The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

AGTAC to intensify stir
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 10
The Agriculture Technocrat Action Committee (AGTAC), Punjab, has decided to intensify its stir launched months ago against the government. This was decided in a state-level meeting here today.

Releasing the decisions of the meeting to the Press, Dr Satnam Singh, Dr Chaman Lal Vashishat, Dr Baljinder Brar, Dr Avtar Singh and Dr RPS Aulakh criticised the anti-rural and anti-agriculture lobby of bureaucrats in delaying the rectification of a notification of November 28, 2000, in which they had recommended to downgrade the pay scales and status of agriculture technocrats, but on strong protest from both agriculture technocrats as well as farmers, the Chief Minister at a high-powered meeting had decided to cancel the notification on December 8,2000, and again on July 4, 2001, but it had not come out in black and white till today.

Dr Satnam Singh said the meeting unanimously decided to hold a state-level agriculture technocrat farmers convention on September 15 at Chandigarh. If the government did not respond positively by that time, a rally would be organised with the support of farmers at Chandigarh. The AGTAC leaders also criticised the State Vigilance Department for registering false cases against the technocrats.

EDUCATION

Teachers threaten to launch stir
Our Correspondent

Amloh, August 10
The join front of teachers has said that if the state government does not accept its demands, it will launch a stir from August 14. The joint front of the Government Teachers’ Unions (Barri group, Gandhri group), the SC-BC Teachers’ Union, the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), the Class IV Employees Union and the Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF) submitted a 14-point charter of its demands to the District Education Officer (DEO) of Fatehgarh Sahib here yesterday.

Copies of the memorandum have been sent to the Education Secretary and Director Public Instructions (DPI) of Punjab and Chandigarh. The teachers want an early decision on Assured Career Progress (ACP) scheme, a check on the misuse of rationalisation policy and supply of uniforms to Class IV employees.

Tiny tots celebrate Janmashtami
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
The tiny tots of Hollyhock nursery school today celebrated the festival of Janmashtami in a colourful manner. The children, looking happy and enthusiastic, played the roles given to them confidently.

Over 175 students of this playway were dressed in colourful dhotis, lehanga-cholis and kurta pyjamas. They were carrying Sudershan Chakras and flutes in their little hands. The mukuts were made in silver and golden colours. Puneet Jain, Yatin Aggarwal and Lakshya played the role of Lord Krishna very well. The gopis, including Sahila Dhawan, Aayushi Jain, Arushi, Amanpreet and Muskan, danced around Kanha on the latest Hindi number from Lagaan ‘Madhuban mein jo Kanhaiya kisi gopi se mile’ and ‘Yashoda ka Nand lala Brij ka dulara hai’.

Ms Amrita Aggarwal, Principal of the school, said that parents of these children had always been encouraging.

A beautiful swing was made for the tiny tots, which was decorated with flowers and green leaves.