The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Farmers still await payment
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, November 19
The government’s claim of handling well the procurement of farm produce in grain markets is false as it has failed to make payments to farmers within 72 hours of paddy procurement. Markfed, Punsup, Punjab Agro food and civil supplies agencies were involved in the procurement of paddy in Amloh grain market.

The Punjab State Grain Procurement Corporation (PUNGRAIN) was formed by the state government in place of the Food and Civil Supplies Department with an assurance of speedy payments. The paddy at Amloh grain market was procured through all four agencies. Markfed, Punsup and Punjab Agro have made the payment of paddy procured through agencies to the arhtias/farmers but PUNGRAIN has failed to make payment of Rs 5 crore after the procurement of October 18, Mr Dalip Singh Pandhi, former minister, told mediapersons here today.

The arhtias (commission agents) have made a part of payment from their own resources to farmers with the hope to adjust the balance after the payment of PUNGRAIN is made to them. The same condition exists in other grain markets.

The delay in the payment Mr Pandhi said, had affected the next sowing season of the farmers who had to purchase seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs. The farmers visit their respective arhtias to enquire about their payment as they had to purchase seeds, fertilisers and other inputs for the next sowing season. The District Manager of PUNGRAIN, was not available for comments.

Dhindsa befooling farmers, says Rajewal
Our Correspondent

Samrala, November 19
In the garb of crop insurance, the Union Government has finally decided to crush the farm economy and farmers of Punjab in one go. In a press note issued here today, Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national General Secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union, strongly condemned the statement of the Sunam MLA, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who had claimed that this scheme was a gift for the farmers of Sangrur district by his father, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Mr Rajewal said the Akali leader had either tried to befool the farmers or he miserably fails to understand their problems.

According to Mr Rajewal, the Union Government has named this scheme as “Income Support Scheme.” The premium of insurance will be forcibly recovered from farmers through the loan advancing banks or cooperative societies. Under this scheme no state agency or the FCI will purchase wheat on the minimum support price during the next crop season. The farmers will be left at the mercy of traders and the prices will crash drastically. Average price of the crashed prices will determine the price of wheat for compensation and the insurance company will arrange for harvesting of wheat crop to determine average yield per acre from any five villages of its choice. With this formula the average income per acre will come to half of the minimum support price. Thus this scheme is nothing except a new tax in the name of insurance. If the farmers don’t oppose this, then from next paddy crop, no state or central agency will purchase the paddy.

Students union seeks action against cops
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 19
Leaders of the Punjab Students’ Union have warned that if their demands were not accepted by tomorrow, as assured by the local SDM, the students will resume their agitation.

Mr Gurmukh Singh Maan and Mr Harpreet Singh Zirakh of the Punjab Students Union while issuing a press note, after addressing the students’ gathering, blamed private transporters for mercilessly beating up students after yesterday’s episode and the police for harassing two students of Senior Secondary School who sustained injuries. The leaders also flayed the raids conducted on the residence of students who participated in yesterday’s agitation.

According to the press note, five students were arrested and later released on bail. They also condemned the role of some teachers. The union demanded a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the family of students killed and action against the erring police officials. They also demanded immediate withdrawal of false cases registered against students.

Amrik Singh, a student of B.Sc Ist year of Government Science and Research Institute, Jagraon, was injured when he fell while trying to board the bus belonging to the Libra Transport from the rear side and was crushed under its wheels. He later died in Satlej Hospital, Ludhiana.

Gurpreet wins poetry recitation contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 19
A three-day state-level inter-school festival being organised by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) at four local schools concluded here today. The chief guest of the contest at Ramgarhia Girls’ Senior Secondary School was Ms Tejinder Kaur, Secretary, School Education, Punjab. He was accompanied by Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, PSEB, and Ms Jagmeet Kaur Brar, Director (Academics), PSEB.

Competitions for secondary group students were held. Contests for primary and elementary group students had been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Contests for gidha, one-act play and poetry recitation were held at Ramgarhia Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Millerganj. Smt Satyawati Oswal Vidya Mandir organised declamation and bhangra competitions.

At Guru Harkrishan Public School, Dugri, contests in folk song and shabad singing were held while Guru Nanak Khalsa High School, Gujarkhan, hosted the kavishri and vaar singing contests.

Results are:

Vaar singing (secondary): Sant Isher Singh Senior Secondary School (Mohali) 1; Sant Sangat Sahib Bhai Pheru Senior Secondary School (Faridkot) 2; and Adarsh Senior Secondary School (Bathinda) 3. Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, and Guru Teg Bahadur Senior Secondary School, Malot, got consolation prizes.

Vaar singing (elementary): Guru Nanak Khalsa Girls High School (Ludhiana) 1; Government Senior Secondary School (Maksoodra) 2; and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (Manh Singh Riad, Amritsar) 3.

