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Soil sickness, low water table worry PAU
Ludhiana, April 26 It is for this reason that research at the PAU is now focused on soil and water conservation and technologies have been evolved for increasing soil nutrients and managing management. The PAU's Director of Research, Dr B. S. Dhillon, says that intensive and extensive rice-wheat system has caused deficiency of several micro-nutrients. This deficiency is not only adversely affecting plant growth, but also impacting the health of farm animals. The worst-affected is central Punjab which bears the brunt of two-third of the total rice and wheat production and also accounts for two-third of the tubewells in the state. The water table is receding in these central plain districts at a rate of about 42 cm to 60 cm a year. This has been going on for the past decade. Farmers have to relocate and reinstall tubewells by shifting from centrifugal pumps to submersible pumps at an investment of Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 per pump. If this trend continues for some more years, there will be no area in central Punjab where the water table will be less than 20 m deep and only submersible pumps will operate. He also expressed concern over the water crisis in south-western districts of the state which account for 40 per cent of the total area and where water is brackish and unfit for irrigation. Referring to the new PAU recommendations to bring about an alignment between soil and water management techniques and technologies, he says that there should be application of full doze of 120 kg nitrogen per hectare before beds are made for wheat. In selenium contaminated soil, he feels farmers should grow maize, sorghum and bajra as fodder crops and poplar,
arjun, eucalyptus and mulberry as trees to remove excessive selenium. One simple way to save ground water depletion is to delay paddy transplantation till June 15. Sowing two rows of soybean in beds improves seed yield and saves 20 per cent to 25 per cent irrigation water as compared to conventional flat-sowing techniques. On other recommendations in the pipeline, he hinted at the direct sowing of Basmati, drip irrigation for chilli, cauliflower, potato, tomato and peas, furrow irrigation in maize and use of orifice meter for application of fertilisers at varying rates in the drip irrigation system. Research has shown that these measures save water by15 per cent to 16 per cent.
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Teachers’ relay fast against Maheshinder continues
Ludhiana, April 26 Two teachers of the school, Ms Amandeep Kaur and Ms Gurpinder, have been on relay fast since yesterday and say they will continue till Mr Grewal is removed. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune today, the president of the Nankana Teachers Association, Ms Parminder Pal Kaur, and Ms Sekhon, Principal of the school, said, “We will not call off our strike till the Trust fulfils our demands.” She said Mr Grewal was expelled after a resolution was passed by the Trust, but no resolution had been passed to reinstate him. The teachers are wondering why Mr Avtar Singh, who had always supported them, both as member and president of the Trust, has suddenly changed his attitude. Ms Parminder said when he came to meet them yesterday, he said, “Eh tamasha band karo”, which he later denied. The teachers said yesterday Mr Avtar Singh had visited them and said they had no business to interfere in the decision of the management. Their demand is that all “false cases” against teachers should be withdrawn and in future, too, no cases should be registered against them. They want the Vigilance Department be conduct an inquiry into the construction of an auditorium and the primary block of the school. Another demand is the reinstatement of an electrician who had been forced to resign as he did not toe Mr Grewal’s line. They are demanding that a case be registered against Mr grewal for calling Mr Chamkor Singh, the bandmaster, names.
