AGRICULTURE

Agriculture Department yet to get testing kits
Spurious BT cottonseeds flood markets
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
Even as the spurious BT cottonseeds have been flooding markets in the cotton belt of Punjab, the state agriculture Department authorities are yet to procure kits to test the genuineness of the seeds being sold to the unsuspecting farmers.

Though the Punjab Government has promised to give Rs 5 lakh to the state Agriculture Department authorities from the Rural Development Fund (RDF) to procure the testing kits developed by two agencies of the Central Government and the state government, the money is yet to reach to the authorities concerned despite the fact that farmers have started purchasing BT cotton seeds in large quantity to start sowing of same after two weeks or so.

Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director, State Agriculture Department, told Ludhiana Tribune today, that so far about nine cases pertaining to the sale of spurious BT cottonseeds had been registered against the unscrupulous traders in Ferozepore, Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts of Punjab.

He added that though they had been continuously educating farmers to buy genuine BT cottonseeds from the authorised traders, they had been falling prey to the unscrupulous traders. In these four districts, fake BT cottonseeds worth lakhs of rupees had been seized by the police with the help of Agriculture Department officials.

He sad that though two testing kits had been provided in each district of the cotton belt of Punjab, more kits were required to carry out intensive checking to save the farmers from the wed created by the unscrupulous traders. To make the vigil more effective, each District Agriculture Officer had been directed to keep a check on the sale of fake BT cottonseeds in their respective areas and if they failed it would be not good for their career.

Mr Sidhu said that he was expecting that Rs 5 lakh would be given to state Agriculture Department today itself and immediately after getting the money, he would place the order for procuring testing kits which cost about Rs 2500 each. When the testing kits in required quantity would reach in each district of cotton belt of state, an effective check could be carried over the activities of unscrupulous traders, who had been virtually looting the farmers by selling them fake BT cotton seeds.

Official sources said that the Agriculture Department had planned to increase the area under cotton crop by one lakh hectares as compared to area brought under cotton crop last year.

Out of six lakh hectare of area, the Agriculture Department authorities were willing to sow at least three lakh hectare of area with BT cottonseeds. To provide the quality BT cotton seeds to the farmers, the Agriculture Department authorities had been issuing licences to dealers for the sale of seeds of recommended varieties of BT cotton by the authorities concerned.

However, a section of farmers of cotton belt of Punjab have been making rounds to the Gujarat state to fetch BT cotton seeds from there. These farmers have been doing so for the past four years and have been carrying out the cultivation of BT cotton even when its cultivation was not allowed in Punjab.

Information revealed that not only the farmers were being looted by the unscrupulous traders by selling them fake BT cottonseeds. The farmers had also been being cheated by them on account of supplying them hybrid cottonseeds, which were not certified by any agency of the government for sale to them.

EDUCATION

Training camp for students held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
Ananda Marga School, New Kundanpuri,Civil Lines, Ludhiana, had organised a voluntary training camp for students which concluded on Tuesday. Students from entire Punjab had participated in the camp for various training programmes such as yoga, judo, karate and many other skills.

Prize distribution function and cultural programmes were also held. The function was presided over by social worker, Ashwani Saggi, who also lit the lamp and offerred prayers to guru of the Anand Marga Organisation.

The Chief Guest, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Member of Parliament, distributed the prizes to the students who got first, second and third positions in the annual results of the school.

Other students who ‘participated in various cultural programmes and judo, karate etc. were also honoured with mementoes.

Dr Shiv Gupta, secretary-general of the Lal Bahadur Shashtri Social Forum, pledged his support by offering free books, note books to 50 very poor and deserving students and also announced that a free medical camp would be organised within next fortnight.

Dr Ajay Shahi, president of National Forum for Consumer Rights, also appreciated the management of the school for its commendable services to the poor ‘students’ without any donation and huge funds. 

Welcome party for tiny tots
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
A welcome party was arranged for tiny tots of Chanda Mama Play School here today. The kids played party games like chasing the ball, bursting balloons, jumping up and pulling the leg etc. The party room was decorated with balloons and buntings.

Celebrated: A function was organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of Baba Isher Singh (Nanaksar) Kaleran by Baba Isher Singh (N) Senior Secondary Public School, BRS Nagar here today. Students and teachers recited “banies of Chaupayee Sahib, mool mantra and Japuji Sahib”.

The prizes were given away by Baba Harbhajan Singh in different activities such as rangoli, fancy dress show, solo dance, group dance, poem recitation, salad making mehandi competition etc.

An inter-school shabad gayan competition was also organised. Baba Harbhajan Singh, Baba Gurcharan Singh and Baba Sewa Singh (N) Kaleran were the chief guests. As many as 10 teams participated from Ludhiana, Moga and Amritsar districts. The results are:

Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School 1, Guru Nanak International Public School 2, Shri Harkrishan Public School, Dugri 3.

