AGRICULTURE

Agencies start ‘ritual’ purchase of paddy
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 2
Discoloration, foreign matter and broken grain having become a universal phenomenon in paddy brought into the grain markets of the area, the procurement agencies have started ‘ritual’ purchase of the commodity.

A visit to the local grain market and those at Raikot, Mullanpur, Malaudh, Payal, Sihar, Kup, Anganwal and Kila Raipur revealed that flooding of the markets due to slow procurement had angered the farmers. Led by regional office-bearers of the Zamhuri Kisan Union and the Bharatiya Kisan Union, these farmers have threatened to block traffic on link roads in their respective areas.

Responding to an appeal by farmers through market committee chairman Sinder Singh Kanganwal and pressure from the district administration, the agencies, including Pungrain, Punsup and Markfed, had started procurement on Saturday.

But the procurement could not be termed more than negligible. Mr Mukesh Sharma, Executive Magistrate, had inaugurated the purchase. The officer-bearers of the Zamhuri Kisan Sabha on the other hand claimed that the procurement was started after a protest by activists of the union.

Dr Indu, SDM, Malerkotla, said she had informed by Mr C.D. Sharma, in charge, Pungrain, that none out of 58 samples taken from Ahmedgarh, Kup and Kanganwal markets fulfilled the specifications laid down by the Central food procurement agency.

“However, after being apprised of the situation prevailing at grain markets in the Malerkotla subdivision, the DC, Sangrur, directed the state agencies to start procurement and not harass the farmers,” said Dr Indu.

Meanwhile, the farmers and commission agents are focussing on bringing down the moisture content to the desired level by winnowing.

Farmers allege exploitation by IFFCO
Mahesh Sharma

Raikot, October 2
Farmers of this town and surrounding villages have accused the local IFFCO authorities of exploiting them over their dire need of DAP fertiliser by forcing them to buy other brands, which, according to them, were of little use at this time.

The manager of the IFFCO office has, however, refuted the charge.

Farmers gathered at the sale centre of IFFCO and complained that the authorities at the office were exploiting their helplessness by forcing them to buy bags of fertiliser that they did not need.

Farmers had come from Bassi, Shehbazpur, Gondwal, Bhaini, Achharwal and Jalaldiwal villages. They needed DAP fertiliser for wheat crop. As a cooperative agency, IFFCO was supposed to supply the fertiliser according to the demand of farmers.

“By forcibly selling us NPK along with DAP, the authorities have also violated the provisions of the Monopoly and Restrictive Trade Practices Act,” said Karam Singh of Shehbazpur.

EDUCATION

Age, status no bar for these Lankan students
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, October 2
An 11-member team from Eastern University, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, was on a study tour to the Punjab College of Technical Education (PCTE) here recently. Students in the team, all working professionals, held the view that age, caste or professional status were no bar for anyone to get knowledge.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune yesterday, they were all praise for Punjabi hospitality, its culture and traditions, education system and rapidly growing industry. Ms Arifa Jabarullah, after clearing the Sri Lankan Administrative Services (SLAS) examination, has been working as Assistant Director, Ministry of Samurdhi Affairs and Poverty Elevation, Colombo.

She feels: “In our society, women hardly come out of their homes. Though religion does not interfere much, restrictions are imposed on them. But my parents were supportive of me. I cleared my SLAS exam and after that I got married to a person who supported me too. My job is related to management and human resource development. To get thorough technical expertise on the subject, I thought of getting a degree in business administration.” Arifa (34), who has a five-yr-old daughter, says: “I have to manage everything on my own as my husband works in the UK.”

Mr A. Velmanickam, Director, Department of Buildings (North East Province), said he joined MBA classes to manage various construction projects and develop human resources.

“I am 45 years of age but I feel there is always room for improvement in life. My work demands tackling people right from high profile officers to common employees and I feel I will be able to learn to an extent after getting my MBA degree,” he said.

Another SLAS officer, Mr M. Dhayaparan, Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, Batticaloa district, said he joined MBA to further his career.

“Tsunami waves had damaged everything there and we have to do a lot or rebuilding. So we are struggling. I do not find any difficulty in continuing with my study projects. It is my first visit to Punjab and I see it as a developed state,” said Mr Dhayaparan. Other professional students in the team were Mr M. Murugaverle, Mr S. Thilagrajah, Ms N. Suthagini and K. Poneenthiran.

The students appreciated bhangra and felt it was similar to “Koothu” — their traditional dance based on Ramayana.

“But ‘Koothu’ lasts for more than 9-10 hours continuously,” said Ms Suthagini.

Nursery centre scheme launched
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 2
To mark the 136th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Punjab Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar launched a new nursery centre scheme in 1,700 primary schools in the state at a function at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar, today.

Under the scheme training and playway facilities will be provided to children between three and five years of age.

Mr Johar also inaugurated vocational training scheme for girls in government upper primary schools for students from Classes 6 to 8.

Addressing the function, the minister said under the scheme 100 nursery schools would be set up in each district where especially prepared rooms would be provided with special kits containing 17 items of children’s interest.

He said sufficient funds had already been provided to the DEOs for this purpose and the nursery centres would be functional by the first week of October.

A sum of Rs 1 lakh each would be provided to high/secondary schools for promotion of sports and Rs 1.2 lakh for creation of additional rooms, he added.

Mr Johar said under the vocational training scheme, girls would be trained in cutting, tailoring and embroidery. He said the scheme was also being started in 100 schools in each district.

He exhorted teachers to work honestly to assure success of the students.

He presented cheques for Rs 1.7 lakh for setting up of computer laboratories in eight schools of Ludhiana. He also presented cheques for Rs 5,000 each to the headmasters of four primary schools for nursery centers.

Paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Johar said the people of the country would always remember him as a leader who got us freedom through non-violence.