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Vet varsity to have thrust on research: VC
Ludhiana, April 26 The Vice-Chancellor of the new university, Mr D.S. Bains, is confident of overcoming the financial constraints and creating an atmosphere of goodwill and cooperation with Punjab Agricultural University. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has been set up by the Punjab Government in memory of the second Sikh Guru Angad Dev and the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed the Bill in this connection last year. The establishment of the veterinary university was challenged by the PAU teachers’ association and the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the Act of the university on April 21. The new university has started functioning on the campus of Punjab Agricultural University with the College of Veterinary Sciences being its main office. Mr Bains, who is Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Punjab Government, was named as the founder Vice-Chancellor in the Act of the veterinary university and he has since taken over as the Vice-Chancellor of the new university. He has started functioning from the office of the Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, and his office is being spruced up in the building, which was known as the tick borne diseases laboratory. The tick borne disease project has since been shelved. In an exclusive interview to The Tribune, Mr Bains said Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University was the brainchild of the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, who is keen on promoting the animal health of the state and giving second push to the Green Revolution in the state by producing more milk, poultry and mutton. Mr Bains says the university will lay more emphasis on embryo-transfer technology to raise high-quality animals and milk production. They will go for sexed embryo to have more female animals. The state government has allocated Rs 5 crore for the project to the university. Mr Bains says the university will have collaboration with foreign universities to tackle the diseases of animals. They are going to sign memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Purdue University, Chicago, USA. The Dean, College of Animal Sciences of the university, will be visiting the university by the end of June to sign the MoU. According to Mr Bains, the university will have exchange of teachers and students with Purdue University. The USA is free from FMD (foot and mouth disease) and bird flu and the experts of the American university will study the field conditions in Punjab to tackle these diseases. Mr Bains reveals that the American university has huge funds to offer scholarship and research facilities to Afghan and Iraqi students. But the students of these countries cannot move out of America because of the intelligence constraints after the 9/11 episode. Students of Afghanistan and Iraq would be coming to Ludhiana to study under the Purdue University programme. Another MoU will be signed with the University of Sasketchewan of Canada, which has a strong veterinary infectious diseases control organisation. This is one of the best universities in the world and the Chief Minister visited the university during his visit to Canada last year. Dr Shieniar, Dean of the university, has already visited the College of Veterinary Sciences in Ludhiana and discussed the issues with the local veterinary scientists. According to Mr Bains, Punjab has been losing Rs 2 crore daily due to “bird flu” in the poultry and has suffered a loss of Rs 120 crore.Under a programme with the Canadian university they will have a vaccination programme against the two major diseases. When asked about the financial constraints, Mr Bains said the new university would not face much problem as the Planning Commission had sanctioned Rs 4 crore and Rs 5 crore had been provided in the state budget for the current year. The university would also earn Rs 1 crore as admission fee from NRI students and further “we will cut our expenditures.” He agrees that Rs 10 crore now being provided to the College of Veterinary Sciences under the PAU budget is only to meet the salary component of the staff. “We will Mr Bains hopes to raise funds through the World Bank, FAO and UNDP for the new university. Dr M.S. Oberoi, who was Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences at PAU, is working with the FAO and he will be helpful in getting some funds for the university, he explains. Regarding the division of assets between PAU and the new veterinary university, Mr Bains is confident that there will be no ill will and he has held two meetings with Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU. “We will work for harmonious and cordial atmosphere on the campus. Dr Aulakh treats me as his younger brother,” says Mr Bains. Mr Bains says the veterinary university will conduct its entrance test for the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of the university for the academic year 2006 in June. The Vice-Chancellor has held meetings with the senior faculty and emphasised on the need for quality research work and quality education. “We will maintain good rapport with the students and maintain discipline on the campus,” the Vice-Chancellor concludes.
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PAU withdraws veterinary courses
Ludhiana, April 26 According to the Registrar, Mr V. K. Sharma, the courses are Master of Veterinary Science (all disciplines) and Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, besides the five-year programme and diploma in fisheries. This has been done following the establishment of the University of Veterinary Science. With this withdrawal, the admission advertisement that had appeared in a section of the press on April 17 stands amended. Dr Sharma said the price of the prospectus and application forms of those candidates who had already procured the same for seeking admission to these programmes, would be refunded on the return of the forms and the prospectus to the office of the Registrar. The CET scheduled for June 13 would be meant only for admission to B.Sc Agri. (Hons). Those who had applied to appear in CET but are interested in admission to BVSc. and AH could seek a refund after submitting the prospectus and application form. The Registrar office had designed a request proforma which the candidates could fill for a refund.
