AGRICULTURE

Kharif crop in good shape: experts
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
The Punjab is all set to have a good kharif produce this year. Disclosing this Dr B.S. Sidhu, Director of Agriculture, Punjab said today that paddy crop was in excellent condition and the produce was likely to touch 145 lakh tonnes this year. The area under paddy was estimated at 25.75 lakh hectares. Nearly 70,000 hectares of the area was brought under other crops, like maize. There was an increase of 12,000 hectares under maize this year, he added.

Dr Sidhu said the cotton crop was also in very good condition. The area under cotton was estimated at 5. 75 lakh hectares and in the majority of the area Bt cotton had been cultivated. Officially, 1.5 lakh packets of Bt cotton had been supplied to the farmers by the company concerned.

There was some damage to cotton crop in the Muktsar an about 2,000 hectares due to excessive rain. The total produce of cotton this year was expected to be around 20 lakh bales.

There was no shortage of any type of fertilisers. A meeting was convened by the Secretary Fertilisers, Union Government, yesterday in Delhi to review the availability of DAP fertilisers for rabi crop. He had assured that there would be no shortage of fertilisers during the rabi-sowing season.

EDUCATION

From Colleges
Need to sensitise disabled about their rights: experts
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
A seminar — ‘Sensitisation towards disability’ — was organised at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Vocational Studies (GGNIVS) for postgraduate students. The resource persons were Dr Galit, from Israel, and Dr Abha Ranjan, who is working on a project to create sensibility towards the disabled in society. Mr Manjit Singh Chabra, coordinator of the institutes initiated the discussion with a brief introduction of the topic.

Dr Abha Ranjan said impaired persons were slightly different from normal ones as they had special needs. Society could play a vital role in helping them lead a normal life. Such people should not be looked down upon and should be given a chance to excel in whatever field they were capable of.

She motivated the students to work on the project, talk about it in schools and colleges to create awareness among the masses so that children with minor impairments could avail themselves of the right to education in regular schools and colleges meant for normal children.

Dr Galit talked about the rights of impaired people in foreign countries, especially in Israel. “Such people get an opportunity to participate in social functions, move with pride in public places and can live happily.Government also helps them by various means till they attain the age of 18 years”, said Dr Galit.

Students actively participated in the discussion and promised to take active steps in the direction and contribute towards the noble cause.

Students visit company

A team of 32 students of M.Com (I) of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women visited G.S. Autos on Tuesday. They were accompanied by Ms Manmeet, Ms Maninder Kaur and Prof T.S. Arneja.

The students were welcomed by Mr Ranjodh Singh. He said they were leading exporters to the USA and the UK. The students were shown balance sheets, profit and loss statements and annual reports of the company by Mr Rally, Chartered Accountant of the company. They were briefed on the processing of radiators by a production engineer.

From Schools
Teej celebrations in schools
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
Teej was celebrated at Dil’s Nursery School with enthusiasm and zeal. The children came dressed in traditional Punjabi dresses. They enjoyed swings and danced to the tunes of famous songs.

The Principal, Ms Dil, danced with the children and distributed sweets among them. Ms Guneet Kaur was the chief guest.

Talent search contest

An inter-house talent search contest was organised at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, on Tuesday. It was organised by the Junior Humanities Forum of the primary section. The function was presided over by the school Principal, Mr S.C. Saxena.

The contest that had two categories, solo song and solo dance, kept the audience spellbound. In the solo dance category, Aishwarya Daula of Gandhi House bagged the first prize, whereas in a close contest Vaishali Aggarwal of Tagore House stood second and Rithika of Subhash House was declared third.

In the solo song category, Suhail Jain of Tagore House, Gursha Dhir of Patel House and Nagisha Sharma of Raman House were declared first, second and third, respectively.

The school Principal, Mr S.C. Saxena, appreciated the efforts made by students and teachers.

Kundan Vidya Mandir, Middle Section, celebrated Teej on Wednesday. The contest was divided into for sections: solo song contest based on Punjabi song, solo dance contest based on classical theme, music (instrumental) and dance based on patriotic themes.

The judges, Ms Harjinder Kaur, and Ms Jagdeep Kaur from DAV Public School and Guru Nanak Public School had a tough time in selecting the winners.

The Principal, Mr S.C. Saxena, applauded the efforts of Mr J.P. Sharda, in charge, middle section, for organising the show.

Mr R.K. Sharma, Vice-Principal, Ms Namita Raj Singh, Headmistress (City Branch), Ms Renu Immanuel, in charge of the Primary section, Ms Annu Sehra, in charge of the KG section also appreciated the efforts of the participants.

Poetry recitation

A Hindi poetry recitation contest for Classes V to XII was held in Spring Dale Senior Secondary School here on Wednesday.

In Group A, Harkiran of Class V got the first prize, Kawalpreet Kaur received the second prize and Jaspreet Singh Raikhi got the third prize.

