The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Adopt diversification report fully: Johl
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 27
The contract farming started in Punjab as a sequel to the diversification report will not succeed unless it is based on tested and recommended technologies given by Punjab Agricultural University, says Dr S.S. Johl.

Dr Johl was speaking at a technical symposium organised on the occasion of alumni meet of the College of Agriculture, PAU. Dr Johl said he had held a series of meetings with different sections of the society like industrialists, bankers, farmers and administrators to dispel misgivings and misunderstandings which had cropped up due to a piecemeal study of the report. He said the focus of the report was to replace at least one million hectares of the area under rice-wheat rotation for which the farmers should be suitably compensated.

Elaborating his point with figures and facts, Dr Johl pointed out that by doing so it would benefit the Central and state governments financially and at the same time would help the farming sector. Dr Johl expressed hope that budgetary provisions for this diversification would be made in the current budget for the implementation of the diversification programme. He said the diversification would require coordinated efforts of several agencies. For effective monitoring and control over these agencies, a separate department of diversification was needed. He pointed out that the recommendations made by the committee were economically viable, socially acceptable and politically sustainable.

Dr Johl further said the problems of the farm sector could not be all solved within the farm sector alone. The ever-increasing rural population and decreasing land holdings had necessitated that population pressure on agriculture was reduced by creating alternate employment opportunities.

Reacting to a query, Dr Johl clarified that the bulk handling of the produce and capacity building would benefit both the producer and the consumer by reducing the margin of the middle man.

Dr G.S. Kalkat, who presided over the symposium, said more than 60 per cent of the holdings in Punjab were small and no longer viable farm units and there was a need to reduce the pressure of the land by providing placement employment opportunities. Dr Kalkat said current contract farming system started in the state was a half-hearted approach towards diversification. He laid emphasis on the implementation of the report in letter and in spirit for achieving the good results as envisaged in the report. The other activities of the alumni meet included sports, poetic, symposium, cultural programme and a business meet of the association.

Rural women told about their rights
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 27
As many as 85 women from Dugri, Dhandran, Manakwari and Kheri Jhameri villages were told about their rights during a programme organised at Joseph’s School, Dugri-Dhandran road, here today.

The programme was arranged with the collaborative effort of students and staff from Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School of Sarabha Nagar. Some students dressed up like eminent women personalities of the nation like Kalpana Chawla, Indira Gandhi and Kiran Bedi and gave inspirational speeches before the rural women. A skit highlighting the dowry menace was also presented.

To entertain their guests, the students and staff also presented three songs. Besides, speeches were delivered against the practice of dowry and infanticide and ways to combat atrocities being committed on them.

In her address, Ms Elenor Joseph, Principal, asked the women to earn their own livelihood and become self-reliant. She emphasised upon the need to educate their children and teach girls as well as boys to help in household affairs.

The students of class IX gave farewell to the batch of class X students. The hosts gave a colourful dance, music and drama presentation. Several games such as musical chairs and antakshri were arranged for them. Ms Joseph wished the students good luck.

Position holders in MBA exam
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 27
The Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) has bagged seven out of the top 10 positions in MBA examination conducted by Punjab Technical University this year.

Giving this information, Dr K.N.S. Kang, Director of the college, said the students had got first, second, third, fourth, fifth, ninth and 10th positions in the university. Manveen Kaur Saini, who stood first in the university, would receive a gold medal from the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, at the PTU convocation scheduled to be held on March 23.

Simpy Joura stood second, Pallavi Dawra was declared third and Sukhjinder Bath got the fourth rank. Shveta, Shveta Sachdeva and Monica Chawla bagged the fifth, the ninth and the 10th position, respectively. Dr Kang said that the college had achieved first rank eight times out of the 10 results declared for MBA so far.

Fashion show for tiny tots
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 27
It was a treat to see tiny tots attired in colourful dresses, swaying to music and catwalking at a fashion show organised in Cherryfields Nursery School, Atam Nagar, here today. While a majority of little girls wore lehnga choli with tikka, bindi, bangles and “parandi”, boys dressed up in “achkans”.

Ishita Panesar was chosen Ms Cherryfields while Ritvik Kumar was Master Cherryfields. Devanshu and Ishmeet were declared best students of the year. Harfurmaan and Rahul Ker were chosen as the most well-behaved students.

Ganga Singh and Garima were given the best dancer titles. Ms Priya Sharma, Principal, said the fashion show was arranged as part of the farewell party for the outgoing batch of the children. The kids were presented with mementoes.

Training course for African students concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 27
The Second Tech. Trainers Training Course, organised by the R&D Centre for Bicycles and Sewing Machines under the UNDP/UNIDO programme for African countries, has concluded. Sixteen participants from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanajania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda and Sudan participated in the 10-day training programme.

They were trained in the field of the TQM and ISO system. The other important topics covered during the training were environment system and pollution control, total production maintenance, and organisational behaviour changes.