Indomint sets base in city
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 23
Its good news for those who wanted to go in for contract farming of mint but were unable to do in the absence of the required infrastructure and guidance, besides a market. This problem has been solved with the opening of offices of Indomint Agriproducts in Madhok Complex on the Ferozepore road here.

Mr Rajendra P. Ghogale, MD of the company, says the area under mint farming under contract basis has increased by 30 per cent. The company came in the sate seven years back and entered into a contract for growing mint in 70 acres, which has now increased to over 10,000 acres in the Malwa and Doaba belts.

Farmers in Punjab are now convinced of the benefits of mint farming. “We are the largest independent concern in this sector for the past seven years and clientele satisfaction can be gauged from the fact that the growth rate is already over 55 per cent”, Mr Ghogale points out.

Indomint is the Indian subsidiary of AM Todd Company, USA, which is a global leader in the supply of high-grade mint oil to oral care, confectionary, chewing gum and the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

The company produces mentha piperita, spearmint oil, arvensis oil and menthol bold crystals.

Teachers seek CM’s help on transfers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
Resentment prevails among lecturers here over the recent spate of transfers. A number of city-based lecturers went to Chandigarh on Monday to fix up an appointment with the Punjab Education Secretary, Mr N.S. Rattan, in this regard.

“Five college teachers have been transferred from Government College for Boys here, though there is already a shortage of teachers in the college,” said Mr Jaipal, a lecturer in physics and general secretary of the Government College Teachers Association.

He said 80 teachers had been transferred in the state and there were rumours that some more teachers were going to be transferred. “As a result, the teachers, including myself, are busy meeting people to get their transfers stalled instead of teaching,” he said.

Mr Jaipal said they had met Mr Rattan and fixed an official meeting for July 24. They would air their grievances at the meeting, he said, adding :“We hope that the authorities concerned will reconsider the issue of transfers.”

The association has urged the Punjab Chief Minister to intervene in the matter. Mr Jaipal warned that if the transfer orders were not revoked, the teachers would have to resort to agitation, making the students suffer for no fault of theirs.

He pointed out that Mr Bhag Singh, lecturer in mathematics and president of the association, who was posted at Mahindra College, Patiala, had been transferred to Nial Pattan. Interestingly, there are no students of mathematics in the college.

Abolition of road tax on school buses sought
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
Representatives of the Association of Affiliated School held a meeting here yesterday and demanded abolition of road tax on school buses. They condemned the indifferent attitude of the state government in this regard.

Mr Rajinder Sharma, president of the association, said they had held meetings with the Education Minister, the Transport Minister and the Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board in this regard, but to no avail.

He said the Education Minister, Mr Khushal Behl, had assured them a year ago that something would be done in that regard. Mr Tej Prakash, Transport Minister, had also given them an assurance saying all buses being run by educational trusts and institutes would soon be exempted from the payment of road tax. Representatives of the association also held a meeting with Mr Hanspal, president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, and he also assured them help. Similarly, Mr Kehar Singh, Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, had also given them an assurance, but nothing had been done in that regard so far, he said.

He said buses being run for the convenience of schoolchildren were not being utilised for any commercial purposes and as such these should be exempted from road tax. He said the association had been trying to convince the authorities concerned in this regard for the past many years, but they were not being listened to.

Law classes to start from today
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
Prof RJ Hans, Dean, Panjab University, Chandigarh, inaugurated the Panjab University Regional Centre here this morning. She urged students of the LLB to set high standards so the coming batches emulated their example.

Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, Rajya Sabha, said with WTO knocking at our doors, students ought to learn about patent laws.

Prof RP Gupta Hononary Director of Department Law, said, “I am happy to announce here that we have 10 seats under the NRI/Industry-sponsored quota. Those who appeared in the LLB entrance examination conducted by PU in June, 2003, but could not get admission, are welcome to join our centre by paying Rs 1 lakh per annum.”

Prof, Bal Krishan Chairman, Department of Laws PU, Chandigarh also spoke.

Dharnas by teachers
Our Correspondent

Doraha, July 23
On the protest call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, members of different units of local colleges sat in dharnas in front of Principals’ offices here today.

At Guru Nanak National College, the Doraha unit member sat in a dharna. Rest of the unit members joined him during their vacant periods.

At the Arya College for boys, Ludhiana, Prof R.K. Sabharwal, sat in dharna and unit members joined him in free periods.

Leaders and members of the union criticised the alleged dilly-dallying attitude of the government as regards the implementation of their long-pending demands.

Mr Parminder Singh, district president of the union, and Prof Kuldeep Singh, executive member, said teachers were repeatedly deceived by government by giving false assurances. “Now, we feel compelled to raise our voice against the existing disparities and the non-acceptance of our demands,” they said.

Their demands include implementation of pension-cum-gratuity scheme, regularisation of 95 per cent grant to colleges, enforcement of CAS (Career Advancement Scheme) from January 1, 1996, and pay parity to the DPEs and librarian.

DEO, Dy DEO appointed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
The elementary wing of the Education Department will have a new District Education Officer (DEO) and Deputy District Education Officer, beginning tomorrow. Ms Harvinder Kaur, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Mandi Gobindgarh, replaces Mr C.H. Puri, who will now be Senior Lecturer, In-Service Training Centre, Ludhiana.

Lawyers seek better facilities, threaten stir
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 23
Members of the District Bar Association have threatened to launch an agitation if the required facilities were not provided in the new judicial complex within a week. Lawyers observed a strike yesterday in this regard.

A resolution passed by the executive says, “The courts were shifted on July 16 but no proper arrangements have been made concerning the day-to-day working in new complex. The Chamber Committee and office-bearers had apprised the District and Sessions Judge and a high court Judge of the problems that would arise but in spite of that the shifting was undertaken.

Their demands include that lifts be made operational, drinking water must be provided and funds should be released for the construction of chambers. They also demanded proper seating arrangements for litigants.

One lift was made operational after the strike. It is learnt that the District and Sessions Judge assured the Bar president to look into the matter. He pulled the Distrcit Treasury Officer for not releasing Rs 1.40 crore for the construction of chambers for lawyers. The Sessions Judge deputed the CJM, Mr Arunvir Vashisht, to hold a meeting with the administration for making seating arrangements for stenographers, typists and notary public.