In Group B, Abhishekh Syal, Prabhjot and Abhijeet Sayal were declared first, second and third respectively.

In Group C, Vidhi Kohli, Davinder Kaur and Reetu were declared first, second and third respectively.

Forum steps in to help ‘harassed’ B.Ed students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
Reacting to the “victimisation” of B.Ed students by private colleges, the Punjab Education Forum has come forward by extending its help in providing “justice” to them. The forum has asked students to come up with their complaints in case their merit is ignored or they have been asked to deposit hefty amounts for a seat under the management quota.

The convener of the forum, Mr Tarsem Bahia, said the government had issued directions to private colleges and the DPI (Colleges) recently to admit students as per prescribed rules. He said there had been reports where students had to shell out huge amounts to seek admission to B.Ed. Besides, some private colleges did not issue receipts.

“We will try not to disclose the identity of students who have been harassed by private institutions. In case of genuine complaints, the forum will take up the matter with the government and the Vice-Chancellor. The parents or students, who have been harassed by the private B.Ed institutes, are free to contact us”, said Mr Bahia.

Private colleges had invited a lot of criticism while admitting the B.Ed students under the management quota by demanding anything between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. The sole criterion adopted by certain institutes was the paying capacity of the candidate and merit was ignored. The fee for the course in the general category is about Rs 32,500.

Sculpture, painting come alive at Srijan 2005
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
The TAC Academy of Fine Arts today started a week- long exhibition of art works Srijan 2005, created by its students.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr R.C. Chopra, director of the Small Industries Service Institute, Ludhiana. “There is a need to integrate creative aspects of our life into the industry, to maintain a balance of thought and action. Not only there is a need to give more commercial avenues to artists, but there is a need to make industry more creative to meet the challenges of the market dynamics”, said Mr Chopra.

Works of seven students of the academy have been displayed at the exhibition. Harminder Singh and Surmeet Kaur have given expression to their feelings in sculptures of wood, clay, cement, fibre glass and even innovative mediums like industrial sealants. On the other hand, Harmeet, Kanishka, Preeti, Swinky and Saroj have expressed their observation of different moods of nature through their art work. They have used a variety of mediums like oil on canvas, water colours on paper, crayons etc.

One of the visitors said,” Meticulously drawn lines on paper leave you awestruck as they reflect the images hidden between the lines. The hidden image could be of Lord Ganesh, Bhagat Singh, Meera Bai, cosmic objects, universal faith in unity of God, nature, life under water etc. It has to be seen to be believed. I have liked the dotted painting, whereby, the artist expresses his feelings by meticulously placing dots all over a sheet of paper”.

The TAC Academy of Fine Arts conducts various long-term diploma and short term certificate courses in the field of fine arts.

Homoeo students to fight against female foeticide
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 10
Students and faculty members of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital today took a pledge to join the fight against the social menace of female foeticide in the wake of alarming decrease in population of girls in the state. They were participating in a seminar on female foeticide organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Addressing the seminar, speakers, including Dr Vimaljit Kaur and Dr S.S. Grewal, observed that increasing role of female foeticide and an intense desire for a male child among majority of the people could pose a serious social problem in the future. In particular, the people of Punjab ought to address the issue on priority since the state had a female population of 793 against 1000 male persons which was lowest among all other states.

They emphasised the need to maintain a proper ratio between male and female population lest it should lead to several socio-economic and even law and order problems. Dr Grewal urged for scrupulous implementation of the PNDT Act while at the same time promoting vocational education and career opportunities for the girls so that they could attain equal status in the society.

Dr Ravinder Kochhar, Principal of the college, extended a warm welcome to the guest speakers and other distinguished guests.

Debate on co-education system
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, August 10
A debate on the topic the “Co-education — today’s dire need” was organised in St Soldier International College here today.

Those who participated in the debate competition included Amandeep Kaur, Ravinder Sharma, Tarun Chauhan, Mandeep Bhatia, Rajandeep Kaur, Charanjit Kaur and Simranjeet Singh.

Dr Lekhi, director and Principal of the college, appreciated the keen sense of involvement among the students.

Prof Mandeep Kaur, Head of the Punjabi Department, expressed her views in favour of the co-education system. The vote of thanks was delivered in the end by Prof Jatinder Malhotra, Head of English Department.

Students told of cyber crime
Our Correspondent

Khanna, August 10
On the eve of admission to new courses of post-graduates and arts graduates, a function was organised at A S College here yesterday. Rajeashwar Singh Sidhu, DSP Khanna, was the chief guest.

Dr R. S. Jhanji, principal of the college, addressing the students said, they should remain in discipline. He told them about misuse of mobile phones and cyber crime. He also appealed to the students to obey traffic rules.

Prof Harpal Singh Bhatti, Prof S P shourie, Dr Bachitar Singh, Prof. H.L. Behal, and Mr Jeet Singh Kainth were among those present on the occasion.