AGRICULTURE

Specifications opposed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 27
The Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab, today opposed the imposition of fresh conditions by the FCI as far as the purchase of paddy was concerned in the state.

At a meeting of the executive committee of the union presided over by the president of the union, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, it was decided to oppose any new conditions being imposed by the FCI after the start of the paddy season. It said the FCI must not reject paddy with one per cent broken grains.

Welcoming the statement of the Prime Minister suggesting the formation of a group of developing countries, the meeting observed that it would be a step in the right direction to counter the threat posed by the WTO regime.

Speaker oversees paddy procurement
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, September 27
Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, paid a visit to the local grain market to over see the procurement of paddy. He listened to the complaints of farmers regarding the distress sale of paddy. The farmers complained that the government agencies had purchased only 26,000 quintal of paddy, though a total of 1.2 lakh quintal paddy had arrived in the grain market. The rest of the produce had been purchased by private traders, the farmers said.

The local Arhtiya Association discussed the problem arising out of the rice-millers’ state-wide stir with Mr Atwal. The millers in their meeting with him demanded an increase in the permissible limit for the damaged and discoloured paddy to eight per cent.

EDUCATION

Cultural festival concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 27
Bhangra, declamation, folk songs and creative writing contests marked the concluding day of three-day cultural festival organised by the Education Department in various schools of the district today.

At Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, contests for the schools falling in Ludhiana East were held. Students from over 15 schools participated in the folk singing contest. Harpreet Kaur of Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, clinched the first prize, Akansh Sharma of RS Model Senior Secondary School was declared second and Ramandeep Kaur of the host school stood third. Judges for the contest were Mr Jaswant Sadilla, Mr Sukhwinder Sukhi and Mr Surjit Singh Albela, all singers.

In the contest for creative writing, students from nine schools participated. The students were given topics on the spot with a time limit of one-and-a-half hour. Gitika Sharma from Sri Harkrishan Public School stood first, followed by Harpreet Kaur from the host school and Sukhjeet Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University. In bhangra contest, students from six schools participated. The team of Dashmesh Senior Secondary School stood first, followed by the team of RS Model Senior Secondary School and the team of Senior Secondary School, Threekey. Mr Tehal Singh Kheewa, Mr Pardeep Singh, Mr Babu Singh Dangore, artists, pronounced the judgement for the contest.

For the declamation contest, students had to choose from five topics including ‘Himmati da himayati rab’, ‘Dhai akhar prem de’, ‘Shah Mohammad ik sarkar baajon’, ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ and ‘Na ko bairi na hi begana, sagal sangh hum ko ban aayi’. Students of 14 schools participated in this contest and finally Baljeet Singh of Guru Nanak Khalsa Gujranwala High School stood first. Divya Ghai of RS Model Senior Secondary School was declared second and Inderjeet Kaur of the host school stood third. Ms Ramneek, a teacher, and Mr Surjit Albela, writer, were the judges. Mr Mewa Singh, Punjabi lecturer, coordinated the contest.

At Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School, students from 15 schools participated. Nitesh Bainson of Ramgarhia Boys Senior Secondary School, who sang ‘Mere hisse diyan loriyan...’ stood first. Kirandeep Kaur of the host school sang ‘Ratti teri ve dhol...’ and was declared second and Yogesh of Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School, who stood third, sang ‘Chal kithan guzari aayi... .

In creative writing contest, students had to choose from three topics given on the spot which included ‘Female foeticide — a social stigma’, ‘Terrorism — problem for the entire world’ and ‘Maharja Ranjit Singh’. Rajni Pathak of Government Senior Secondary School, Jandiali, bagged the first prize, Monika Chugh from the host school stood second and Kirandeep Kaur from Kalgidhar Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School was declared third. Mr Kulwant Jagraon, Ms Ajit Kaur and Ms Surinder Rampuri, all writers, were the judges.

In declamation contest, Jatinder Kumar of Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School stood first, followed by Parvinder Kaur of the host school and Amandep Kaur of Government Senior Secondary School, Hargobindpura.

Teachers honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 27
Teachers of Nauhria Mal Jain Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, were honoured by Master Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, Punjab, at a function held here today.

Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, director of the private aided schools, and Ms Prem Arora, Principal, were also present on the occasion.