Special prizes were given to Sargodha National Public School, BVM Senior Secondary School and Shri Guru Har Gobind Fabha Singh Thakural.

Tiny tots exhibit talent
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 7
The annual function of Somerville School was organised here today. Mr Gurdial Dalal, former principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Doraha, was the chief guest. The programme began with recitation of “Gayatri Mantra” followed by a shabad “Guru Nanak Dev Nu Karo Parnam”.

Nursery LKG and UKG students sang an English prayer. A fancy dress competition was held among the nursery and pre-nursery students, who presented themselves in various outfits such as fish, mango, Santa Claus and Mahatama Gandhi, etc. The winner of the contest were Purvi, who dressed as fish, Chamanpreet Mundi as Mahatama Gandhi and Amitoj Singh Mann as bridegroom, with the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Bhangra was also performed by the students.

Mr Dalal congratulated the staff and students for good performance. He asked the teachers to imbibe moral values in small children. Mr Sumit Mukherjee Director and Principal of the school, said special stress was laid on to provide quality education. 

HEALTH

Admn gears up for pulse polio drive
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 7
To ensure that polio drops all children up to the age of five years under the intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign 2005 in the district on national immunisation days (NIDS) on April 10 and May 15, arrangements have been made, said Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma.

Around 5.20 lakh children falling under the age group of 0-5 years would be immunised by around 8,800 officials, including doctors, para- medical staff, employees of other departments and voluntary organisations of the district.

A meeting of the District Task Force for the campaign was held at Bachat Bhavan under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. Mr Verma said about 2,100 booths would be set up in the district, out of which 900 booths would be functional in Ludhiana city alone.

Mr Verma said vigorous awareness campaign would also be launched. The DC asked officers from the PSEB to ensure the uninterrupted power supply in those areas where vaccine was stored. He also asked various NGOs to extend cooperation in conducting the campaign.

Mothers, children our real wealth

Ludhiana, April 7
Today is World Health Day. The theme this year is healthy mothers and children. The well-being of societies is directly linked to the health of mothers and children. Too many mothers and children in the world are dying due to poor nutrition and inadequate healthcare.

The aim of World Health Day is to create a momentum that compels governments, international community, society and individuals to take action to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children.

Eat well during pregnancy: Are you pregnant? If yes, then take care. Your body becomes more efficient when you’re expecting a baby and makes even better use of energy you obtain from the food you eat. An average woman does not need any extra calories for the first six months of pregnancy and only about 200 extra calories per day for the last three months, which is equivalent to two slices of whole meal bread and butter or one slice of cheese on toast. Your own appetite is the best indication of how much food you need to eat and you may find it fluctuating during the course of your pregnancy. For example in the first few weeks your appetite may fall and you may not feel like eating proper meals, especially if you are sick.

You will need to increase your intake of certain vitamins and minerals and calories during pregnancy. If your diet is poor, to begin with, it is even more important to eat nutritious, well-balanced meals.

Make sure your diet includes plenty of green vegetables and legumes and take a folic acid supplement containing 0.4mg. of folate. Folic acid helps check certain birth defects. Other good sources of folic acid include fortified cereal and wholewheat bread.

Even if you are not hungry, chances are your baby is, so try to eat every four hours. You may find that eating five or six small meals, rather than the usual three, is easier on your body. Remember, your developing baby needs regular sustenance, so try not to miss meals.

Increase your intake of vitamin B-6 by eating more whole grains and cereals, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and legumes.

Increase your calcium intake by drinking more milk.

Avoid junk food, alcohol, drugs and smoking during pregnancy.

Don’t try to lose weight while you’re pregnant. Dieting during pregnancy is potentially hazardous to you and your developing baby. Some diets can leave you low on iron, folic acid and other important vitamins and minerals.

Remember, weight gain is one of the most positive signs of a healthy pregnancy. Women who eat well and gain the appropriate amount of weight are likely to have healthy babies.

— Dr Anil Dheer

World Health Day celebrated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 7
World Health Day was celebrated by the district Health Department and Punjab National Bank at the Government College for Women here today. The importance of this year’s theme “Make every mother and child count” was discussed with the audience.

Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, said millions of mothers and children died each year in pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood. She said there was need to bring awareness among all to save the lives of the mother and child.

Meanwhile, VLCC health care organised a healthy baby contest here. A free gynae check-up camp was also held. Various tests were conducted.

In the healthy baby contest, more than 20 children participated between the six months to five years age group. Jaideep, Arjun, Arushi and Soumya Sood were the winners. Prizes were given to all children.

World Health Day was also celebrated at Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital. A function was organised by the district unit of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. Dr Rajinder Gulati spoke about the factors responsible for mother and child mortality.