Farmers’ role in programmes passive: experts
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 5
Farmers do not participate in programmes and there are weak link with agendas decided by scientists or policy makers, which are often based on limited exposure to problems faced by farmers.

These were the observations of participants at the concluding function of the five-day training on the Participatory Extension Management by the Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Institute (PMETI) here today. The institute provides training services for the extension personnel working in the teams of these districts.

Dr S.P.S. Brar, Director, PAMETI, explained that in the participatory approach, the farmers were no longer considered as the beneficiars. The basic aim of this project was to fill or reduce the gaps in the existing system of technology transfer, by following the bottom up rather than the top down approach.

Some indigenous technologies were being used by the farmers which were not scientifically proved but still effective. If such technology was available, it must be tested by research scientist and, if found fit, disseminated among the farmers through extension workers.

During this training, the extension personnel were enlighted about the concept of participatory extension and its field applications, conflict management, team building and participatory monitoring and evaluation.

The participation approach was first implemented in namely Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Sangrur. The same model was being followed in Amritsar, Ferozepur, Patiala and Ropar.

B.Ed management quota seats on sale
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, August 5
With the increasing number of B.Ed colleges in Punjab, private colleges are earning crores at the cost of parents of students. The B.Ed seats under management quota are being auctioned by violating all norms of the apex court and the state government.

Presently, more than 100 B.Ed colleges in Punjab have been allocated about 10,000 seats of which 15 per cent have been allotted to private colleges under the above said quota which numbers to about 1,300 seats. Every single seat is being sold by taking between Rs 1.5 lakh to 1.75 lakh, apart from Rs 32000 — the fee fixed by the state government. Approximately Rs 20 crore is likely to be collected from B.Ed students seeking admissions under the quota.

Investigations by this correspondent revealed that the private colleges are demanding openly Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 1.75 lakh per seat under MQS. So much so that the rates are negotiable. If the college authorities are asked to accept the fee through a demand draft they refuse. They say that the university fee may be accepted through a draft but the remaining amount will have to be paid without any receipt. The colleges that were contacted are in Gurdaspur, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Moga districts.

When the office of the DPI(Colleges), Punjab, was contacted in this regard, no one was ready to speak on this matter. The phone attendant replied that the DPI was not in the office.

Sources that disclosed the quota could also be filled without counselling on merit basis, but the colleges were not entitled to charge such a huge sum in the shape of extra fee.

The Punjab Government should probe the matter thoroughly to know the truth and expose the guilty.

Software for schools
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Mr Alok Gaur, Director, JIL Information Technology Limited, gave a presentation on "Bhartiyavidya: India's first digital classroom teaching aid" at Hotel Imperial Executive here yesterday.

The presentation was organised by the company, which is a part of Jaypee Group of companies. A large number of principals of various schools attended.

Bhartiyavidya is a comprehensive software solution, comprising a set of multimedia capsules prepared topic wise using a variety of globally-searched resource material.

The content of each capsule is created to boost the understanding, retention and recall on a variety of subjects with ease.

The software is based on the assumptions that technology cannot and should not replace a teacher and that technology is there to supplement the teaching tools.

The software is incomplete without a teacher and is designed for use within a 40 minutes teaching period. It gives flexibility to each individual teacher to decide his pace.

It also provides a framework for teachers to integrate work done by them with itself.

Employ ETT teachers on regular basis: panel
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
“We want that the government should employ teachers on regular basis and not on contractual basis. The unemployed ETT teachers have been agitating over this issue for the past one-and-a-half year and we will join their struggle” said Mr Surinder Singh Grewal, Mr Surjit Singh Sidhu and Mr Sikander, founder members of the Parents Action Committee, in a joint press note.

They said the recent statement issued by Capt Amarinder Singh, that only 4,000 teachers would be employed and that, too, on contractual basis, was not acceptable to them. They said their children had gone on hunger strike while they were in Jail since July 9. On assurance of Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, they broke their fast.

Even Mr Harnam Dass Johar, Education Minister, and Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Deputy Chief Minister, had assured that the teachers would be recruited on regular basis. They also demanded that Section 144 should be not imposed any longer so that the people have freedom to move about. 

Teej at Welhem New Steps School
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Welhem New Steps School celebrated Teej on the school premises here today. Students dressed in ethnic clothes. Girls performed Giddha while the boys tried bhangra steps with.

Dilpreet was declared “Master Sawan” and was given the first prize. Kum Kum was chosen rani of gidha. The Principal told the students the significance of Teej. The other students who received prizes were Kanu, Ravinder, Deeksha, Teeshi, Vanshee, Kunal, Kuldeep and Gurjashan .

Foundation Day celebrated: Spring Dale Senior Secondary School celebrated Foundation Day on the school premises on Friday. The function started with shabad followed by a group song by students of Class- IV and V. The students made speeches and Manjit Kaur of Class X and Vandana of Class XII spoke of their love for the school and highlighted its activities in Punjabi and Hindi, respectively.

Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Director and Founder Principal of the school urged the students to work hard. 

Shelly tops BAMS exam