AGRICULTURE

Stress on sharing farm knowledge in Asia 
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 16
Farm scientists, extension specialists and farmers from India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka today underlined the need for preserving natural resources and cutting the input costs in the production of crops like wheat and rice. For this they suggested that the countries in the region could cooperate and share their knowledge and expertise.

The experts are currently on a visit to Punjab to study the rice-wheat pattern in the state.

The visit, which is being organised under the aegis of the Rice-Wheat Consortium for the Indo- Gangetic Plains, is part of the process to improve relations among Asian countries, particularly in the light of changing global market conditions.

The delegation visited demonstration plots in Seerah and Mattewara villages of Ludhiana and evinced interest in field demonstrations carried out by technocrats of the state Agriculture Department. Dr R. K. Gupta, National Facilitator, CIMMYT, New Delhi, acted as coordinator of the delegation.

Mr B. S. Sidhu, Joint Director, Agricultural Engineering, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ludhiana, R. S. Pandher and other experts shared their experiences with the foreign 
delegates.

They told them that the main thrust now was on the conservation of natural soil and water resources and the management of crop residues.

The delegates showed interest in the plots used for demonstrating paddy sown on ridges. Dr R. P. S. Aulakh, Agricultural Development Officer and member of a team conducting farmer participatory and adaptive research on fields, said the process saved time and labour, was cost effective and aimed at marketable agricultural production.

PSHRC order on private-aided schools
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 16
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has recommended to the state government to direct the state Education Department to ensure that the aid given to the private-aided schools is not misused.

Acting on a complaint filed by the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh, which had submitted before the commission that private-aided schools were charging extra fee from poor students, the commission held that the allegations were well-founded.

The commission hoped that the government would adhere to its recommendation in the larger interest of the people. A copy of the order has been sent to the Principal Secretary, Department of Education, for compliance.

The commission stated that on September 14, 2004, the Vigilance Department had, after a probe, found out that private-aided schools were charging excess fee and submitted a report that the Ludhiana Sewa Sangh 's complaint against these schools was correct.

Justice R. L. Anand of the PSHRC has said that these private aided schools are taking more fee which is illegal. They are misusing 90 per cent aid given to them by the government.

Remarking that ‘‘it is a matter of pity that in spite of such a liberal policy of the government to educate the poor children of India and to eradicate illiteracy, the benefits of education are not percolating down to the majority of our poor population,’’ the commission has recommended to the state government to taken action immediately. 

From Schools & Colleges
Doraha school students excel at science fair
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 16
It was a big day for students of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, who bagged first and second positions in the science exhibition, first position in chart making and first position in the junior quiz competition. In the model making, Hardeep Kaur displayed vermiculture and explained to the visitors how cheap and best manure could be obtained from the household waste. Mandeep Kaur won the second position. She exhibited renewal of waste energy in the house. Harpreet Kaur of the same school bagged first position in the chart-making contest and had made a chart of nuclear reactor. In the junior category, Jaspreet Singh and Hardeep Kaur bagged first position.

The chief guest at the science fair, Mr Varinder Sharma, district science supervisor, applauded the school and its management for its outstanding contribution in the inter-school competition organised by the Punjab State Education Board. Ms Umal Kaur, Director, and Mr Matthew Varghese, Principal, congratulated the participants on the occasion.

Declamation: The NSS department of the HMV, Jalandhar, organised an inter-college declamation competition with the collaboration of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology. There were 12 teams and 26 participants in all. Ramneek Kukreja of BBA I from the Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, won the first prize. She spoke on “Water crises”.

Koshish - 2004: Koshish - 2004, the annual eight-day inter-class literary-cum-cultural festival of the Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE), entered into the fifth day with a large participation by students of the fine arts. Sketching, press conference, dumb charades and painting were the events of fourth day at the festival.

In dumb charades, Aman Dhall and Aman Sehti of MBA (Final) won the first prize, Nikhil and Harleen of MBA (1st year) got second prize and Shivani and Shaveta of MCA (3rd year) bagged the third prize.

Seminar: A seminar was held yesterday in which achievements, contributions and the progress of DAV institutions were discussed. At present there are more than 700 institutes were under its umbrella. President of the DAV College Managing committee G.P. Chopra's message was read to the audience which stressed on the need of modernisation of education. The DAV institutes are adopting new and scientific approach in the areas of education. Many new engineering colleges and dental colleges were being adopted by the DAV college managing committee

Ozone Day: International Ozone Day was celebrated in Government High School, Salem Tabri, Ludhiana. Dr Inderjit Singh Dhingra was the chief guest and was welcomed by Mr Ranjit Singh, Principal. Addressing the students, he said ozone layer was very important and advised the students to protect the layer by avoiding air, water and land pollution.