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Farmers reluctant to diversify
Ludhiana, March 3 A cross-section of farmers who had come to attend the kisan mela at Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday and today told the Tribune that unless they were “sure” about the market for their crops other than wheat and the paddy, they would not switch over. “Experts are promising us miracles which we are not prepared to accept”, remarked Joga Singh, a farmer from Fatehgarh Sahib. Other farmers echoed similar views pointing out that as long as their produce did not have the required market, there was no point in opting for other crops. Ikhlaq Singh from Moga asked: “Why should we go for other crops as there is still a phenomenal demand for wheat and paddy”. He pointed out, the government had to import wheat from abroad. “Is there any logic in opting for other crops when the demand for wheat is still there and we have to import it”, he asked, adding it was too early for phasing out the traditional cropping pattern. Another farmer, Ajmer Singh from Jamalpur, observed that in developing countries like India, agriculture needed government support. “In case the government wants us to diversify, it should come out with similar support (like that for the paddy and the wheat in terms of MSP) for other crops also”, he said, holding that as long as such measures were not taken, it would not be possible to make a switchover. Ajmer Singh said there would always be a demand for wheat and paddy in the country. “We have a huge domestic market, as huge as to prompt wheat imports. Why do we need to worry”, he asked. Altering the paddy-wheat pattern may be desirable in agricultural terms, but was not as viable in economic terms. He suggested that instead of arguing for diversification, the government should help farmers to get proper prices for these two crops. He said mere announcement of MSP was no panecea as except for paddy and wheat, all other crops, despite the MSP fixed by the government, sold far below that price.
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Farm women’s day out
Ludhiana, March 3 Though the premises of the College of Home Science was the exclusive niche for the visiting farmers’ wives, a large number of them, however, said why confine them only to home science and allied activities alone. Times have changed and it is time that “we too are given wider exposure to the world of agriculture, which encompasses holistic all-round development of villages. In this, education and the health delivery system are an integral part. Nevertheless, these visitors, many carrying babies in their arms, received tips on foods and nutrition, clothing and textiles, child care, human development, home management. In consonance with the theme of the mela, “Save Water, Save Punjab” models highlighting water-economy techniques at home were displayed and the message was succinctly conveyed to them – “soaking clothes before washing helps in saving water”. Surprisingly, experts told the women about textiles that need less water to wash. These include light weight costumes and garments made of synthetic and mixed fiber. Even pressure cooker helps in economising water up to 25 per cent. Methods for waterless stain-removing from clothes through absorbers and solvents fascinated the visitors, just as they were educated about the right type of soaps and detergents. At the Department of Foods and Nutrition were “home made” drinks like “kanji” and “sathu” to beat the summer heat. The response to this was overwhelming as visitors relished the drinks. To tickle the palate were vegetable burgers and suji ladoos prepared by students of home science and farm women training experts. To popularise maize and its assortment of preparations, namely maize halwa, maize and spinach puri, popcorn, boiled and sweetened corn were also on display. Keeping in mind the prevalence of diabetes, “diet for the diabetics” was the other attraction as a large number of women took interest in learning the dietary management of diabetes. The women participated in competitions ranging from “chapati making” with maize flour peppered with “methi”- fenugreek, knitting pyjama-cord. Several women suggested PAU to hold a separate kisan mela for farm women.
