AGRICULTURE

Training of farmers for Canada begins
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 19
A four-week training course for farmers for Canada began at Kairon Kisan Ghar of Punjab Agricultural University today .Thirty farmers are attending this course which is being organised by the Directorate of Extension Education, PAU, sponsored by WWICS.

Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Director of Extension Education, PAU, said Punjab farmers were hardworking. The Green Revolution in Punjab and adjoining states of Haryana and UP was proof of their capabilities, he said, and added that the Canadian government was rightly attracting Punjab farmers to manage their farms and contribute to their economy. Keeping the requirements in mind, this course had been designed and organised for farmers aspiring to migrate to Canada under self-employed business category as agriculturists, said Dr Sandhu.

He called upon the farmers to learn the modern techniques of farming to establish themselves as successful agriculturists in Canada.

Sharing his experiences, a young Punjab farmer, Sahib Singh, who migrated to Canada in 1998 said better quality of life, clean environment and pro-farmer government policies were very encouraging. He advised farmers to learn the techniques of green-house cultivation and mechanised farming to be successful there.

According to Dr Jaswinder Singh Bhalla, Assistant Director of the course, the programme will include presentations and interactive sessions with PAU scientists.

The training will be imparted on different aspects of farming like farm management, agronomic techniques of crop cultivation, latest trends in disease and pest management, hybrid seed production techniques, selection and rearing of dairy animals and fishery.

Pvt schools want board to review decision
Our Correspondent

Amloh, April 19
The local unit of the Punjab Private Schools Organisation has flayed the proposal of the Punjab School Education Board to stop Board Examination for private students. Public schools are out of the reach of the middle and poor classes whereas the post of teachers are lying vacant in government schools. The only choice remains with private schools.

Unaffiliated Public schools, which are with in the reach of the middle class are threatened by the proposal of the board Mr S.P. Goyal, president of the organisation said at a press conference here today.

He got their wards admitted to schools and the future of their children would be affected by this decision. The board had suggested that such students should appear through the open school system which would mean a fee of Rs 750 to the board and Rs 1,500 or even more to the school which they would join simply to send the fee and form. He urged the Chief Minister and the Education Minister to look into the matter.

Students burn Johar’s effigy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 19
The Punjab Student Union (Shaheed Randhava), Punjab Students Federation, and other students unions held a strike and burnt the effigy of Harnam Dass Johar here today to protest against the state government’s decision to privatise the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Mr Sukhraj Singh, district president, and Mr Sharanjit Singh, secretary while addressing the gathering at ITI centre, Gill road, said the state government decision was anti-people and anti-students.

They had increased the fee structure manifold. The agitated students said they would not let this move be implemented and for this they would further intensify their agitation.

The leaders alleged that government wanted to give everything in the hands of capitalists and students would never tolerate atrocities against poor. The students appealed to other unions to stand by them in their struggle. Similar protests were held at Ghumar Mandi and Gill Road.

Career counselling at GNIMT for plus II students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 19
Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, organised a seminar on career counselling for plus II students. About 70 students of various schools from Ludhiana and nearby areas participated in the seminar recently. Many parents of students also accompanied them.

Faculty members of the GNIMT provided information about options available in various streams viz-a-viz science (medical/non-medical), commerce, business management, information technology, defence, engineering and fashion technology. Detailed information regarding all graduate-level courses available in various universities and institutes was provided to students, who were guided about test-based courses, availability of forms for entrance tests and the centres, where such tests are conducted. Various employment options available after different graduate-level courses were also discussed.

Dharamsot promises regularisation of contractual teachers
Our Correspondent

Amloh, April 19
Children are the future of our country, the development and freedom of the country depends upon them, so the teachers should look after their all- round development, keeping aside their personal money for the purpose, asserted Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Parliamentary Secretary (Home, Justice and PWD).

He was addressing a big gathering after laying the foundation stone of Girls’ common room and inauguration of computer lab at the remote rural area, Government Secondary School, Naraingarh, 5 km, from here on Monday.

He also handed over a draft worth Rs 10 lakh to the Principal and Development Committee of the school.

Mr Sadhu Singh assured teachers that the government would regularise the services of those teachers who had been working on contract basis and their performance had been satisfactory. 

Protest by govt teachers
Our Correspondent

Samrala, April 19
Hundreds of government school teachers wore black badges as a mark of protest against the Punjab Government’s policy of respectedly handing over the management of 2,000 government schools to the Oswal group of industries and Lovely Group.

In a press note here they cautioned the government against taking such a step. They also demanded that 28,000 vacant posts of teachers should be filled on a priority basis.