Ludhiana, July 13
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has decided to implement the pest management strategy on cotton. According to Dr GS Deol, Head, Department of Entomology, PAU insect pest management plays a significant role in obtaining sustainable yield of seed cotton.

For economic pest management it is essential to create awareness among the farmers about latest pest management technology.

Dr Deol, said the Department of Entomology would take all possible measures to disseminate the latest technology for pest management in Bt and non-Bt cotton. He said the introduction of Bt in the Punjab as a tool of IPM required dissemination of pest management technology to farmers to avoid unnecessary expenditure on cotton pest management.

PAU would be operating in 120 villages across the cotton belt to educate farmers about need-based use of insecticides. The farmers could visit these villages for necessary information. The farmers could have information from project officers in these villages and in addition visit cotton IRM labs at KVK , Bathinda/RFRS, Abohar for information. In addition information centres are were in operation in 15 villages in Bathinda, Mansa and Ferozepore under the IRM project.

Dr A K Dhawan, State coordinator of the project, said 15 more centres would be in operational within 10 days. Crop protection technology would also be disseminated in these villages with the help of published literature and through multimedia.

In each of the three districts, one project officer would be available for information. 

Ludhiana, July 13
Vegetable prices have increased by almost three times in the past 15 days due to incessant rains. Problems in transportation, have reduced the supply, resulting in increased prices.

In the wholesale market, green peas that were available in the market for Rs 12-14 per kg around three weeks ago are now available for Rs 25 per kg. While the wholesale price of potatoes has increased from Rs 6-6.50 per kg to Rs 8, the price of onions is Rs 5.50 per kg now and cauliflower is available for Rs 10-12 per kg against Rs 7-8 per kg a couple of weeks ago.

“Vegetables like green peas, carrots, cauliflower and potatoes, which are imported from other states, are in short supply owing to transportation problems that have arisen due to rains.” said Mr Gurprit Singh of the Ludhiana Fruits and Vegetable Commission Agents Association.

In the retail market, prices are much higher. Green peas, that was available for around Rs 25 per kg a fortnight ago, is now priced at over Rs 40 per kg. The price of gourd has increased from Rs 8 to Rs 16, capsicum from Rs 15-16 per kg to Rs 30.

The price of potatoes that was around Rs 8 a fortnight ago is now Rs 12 per kg, whereas that of onions is Rs 8 per kg in comparison to Rs 6 per kg a few days ago.

The brinjal is now available in the retail for Rs 24 per kg whereas only around 10 days ago it was available for Rs 8 per kg.

Ludhiana, July 13
Students, teachers and parents are happy with the decision of the CBSE to stop the schools from conducting multiple pre-board examinations.

They are also elated with the board decision to give them 15 minutes more to read the question paper.

Some teachers on the basis of anonymity, said: “We welcome the decision to stop multiple pre-board examinations conducted by schools.

Not only were students stressed by answering the papers, but teachers were also burdened with the task of setting multiple papers and evaluating them.

By the third round of examinations, both students and teachers were sick to death.

The school management earlier took stringent measures for teachers to complete the courses as early as October and latest by November so that later the exams could be conducted.

For this, they even had to come during holidays to complete the syllabus.

Thankfully, now there would be only one pre-board examination. Moreover, we are happy that an initiative has been taken to give weightage to internal assessment in subjects like mathematics, science and social sciences.

It would mean that the students would pay attention in class.”

Teja, a student of Class X, said, “I am very happy that we will get 15 minutes extra to read the question paper. Many students like me get confused after reading the paper at first glance.

The thought makes me happy that I can take time to decide which question to attempt first. Till now in my confusion, I answered a question and then realised that I should have answered another.”

Tanushree, a student of Class XII, said, “I was sick of answering three pre-board examinations when I was in Class X. My marks worsened with every fresh test.

My teachers further demoralised me by telling me that I would fail. My parents were worried sick. I was under so much stress that I even contemplated suicide.

I got 80 per cent marks in the boards. I realised the schoolteachers had set much tougher question papers. Now, I am breathing easy as for my 12th board, I will not be so stressed.”

The parents said they were happy as the internal assessment would keep the students on their toes. Also, the students regular in their studies would get their due.

Ludhiana, July 13
Kangaroo Kids , a playway school, organised a fun party for its students at the reopening of the school here today. The school arranged a splash party filling a huge pool with water . In the wonderland room, the tiny tots enjoyed the rain dance where artificial rain was created for them. The students watched a movie show.

They experimented with cooking as a cooking counter was specially set up. A lot of related craft products were made by the children and their mothers. Ms Jaya Singh, Principal of the school, said the students had never expected such fun and frolic on the reopening day and they enjoyed themselves so much that they were reluctant to go home.

