Spreading awareness on use of insecticides through plays
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 1
Following appeals by the government agencies to farmers to use pesticides and insecticides judiciously, now it is the turn of PAU to adopt novel technique of spreading awareness about the problems through street plays.

A play titled Sambal Samaj Kar Hee Keet Nashak ka Upyog-Ek Mukti Marg by students of the College of Agriculture, which won the first position and a cash prize of Rs 40,000 at street play contest organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, recently will now be translated into Punjabi and staged in the cotton-belt. The contest was organised by the ministry and the Department for International Development, UK, for the dissemination of Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy (IRM) in cotton.

Speaking after a special screening of the play at the Pal Auditorium, Dr M S Tiwana, Dean, College of Agriculture, said most of the pest management failures, particularly in a year of pest outbreak, have been traced due to insecticide resistance. He revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture had initiated a research network project in 28 districts of cotton growing states in the country with annual budget of Rs 2 crore to counter this problem.

In Punjab, 45 villages are covered under this project in Mansa, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts. Highlighting the new strategies, Dr Tiwana said use of pest tolerant varieties and regulatory insecticide use based on simplified scouting methods including novel chemistry.

The adoption of this technology in the recent past has resulted in a reduction in the number of sprays by 26 per cent cut in the cost of spray by 21 per cent with increase in the yield by 18 per cent and profit of Rs 10,400/ per hectare, he added.

Dr Tiwana said that holding street plays for transfer of technology is unique and the award-winning play will be translated in all regional languages of cotton-growing states for presentation in IRM villages. He exhorted the students and faculty to devise new ways like the street plays to reach out to the farmers.

Dr Anil Sharma directed the play and postgraduate students — Harvinder Singh Grewal, Gurbir Singh Bhullar, Gurpreet Singh Saini, Ravinder Singh, Ranjit Singh Brar, Amanpreet Singh, Mandeep Ahuja and Bharpur Singh — of PAU enacted it. The State Coordinator of the IRM project was Dr A K Dhawan.

The ministry of Agriculture has provided funds for presenting the play in IRM shortlisted villages of Punjab, he added.

Teacher not qualified for job: parent
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 1
One of the parents of a student of GGN Public School, Maya Nagar, Mr Avtar Singh, has complained that Mr Jagjeet Singh, a music teacher of the school, has been appointed for the job since November 30, 1997, but he has no diploma. The school prospectus claims that he possesses a diploma.

Mr Avtar Singh says against the teacher’s name diploma in music is written but he has diploma from Pracheen Kala Kendra and he is not a regular diploma holder.

The principal, Mr R.S. Grewal, said Mr Jagjit Singh had been working as an assistant in music and was just a tabla player. They had two fully qualified postgraduate music teachers in the school.

The Principal said the teacher was a relative of Avtar Singh and they had some differences and hence he was accusing the teacher.

Mr Avtar Singh says that he has written letters to the Chairman, Central Board of School Education (CBSE), Education Minister, Chandigarh, Chairman Human Rights Commission, Punjab, Senior Superintendent of Police District Education Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, regarding this.

From Schools & Colleges
Students celebrate Parkash Utsav
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 1
To mark the Quadricentennial celebrations of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib, staff and students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar, organised a Sukhmami Sahib path, kirtan and shabad gayan here today. “Babaji ki Beed” was given due respect and was welcomed by trustees, teachers and the students.

Campus interviews: Campus interviews for teachers post in various schools were held at Punjab Technical University’s Regional Learning and Facilitation Centre. It generated good response from students of the PTU from the Feroze Gandhi Market Centre, ABM Infosys, Kitchlu Nagar, and Cyberstar Sundernagar.

Candidates were shortlisted and would be informed for final selection telephonically.

Contests held: Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools dance competitions were organised today at Guru Nanak Public School. The competition was inaugurated by Mr R.N. Parbat, Additional Commissioner, Income Tax, Ludhiana.

Ten teams participated in classical dances which 16 teams participated in folk dances.

AIDS awareness: A social awareness programme on HIV/AIDS was organised at the Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology, Katani Kalan. Linterland Rural Initiative conducted the programme on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development and ICICI Bank.

An extempore competition was also organised in which Sameer stood first and Madan Lal and Charu Sadna second and third, respectively.

In the personality test questionnaire, Sameer scored 92 points followed by Vibha Maini and Munish Kumar.

Dr J.S. Sohal gave away the prizes to winners.

Rakhi-making contest: Sarabha Nagar, New Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, held a rakhi-making competition in which 200 students took part. The competition was declared open by Mr Karan Thapar, secretary of the school managing committee. The competition was divided into three groups. Group A consisted of classes I to V, group B consisted of classes VI to VIII and Group C comprised classes IX and X.

The results are:

Group A: Balwinder (I), Bhawana (II) and Nitika (III); Group B: Navjot Singh (I), Simran (II) and Darpan (III); Group C: Harjot Kaur (I), Dilpreet (II) and Pavik Jain (III).