PAU wheat variety best for region
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 29
The wheat variety, PBW 502, developed by Punjab Agricultural University was the only variety identified for the north western plains at the 42nd All-India Wheat Research Workers Meeting organised by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research held at G B Pant University, Pantnagar.

According to scientists who attended the meeting the variety was appreciated for its features and was considered ideal for release and sowing under the irrigated timely sown conditions in the entire zone comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and parts of Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal.

The variety combines high grain yield with high degree of resistance to rusts and other diseases.

The research work being carried out at the PAU was highly appreciated by those at the meeting. 

Primary teachers hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 29
Protesting against the decision of the Punjab Government to hand over the administrative functioning of government schools in rural areas to panchayats from October 2, the Save Primary Education Front representing eight unions of government primary teachers, held a rally in front of the Mini Secretariat here today.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, president of the Government Primary Teachers’ Association, said the standard of education would deteriorate further in case the decision was implemented. He said before the year 1957 when schools were managed by the zila parishads and municipal corporations, the atmosphere in schools was politicised. The chairmen of corporations used to harass the women teachers and make them go without salaries for months, he said.

Mr Dhillon said as the panchayats would also be authorised to recruit the staff for such schools, some influential candidates might get preference over the deserving ones. The teachers said in case the government did not pay heed to their demands which included withdrawal of the decision to hand over control of rural schools to panchayats, restoration of primary directorate instead of elementary one, re-opening classes for Elementary Teachers’ Training (ETT) and stopping repeated raids by the vigilance department in schools, then the association would be forced to a similar dharna outside the office of Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot.

State-level science seminar
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 29
Students from 16 of the 17 districts of Punjab participated in a state-level science seminar held at R.S. Model Senior Secondary School here today. While all the districts were represented by one student each, there was no participant from Kapurthala. The topic of the seminar was ‘Powered flight- a century of innovations and future of aviations’. The students were told to speak on the topic for six minutes in any of the three languages, English, Punjabi or Hindi. Out of the total 100 marks that were to be allocated, 40 marks were for content, 25 for methodology of speaking, 10 for written test that was held on the topic prior to the seminar, 10 for the question answer round held after the speech and 15 on the visuals and illustrations produced by the student during the seminar.

Finally, Ramandeep Singh from Bathinda stood first and got selected for the national science seminar. Neha Gupta, a student from Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, got second prize.

The function was conducted by Mr Varinder Sharma, district science supervisor. Mr Sadhu Singh Randhawa, Director of State Council for Education, Research and Training (SCERT), was the chief guest. Ms Surinder Kaur Dhingra, Director of State Institute of Science Education (SISE), was the guest of honour. Mr S.Kumar from National Council of Science Museum, New Delhi, was also present. The judgement was pronounced by Dr Manchanda from SCERT and Ms Mahinder Kaur from SISE.

Inter-class declamation contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 29
The Asian Club International, Ludhiana branch, organised an inter-class declamation contest today at Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School. Fifteen children took part.

Lt Kulbinder Kaur, Administrative Officer, 3 Punjab Girls Battalion, was the chief guest.

Addressing the students, she said that in today’s time, girls were moving forward in every field.

Mrs Sadhna Sharma, Principal, SVM and ASN Sukhminder Singh, MD, of the club welcomed the chief guest. Mr Chaman lal Sachdeva, Manager of the school presided over the function.

Dinesh, of class IX bagged the first position.

His topic was,” Kash main Bihar Ka Mukhya-Mantri hota.” Gaurav of class IX got the second position. His topic was,” Yadi Atal Bihari Ji shadi kar lain.” where as Sarabjit Kaur of plus one got the third prize. Her topic was,” Rabb naire ya Ghassun.” Students presented songs and dances.

‘Parliament’ session at PAU

Ludhiana, August 29
As many as 60 students of Punjab Agricultural University participated in the sixth national youth parliament session organised by the University Speakers’ Forum in association with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, here today. The ruling as well as the opposition parties comprised 30 students each. Manjot Singh from College of Agricultural Engineering acted as Speaker, Neha Jain from College of Basic Sciences and Humanities the Prime Minister, Harmandeep Singh, College of Agriculture, the leader of opposition.

Bills on reservation in jobs and educational institutes was passed during the two-hour session. Dr P.N. Dwivedi, President of the forum organised the session. Ms Rewa Rani, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and Ms Rajinder Kaur Bulara, former MP, were present. OC

Teachers not paid salary: union

Ludhiana, August 29
The Government Teachers Union (Gadhri ), Ludhiana District, has alleged that the government had not released the salaries for the teachers posted in upgraded schools against plan posts.

In the press release of the union, it was mentioned that the approval of the salaries should be sent as early as possible. They also demanded the appointment of teachers in the middle schools where there are only two teachers were working.

Mr Kirpal Singh Ghudani, a union leader, said that the union had launched a campaign to raise the membership of the union. OC

Toppers honoured

Ludhiana, August 29
The Department of Political Science from Government College for Women held a function to honour the toppers of the subject. Mr Jaspal Singh, Head of the Department, SCD Government College, presided over the function. Ms Sukhwinder Kaur, Head of the Department of host college, welcomed the guests. The toppers included Tulsa, who had stood second in Punjab in Class XII. Others included Suruchika, Jaskanwal Sohi, Rajni, Aarti, Jasmanpreet Gill, Anu, Manu, Paramjit Kaur, Brinderjit Kaur, Deboshree and Jashanjit. OC

Poets remember America and Canada
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 29
Two delegates from here who attended the language conference held in the summer at Vancouver, included Mr Satish Gulati, a publisher and a poet, and Gurbhajan Singh Gill, senior vice president, Punjabi Sahitya Akademy, and Editor, Changi Kheti, Punjab Agriculture University (PAU). They have come back recently with memories of Punjabi poets in foreign lands.

Mr Satish Gulati stayed in Canada and the USA for three months. The language conference was held from June 12 to 14 at Vancouver, Delta and Surrey. Mr Ujjal Dosanj, Ex-Prime Minister of British Columbia, presided over the conference held in Surrey. Mr Dosanj speaks and writes chaste Punjabi. He also recited a few lines penned by him.

Mr Gulati said that on that day he released posters of Bulleshah, Warisshah, Shah Hussein and Bhagat Singh.

Mr Gulati, who runs Chetna Prakashan, said even a small city has big book store while in India even cities like Ludhiana do not have such well stocked book stores.

Mr Gurbhajan Gill said that the Punjabis in Canada were very keen on teaching their children Punjabi.

Mr Satish Gulati was invited by the Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, California. He was felicitated by the Akademi under the presidentship of Dr Gurmail Siddhu and Dr Jagmeet Brar.

The Akademi also organised a ‘kavi darbar’ in their honour. The poets who participated were Sardool Kwatra, Surinder Seerat, Kulwinder Resham, Jasmmer Gandhi.