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| Thursday,
September 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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‘Adopt subsidiary occupations besides farming’ Ludhiana, September 19 The minister gave a call to the Punjabi farmers and agriculture scientists to step ahead towards milk revolution, fishery revolution and honey revolution after the era of green revolution. He also advised the farmers to follow the recommendations of the university’s scientists right from sowing to marketing and not to suffer losses by accepting the advice of input dealers of the persons claiming to possess supernatural powers to control insect pests and diseases. He also announced that 500 acres of land of Open Jail, Nabha, had been transferred to Punjab Agricultural University for seed production and hoped that the farmers would not face any difficulty in getting good quality seed in future. He also called for the application of biotechnology and other advanced scientific techniques in agricultural research and production. In his presidential remarks, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, stressed on the need for diversified and precision farming in order to meet the challenges of minimising the cost of production, improving the quality of farm produce, improving the nutritional status of our population and sustaining the natural resources of soil and water. He advised the farmers to adopt subsidiary occupations, like bee keeping, mushroom cultivation, poultry farming and dairy farming, in order to supplement their income and also to produce maximum food from per unit of land and workers. At the same time, Dr Aulakh cautioned that in order to be successful in such kind of farming, farmers will have to carry out farm operations with their own hands rather than depending upon hired labour. The present day farming requires application of correct doses of costly inputs at appropriate time and by using the appropriate techniques. He reminded farmers and particularly the youth, who are shunning the habit of manual work, about the old Punjabi proverb which means that success in farming and trade cannot be achieved by depending upon others. Earlier, while welcoming the chief guest and farmers, Dr Jaspinder Singh Kola, Director of Extension Education, PAU, advised the farmers to produce their own seed rather than purchasing low quality costly seeds from private agencies. For this purpose, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala, has the facilities for providing training in production of hybrid and other seeds. He also stated that the kendra also has the facilities to provide practical training in dairy farming, bee keeping, poultry farming, mushroom cultivation and home science. During the last year, the KVK, Rauni, trained more than 1,000 farmers in different short, medium and long-term training courses. Many of them are running their own enterprises, like seed production, nursery production, dairy farms, bee keeping units, very successfully. He advised other farmers to visit the farms of such farmers and register their names for training in the enterprise of their interest at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Patiala. Dr Kolar also announced that the kisan mela at Bathinda will be held on September 24, at Ludhiana on September 27 and 28 and at Gurdaspur on October 1. He appealed to the farmers to participate in these melas in large numbers along with their families. Dr Govinder Singh Nanda, Director of Research, highlighted the salient research achievements of the university and informed that good quality seed of newly recommended durum wheat variety PDW 274 will be available for sale during the kisan mela. Besides, 4,000 packets of the seeds of improved varieties, like wheat: PBW 343, PBW 396, raya: RLM 619, peas: E-6 toria: TL-15, gram: PBG-1, gobhi Sarson: GSL-1, are being made available to the farmers. Dr Nanda advised the farmers to produce their own vegetables for family consumption by inculcating the habit of maintaining a kitchen garden. To motivate the farmers in this direction, 3,000 kitchen garden kits of vegetable seeds have also been made available during the mela. He also exhorted the farmers to read the latest farm literature for continuously updating their knowledge and urged them to buy the improved seeds, magazine and books from the seed and literature stalls of the PAU before leaving the mela and take the seeds and literature as gifts to their family members. Dr Sadhu Singh Malhi, Associate Director (Trg), KVK Patiala, said the kendra produced 800 quintals of certified seed of kharif and rabi crops during the last year. The arrangements for propagation of good quality pedigree fruit plants have also been made by establishing a fruit nursery at Krishi Vigyan Kendra. He stated that fruit plants of ber, guava and baramasi lemon are produced at the centre for supply to the farmers at reasonable price. |
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Grow mushrooms, farmers told Ludhiana, September 19 The training course was organised by the Department of Extension Education in collaboration with the Department of Microbiology, PAU. Dr Momi also said that with the cultivation of mushroom the stress on the soil resources could also be reduced. The course in charge, Dr Jaswinder Singh Bhalla, disclosed that during the training course the farmers were given complete knowledge of compost making, spawn production, sowing of mushroom and control of diseases and insect pests. Dr H.K. Tiwari, Head, Department of Microbiology, gave certificates to the successful participants. |
Another school for child
labourers Ludhiana, September 19 Addressing the gathering, Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the Child Labour Rehabilitation and Welfare Society, said that 40 such schools would be opened for the child labourers in the district. He said that such schools would be handed over to the suitable NGOs for their proper care. Principal Satnam Singh, director of the education directorate of the study circle, said that another school to be set up by the NGO would be at Haibowal Khurd soon. He said that classes in the schools would be run from 3 pm to 5 pm daily. Mr Gurmeet Singh, chief secretary of the study circle, and Mr S.S. Bandi, Assistant Labour Commissioner and Project Director, was also present on the occasion. |
