AGRICULTURE

New technique of paddy transplantation
Tribune News Service

Under the new method about 25 acres’ of paddy ‘paniri’, is kept in an acre for 30-35 days. In meanwhile, in the remaining area, summer ‘moong’ or vegetables are sown to reap extra benefits and also to improve the quality of the soil. Dr Daler Singh and Dr R.P.S. Aulakh, who claimed to have developed the technique for the first time in the region said, “It is the best weapon to beat the WTO and the problem of soil degradation. The green manure enriches the micro-nutrients in the fields besides saving the expenditure on watering and spraying during the period as the paddy plants are deposited in a small field. They carry on developing without any extra expenditure for about 35 days. Later the paddy plants are transplanted in the fields with a high density as compared to the traditional methods of plantation.” Dr Aulakh claimed that the cost of transplantation and watering was also lower in July as compared to June. The last years’ results in the fields had shown improvement in quality and yields as well. The department is trying to create an awareness among the farmers about the new technique, he said. The Chief Agricultural Officer, Ludhiana, Dr. S.C. Khurana, along with his team had also recently organised a get-together with agriculture technocrats of Patiala district at J.D.M. Farm Ladhowal, near Ludhiana. Dr Aulakh said adaptive researches based on the above mentioned attributes were being conducted at that farm as the state agriculture department did not have its own seed or research farm in the district.

EDUCATION

Schools celebrate Independence Day
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 15
Flag hoisting, parade, speeches, exhibitions and cultural programme marked the Independence Day celebrations in various schools of the city.

At Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, hoisted the National Flag. Students of NCC and representatives of the six houses participated in the march past. A cultural programme was also organised in which tiny tots of KG class presented an item on national integration. Students of the city branch of the school presented a group song, ‘Yehi hamara desh hai’. Ms I. Kumar, Principal, told the students about the importance of the day.

Students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, presented a cultural programme and organised an exhibition. Mr O.P. Munjal, a member of the school management, hoisted the flag, which was followed by a pipe band by the school orchestra team. Students of Class VIII presented classical steps on ‘Vande Mataram’. A PT show was organised by students from different classes. Folk dances of different states was presented by students of senior section.

Students also arranged an exhibition in the school hall in which they highlighted unity in diversity. The exhibition was divided into four sections — North, East, South and West, each depicting scenes from the natural background, languages, traditional dresses, historical monuments, famous personalities, music, important places, festivals and foods.

In the West, students presented scenes from Bollywood, Christmas Carnival, Ganpathi pooja and delicacies like ghevar, bhel puri, dokhla and batata vada. In the South, students prepared models of historical monuments like the Char Minar, Gol Gumbaz, Vivekanand Memorial, festivals like Pongal, Onam and cattle worship, handicrafts and delicacies like kheer, upma, dosa, vada and sambar.

In the East, students depicted dances like Bihu and Odissi, tea gardens, rainfall at Cherrapunji, the Bodhi Temple and delicacies like rice, mango chutney and sweet pulao. In the North, students showed scenes from bhangra, Kashmiri dance. Scenes like churning of milk and spinning on wheel were also on display. There were delicacies like makki di roti, sarson da saag with makhan and lassi in brass utensils, along with dal bhat and gujia of Uttar Pradesh and dam aloo of Kashmir.

Besides, students of Class IV were dressed up like freedom fighters. Akhilesh mimicked Lala Lajpat Rai, Shresht was dressed up like Bhagat Singh and Vanshika acted like Rani Jhansi. Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal, told the students about the importance of the day.

At Gupta Model High School, a cultural programme was organised following flag hoisting. Students performed ‘Saraswati Vandana’ and presented a choreography based on patriotic songs, including ‘I love my India’, ‘Jahan payon mein payal’ and ‘Phate chak deyange’. Jasmine of Class VII and Ramanpreet of Class IX gave speeches on the importance of the day. Ms Simmi Gupta, Principal, gave a message of love and fraternity.

A cultural programme and prize distribution function was organised by Basnt Public School. All students of the school participated in dance, songs, choreography and plays presented at the function. Parents of the students were invited to attend the show.

