The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Aulakh meets IAS probationers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 30
In an interface with IAS probationers, PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr K. S. Aulakh today identified the emerging crises and challenges in agriculture. These included depleting water table at the rate of 2.5 feet per year in the central districts of the state and ensuring food security for the nation. A consequence of fall in water table was replacement of centrifugal pumps by submersible pumps at a huge cost. It was also a financial drain on the farmers.

Grain production had not increased over the years and the need now was to increase per unit production and productivity through introduction of hybrid varieties of crops, fruits and vegetables and genetic engineering. Introduction of Bt cotton, for example, had given a new lease to the economic life of the farmers of the Malwa belt, where cotton failure for the last five or seven years had led to farmers committing suicide.

Dr Aulakh informed the probationers that over-mechanisation, particularly in respect of tractors, was another economic drain on the farmers. “We have asked the government to step in to check indiscriminate financing of tractors and to first ascertain size of the land holding and repayment capacity before money is advanced”.

The new thrust areas included value addition to agricultural produce through agro-processing and dairy development. For this, the PAU provided forward and backward linkages among scientists, farmers, industrialists and the government.

Diversification in agriculture was another important area in which the PAU was working. Without government support in terms of assured marketing and minimum support price for the recommended crops, this programme might not proceed as envisaged. Dr. Aulakh said, “As technocrat-bureaucrats, you will have to attend to such emerging challenges”. Of the four IAS probationers, two were engineering graduates, one an economist and one a geologist.

To questions by the probationers, the Vice-Chancellor said the PAU was working in the direction of bringing about sustainable agricultural development and an “evergreen revolution”. The probationers rounded off their visit with an interaction with Punjab Young Farmers’ Club office-bearers. During their stay at the PAU, they had interacted with Deans and Directors and visited constituent colleges and research farms.

VC’s message to farmers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 30
In his New Year message to farmers, Punjab Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr K.S. Aulakh has said since future agriculture will be “knowledge based”, it will be imperative for farmers to follow the university’s recommended package of practices for better yields and incomes.

Since India’s economy is rooted in agriculture and farmers are the main stake-holders, PAU’s endeavour will be to continue to serve the interests of the nation by evolving new crop, fruit and vegetable varieties to increase production and technologies that are cost-effective.

On top of every farmer’s agenda, beginning with the New Year, should be to work together to save natural resources, particularly water. Depleting aquifers will pose a serious threat to the future of agriculture in Punjab.

Valedictory function

Ludhiana, December 30
The valedictory function of the Odissi dance workshop conducted by Sonal Mansingh was organised at Kundan Vidya Mandir School here today. The workshop was conducted at BCM Senior Secondary School and Kundan Vidya Mandir School for six days each.

She said, “When I was a dance student, Guruji never spared the rod when I did not dance well. He once said monkeys can dance too, but you have to learn dance like a human being. I have been learning to better my dancing skills till date.— OC

Cultural exchange
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 30
At least 200 NSS volunteers from the PAU College of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Home Science participated in a cultural exchange programme with a group of 100 NSS volunteers from the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, and the University of Jammu here last evening.

The group, sponsored by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, was accompanied by eight programme officers and two contingent leaders. The visiting volunteers visited museums of water resources and rural life, bee-keeping and mushroom cultivation farms, where resource persons briefed them.

A colourful cultural programme of folk dances, songs and skits was organised and a poem highlighting the Indo-Pak peace process was recited.

CULTURE

PCPC is global alliance partner of UNESCO
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, December 30
The city folk group, Punjab Cultural Promotion Council (PCPC) has been designated as the ‘global alliance, partner for cultural Diversity’ by UNESCO and has been included, as new member in the UNESCO’s list’, “the PCPC has also been contributing for UNESCO’s project of culture of peace as well, through its participation in the world, folklore festivals international conferences and international activities on culture sports, media and human rights,” said Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, director of the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council here.

The PCPC has also said it would organise an international sport, and cultural festival - 2006 from February 25 till March 5. Dr Balwant Singh, Principal, Partap College of Education has been nominated as the new patron of the PCPC and chairman of the organising committee of the Punjab International Sport and Culture Festival 2006 in the meeting of the PCPC office bearers ,” The festival would be organised in the premises of Partap College of Education” disclosed Principal Dr Balwant Singh . He said , “Besides, 32 international gymnasts from Scandinavian countries , about 12 other international folk artists from other countries, will participate in this festival”’ Mr Davinder Singh Chhina said. The theme of the festival will be “creating culture of peace through culture, sports and international fests.”

The PCPC office-bearers also discussed the formulation of various committees for the smooth conduct of this international festival. Those who were elected as the new office bearers of the PCPC included Dr. J.P. Singh and Dr Balwant Singh (patrons) Dr Ramesh Inder Kaur Bal, Mr. Mandeep Singh and Prof Darshan Singh Sandhu (Kotkapura) as new secetaries and Mr. Inderjit Singh Grewal (Sarabha), and Mr. Nirbhai Singh (Africa) as new ‘overseas coordinators of the council.’

Those who attended the meeting included Principal Kulwant Kaur Dalla, Mr. Parminder Singh Nona, Raju Dhandare, Bhupinder Vicky, Mr Bansi Lal, Mr Raju Dall, Mr Jasvinder Singh Chhina, Prof Ashntosh Khanna, Advocate Dr Saini, Rajpal Singh Raju, Aditya Jaitley and eminent folk singers from Toronto, Mander Brothers.

Ms Ludhiana contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 30
The Bombay Selection Ms Ludhiana 2005 will be held at Lakshmi Ladies Club here on January 4. There will be four rounds — Bombay Selection Bridal Round, Maharaja Saree Round, Epression Suit Round and Fluid International Western Round.

During the rounds, dance and catwalk will be performed by students of Frankfinn. A talent round will be held for 10 shortlisted participants and six finalists will be selected for the question-answer round.