The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Minister reviews wheat procurement
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 25
“There has been a record procurement of wheat (60 lakh tonnes) this year in the state, compared to 14 lakh tonnes procured in 2001,” Dr Harbans Lal, Minister of State for Forests, Food and Civil Supplies, said here on Wednesday after inspecting the ‘mandis’ of Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Patiala districts.

The minister visited the grain markets of Mandi Gobindgarh, Khanna, Amloh, Bhadson, Tohra, Chanarthal Kalan and Bhamarsi. He reviewed the arrangements by procurement agencies and found the lifting process at Mandi Gobindgarh and Bhadson inadequate. The Deputy Director Food and Supply of Patiala division, Dr Bhupinder Singh, who was with the minister, cancelled the lifting contract of the FCI and gave the task to arhtiyas.

Dr Lal met officials of government purchase agencies, arhtiyas and farmers and asked officials to cooperate with farmers.

The minister said the government had been trying to abolish the Forest Corporation and an inquiry had been initiated into forest fires of the past. He also said the new government was coming up with a new policy for industry in the state.

Mr Jaswinder Khanora, president of the Truck Union of Bhadson; Mr Mehnga Singh, vice-president of the union; Mr Sadhu Ram Bhatmajra, president of the Block Congress Committee of Sirhind, Mr Gurwinder Singh Dhillon and Mr Kulwinder Singh Ambey Majra, vice-presidents of the Kisan Cell of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee; Mr Jawinder Singh, Chehal; Mr Rupinder Singh Gill, Mr Harbhajan Singh Kukar Majra, Mr Jiwan Puri, Mr Jaspal Singh, Mr Narinder Joshi, Mr D.R. Sood, Mr Yugraj Singh Baran and Mr Nirmal Singh were the other speakers at the meeting.

PAU to explore private investment
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 25
The Punjab Government’s announcement to ban new recruitments and to offer voluntary retirement scheme ( VRS) to the surplus staff in all government and public sector departments has surprised many at Punjab Agricultural University ( PAU) here. The university has already identified 1,346 posts that is 21.3 per cent of the total 6,121 sanctioned posts of teaching and non-teaching staff as surplus. The university management has now decided to explore private investment in the new research projects to adjust the staff and fulfil the financial needs.

The government has proposed that all vacant and new posts will be filled from the surplus pool and the remaining staff will be offered VRS. The PAU Employees Union has expressed fear that in the name of financial management, the government may try to retrench employees. Mr Amrit Pal Singh, general secretary of the union, said, “We are certainly worried about the proposed move and fear that some staff may be retrenched.”

Allaying the fears of the employees, Prof K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said, “There is no immediate plan to retrench the surplus staff, rather efforts are being made to generate financial resources from the private sector. A beginning has been made by signing an agreement with the Ratan Tata Trust, which has agreed to provide Rs 81 lakh over the next three years to conduct research for the revival of green revolution in Punjab. The university has raised Rs 23 crore for 93 projects under the World Bank-sponsored National Agricultural Technology Programme ( NATP) during the last fiscal year. Further, we are contacting various private agro-companies to invest in different projects that would benefit both university and industry.”

He added that at a recent meeting with the Chief Minister, he had assured the government that efforts would be made to encourage private privatisation by focusing on industry’s need-based research and by creating congenial environment on the campus. He admitted that in all developed countries, more than 60 per cent of the research projects were sponsored by the corporate houses, but the Indian universities were still in their infant state in this area.

Elaborating his plan to meet the challenge, he said, “An expert committee has declared the surplus staff after reviewing the optimal level of staff strength. There is no immediate plan to retrench the staff, but by 2005, the surplus pool would be adjusted with the retirement of employees, resulting in a saving of about Rs 14.5 crore.Some departments have been already merged with other departments for better coordination and financial management. The heads of departments are being encouraged to prepare projects proposals to bring financial resources from different institutions.”

He added that instead of doing research in every area, the PAU plans to develop some cutting-edge technologies in biotechnology, crop hybrid, post-harvest handling and value addition in agriculture produce. Unlike the past the university plans to share its knowledge and talent base with private partners to generate resources. Dr G.S. Nanda, Director, Research, also claims that the university would also plant hybrid seeds on 1,250 acres in Ladhowal and in about 380 acres in Nabha. He said the university had also submitted a proposal to the state government to impose 1 per cent cess on the all crops brought to the state mandis.

Declare results: homoeopathy students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
After a wait of over three months, students of homoeopathic colleges affiliated with the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences are still in jeopardy due to what is being termed by them as ‘revengeful attitude’ of the authorities concerned.

