AGRICULTURE

Punjab Agro, UB tie-up on farming
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 17
Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation Limited (PAFC), Chandigarh, and United Breweries Limited UB, Rauni, Patiala, have joined hands during the just past rabbi season to introduce contract farming of new malting variety of barley (VJM-315).

It is a two-rowed, short-statured barley variety which is resistant to lodging and gives high grain and malt yield. The seeds of VJM-315 have thin seed quote, are bold and weigh as much as the wheat-seeds.

According to Mr Kripa Shankar Saroj, Managing Director, PAFC, this was necessary to ensure supply of good quality seeds to the contract growers. He informed that 50,000 to 75,000 acres will be brought under contract farming of malting barley in the near future in the Punjab to meet the entire requirement of UB group.

EDUCATION

Talent hunt held at GNPS
Our Correspondent

Mr Rajesh Wadhera, director of the centre, said that similar contest had already been conducted at Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School at BRS Nagar, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Tagore Public School, CFC School, GGN Public School and Guru Nanak International School. He said that the top three students of the school would be short listed and given an opportunity to participate in a mega inter-school quiz to be held on April 27.

Punjabi paper out of syllabus
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 17
Students of BA-I and B.Sc (General)-I expressed their resentment today over the fact that Paper-B of Punjabi (compulsory) was largely out of syllabus and was in variance with the prescribed style in the syllabus.

The students were baffled to find that a majority of the questions were either out of syllabus or largely varying in terms of marks awarded to them. They said, for instance, the first question, which was supposed to be an application of 10 marks, was an essay of 15 marks. Prof J.S. Grewal, Head of the Post-Graduate Department (Punjabi), GNN College here and member, Board of Studies, along with other teachers, has demanded maximum grace marks for the students in this paper.

Parents given tips
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 17
The GRD Academy, Hambran Road, organised a lecture on ‘better parenting’ for the parents of kindergarten children here today.

Giving tips to the parents, Ms Manmeet Grewal, child psychologist, said that the kids should be nurtured with love and care. She said that they must be taught the values of sharing while being competitive at the same time. She said that essential qualities of confidence and self-esteem must be instilled in the children to help them face challenges of life. Quoting examples, she also emphasised that both parents should take a common stand on an issue and remain adamant on that.

On the occasion, Dr Roma, senior dietician at CMC, discussed good eating habits. While giving out the do’s and don'ts, she gave out a list of dietary items for the kids of different age groups. She also told them about the vaccination schedule and urged them to follow it strictly.

Teachers unhappy with new posting
Our Correspondent

Samrala, April 17
With the lifting of ban on promotions of government employees by the Government of Punjab, the process of promotions in different departments is going in full swing.

In the Punjab Education Department, both its wings of DPI(S) and DPI(E) are busy overseeing the process of promotions of principals, lecturers, masters, head-teachers etc. But most of them are not being given posting of their choice.

In Ludhiana district, where around 450 assistant teachers are to be promoted as head teachers, they are being denied posting within 5 km limit of the Municipal Corporation. These stations are being kept vacant for reasons best known to the Education Minister, Mr Khushahal Rehal.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Behari Lal Saddi, a teacher leader, here today said majority of the teachers who were to be promoted were women and many of them were on the verge of retirement. He said such teachers would not be able to avail themselves of the promotions if their new posting was far off from their current posting.