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| Thursday, February 7, 2002,
Chandigarh, India
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Free movement of foodgrains to encourage trade Ludhiana, February 6 The critics have, however, apprehended that the move would benefit only in case the government continued with the policy of procuring foodgrains at the minimum support price ( MSP ). The opening of trade could not be
substitute to the state’s assured price to the farmers, they said. The market experts said the move was likely to give a competition to the inefficient FCI and other state procurement agencies whose operations had been resulting in lower level of lifting of wheat and rice from the state, and higher costs to the consumers on the other end in deficit states like Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and others. While welcoming the decision, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, state president of the Bharati Kisan Union, said, ‘‘We have been demanding since 1974 to remove all the restrictions on the movement of farm produce not only within the domestic market but also in the foreign markets. We welcome this decision, which should have been taken long ago.’’ Prof Karam Singh, Director, Agro-Economic Research Centre, Punjab Agricultural University, opined that the move would provide monetary and non-monetary benefits to the farmers. He hoped that with the increase in competition due to the entry of new buyers, the profit margin of the farmers should appreciate by 5 to 7 per cent in the state, besides fall in the foodgrain prices by 10 to 15 per cent in the deficit states. He said, ‘‘With the opening of the foodgrain trade, we would not watch a situation where the farmers get Rs 700 per quintal of wheat and the flour is sold at Rs 1200 per quintal in Mumbai, as it used to happen.’’ In the long term, the quality of foodgrains, especially rice and sugar, should also improve, besides having a positive impact on the private investment in the agricultural sector and rise in the farm consumption. Interestingly, an expert committee constituted by the state government about three years ago on “reduction of intermediaries in agricultural trade” had also suggested that the state agencies such as Punjab Agro and Markfed should set-up joint ventures with the MNCs for the bulk buying, storage and selling of foodgrains. Prof P.S. Rangi, Senior Economist ( Marketing ), Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU, who was a member of that committee, disclosed, ‘‘The Kargil company which had initially shown keen interest in the project, later backed out reportedly due to harassment and delaying tactics of the Punjab Mandi Board and the Sales Tax Department. The company is now investing in UP. The opening of the trade should be now followed by supporting steps by the state government,’’ he added. Prof Rangi pointed out that to attract MNCs and big industrial houses like Tata and the Reliance group, the state government would have also to exempt the purchase of foodgrains from different taxes which are about 12.5 per cent at present as compared to zero per cent in Delhi and less than 4 per cent in UP. However, he lamented that the Centre had not made any announcement regarding the waiving off the levy from the rice millers. Prof M.S Sidhu, in the same department, who has been working on the food processing, claimed that the Centre had taken the right but inadequate measures. It should now announce a package to boost the food processing industry in the state as well. |
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Kisan Mela from March 21 Ludhiana, February 6 Giving this information, Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director of Extension Education, said that regional Kisan Melas at the Kandi Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhari, would be held on March 5, at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rauni, Nabha Road, Patiala, on March 14, at the Regional Research Station, Bathinda, on March 18 and at the Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur, on March 26. Dr Kolar said that the theme of the melas would be “Precision farming for high profits”. He said that farmers would be told to follow scientific agriculture with timely performance of all operations from land preparation to harvesting, use of appropriate chemical inputs in correct doses and at correct time according to the advice of the experts. Dr Kolar said that sale of farm literature, improved seeds, fruit plants and kitchen gardening seed kits would be a special attraction for the visiting farmers. Staff from the Colleges of Home Science and Veterinary Sciences will demonstrate the technologies involving precision in their respective areas, he said. |
Importance of learning anatomy Ludhiana, February 6 According to Dr K.S. Roy, Professor-cum-Head, Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, PAU, and Director of the course, 45 participants from all over India are participating in the course. Eminent anatomist like Dr M. Bhattacharya, Director, NRC on yak, Dirang, Dr D.N. Sharma from the HPKVV, Palampur, Dr S.K. Nagpal, Hisar, Dr Ramakrishna, Bidar, and Dr M.L. Sharma, Chandigarh, will deliver guest lectures. A compendium of lectures and a manual of "Recent advances" by Dr K.S Roy was also released on the occasion. The participants will visit the RSIC, Chandigarh, for demonstration of electron microscopy. |
