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No justification for sustaining Ludhiana, August 2 The hydrological data produced by Punjab Agricultural University indicates that water table is going down by 70 cm per annum in central districts of Punjab and this decline takes place exactly during the rice growing period. Even the data collected by the Central Ground Water Board has rung an alarm bell because of over withdrawal of water from these districts. These views were expressed by the Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Planning Board, Dr S.S. Johl, in an interaction with students of PG diploma in agricultural journalism and mass communication here today. While outlining the qualities of a good journalist, he emphasised that a positive attitude was important for focusing on socio-economic needs and problems of the people. In this context, development journalism based on social issues plays a great role in transforming the life of the people. Since agriculture is the foundation of state’s economy, it is imperative for students to understand the intricacies and implications of what is happening in agriculture and allied sector. Dr Johl responded to the questions by the students over the recent media reports that there was no danger to the sustainability of rice-wheat rotation or that crop diversification was no solution to the farm crisis. “There is no question that the present rice-wheat rotation can serve the purpose. Those who were making misplaced observations have not taken into account the individual and social cost while calculating the MSP, the farmers should be paid for the foodgrains.” Contradicting the argument that there was no threat to depleting water table, Dr Johl said the decline is visible to the naked eye. When a student asked about withering surpluses, Dr Johl replied: “There are number of justifications for agriculture diversification and the relative importance changes over time.” It is not a question of change as per convenience. In the first decade of the 21st century, the food surpluses have not withered away as is being made out by certain economists. In fact, in this period, from 2000-01 to December 2005, the nation exported 23.01 million tonnes of rice and 13.95 million tonnes of wheat. In 2005 alone, India exported 5.075 million tonnes of rice and 0.733 million tonnes of wheat. Despite this huge export, country still holds 12.81 million tonnes of rice as on July 1, 2006, which is higher by 2.8 million tonnes compared to the stocks of 10.07 million tonnes on July 1, 2005. “It will be stupid to call it withering away of surpluses. If the country had not exported these stocks, we would have had 67.85 million tonnes of foodgrains on July 1, 2006. Of this stock, 55.9 million tonnes is rice and 22.94 million tonnes is wheat,” he added.
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Farmers block traffic Khamano, August 2 Farmers also staged a two-hour-long dharna in front of power board office in Khamano before blocking traffic. SDM of Khamano Ravinder Kumar and DSP Stinderpal Singh reached the scene and they were handed over a memorandum by kisan leaders. The SDM assured the farmers that he would talk to officers of the electricity board and other persons concerned to solve their problem. The farmers lifted the blockade after getting this assurance. Earlier, while addressing the protesters kisan leaders said Khamano grid was attached to Ropar grid since 1972 but a few days back Khamano grid was attached to Jamalpur grid leading to heavy power cuts. They alleged that this conversion had been done by senior officers of the electricity board at the instance of some politicians. They threatened to block traffic again if the Khamano grid was not attached to Ropar grid by August 7.
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From Schools Our Correspondent Ludhiana, August 2 The Sarpanch of the village asked people to form eco clubs to save the environment. The Principal, Mr Surinder Singh, asked the students to think of health hazards of water air and noise pollution. Welcome party Students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Branch Dugri, had a gala time on their Activity Day. A welcome party was organised for pre-primary classes. The students of classes III to VIII had an English recitation competition. Quiz contest A quiz contest was organised in BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana in which 17 teams from local schools participated. The lamp-lighting was done by the Principal of the host school, Mrs Paramjit Kaur. The chief guest for the day was Col S K Varni-group Commander, NCC, Ludhiana. A written round was conducted to select 6 best teams to participate on the stage. The selected teams and their participants were-Vibhushit and Lokesh from KVM, Kamaldeep and Ashmait from DAV Public School, Ankit and Sabhya from K V Baddowal, Ishmeet and Ashima from Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sidakpal and Jalwidh Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School, Mahim and Rahul from BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School. KVM bagged the first position followed by Sacred Heart. The prize for ‘best cheering team’ was accorded to BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School. The winning team will participate in the semi- finals (regional) to be held at Chandigarh. Teej celebrated Teej celebrations were held in the KG Section of Kundan Vidya Mandir School here yesterday.The children came dressed in Punjabi dresses. Poem recitation A poem recitation was organised for children of KG in KVM School here today Children recited different poems on trees, parents, traffic rules, problems etc. The results are as follows: Soumil Jainer Ist , Garima Arora 2nd, Mudit Kataria 3rd and consolation prize went to Vasu Jain. All the students were from LKG while from UKG Anoushka was 1st, Sharuya Verma 2nd , Saksham Mahajan 3rd Neharika Batra and Sanjana Manhas got consolation prize. Song contest An inter-house singing competition was held at Saraswati Modern School, Pratap Singh Wala here yesterday. The chief guest was Mr Prshant Kumar Lal, Headmaster. The students sang patriotic songs to show the spirit of fraternity.