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Poultry farmers to target women
Ludhiana, March 3 The production, which was around 60 lakh eggs per day in the state has now declined to around 20 lakh. Ludhiana’s share is almost 25 per cent whereas Sangrur, Barnala, Amritsar and Batala are the other towns that have a significant share in the production. Poultry farmers have even written a protest letter in this regard to the Jammu and Kashmir Government. Farmers representatives have reportedly approached the government on the issue of loans extended by banks. “Even if the situation normalises now, the farmers would not be in a position to repay their loans, at least for a year,” said Mr P.P.S.Gill, Secretary, National Egg Coordination Committee. After a two-week slump market watchers say there are signs of revival. “People have started coming back, though the situation is still far from normal,” said Mr Kewal Singh, a retailer. Associations of farmers are leaving no stone unturned to normalise the situation. A chicken mela in which fried chicken dishes were given for Rs 10 was organised in Sarabha Nagar today. Even eggs were sold at a discounted rate today. The price of dressed chicken in retail market is between Rs 35-45 whereas that of eggs is nearly Rs 14-16 a dozen. Concerned over the situation, farmers have now decided to target women and also reach out to rural consumers through sarpanches. “Market response shows that even if men are willing to consume chicken, women are not willing to cook, which is why we plan to organise awareness programmes in which we would invite members of ladies clubs. Besides, we would reach out to rural consumers as well.
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Jobs on compassion by March-end
Ludhiana, March 3 The minister was addressing a function organised to distribute cheques of grants among various institutions at Model Town last evening. He also handed over the appointment letter to Mr Kunal Sobti for the post of clerk in place of his mother Tara Devi, who expired during service. He said there were 300 such pending cases with the department, of which 230 were for the posts of clerk and 70 for the posts of teacher. He stated that directions had been issued to higher officials concerned to expedite all cases at the earliest. Earlier, Mr Johar paid a surprise visit to an examination centre for plus II class at Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala. He said this time vigilance was being exercised to check menace of copying. He warned that action would be taken against the superintendent and other supervising staff found helping facilitating the students to copy. Mr Johar distributed cheques for Rs 30 lakh from his discretionary quota to 40 institutions. He added that development grants for projects amounting to Rs 1 crore were being given to Ludhiana (West) constituency under the Punjab Nirmal Program. He further said 10 new tubewells were being sunk in his constituency. Others present on the occasion included Mr Ajay Johar, Mr Yash Mehra, DEO (S), Ms Harvinder Kaur, DEO (P), and Mr Jagdish Marwaha.
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7 unfair means cases registered
Ludhiana, March 3 A UMC case was registered at Government School, Gursar Sudhar, in the chemistry exam. Two students of Government Senior Secondary School, Payal, Block -2, were booked by Mr Surinder Singh for copying. The district administration had levied Section 144, CrPC, under which the assembly of persons within 50 yards of examination centres was banned. Despite this, a large number of people gathered in certain schools of some districts and interfered in the fair conduct of the board’s Class VIII and Class XII examination that got underway here yesterday. Reliable sources said copying was going on in one of the schools of Shimlapuri in Ludhiana. In spite of Section of 144, Cr PC, no police was seen outside rural schools.
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Move to scrap NRI-sponsored seats welcomed
Doraha, March 3 The Punjab government may now move a Bill in which only genuine NRIs, or their children who live abroad may be eligible for admission under the NRI quota. If the Bill is passed, it shall apply to all professional colleges in the state offering NRI-sponsored seats. Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, former Fellow, Punjab University, and Director, Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, said this would discourage the system of providing back-door entry to non-deserving candidates who had been doing it merely with the power of money and without any personal merit. Mr Tarsem Bahia, Senator and syndic, PU, has also welcomed this step of the government. He said,”This would provide a check on the candidates residing in India and getting admissions under this quota. The present system had been introduced with a view to inviting foreign currency in India apart from promoting the Indian culture among the NRI’s. Moreover, the reservations if made should be made for the economically weak and the really deserving candidates, he added.