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Sangeet vidyalaya to be set up
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, April 26 A well-attended function started with a religious sermon by Bhai Kulwant Singh and kirtan was performed by Ragi Varyam Singh. Mr Satpal Gosai, former Deputy Speaker, Punjab, attended the function. Mr Iqbal Singh, president, Guru Angad Dev Educational and Welfare Council, assured all help. Mr Sanjay Talwar, Councillor of the area, announced a grant of Rs 11,000 from his discretionary fund. All distinguished persons and the Punj Piaras were honoured with siropas and mementos. Students excel: Students of the Gujranwala Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GGNIMT) have excelled in the MBA 3rd semester examinations conducted by Punjab Technical University. Harvineet Kaur bagged the first position by securing 87.62 per cent marks. The second and third positions were bagged by Ripudaman with 87.37 per cent and Divya Lakhanpal with 83.87 per cent marks. Fourth and fifth positions were bagged by Harvneet Kaur and Manpreet Pal Singh. Seven students of the institute scored more than 80 per cent marks, while 20 students scored more than 70 per cent.The Director of the GGNIMT, Mr Kuldip Singh, and the coordinator, Prof Gunwant Singh Dua, congratulated the students and teachers. DIMT students shine: Students of the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT) have brought laurels to the institute by securing excellent marks in the examination held by Punjab Technical University in December 2005, said Dr R.S. Gupta , Director of the institute, in a press note on Wednesday. In the MBA 3rd semester, 100 per cent students bagged first division and 50 per cent of them passed with honours. Arshdeep Kaur and Sukhnandan Kaur bagged the first position with 87.25 per cent marks; Sandeep Kaur got the second position by securing 82.63 per cent marks; and Rupinder Kaur bagged the third position with 76.62 per cent marks.Mr Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, congratulated the members of the faculty and the students for their excellent performance in the examination.
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Anniversary of Chernobyl disaster observed
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, April 26 Students displayed posters on the school campus. The posters carried a simple message—“The big lie—nuclear power is clean.” Earth Day celebrated: Scouts of Government High School, Kheri Chameri, celebrated Earth Day on Monday. Scouts and Guides planted saplings under the leadership of Principal Harjinder Kaur.Under the guidance of Mr Virinder Sharma, district secretary, Scouts and Guides, and Mr Hardyal Singh Auluck, district coordinator, Bharat Scouts and Guides, the students had prepared models based on environment. Karan Jit Singh, Scouts Master, explained the importance of trees and asked students to care of them. Students of Government High School, Ramgarh, also celebrated Earth Day. Principal Malkiat Kaur told the students that trees were man's best friends. A number of saplings were planted. Those present on the occasion were Mr Jagdish Singh of the Rural Education Development Department, sarpanch Darshan Singh and Mr Ajmer Singh, an NRI of the village.
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Traffic rules to be part of school curriculum
Ludhiana, April 26 Books up to Class V had already been completed. He said these books would also be translated into Hindi and Punjabi. He said the traffic police would be launching a drive to challan those who were using red lights or black films on their vehicles.
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BSNL penalised for not attending to customer’s complaint
Ludhiana, April 26 The orders were pronounced by Mr A.S. Narula, president, Mr Daljit Singh Bakshi and Ms Pooja Dewan, members, of the forum, while disposing of the complaint filed by Ms Satwant Kaur of Ghawaddi village in the district. “Deficiency of the respondents (BSNL) is reflected because it is fully proved on record that the complainant had been writing letters to enquire into the matter but they did not check the correctness or defective nature of the meter, though a specific complaint had been made to them. Had this matter been got investigated and suitable reply been sent to the complainant, the present complaint would not have been filed by the consumer,” observed the forum. However, the forum dismissed the complaint for quashing the demand raised in respect of alleged inflated bills with the observation that the consumer failed to prove that the meter was defective or misused by someone else in collusion with the staff of the BSNL. It was submitted by the consumer that she had been regularly making payments of bills. She received a bill of Rs 3,421 for the period from May 1, 2004, to
July 31, 2004. A complaint was made to the BSNL that the bill was on the higher side. So, the details of call made from her telephone be provided. But no response was received. She further received a bill of Rs 2,437 for the period from August 1, 2004, to September 30, 2004. In October, 2004, she again made a complaint regarding excessive billing. In December, 2004, she again wrote two letters but without any effect, the complainant added. On the other hand, the BSNL officials asserted that there was no deficiency in services. The bills sent were correct as per meter reading. The complaint was made just to delay the due payments. Moreover, they claimed that the consumer was convinced by showing the detail of calls. The telephone connection was disconnected as she failed to pay the bills.
