AGRICULTURE

PAU experts’ advice to paddy growers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 4
PAU experts have advised farmers to complete transplanting of pusa basmati-1 during the first fortnight of July, while basmati 370 and basmati 386 should be transplanted during the second fortnight of July. The farmers have been asked to apply 27 kg urea per acre after three weeks of transplanting basmati rice.

According to PAU experts, the farmers should use 1200ml of any recommended brand formulation of Butachlor 50EC or Thiobencard 50EC or Pendimethal in 30EC in 1000 to 1200 ml or Pretilachlor 50EC in 600 ml or Anilofos 30 EC in 500 ml per acre by mixing with 60 kg of sand for control of weeds in paddy. They have been further advised to broadcast any one of the herbicide uniformly in 4 to 5 cm deep standing water within 2 to 3 days of transplanting. For the control of broad leaf weeds, Ally 20WP (metsulfuron) in 30 g per acre in 150 litres of water should be sprayed 20 to 25 days after transplanting. Before spray, the standing water from the field should be drained out and irrigation may be applied one day after spray. The spray should be done on a clear and calm day.

The paddy transplanted in June should be given the dose of urea at 37 kg per acre. In case zinc deficiency appears, 25 kg zinc sulphate per acre should be applied. On coarse textured soils (sandy soils), iron deficiency can be expected in rice, as a result of which the upper leaves turn white in colour. Experts say 1 per cent ferrous sulphate solution should be sprayed twice or thrice at weekly intervals as a remedy. The rice fields showing more than 5 per cent dead hearts due to attack of stem borer should be sprayed with 250 ml of Phosphamidon 85SL or 560 ml Ekalux 20AF in 10 litres of water per acre. Further application of any of these insecticides may be repeated as and when damage reaches economic threshold level. Leaf folder infested plants show white streaks on leaves.

The experts further observe that in case heavy attack is noticed, 250 ml of Fenitrothion 50EC or 150ml Fenthion 100 EC or 560 ml of Monocrotophos 36 SL or one litre Chlorphriphos 20 EC in 100 litres of water per acre should be sprayed. The crop planted early may show the kresek phase of bacterial leaf blight. In such cases, the whole plant wilts and become straw coloured. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen and flooding of fields, they add.

Cheques distributed among farmers
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, July 4
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, distributed cheques worth Rs 23 lakh among 763 farmers at a function held at Arti Palace here today.

The programme was attended by a large number of panches and sarpanches of surrounding villages. Prominent among those present were Mr Gurmail Singh Sangowal, an SGPC member, Mr Jagdev Singh Tajpuri, a former minister, Mr Santa Singh Umaidpuri, chairman, Market Committee, Sahnewal, Mr Pawan Kumar Tinku, Mr Jagroop Singh, Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu and Mr Harminder Singh Sandhu.

EDUCATION

English Greek to many
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 4
With hundreds of BA final-year students getting compartment in English for the past several years, the Panjab University authorities and of colleges concerned do not seem to be bothered.

The university gazette reveals that nearly 15 per cent of the total final-year students have got compartment in English. While nearly 535 students from 12 city colleges have got compartments this year, 455 of these are in English.

Maximum number of compartments have been at Guru Nanak Girls’ College, where 77 of the total 320 students have failed in English. A total of 59 students at Khalsa College for Women as well as in Arya College have got compartment in English. Of the total 53 compartments at Devki Devi Jain College for Women, 52 are in English.

Besides 34 of the total 208 students of Sanatan Dharam Pracharak College for Women, 33 of 158 students of Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, 31 students each from Ramgarhia Girls’ College and Guru Nanak Khalsa College, 25 of the total 135 students, 10 of 189 students of Government College for Women and four of the 43 students of Kamla Lohtia Sanatan Dharam College have got compartment in English.

Commenting upon the situation, Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, lecturer in English at GGN Khalsa College and president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, says most of the students who get compartment in English do not have sound knowledge of the language from their school education and as it is a foreign language, students commit several mistakes in grammar and spellings.

He further says at several occasions he has pleaded with the university authorities to make suitable arrangements for improving the situation. He has suggested that the paper should come in two parts, like in the case of Punjabi, which will divide the syllabus into two halves, giving students more time to prepare for the paper. He has also suggested that the university should direct the colleges to have more lectures for the subject and remedial classes in English for students who score less in internal examination should be made mandatory.