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Workshop held at CMCH
Ludhiana, March 3 Extending a welcome to the chief guest, Dr Baldeep Singh, the CoN Principal, Ms Pennamma Ranadive, said ageing was a process that initiated at the time of conception itself and involved many complex biological, physiological, psychological and emotional changing factors. In his address, Dr Baldeep Singh highlighted the need to provide emotional and psychological support to the elderly and to respect them for their contribution to the family as well as the society. He also mentioned that as per his experience as pediatrician, the children, living in the company of grandparents, had fewer health problems. Dr John Pramod, Acting Director of the CMCH, released an informational booklet on healthy ageing, prepared by the M.Sc. Nursing students. He said elder people were an integral part of our society, but probably the most neglected too. While introducing the theme, the resource persons of the workshop, Ms Triza Jiwan, vice-principal CoN, and Ms Usha Sharma, Professor, in the college informed that as per the 2001 census, 7.1 per cent of our population was over 60 years of age. The number of elderly persons was expected to rise to 100 million by year 2013. Further, over 30 per cent of the elderly population lived below poverty line. During the scientific sessions, Ms Jyoti Thakur discussed the physical, physiological and biological ageing processes while Ms Charlotte Ranadive talked about the various psychological aspects of ageing. Ms Satinder Paul Kaur shared her views on spiritual and social ageing. Sister Lucy Martin focused on various types of mental disorders, associated with growing old. Among other speakers at the workshop, Ms Ramesh Kumar, gave an insight on the legal rights and benefits of the elderly provided by our government, and finally Ms Tripti Hirwani dwelt upon the role of nursing profession and the other healthcare professionals in adaptive coping of the elderly and healthy old age. The workshop closed with an absorbing interactive session. A poster exhibition, put up on the occasion, was also inaugurated by Dr Baldeep Singh.
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Literary-cum-cultural Ehsaas
Ludhiana, March 3 Westend Mall, Ludhiana, sponsored the festival. The participating teams from Pakistan were: SZABIST (Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology), Islamabad, NCBAE (National College of Business Administration and Economics), Lahore, IQRA, Islamabad, COMSATS, Lahore, and National University, Peshawar, Pakistan. There were approximately 88 delegates comprising teachers and students from these five institutions from Pakistan. Approximately 23 national teams from institutes such as MDU, Rohtak, MAIMT, Jagadhari, the Government College for Women, Ludhiana, the Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, the IET, Bhaddal, the AIMT, Ambala, Apeejay and Punjab Agricultural University participated in the festival. The festival comprised 14 literary and cultural events such as quiz, western dance, group dance, fashion show, dumb charades and face painting. In flower arrangement, the first prize was bagged by the GCW, Ludhiana, the second prize by the GNIMT, Ludhiana, and the third by the MAIMT, Jagadhari. In western vocal (solo), the GCB, Ludhiana, won the first prize, Aurobindo College, Ludhiana, won the second prize and the MAIMT, Jagadhiri, won the third prize. In turncoat, the first prize was bagged by the ICFAI, Hyderabad, the second by the GCW, Ludhiana, and the third by the
KCW, Ludhiana. Congratulating all winners and the organisers, Dr K. N. S. Kang, Director, PCTE, said the purpose of the festival was not limited to learning event management skills but to promote brotherhood.
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Children participate in fashion show
Ludhiana, March 3 Roshni Walia, Sanjana Sehgal Mehak Thukral, Mukul, Navkiran, Gagan Ajit, Saish Arora and Harjit Puri won prizes. Harnam Singh was chosen “Mr Cherry Field” and Divya Saini Ms Cherry Field. All participants were given certificates. * * *
A Health Awareness Week was celebrated in Ramgarhia Girls College. It started on February 27 and ended on Friday. A Medical camp was organised by the NSS Unit. During the camp students got their blood checked to ascertain their blood group. They were addressed by Dr Mandeep Singh Sandhu, “visiting Professor, DMC. He spoke on anxiety and stress. He dwelt on various ways of coping with anxiety and stress. He said that stress was harmful for the physical as well as mental health of a person. Ms Harmeet Kaur, principal, thanked the speaker. The camp was organised by in charge of the NSS units Ms Jasbir Punni, Ms Rajeshwarpal Kaur, Ms Jasbir Brar and Ms Narinder Sandhu along with volunteers and members of the Central Students’ Association. Various activities were organised during the week that included lectures by medical experts , medical check up camps and question-answer sessions with renowned doctors.