In a letter written to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the students alleged that the authorities were playing with their future by not declaring their results.

“The final exams of the 1996 batch were to be conducted in September, 2001, but were allegedly delayed by a former minister as he took the decision that Baba Farid University would conduct the exams. But the exams were further delayed as the university did not have sufficient infrastructure,” said students.

One of the students, on condition of anonymity, said a delegation of students met the Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.S. Gujral, in this regard. “We were shocked when the VC told us that the result of practical exams was with the State Council of Homoeopathy System of Medicine,” said the student.

The students said they had even met the Medical Education Minister, Mr Ramesh Chander Dogra, who had assured them.

COURTS

12-yr jail term for woman
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
Baljinder Kaur, a resident of Bambhaura village, Sangrur, has been sentenced to 12-year rigorous imprisonment under the NDPS Act. Ten kilogram opium had been recovered from her possession.

Delivering the verdict, Mr G.R. Banyal, Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, held that “the guilt of accused stands proved beyond any doubt. Hence, she deserves no leniency”.

Accused was booked under Section 18 of the NDPS Act on November 9, 1996 at Police Station Sadar, Ludhiana. According to prosecution, police party was performing special checking operation at GT Road, near Threskay village under the supervision of Mr Karnail Singh, In charge anti-gunda staff.

Accused was crossing the GT Road, but when she saw the police party, she tried to escape but was intercepted.

CULTURE

It takes four to tango
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
“The play ‘Dance Like A Man’ explores relationships with rare insight and humour and its theme is based on dance and its politics. It is about power struggle rooted in Indian ambience — what attracted me to Mahesh Dattani’s original play in English,” said Lillete Dubey, director of the play, at a press conference here today. She was with her co-artistes — Vijay Crishna, Joy Sengupta, and Suchitra Pillai, who have been together for 132 performances of the play. ‘Dance Like A Man’ will be staged later today in Guru Nanak Bhavan here.

Lillete said theatre had been her passion for the past 30 years. When she floated her own theatre company, Prime Time, she explored plays written in English by Indians. She finds ‘Dance Like A Man’ a well-written play with a traditional South Indian backdrop. When asked if the play was based on the life of Hema Malini, she said: “It is loosely based on the lives of dance guru Krishna Rao and his wife from whom Mahesh learnt ‘bharatnatyam’ for seven years.”

Joy Sengupta, who won critical acclaim for his role in ‘Hazzar Chaurasi Ki Maa’ and plays an eager-beaver son-in-law in the play, said: “In spite of the play being in English, it has been tremendously successful right from its opening in New Delhi for 10 shows in 1995. Fans of Hindi and regional theatre also came to watch it, which makes it a truly Indian play.”

Vijay Crishna, who plays the role of an ageing dancer, is the MD of three companies of Godrej. When asked whether it was not unusual for a top executive to be interested in theatre, he said: “I have always been interested in theatre, so, I find time for it. In spite of this being the 132nd performance of the play, my role has not lost its sheen. Moreover, I have learnt a lot about theatre, which has helped me in management as well.”

Suchitra Pillai, Channel V VJ and of ‘Dil Chaahta Hai’ fame, plays an upcoming dancer in the play. She said: “I have two dances in the play. Theatre needs total commitment, but unfortunately, I have not been able to spare more time for it. I would love to be seen on the screen.”

Lillete said she had become an actress by accident. She comes from a family of professionals, so, she couldn’t even think of joining films 25 years ago. “Moreover, I did not have sensibilities suited to mainstream cinema, but now, life has come full circle. I would not like to be stereotyped in character roles like the one I played in ‘Monsoon Wedding’. I am glad that my next four films have different themes. ‘Pinjar’ is based on a story by Amrita Pritam and another film is Anupam Kher’s ‘Om Jai Jagdish’. Somehow, I intuitively choose first-time directors. One of my films in English is ‘Waiting for Clinton’, which tells the story of hassles that we have to bear when a VIP comes visiting. It shows five days of hectic preparations before the Clinton visit to India and is a socio-political satire. ‘Portrait of Marriage’ is another film in English.”

Her new play to be staged at the National Prithvi Theatre Festival is ‘Bodhi Dharma’ based on the life of Zen Master. Her new play that opens in a week is called ‘Three Tall Women’.

When asked if she would work in television soaps, she said: “Not till I get good roles. Prime-time serials portray women in a negative way and the themes are retrogressive. If I work in inane serials, my creative theatre work of 30 years will be rendered useless.”

“There has been a misconception that today’s play is for adults and such a play is ‘Thirty Days in September’ which is on child abuse. However, till date, my best productions have been my two daughters aged 21 and 18,” she said.