Ludhiana, July 13
The National Institute of Fashion Designing held its annual convocation here today. Ms Sindura Gadde, Miss India-World 2005, awarded degrees to the students. Mr M.S.Jaggi, SDM (West), was the guest of honour.

The NIFD also launched its jewellery designing course for students on the occasion. Anopchand Tilokchand Jewellers has joined hands with the NIFD to put hands on expertise of their specialised marketing and administrative skills to assist the group in expansion and imparting specially designed courses in various parts of India and abroad.

Mr Arvind Gupta, Centre Director, who has been awarded with ‘the best center head’ in the country award this year said the NIFD had 170 branches in India and was doing very well in professional courses. The annual report of the NIFD was read by Ms Kokila Bhandari.

Ms Sindura in her address advised students to believe in them.“Sketching only will not do wonders, you have to be very creative, clear in your concepts and presentable all the time”, she stressed.

Hundreds of students were awarded degrees and merit certificates on the occasion.

Ludhiana, July 13
Mr Charan Singh Sarabha, general secretary, Government School Teachers’ Union, Punjab, Jagmel Singh Pakhowal, district president, Mr Charan Singh, Tajpura district general secretary, though a press note said leaders of the union met unemployed. E.T.T. teachers detained in Central Jail and found them in high spirits. No teacher would apply for bail..

The teacher’s condemned the arrest of the teachers demonstrating peacefully.

Against the “repressive and anti-education” policy of the Punjab Government, a state-level demonstration would he held at Chandigarh on July 26, under the banner of Anti-Privatisation Adhayapak Morcha.

They demanded release of the detained teachers un-conditionally and regular appointment against thousands of vacancies. The morcha would meet on July 17 to discuss further action.

Teachers of the Sanjha Adhayapak Fund, meanwhile, demanded talks with the arrested teachers of the ETTU. They urged the government to fill vacant posts and increase the age limit and also remove the condition of 50 per cent marks.

They also said the case against the teachers should be immediately withdrawn and they be released from jail.

All ETTU teachers would again meet in Chattar Singh Park, Ludhiana, to march to Mr Harnam Dass Johar’s house.

As many as 12 teachers’ bodies under the banner of Sanjha Adhayapak Front, Punjab, Ludhiana, Doraha Block at a meeting held today, soundly condemned the government for arresting the ETTU teachers.

A press note issued jointly by Mr Saudagar Singh Bangowal, Mr Kuldip Singh Mangewal and Mr Surinder Singh Gill of the Democratic Front stated that the government action was inexcusable.

Ludhiana, July 13
Ms India-World 2005, Sindura Gadde, wants to adopt a child once she becomes financially and emotionally independent. Inspired by her role model Sushmita Sen, Sindura says she is a perfect blend of beauty and brains. These views were expressed by the Telugu lass, who was in city today to award degrees to students of the National Institute of Fashion Designing (NIFD).

After returning from the US as an Indian Ambassador and judge for an Andhra Pradesh beauty pageant, Sindura said it would be unjustified to say that Indian beauties had not performed well at the international level.

“You cannot be a winner each time. In the past 10 years, Indian beauties have grabbed five international crowns.”

Sindura considers herself lucky to get the title she desperately wanted. She said she never wanted to be Miss India-Universe. “My heart was with the Miss India-World title because I connect best with the kind of work Miss World organisation is doing. They steer people into purposeful directions. They give away generous sums as charity”, said Sindura.

Associated with several Mother Teresa homes in India, the damsel plans to nurture this bond further. She has started working with Secundrabad-based Yashoda Hospital.

“My grandmother died of cancer. With so many surgeons and doctors in the family, I lost her. I have also done research in chemotherapy”, said Sindura, a degree holder in Pharmacology and Physiology.

Originally from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Sindura’s father is a mechanical engineer and mother a software technician, both residing in New Zealand. She plans to improve the country by making the best use of its manpower. “With all attention that populous countries are getting, over-population is not a bane anymore. We just need to put our people to best use”, she added.

“Even if I do not win the crown, I will move on. For me reputation and honour are very important. It is what you know about yourself”, she said.

Ludhiana, July 13
The talent hunt for the voice of Punjab by MH 1 has gone on air.

‘Awaaz Punjab Di’, the talent hunt by MH 1, went on air yesterday.

The contest started in Chandigarh and went to Amritsar, Ludhiana and then Delhi. The members of the jury are Hans Raj Hans, Jaspinder Narula and Sachin Ahuja.

The jury selected 26 contestants from each city in equal ratio of boys and girls from the pre-qualifying rounds.

Out of the 104 contestants, 48 were selected who will now enter the semi-finals followed by a grand finale on October 29 to be held in Jalandhar.

Two winners, one female and one male, will be selected as the voice of Punjab and get contracts worth Rs 1 crore.

The contestants have come from all parts of Punjab — from a small village with limited resources to high awareness and high-income cities like Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Amritsar.