Students of Guru Nanak International Public School, Gujarkhan campus, Model Town, organised an exhibition yesterday. Students from each section of Classes IV to X prepared a model on ‘Glimpses of India’. Amarinder Kaur and Kirti Khanna of Class IV-A displayed their model, ‘Unity in diversity’ by showing rich cultural heritage of India. Class IV-B students, Mandeep Kaur and Jagjeet Singh, prepared models of the Ashoka Pillar, Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Ujjal Didar Singh and Kanwalpreet Singh of Class IV-C exhibited a model on ‘Victims of India in Kargil’ in which he showed the feat of Indian soldiers. Harman and Savneet of Class IV-D prepared a huge model of the Taj Mahal. Prince Deep and Sarabjeet exhibited a model of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Class V-A students, Gagan Riat and Sukhdeep, displayed models of the freedom struggle highlighting events like the Dandi March, Jallianwala Bagh and Simon Commission. Harpeet Kaur and Ashwinder Kaur of Class V-B prepared models of Independence Day celebrations in which they showed hoisting of flag, speech from the Red Fort, march past and cultural programme. Harminderjot and Kunwarpreet Singh of Class V-C exhibited model of ‘Changing life of villages’. Model on ‘Glimpses of India’ was prepared by Harmandeep and Gagandeep of Class V-D.

Karamdeep and Amritpal of Class VI-A prepared a model of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Gurjot Singh and Parminder Kaur of Class VI-B prepared models of India’s progress highlighting launching of satellites and availability of better means of communication. Avneet Singh and Harleen Malhotra of Class VI-C prepared a television of cardboard in which they had fitted a reel of 10 historical monuments of India, including the Jantar Mantar, Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, Char Minar and Golden Temple. Kamalpreet and Sarandeep of Class VI-D demonstrated celebrations of Independence Day.

Harkirat and Chamanpreet Kaur of Class VII-A exhibited a model on ‘Changing life in villages’ in which they showed how villages had become modernised with better facilities for transportation, communication and education. Sanampreet Kaur and Komal Kaur of Class VII-B prepared a book titled, ‘Azadi ke senani’, in which they painted portraits of 11 freedom fighters and wrote about their role in freedom struggle. Bir Kamal and Sukhwinder of Class VII-C presented a picture of India showing its varied culture.

Simarpreet, Varinder and Harshpreet of Class VIII-A prepared a model of monuments of India; Prabhleen and Babandeep of Class VIII-B depicted various dances of India; Lovepreet Singh and Jasmeet Singh of Class VIII-C prepared models of different religions along with their symbols; and Puneet, Harvinder, Jasleen and Gurpreet of Class VIII-D prepared model of multipurpose project started to harness electricity and build dams for fishing and boating.

Supreet of Class IX-A prepared model on ‘North India at a glance’, in which she depicted the Golden Temple, Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Red Fort in Delhi and Hawa Mahal in Rajasthan. Rachit Arora and Preet Kanwar Singh of Class IX-B displayed model of the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. Class IX-C students made a model on ‘Agricultural and industrial progress in India’.

Vaneet Kaur and Amarpreet of Class X-A prepared a model ‘Mission Kashmir’ in which they depicted scenes from Indo-Pak relations. They presented cross-border terrorism, Agra summit, Gauri and Prithvi missiles, the Shimla agreement and Lahore bus service. Ms Manmeet Sodhia organised the exhibition and Ms Balwinder Gulati, Principal, appreciated the effort of the students.

Nidhi wins Vedic lecture contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 15
Nidhi Sharma, who spoke on ‘Om, the best name of God’, was adjudged the best speaker at the Vedic lecture contest organised by the Ved Parchar Mandal at USPC Jain Senior Secondary School, here yesterday.

Priyanka and Kirti bagged the second and third prizes, respectively, for their lectures on ‘Utility of the message of Gita in modern times’ and ‘Contentment surpasses all wealth’, respectively.

Mrs Poonam Goyal, Mrs Gurwinder Kaur and Mrs Rachna were the judges.

Apart from the winners, Jyoti Yadav, Jasleen Kaur, Tanu Bansal, Yogita, Neha, Jyotika, Priyanka Singh, Pardeep Kumar, Amritjot Kaur, Jasnit Kaur, Gurnish Kaur, Mrinalini and Prabhjot Kaur were also applauded for their lectures.

The chief guest, Mr Roshan Lal Arya, president, Arya Sabha, Ludhiana, in his address, said that education meant an all-round development of the students. He deplored the fact that even after 53 years of Independence, we were following the education system introduced in the country by the erstwhile British rulers. He criticised national leaders who kept on giving lectures on the need to change the system but did nothing in that direction. He said changes in the education system must be brought about keeping in mind the conditions prevailing in the country.

Mrs G.K. Eaton, the school Principal, who presided over the contest and gave away prizes, asked the students to adopt Vedic teachings in their lives. She also lauded the efforts of the Ved Parchar Mandal which she said was engaged in a noble mission.