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Protest by Employees Federation
Khanna, March 3
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Dr C.V. Raman remembered
Khanna, March 3
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10-year RI for possessing charas
Ludhiana, March 3 Showing concern over the rising incidents of smuggling of narcotics, Mr Sodhi remarked that it was a heinous crime, which needed to be curbed with a firm hand. People supplying intoxicants to people in the countryside played with the health of the masses and did not deserve leniency, remarked the judge. The accused was booked under Secitons 20/61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Focal Point police station on September 17, 2000. According to prosecution, Sub-Inspector Harbans Singh along with ASI Darshan Singh and other police officials were on patrolling duty. At about 12.45 pm, they noticed the accused coming from Kohara side. He was carrying a bag. Upon seeing the police party, he tried to escape. Following suspicion, he was apprehended. The DSP Gurjit Singh was called on the spot. A search was conducted in his presence and charas recovered from the accused.
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Danish troupe performs at DMCH
Ludhiana, March 3 The show was presented last evening at the Dumra Auditorium of DMCH by members of the National Danish Performance Team. The event was organised by the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council in collaboration with the Danish Gymnastic and Sports Association and the sports committee of the
DMCH. Not only the dance, it was the synthesis of their action in execution, which won an instant applause. The forty-minute show was an abbreviated version of the full programme which required a large open space and lot many gymnastic equipment. Among those present on the occasion were Mr H.D. Dumra, Mr Gian Chand Dhawan, Mr Balraj Verma and Mr Jagdish Behal, members of the DMCH managing committee, Dr Daljit Singh, Dr Jagdeep Whig, Principal and Vice-Principal, respectively, of the DMCH, Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, Director, Punjab Cultural Promotion Council, Dr Balwant Singh, Principal, Pratap College of Education and Mr Morton, Manger of the Danish team. According to Dr Rajoo S. Chhina, Medical Superintendent (P), the performance was organised as a part of an annual pre-North Zone Inter Medical College Tournament (NOZIT) celebration, scheduled to be held on at DMCH from March 30 to April 1. Students of the College of Nursing, DMCH, performed bhangra and giddha dance during the programme.
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Family planning operations
performed
Ludhiana, March 3 Forty women underwent tubectomy at the family welfare camp held at Lifeline Hospital, which was inaugurated by Ms Shveta Verma, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma. The team of doctors comprising Dr Charanjit Singh, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Dr Manorma Avasthi, the District Family Welfare Dr Kuldip Kaur Sahni, District Immunisation Officer Dr Mandeep Kaur, Dr Gursharan Kaur, Dr Amandeep Sandhu, Dr Swarnjit Kaur, Dr Prabhjit Kaur, Dr R.S. Garg, Dr Gobind and Dr Khema Seth performed the surgeries Besides free surgery, shawls and free medicines were distributed and incentives given to motivators. Speaking at the occasion, Ms Verma stressed the need for propagating “planned family norms” among the people through such camps so that the fruits of development could reach the targeted population. Dr
R.S. Maheshwari, director of the hospital, appreciated the initiative taken by the health officials in making the camp a success. At yet another family welfare camp organised at Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital, 35 women underwent tubectomy operations while 20 non-scalpel vasectomy procedures were performed on men. A team of Dr Satish Jain, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, and Dr Veena Jain, Head Gynaecology Department, along with doctors from the Civil Hospital conducted the camp. Free blankets were distributed among beneficiaries. A free medical camp would be organised at Malhotra Clinic in Vikas Nagar on the Pakhowal road here on March 5. According to Dr Raj Malhotra, free treatment would be provided for obesity, joint pains, cervical and disc problems and frozen shoulder during the camp. In addition to free medical check up, the organisers would extend free counselling for management of cerebral palsy-afflicted children and paralytic persons.