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Single mothers lead stressful lives
Ludhiana, April 26 These are the broad findings of a study titled “Impact of maternal stress and parenting behaviour of single mothers on adolescent adjustment” conducted by Shruti Sabharwal of the College of Home Science, PAU. The study was on single mothers and teachers, randomly drawn from 10 government high and senior secondary schools of the city. The study reveals that highly stressed mothers were less protective and more demanding. However, the increase in stress did not affect the love for the children. An educated single mother was less stressed, more protective, demanding and love-rewarding. She was also more rejecting and punitive but less indifferent. As compared to physical and total distress, psychological stress among the mothers had more harmful effect on adolescents who found it difficult to adjust. “Sons perceive their mothers' parenting to be more punitive, rejecting and neglecting, as compared to daughters. Daughters perceive their mothers to be more protective, loving and rewarding,” the study said. Adolescents with highly distressed mothers tend to be more withdrawn, depressed and complained of physical and social problems. They also showed delinquent and aggressive behaviour and had lower activity and social competence.
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Ruralites least aware of hygiene, health
Ludhiana, April 26 These conclusions were drawn by Dr Narotam Dewan, Director, Dewan Hospital and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Centre, who conducted a study on general health problem of the patients coming from Bet area along river Sutlej, during a series of free medical check up camps organised in different villages. The blood profile with respect to haemoglobin level of the people in these villages revealed that 12 per cent were severely anemic, 32 percent had moderate anemia, 42 per cent had mild degree of anemia, and only 14 percent of them were found to have normal level of hemoglobin. The survey indicated that a majority of the population had no idea of basic hygiene, were suffering from intestinal worms, did not consume enough green vegetables (dal and chapati is the staple diet with cheese being reserved for guests), were predominantly vegetarian (although taking alcohol and opium husk is no taboo for those who can afford to be addicted). It was amply clear from the survey that simple measures like education about growing and consuming green vegetables, basic mandatory hygienic measures, de-worming at regular intervals and supplementation of iron and folic acid could raise the haemoglobin level of majority of the population of these villages. According to Dr Dewan, a large number of patients were found incapacitated or bed-ridden due to such health problems which could be easily cured. For example, 17 persons were having psychological problem of stiffness and inability to work while they were found near normal physically. What they needed was psychological counselling. Coming across, addicts of opium husk in these villages, the need for de-addiction work by medical institutions and NGOs was badly felt. A large number of patients were also found to be suffering from scabies, hypertension and lice infestation. They were being mistreated by illiterate quacks of the area. Tobacco chewing was found to be rampant as one person was detected to be suffering from cancer of tongue due to tobacco chewing. The study showed that many of the visually handicapped persons, suffering from curable diseases like cataract and pyrigium, a child with a hole in the heart, a couple of middle-aged persons having amputated limbs and in need of prosthesis and hordes of other patients with simple medical or surgical problems had no one to turn towards. Dr Dewan said during interactive sessions with the rural population to brood upon the findings, it was felt that simple measures like health education, psychological counseling, hygienic measures, access to basic medical and surgical treatment, as well as rehabilitation facilities provided by upgrading infrastructure and better governance could transform the lives of the rural people. In the absence of government medical institutions, or lack of access to these facilities, the role of dedicated NGOs and consistent help by voluntary and charitable organisations assumed all the more importance. During the free medical check-up camps, organised in many of the villages along river Sutlej, free medicines were distributed to the needy patients and laboratory tests were also conducted free by Dewan Hospital. A number of poor patients, in need of corrective surgery, were offered free treatment, added Dr Dewan.
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