Rabindra Nath Tagore’s ‘Gitanjali’ and Kalidas’s ‘Meghdoot’ in verse and has written more than 60 books on children's literature.

His autobiography ‘Ajaib Chitarkaar’ and book ‘Punjabi Chitarkaar’, have been published by Punjabi University, Patiala. He has won various shiromani awards.

Apart from being a writer, he is a painter as well ,whose paintings have been exhibited by the Punjab Art Council. He has at present retired from PAU as a senior artist.

Among those who lauded their innumerable services to Punjabi literature and society were writers such as Mr Gurdial Dalal, Mr Harbans Malwa, Mr Jasbir Chajj, Mr Surinder Rampuri, Mr Harnek Rampuri.

Dr Ramesh Ahsas, Mr Ajaib Grewal, Mr Sukhminder Rampuri, Mr Harbhajan Dharna, Mr Harjit Dhillon, Mr Telu Ram Kohara and Mr Balbir Singh. Mr Dharam Singh, former President, Nagar Council, Mr Tejinder Singh, President, SAD(Badal) Urban, Mr Pawan Kumar Tinku, BJP Mandal president and Mr Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Chairman Market Committee, Sahnewal, were also present on the occasion.