Ms Manju Chawla, Head, Department of English, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, says the results in English have come down significantly this year. While explaining reasons, she says this may be due to a weak batch in English this time. 

Education at your doorstep
Our Correspondent

Khanna, July 4
The Khanna regional centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University has come out with a scheme to take education to the doorsteps of the public. It has decided to have collaboration with selected cable operators all over Punjab and Chandigarh to make Gyan Darshan, an educational channel, available to the people of the state.

The regional centre, presently in the process of identifying cable operators, plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with them. After taking required undertaking from them, they can be provided receiving dishes and related equipment by IGNOU either on loan or reimbursement-of-cost basis as a one-time measure.

Popularisation of Gyan Darshan tops the agenda of the regional centre. A joint venture of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Prasar Bharati and IGNOU, the channel is engaged in 24-hour transmission of educational programes, including live video teleconferencing. The students can send their feedback or queries to gyandarshan@vsnl.com. 

Training course for women
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 4
The youth unit of the Department of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, organised a training course in home science at Government Girls High School, Ramgarh, today. Dr G.S. Saini, Professor of Extension Education, while inaugurating the course, advised rural girls to prepare themselves for the future competitive and complex life.

Dr Saini said the girls should be educated to acquire knowledge and skills to lead meaningful and progressive life.

He appreciated the role of Ms Malkiat Kaur, headmistress of the school, in the organisation of training programme.

The staff members and 50 girls took part in this course. Dr Anita Kocchar and Dr Anjana Kalra imparted knowledge and gave demonstrations on preparation of mango squash, plum jam and snacks. They also shared their views on care of children and importance of balanced diet.

The participants showed keen interest in the programme. They also enjoyed the items prepared during the course. Dr Kalra promised that such courses would be organised frequently.

CULTURE

Dancing to rhythm of heart
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 4
Fifteen-odd children were very excited as they got a chance to display their dancing skills at a competition organised by the Asian Club and India Cultural Entertainment School. The function was held at Deaf and Dumb School, Tagore Nagar, yesterday.

The contestants were divided into two groups: one below eight years and the other above eight years of age. The young ones looked very appealing in their fetching outfits. As usual the function started late. The chief guest of the evening was Mr Suresh Arora, DIG, Ludhiana range.

Before the show Mrs Suvarsha, Principal, Deaf and Dumb School, enumerated the achievements of the school. She said, “All students of the school were coping well. Recently, four students had gone for ‘Bharat Darshan’ on their own without any escort. When they were asked to wear badges that read,’ I am deaf and dumb’, they refused to wear them as they did not want the world to know of their plight and were not desirous to have sympathy of people. Some dumb boys and dumb girls are happily married and are blessed with normal children.”

Finally the contestants got on to the stage. Most of the contestants were girls and the sheer pleasure and gay abandon on the songs they performed brought smiles on the audience’s lips. Confidence was writ large on their faces.A girl stood steadfast till the right number was played for her. In this group Aiana of Sacred Heart Convent School, who performed on a popular number ‘Maiyaan Yashoda’, bagged the first prize, whereas the second prize was claimed by Harvaneet of Tagore Public School. Ridhima Gujral bagged the third prize.

In the second group the contestants being older chose songs which required vigorous movements. Ritika of Baba Ishar Singh Nanak Sar School danced on the tune ‘Dil yeh bechain hai’. She stood first and second and third prizes were bagged by Inyaat of Sacred Heart Convent School and Shubjeet of Tagore Public School, respectively.

Sukhminder, president, Asian Club, anchored the show. The judges were Ms Rosy Chhabra, Director, Indian Cultural Entertainment School, Mr Harish Narang and Ms Rattan Rana.

Mr Arora , said,” Since I am not a politician , I cannot give any money from my discretionary fund. But what I can do is to take out the students for a picnic to Hardy’s World and spend a day with them. Since Hans Raaj Hans is a personal friend, I will invite him to accompany us too”.

Among the audience were present Mr N.S. Nanda, Mr Darshan Arora of the Ludhiana Citizen Council and Mr Jassal of Virasat Bhavan.