AGRICULTURE

Advice against planting paddy
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 7
The scientists at Punjab Agricultural University have warned the farmers against the planting paddy during the rainy season. The scientists said, it was tool late and could affect the wheat crop.

According to Dr S.S. Gill, Director Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana, the farmers should instead divert to moong and maize. While addressing progressive farmers who were attending state-level meeting of the Punjab Kisan Club today Dr Gill advised farmers to cultivate moong and maize which is possible through the judicious use of water.

He said the continuous depletion in underground water was a major problem and it could be overcome by adopting diversification. It would not only improve the soil health but will be helpful in saving the natural water resources as well.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Satpal Mehra, Additional Director of Extension Education said this was the right time for sowing the Punjab Maize Hybrid-I and JH 3459. He advised the farmers not to allow water stand in the soybean, moong, maize and cotton crops as it can adversely affect the produce. Dr Mehra also told that Til No.1 can be sown upto the middle of July and this crop of short duration can give more economic returns to the farmers.

Mr Pavittarpal Singh Pangli and Mr. Hardev Singh Ghanaur, president and secretary of the club, respectively, proposed vote of thanks.

Teachers protest against privatisation move
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 7
Government school teachers under the banner of the Adhyapak Morcha today organised a rally against the privatisation of schools by state government. They were protesting against the recruitment of teachers on contract basis and demanded employment on regular basis. The teachers shouted slogans and displayed banners against the government.

The representatives of the different organisations included Mr Piara Singh Dhillon, Baldev Kumar Maudgil, Charan Singh Sarabha, Darshan Singh Rakka , Bhupinder Singh Grewal, Charan Singh, Sher Singh Dhandav, Avtar Singh Gill, Jagmail Singh Pakhowal,Charan Singh Tajpuri, Ajit Singh Khanna, Mohan Singh . Sheel Singh Jahil, Sikander Singh Cheema , Baljinder Kaka Verekalan, Rajeev Malad , Varinder Pal, Satvir Kaur and Hardepak addressed the gathering.

They said they were holding the protest rally so that the government did not follow its anti-people and anti-teachers policies. They said their struggle would continue till the government relented.

The teachers protested in their blocks of different districts against the policies of the government.

Retired private teachers seek pensionary benefits
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 7
The private college teachers feel cheated at the hands of state government and private college managements over denial of pensionary benefits at par with the government college teachers. Sore at the government’s recent notification of withdrawing pensionary benefits to them, private teachers feel that they were being forced to live in miserable conditions at the fag-end of their lives.

Prof KBS Sodhi, former PCCTU president, talking to Ludhiana Tribune said hundreds of retired teachers felt cheated and discriminated. He alleged that the government should be held responsible for reducing the life-span and creating financial crises for private teachers. “It is strange that the government is backing-out from its earlier decision. Granting pensionary benefits to retired private college teachers was a brain child of Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. In December 1996 the state government, after taking into confidence all the teachers and private college managements, had issued formal notification that in lieu of Contributory Provident Fund (CPF), private teachers will be given gratuity and pension like their government counterparts. But in July 2002, the government withdrew all the benefits saying it was between teachers and private managements to decide the issue and state government played no role in it. Some of the private managements, too, played foul and harassed private teachers”, said Prof Sodhi.

Senior citizens alleged when government played no role in it, why did it interfere earlier? “We were kept in dark for more than five years. Government, who assured to secure us, was backing-out from its pre-poll manifasto but we would continue with our struggle”, said Prof Sodhi.

Prof Jagwant Singh, general secretary, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), said it was unfortunate that benefits of retirement were not admissible to private teachers. They were continued with the gratuity and CPF. Rather they were being paid their gratuity in installments by some of the institutions. Their only source of income, the interest on the amount of gratuity, was also being denied as the amount was given in installments. “After the age of 60, the medical expenses of a person shoot up. By outrightly rejecting its earlier notification, government had forced the teachers to live miserably at the dusk of their lives. More than 7,000 college teachers and their families would suffer to a great extent, if government failed to provide social security to them”, said Prof Jagwant Singh.

Campaign against female foeticide
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 7
The ABVP unit of Ludhiana district camped themselves at the Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic College and Hospital and carried out a signature campaign against female foeticide.

The Principal of the college while addressing the students asked them to help in eliminating this heinous crime from society. He appreciated the efforts made by members of the ABVP. Arun Sharma of the ABVP said 100 students of the college put their signatures and took a vow that throughout their lives they would never indulge in this practice. Not only this but each one will motivate atleast 5 of their friends to condemn this practice. Arun said by going to different colleges, they would obtain the signatures of more than 1500 students.

District deputy minister of the ABVP Rajat Sood said the society had to be awakened to the fact that diminishing female ratio in Punjab was a great cause of concern. The ABVP had prepared nukkad nataks based on the ill-effects of the female foeticide which would be showing to public, he added. On the occasion Pooja Sharma, Suvinder Grewal, Gita, Nipoun Kapur , Puneet and Varun all student leaders of the ABVP were present.

Scholarships for women
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 7
The Fair and Lovely Foundation has announced scholarships upto Rs 1 lakh for deserving women. A company press note issued here today said that applicants could apply for the ‘project Saraswati scholarship’ till July 31, 2005.

“These scholarships are granted to women who have aptitude, drive and ambition to achieve their goals, but are financially constrained,” the company said.

Candidates for the scholarships, which would be given to pursue graduate and postgraduate courses within India, would be selected on the basis of their academic performance and a personal interview.

This is the third year that the foundation is awarding scholarships. In 2004, 72 finalists were selected from various fields including media, education and social work. In 2003, 47 women were awarded scholarships by the foundation. Application forms can also be downloaded from the internet.

Awareness campaign for unemployed girls
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 7
The Apparel Training and Design Centre (ATDC) organised an awareness campaign for unemployed girls in Jugiana village today. Mr R.K. Singh, Principal, ATDC, briefed participants about various job opportunities in garment sector. He informed them about courses being offered by the ATDC. Mr Singh said participants were keen on joining the courses being offered by the centre.