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Baba Lodhiana Academy advance into semis
Ludhiana, March 3 In the first quarterfinal, the Baba Lodhiana Academy recorded an easy win over Faridkot 68-41. The academy, including junior international cagers in their ranks, proved too good for Faridkot. The academy lads gave no chance to their opponents to settle down and went on win the final verdict quite easily. For the Lodhiana academy the main scorers were Gurbaj and Amandeep who netted 18 and 16 points. Gurpreet and Vijay with 10 baskets each also contributed in their team’s win while for the losers, Varinder top scored with 16 points, followed by Ringle who made 10 points. In the second quarterfinal, Bathinda overpowered Jalandhar 89-73. Harpreet was the main architect of Bathinda’s hard-fought win who made 28 points. Gurpreet Singh (21) and Dosa (17) were the other notable contributors. For Jalandhar, Navjot (18), Anup Kumar (14) and Lovedeep (10) played well, however, their efforts were not enough to save their team from the defeat. The third quarterfinal was played between Muktsar and Ludhiana in which the former exhibited fine skill and coordination to wrap up the issue with a narrow margin of three points (75-72). At one point, Muktsar players were leading by 12 points. However, the hosts kept their nerves in control and reduced the margin to three points. International Fatehjit Singh of Ludhiana sparkled with the ball. He not only helped his team to wipe out the lead but anchored it to surge ahead annd enjoying the two-point lead. However their joys were shortlived as the visitors bounced back into the game to clinch the cliff hanger 75-72 with just a few seconds to go for the long hooter. Amritpal and Dilawar Singh scored 29 and 17 points for the winners while Fatehjit Singh seemed to fight the lone battle for the hosts chipping win with 35 points. Ajay Prashad netted 13 points. In the women section, Jalandhar won their both matches defeating Ferozepur 38-18 and then Muktsar 54-24.
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Ranjit Kaur adjudged best athlete
Mandi Gobindgarh, March 3 Girls College, Mandi Gobindgarh. The meet was declared open yesterday by Principal Ms Bhupinder Kaur. Mr Rajesh Tripathi, District Transport Officer was the chief guest. Ms Meena Malhotra, lecturer, conducted the stage. The winners were honoured by the chief guest. The Results: Chatti-Race:- Baljeet Kaur (1st), Gagandeep Kaur BA (2nd), Karamjeet Kaur B.A. II (3rd); Sack race — Parminder Kaur (1st), Pooja (2nd), Anisha, (3rd); 100 metres race — Mandeep Kaur (1st), Sandeep Kaur (2nd), Jaspreet Kaur (3rd), 400 meter (relay race) — Mandeep Kaur, Baljeet Kaur, Pavitar Kaur and Jasveer Kaur (1st), Sandeep Kaur, Rupal, Harsimran Kaur, Sukhwinder Kaur (2nd), Pooja, Ranjeet Kaur, Namarta, Sandeep Kaur (3rd), 800 metre — Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Harsimran Kaur 2nd, Ropal
IIIrd. Sloon and Potato race — Paviter Kaur Ist, Navneet Kaur 2nd and Neeraj 3rd — 200 metre:- Mandeep Kaur Ist, Sardeep Kaur 2nd and Ranjeet Kaur 3rd; Skipping race:- Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Jaspreet Kaur 2nd, Pooja 3rd — Shot-put — Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Mandeep Kaur 2nd, Karamjeet Kaur 3rd; Slow cycling — Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Raj Rani 2nd, Sandeep Kaur 3rd, Discus throw — Mandeep Kaur Ist, Ranjeet Kaur 2nd, Paramjeet Kaur 3rd; Three legs race:- Harshdeep Kaur, and Navneet Kaur Ist, Ranjeet Kaur and Karamjeet Kaur 2nd and Anisha and Parminder 3rd; 400-metre race — Mandeep Kaur Ist, Harsimran Kaur 2nd, Pavittar Kaur 3rd, 1500 metre race — Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Rupal 2nd, Sandeep Kaur 3rd, Long-Jump — Ranjeet Kaur Ist, Mandeep kaur 2nd and Jasveer Kaur 3rd.
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