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Dhaddi singers delight students Ludhiana, February 6 Iddu said that they were the followers of Mardana, disciple of Guru Nanak Dev and it is their fourth generation that has kept the folk singing alive. They have kept the old folk songs alive, thanks to the efforts of the North Zone Cultural Centre they were brought into limelight in the national games where the whole nation watched them. Due to the NZCC, they have had a chance to play in Indian festival and had a chance to show their talent before former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. They informed the young students that they hailed from Dhaddi gharana of Lalod village, near Nabha, and it is their sacred duty to expose the children to their kind of music which occupied pride of place in
yesteryear. Unless the modern generation takes pride in their traditional performing arts, Dhaddi singers will perish. Iddu started with a prayer to Guru Gobind Singh. They sang a song ‘’Ang sang rahi baja balia”. Through this moving song the whole scene of Guru Gobind Singh’s son’s being buried alive in the bricks was brought out vividly. They went on to sing ‘heer’, ‘vaaran’, and ‘kaalian’ Sassi-Pannu and “Dulla-Mirza” in their soulful voices. They said with justifiable pride that they had preserved the old ballads and kept them alive through their singing. “Once we were the centre of attraction at political conferences and rural fairs. People flocked to listen to us, due to commercial music becoming very popular, Dhaddi singers are on the brink of being pushed out of the mainstream of music and that would be a sad
thing. The declining interest of people in folk music has pushed many artists out and thanks to the NZCC, Spic MACAY and some recording companies that have recorded a few of their songs, Dhaddi music is alive but barely alive. |
Improvement Trust penalised for deficient service Ludhiana, February 6 According to the complaint, the consumer had applied for a plot to the Improvement Trust under the “local displaced person” category and deposited Rs 500 on June 27, 1981. The consumer stated before the forum that she had completed all the formalities and the respondent had allotted her a plot measuring 300 square yards (No. 52F) in Maharshi Balmiki Nagar on December 1, 1982, at the rate of Rs 98 per square yard. The consumer disclosed that she had deposited Rs 29,400 (total cost of the plot) through various receipts and in addition to that she had paid Rs 100 for the execution of a sale agreement and site plan on June 26, 1995. She further disclosed that despite many requests for delivering possession of the plot, Trust officials continued to put her off. But later she came to know that the trust had not taken the possession of the plot. She stated that despite knowing the fact, that the possession of the plot was not with the trust, it allotted the same to her. The complainant alleged that there was a clear deficiency in services on the part of the trust as it allotted the plot without having its possession. She further alleged that even after 18 years, the possession of the plot had not been delivered to her despite writing many letters to the trust. She demanded from the forum that the trust should be directed to deliver the possession of the plot or a plot of same size (300 square yard) in an equally developed area. The Improvement Trust pleaded that the complainant had misrepresented before it as she got allotted two plots under the “local displaced persons” scheme. It disclosed that she had been allotted two plots in Rajguru Nagar Scheme (No. 72B) and Maharshi Nagar Scheme (No. 52F). The respondent disclosed that despite knowing the fact that the complainant was entitled to one plot under the category, she got two. The respondent maintained that when it came to know the foul play by the consumer, the allotment of one plot was cancelled. The complainant, instead of accepting the said action, filed a false and frivolous suit against the trust for restraining it from cancellation of plot No. 72b in Rajguru Nagar Scheme which was dismissed by the Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Ludhiana, on March 2, 2001. The respondent clarified that the delay in the delivery of possession of the plot in Maharshi Nagar Scheme or alternative plot was delayed due to
pendency of the civil suit. However, the trust admitted that the complainant was the owner of a plot measuring 400 square yards and she had applied for allotment of plot and deposited Rs 500. It was also admitted that plot No.52F was allotted to the consumer at the rate of Rs 98 per square yard. But it was denied that the complainant had requested for the delivery of possession of the plot. The respondent stated that the complaint was false and frivolous and liable to be dismissed. The forum observed that the complainant was entitled to the possession of the said plot or an alternative plot. The forum further observed that despite making full payment of the price of the plot long back, the trust remained unable to deliver the possession of a plot to the consumer. The forum held that the possession of the disputed plot or an alternate plot should have given to the consumer and there was delay in the delivery of the possession of the plot for which the respondent was liable to pay compensation. |
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Travel agent’s bail
plea declined Ludhiana, February 6 “There has been mushroom growth of so-called travel agents giving allurement to gullible persons for sending them abroad and cheating them of their money. People have been falling victim to such persons. Such cunning persons are having a field day,” observed the judge, while declining the bail plea. The judge remarked that allegations were of serious nature which required thorough custodial interrogation. No leniency could be shown to such persons and dismissed the bail application. |
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