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Seminar for women NCC officers Ludhiana, August 2 These ANOs are NCC in charge of their respective institutions like Government College (FW), SDP College (FW), GNG College, SGGJ Girls College Raikot, GHG Khalsa College Sudhar, GNN College Doraha, Mai Bhago College Ramgarh, Khalsa College (FW), RGC Ludhiana and MTSM College (FW), Sacred Heart Convent School, KVM Ldh, DAV Malerkotla, Govt Girls Senior Secondary School Ludhiana, Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School Ludhiana. JNV Farour, Govt Senior Secondary School Halwara and Tagore Public School Ludhiana. Col Sudhir Kumar Varni, Group Commander NCC Group HQ, Ludhiana, presided over the function. while addressing the ANOs and staff the Group Commander laid emphasis on discipline, character and personality building, comradeship, spirit of adventure and various aspects of NCC training to the students. He also reminded the responsibilities of ANOs and staff in moulding the future leaders of the country. The Commanding Officer of 3 Punjab Girls Bn, Col S.S Deol, conducted the conference and discussed various issues related to the conduct of training as per new syllabus for girl cadets in the institutions, scholarships, adventure activities, camps, community development, programmes and administrative support being provided by the unit. He highlighted the major achievement of the last training year and complimented the lady officers and staff for their keen participation and achieving high standards. Col S.S Deol also apprised the officers and staff of the impending tasks that lies ahead in the present training year. Lieut Shashi Singh, Adm Officer, Subedar Major Pritam Singh, GCIs-Kiran Bali, Kanchan Prabhakar, Madhu Anand and other JCOs/NCO’s of the unit were also present on the occasion.
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Teej at Home Science College Ludhiana, August 2 The festival was inaugurated by Dr Manjeet Kaur Dhillon, Dean, College of Home Science. The girls, dressed up in traditional attire and jewellery, were seen singing, dancing, enjoying the swings and playing kikli. Stalls of eatables like malpura, kheer, chat-papdi were put up on the occasion. Other stalls selling bangles, purses, mehndi and suits were also put up. The girls enjoyed the application of mehndi on their hands. The environment gave a look of a traditional festive village. Competitions of mehndi application, folk song, folk dance and kikli were organised. A Miss Teej contest was also held to select the most-traditionally dressed up student on the occasion. Arshjot won the first position and Vyoma the second position in the singing competition. In the folk dance (solo) competition, Kamya bagged the first position while Arshjot got the second position. Dr Dhillon congratulated the winners and inspired them to remain linked with the Punjabi culture and traditions.
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Inter-school contests
on Aug 5 Ludhiana, August 2 More than 30 different competitions in music, literature, dancing, singing, writing, art and design, etc would be conducted among school students, stated a press note. The company said the competition was a personality and talent search programme, the winners of which would be selected after an elaborate evaluation procedure.
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Man gets 7-yr RI for raping mentally
challenged girl Ludhiana August 2 The accused was sentenced to imprisonment of seven years. He was also ordered to pay fine of Rs 2000. The Judge turned down the plea of leniency raised by the accused, on the ground that he was a poor man and the only breadwinner of the family. The accused was booked under Sections 376 and 506/34 of the IPC at Sidhwan Bet police station, on July 21, 2004 following the complaint of the grandfather of the victim, Gurbachan Singh of Galib Kalan village. It was submitted by the complainant to the SSP Jagraon police that the accused had raped his granddaughter. His grandson Manpreet had reached the spot and informed him about the same. The victim was medically examined. But the matter was forcibily compromised by the villagers after giving threats. Therafter, SSP Jagraon marked the enquiry to the DSP-Randhir Singh, who had submitted his report on July 12, 2004
recommending strict action against the accused. On the basis of enquiry report the accused was booked. The brother of victim girl had deposed in the court that on March 9, 2004 he was at home. Some girl friends of his sister took her with them on the pretext of
applying mehndi on her hands. He also followed them. After some time, he heard the shrieks of his sister. When he went inside, the accused fled after raping her. However, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed false implication. But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty and sentenced
accordingly.
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