AGRICULTURE

Farmers apprised of rural godown scheme
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 9
In view of the need of small and marginal farmers to store foodgrains and avoid distress sale the government is popularising the rural godowns scheme whereby the farmers could hold on to their produce at very nominal cost.

The scheme, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture last year, has generated considerable interest among the farmers. A training camp for 30 participants was held here, recently where farmers were informed about the salient features of the scheme. Representatives of Punjab National Bank were also present.

The project can be taken up by individuals, farmers, NGOs, self help groups, corporations, cooperatives, marketing boards and agro-processing corporations. The only rider is that the assistance for the renovation of rural godown will be restricted to the the godowns constructed by the cooperatives only.

Under the scheme, an entrepreneur will be free to construct the godown at any place and of any size as per his judgement, except for the rider that it will be outside the limits of the municipal corporation and be of a minimum capacity of 100 MT. Rural godowns constructed in food parks promoted by the Ministry of Food Processing shall also be eligible for the assistance.

Officials who conducted the camp said subsidy under the project was limited to institutional credit and would be available to only such projects which were financed by commercial and cooperative banks, regional rural banks and other financial institutions. Loan to entrepreneurs for construction, renovation and expansion would carry an adequate long-term repayment period.

Besides this, the farmers keeping their produce in these godowns shall be eligible to avail pledge loan on the hypothecation of their produce. The terms and conditions will be as per the guidelines issued by the RBI/ NABARD.

The general awareness programme on the scheme for the farmers will be conducted by the National Institute for Agricultural Marketing, Jaipur, in addition to state and national level institutions.

The subsidy shall be 25 per cent of the capital cost of the project. In case of North-Eastern states, hilly areas and in case where the entrepreneur belongs to the SC/ ST, the subsidy shall be 33. 33 per cent.

Scramble for PU forms
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 9
The shortage of examination forms for compartment and private students created a tense situation at Panjab University Extension Library here yesterday. It was the last day for submitting for forms.

Hundreds of students from Samrala, Khanna, Ferozepore and other places have been visiting the library for several days to get forms, but in vain.

Yesterday forms reached the library at 2 p.m. There was a tussle among students for obtaining forms and the authorities had to call police to control the crowd. Only 200 forms were available while the students wanting to buy forms numbered in hundreds. Hundreds of students and their parents had to go back disappointed. They were sore over the callousness of the university.

The forms for BA classes were available for Rs 775 and for MA classes for Rs 1,000. Due to high price of the forms, booksellers do not keep these forms. Hence all the rush had to be handled at the library counter.

Paper-reading session 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 9
The Department of English of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, organised a paper- reading session here today. Eight students of MA I and MA II presented their papers on the topics pertaining to Aristotle, Shakespearean comedy, and John Donne as a metaphysical poet. The session was presided over by Prof Gurcharan Singh, former Principal and head of the Postgraduate Department of English, at SCD Government College.

Prof Gurcharan Singh summed up the ideas on Aristotle’s imitation, plot and character, Donne’s use of metaphysical conceit and Shakespeare’s comedies, ‘As you like it’ and ‘Winter’s tale’. Earlier, Ms Manju Chawla, Vice Principal, welcomed the chief guest. Dr Anup Kaur Bansal, Principal, congratulated the participants for their good performance. 

75 students get prizes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 9
Spring Dale Public Senior Secondary School, Sherpur, held its annual prize distribution function here yesterday. As many as 75 students who stood first, second and third in the annual examinations held in March 2003, were honoured with trophies and merit certificates. Members of the teaching and administrative staff were also honoured for their services.

Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Director and founder- Principal, welcomed the guests. Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mayor, Municipal Corporation, was the chief guest.

The variety programme was started with shabad gayan and Saraswati vandana. Later, several items, including Rajasthani dance, skit titled “Five little ducks”, choreography on Punjabi heritage , patriotic songs, qawali, giddha and bhangra were presented. The function ended with the National Anthem.

Prakash utsav of Guru Granth Sahib
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 9
Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, celebrated the prakash utsav of Guru Granth Sahib with devotion and fervour here today.

The programme began with a shabad in Raag Kalyan. All shabads and poems presented by the students were in praise of Gurbani and Guru Granth Sahib. The students also spoke on the history of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.