Kavishri (elementary): Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Kurali (Ropar) 1; Sahib Baba Khushal Singh School (Jalandhar) 2; and Guru Nanak Dev Public Senior Secondary School, (Bathinda) 3.

Poetry recitation: Gurpreet Kaur from Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondray School, (Ludhiana) 1; Amandeep Kaur from Sant Isher Singh Senior Secondary School (Mohali) 2; Mandeep Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School (Amargarh) 3; and Manpreet Kaur from Government Senior Secondary School (Phillaur) and Simranjit Singh from Government Senior Secondary School (Behmad Diwana, Bathinda) got consolation prizes.

Giddha: Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School (Ludhiana) 1; Guru Nanak Public Senior Secondary School (Bathinda) 2; Sant Isher Singh Model School (Mohali) 3.

One-act play: Major Ajaib Singh Senior Secondary School (Faridkot) 1; Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School (Ludhiana) 2; and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (Putli Ghar, Amritsar) 3.

Shabad singing: Shining Star Public School (Jalandhar) 1; Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School (Jalandhar) 2; and Satguru Partap Singh Academy (Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana) 3.

Folk Song: DAV Girls Senior Secondray School (Amritsar) 1; GHG Khalsa Senior Secondary School (Ludhiana) 2; and DAV Model Senior Secondary School (Khanna) 3.

Tug of war (boys): Government Senior Secondary School (Kotla Bajwa Fatehgarh Sahib) 1; Khalsa Senior Secondary School (Khanna) 2; and Guru Nanak Public School (Dhahan Kaleran, Nawanshahr) 3.

Tug of war (girls): Government Senior Secondary School (Kathu Nangal, Amritsar) 1; Governmnt Missionary School 2; and Government Girls Senior Secondary School (Khanna) 3.

	Gupta Model School celebrates Founder’s Day Our Correspondent Ludhiana, November 19 The school management and staff members of Gupta Model High School, Club Road, organised a function to celebrate its Founder’s Day here today. The function started with lighting of a ceremonial lamp. It was followed by an inter-house declamation contest and cultural programme. Declamation contest was held for ‘Nandlal Trophy; in between the three houses — Bhaskar, Rohini, Arya Bhatt participated. The Bhaskar house won the trophy. Students danced to the songs, ‘Dhol Bajne Lagga’, ‘Gabru’. An art and craft exhibition was also organised which on the occasion by students of Classes IV to X. While addressing the gathering, Dr Iqbal Ahuja, gynaecologist and chief guest, appreciated the efforts of staff and management of the school for making progress in each and every sphere. He congratulated the school for its achievements. He said that school had now touched the heights which were once dreamt by Late Mr Surinder Gupta, founder Principal of the school. The function concluded with vote of thanks of the Principal, Ms Simmi Gupta.
	Khalsa College organises NSS camp Our Correspondent Ludhiana, November 19 The NSS unit of Khalsa College for Women , Ludhiana, under the supervision of three programme officers Dr Rasil Kaur, Dr Gurdeep Kaur, and Ms PrabhleenToor, organised a Day national integration camp in the college hall today. Volunteers participated in a poetry recitation and skit competition. The theme of the skit was ‘National Integeration’ so as to inculcate the feeling of universal brotherhood among students. The aim was to make volunteers aware of the need of national integeration for the overall development of the nation. A total of 150 volunteers participated in the camp which proved to be a great success. Dr Varinderjit Kaur Thind, principal, KCW , appreciated the efforts made by the NSS Committee and encouraged the students to imbibe the feelings of love, peace, harmony and universal brotherhood.
	Lecture on personality development at Khalsa college Ludhiana, November 19 An extension lecture on personality development was delivered at GHG Khalsa College for Education, Gurusar Sadhar by Ms Jasmine of Bombay University. Dr H.S.Brar formally welcomed the guest and introduced the topic to the students. Ms Jasmine tried to focus on the theoretical aspects of personality through games. She motivated the students to know their capacities, set their mind and to be optimistic in their thought process. On the whole, it was a healthy interactive session. In the end, the Principal, Dr J.S. Brar, thanked the guest. OC
	Radha Vatica wins declamation contest Our Correspondent Khanna, November 19 The local Radha Vatica Senior Secondary School, won the first position in the declamation contest organised by the Khanna Vikas Manch today. Nine teams from the different schools of the city participated in the contest. Ms Santosh Gupta was the chief guest. Mr D. P. Singh Shergill, Dr Rajesh Rattan and Dr Jaswant Singh Mittar were judges. Team of the Sacred Heart Convent School, won the second position while Adarsh Model High School remained third. Prizes were given away by Mr S. K. Khanna, chairman of the club, Mr Bansi Tandon, president of the club, and Ms Santosh Gupta, to the winners and the guests. Mr Brij Mohan, director of the club, was also present.