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A ‘contest’ for the girl child Ludhiana, September 19 About 20 students of 10 local schools participated in the contest, where students had to choose from 15 topics and speak in English, Hindi or Punjabi. The five topics in the English category were ‘Female Illiteracy and Female Foeticide Go Hand in Hand’, ‘Let Girls Be Born, Breathe and Bloom’, ‘Female Foeticide — How Much are Mothers to Blame’, ‘Wombs are not Tombs’ and ‘Falling Female Ratio — a Demographic Disaster’. The five topics in the Hindi category included ‘Nanhi Ke Hatyare — Maa Baap, Doctor Sare’, ‘Sabhya Samaj Ki Pehchaan — Ladki, Ladka Ek Samaan’, ‘Balika Vadhu Se Balika Vadh Tak’, ‘Ajanmi Balika Ki Pukar — Mujhe Mile Jeene Ka Adhikar’ and ‘Nanhi Munni Muniya, Tumhein Dekhe Sari Duniya’. For speakers in the Punjabi category, the topics were ‘Suchaji Dhi Roshan Samaj Di Neeh’, ‘Kanya Te Kukh De Hatyare, Manavta De Dushman Sare’, ‘Komal Jindan, Pathrili Zindagi’, ‘Dhiyan Di Maa Rani’ and ‘Pyarian Dularian, Vitkare Diyan Mariyan’. Rashima Sood of DAV Public School won the first prize, Gurleen Wander of the host school was declared second and Deepti of the BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School stood third in the contest. Nitika Jain of the KVM School got the consolation prize. The team of Jasmine Dhody and Megha Mehtani of Sacred Heart Convent School of BRS Nagar lifted the overall trophy. Prof Mukesh Arora, a lecturer of Hindi in the SCD Government College; Swaranjit Savi, a Punjabi poet; and Dr Harjot Sidhu, a Doraha gynaecologist; were the judges. Sister Helima, Principal of the school, gave away the prizes to the students. Mr Anil Kumar, a teacher of English, had organised this contest. |
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Government move on education
hailed Ludhiana, September 19 While there already exists an 83rd Amendment Bill, according to which free and compulsory education should be provided in the same age group. But this Bill is still pending in the Rajya Sabha. The new Bill, while retaining the suggestion of the 83rd Amendment Bill that Article 21 A, which states that ‘The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to 14 years in such manner as the state may, by law,determine,’ the 93rd Amendment to the Constitution will be introduced in the winter session of the Parliament. Citizens of Ludhiana find it to be a good proposal which will help in improving the literacy rate in the country. Mrs Radhika Jatwani, a social worker, said that it was a very good proposal and should be implemented as soon as possible. This amendment would be extremely beneficial for the poor population. But she thought that law and awareness should go hand in hand. A general awareness must be created in the society for educating the children so that everyone could enjoy the benefits of this law. Dr Rakesh Kumar, a Hindi lecturer, said that it was a pity that after more than fifty years of Independence our country was still facing the problem of illiteracy. Any law that could eradicate this problem should always be welcomed. If this Bill got passed in the Parliament then people would come to know of their other rights and that would help in improving the overall condition of the people of the country. Mr Kalam Singh Rana said that most of the children, who did not get an opportunity to study, adopted unfair practices. Some of them became criminals. Kalam said that making elementary education free for everyone would secure the future of the youth of the nation. So much of money which government spent on other projects would be utilised for a good cause. Ms Harpreet Brar, a chemistry lecturer, had a different view on this. She said,‘‘No doubt that its a good proposal but from where will the funds come,’’ ? She said the government could not afford money for the existing projects then how would it spend so much of money on this new move. Economical base of the country should be improved first and then such proposals should be introduced. If providing elementary education meant increment in the income tax then this proposal was of no use. Rajatdeep Kaur, a student of B.Sc second year in Government College for Women, said that there were so many existing laws but most of these laws remained on paper only rather than practical implementation of existing laws. There was a need to educate the adults first to tell them that how necessary was the education for the children. She said that if this law was implemented in real sense then it would be a blessing in disguise for all those who could not afford the high cost of education. |
Music, dance enthralled
them all Ludhiana, September 19 The programme was anchored, rather choreographed by charming Shefali Talwar, a model and TV personality. She kept the night alive by singing and coaxing people to come on the dance floor all through the night. It was definitely not like any other night. For musical nights, full of fun and dance, are regularly organised here, this was the night with a difference. The sound and light effects were remarkable, rarely seen here in Ludhiana. That was sufficient enough for spirited Ludhianvi couples, and even singles, to keep their feet moving with the music orchestrated by D.J. Bhanu. Regular dance numbers by the troupe, accompanying Shefali, added to the colour and flavour of the night. The entire crowd in the club, barring few exceptions, stood up to dance when the troupe performed an item on the popular Hindi number ‘tal se tal mila’. The usual blend of Punjabi, Hindi and English pop, and Punjabi folk thrilled the revellers. The party started at 10 pm and continued till 1 am, with Shefali prompting everyone to dance to the music. She said it was her third visit to the city and she loved the city and its people. |
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Captivating paintings on
display Ludhiana, September 19 The two-day exhibition of embossed and vaastu paintings, lamp shades, bed sheets, peedhis and settis was inaugurated yesterday. The Rajasthani ethnic embossed work, which is also the theme of the exhibition, deserves a word of appreciation. Most of the paintings and portrays are based on the life-style of Rajasthani people. The painter has given interesting titles to her images like pind di saver, kalgidhar, pahli pauri, jeewan, surya koti, khoobsurat, taam patra etc. The prices of paintings and other items on display range between Rs 400 to Rs 6000. The painting pind di saver depicts life in countryside. The women folk in the village are seen enjoying their daily work.They are gossiping and are surrounded by toori, chakki, mitti and cattles. A beautiful woman is waiting for her husband in the evening. She is all decked up with heavy jewellery and clothes.”The woman wants to show her charm to her husband in this painting”, said Harinder. Jeewan, depicts temple scene with bells and beautiful flowers. “It is like people are going to temple to purify themselves. You are relieved if you notice it in depth”, says Harinder. Kalgidhar is a portrait of Guru Gobind Singh. The painting Surya-koti is dedicated to Lord
Ganesha. |
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