AGRICULTURE

Nawanshahr leads in crop diversification
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16
Progressive farmers, Kartar Singh Sekhon and Mohinder Singh Dosanjh have applauded PAU for making Nawanshahr top in all districts in diversification in agriculture. Participating in the Scientific Advisory Committee meeting at PAU’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Langroya village on Thursday, the two said as a “facilitator”, university’s recommendations and technological innovations have enabled farming families enhance their incomes through diversified agricultural activities. Mr. Sekhon is a former member of PAU’s Board of Management and Mr Dosanjh is a winner of a World Food Award.

The meeting resolved that a drive would be launched in the district to involve commission agents, farm input dealers and educational institutions to stock and subscribe to PAU publications which coveres a wide range of farm and home related subjects. The Chief Agricultural Officer, Dr Manohar Singh, assured of pro-active role in the campaign to promote PAU publications.

PAU’s Director of Extension Education, Dr.S.S.Gill, who presided, talked of post-harvest handling of agricultural produce and waste, including paddy straw. He Advised farmers against burning of this nutrient-rich material which should be ploughed into the soil. In fact, he said, PAU’s Department of Farm Power and Machinery was working on technologies to take care of this straw. Dr Gill described KVKs as nucleus of farm-related issues.

EDUCATION

PAU reaches out to rural youth
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16
To attract jobless matriculate rural youth ‘back to the soil’ and enable them for self-employment, Punjab Agricultural University will organise a special three-month vocational training course for them at its Ludhiana campus in January.

The Director of Extension Education, Dr S.S. Gill, said today that all such youth in the 20-40 age-group should come forward to register for the proposed training course. This offer is open to rural youth of all districts, except Amritsar and Gurdaspur. The intended course will impart practical skills on different agriculture-related aspects.

Candidates desirous of joining the course may obtain requisite application forms from PAU’s Directorate of Extension Education or Kairon Kisan Ghar. The last date for the receipt of application forms is January 4 and interview will be held at PAU Kisan Ghar on January 6.

At the time of interview, candidates must bring their matriculation certificates to ascertain their qualification and age.

From Schools
Environment awareness month celebrated
Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, December 16
The Punjab Pollution Control Board is celebrating Environment Awareness Month from November 19 to December 18. The board organised a painting, essay writing and declamation contest at Sacred Heart Convent School, Chandigarh road, yesterday. Students from different leading schools participated in the contest and won prizes. The students of the Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Chandigarh road, won several prizes. Sahib Singh (essay writing) I, Danish (drawing) II, Rishabh (declamation) I, and Preeti Yadav (drawing) III.

X-mas celebrations

X - mas was celebrated at Love Dale Montessori here today. Schoolchildren took part in carol singing. They sang hymns like”Joy of the world, the Lord has come”. The favourite of all Santa Claus was present and students surrounded him and sang Jingle Bell. Children came in fancy dresses, which were all related to the theme of the festival. Santa Claus distributed gifts, sweets. The X - mas cake was cut. The story of Jesus was related to the children with illustrations. Tableaus of Joseph, Mary, Wise men, Shepherds were arranged. This celebration would continue for a few days so that children get well versed with the meaning of Christmas. School was decorated with bells, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, stars manager and the baby Christ.

Stationery distributed

Team members of College of Computer and Information Technology (CCIT) came forward to distribute notebooks and pens to disadvantaged school students to create their interest of going to school regularly.

The initiative was taken at Government Girls Senior Secondary School here. The Principal of the school, Ms Saroj Bala appreciated the initiative. Ms Prabhjot Kaur, team leader CCIT urged the younger generation of professionals to generate resources through their intellect and hardwork in order to contribute to the weaker sections of society.

The purpose of this event was to ignite the spirit of contribution among the young professionals to come forward at an individual level to help the cause of education in the country.

‘A thought transcribed into design’
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, December 16
Transforming ideas of mind and shaping those thoughts into new designs to beautify the female form through exquisitely designed garments may sound like pure fantasy but all this was on display in city at an exhibition titled ‘A thought transcribed into design’ at Sportking Institute of Fashion Technology (SIFT) here today.

The first year students of SIFT, with the basics of designing and sewing according to latest trends in the fashion industry, had put up the exhibition. Each dress designed by the student-designers had an innovative touch. One could find a rich variety of traditional colours, handlooms as the fabrication bore testimony to the unique creativity of the weavers working for designer. “Though it was a maiden attempt yet it showed a touch of perfection and high imagination”, said Ms Anjali Awasthi, President SIFT.

The budding designers laid stress on the use of sequins, laces and tissue as they found a lot of scope for versatility and creativity in it. The displayed designs and fabrics were part of students’ annual assignment for which they were given grades, too. With a single contribution from each individual, a total of 35 innovative designs were put on display. Many industrialists, who visited the exhibition, were so impressed by the creativity and freshness in designs that some of them offered to use students work in their products meant for domestic as well as export market.

Ms Sonu Gandhi, a known city designer after having a look at the creations of budding designers, said,”It is an amazing collection for the first attempt. Students have designed clothes keeping in mind the aesthetic sense and mood. The accessories are going so well with the garment. One must design clothes to be worn by himself or herself and not for the mannequin”. Parents of these budding designers also felt very happy to see the hard-work put-in by their wards.