AGRICULTURE

Story of a progressive woman farmer
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 15
“My light” is the title of the book in memory of Jagbir Kaur first president of women’s wing of the PAU-sponsored Punjab Kisan Club. She passed away in 1995. This book has been written by her progressive farmer husband Mohinder Singh Grewal. The book is not so much about a woman who lent him a helping hand in decision-making. It is about what can be done for the emancipation of women and bringing them to the forefront in agriculture.

Mr Grewal is a member of the Agriculture Cost and Prices Commission. He is a practical farmer, even now. His journey from taking care of planting food crops to putting in print the success story of Punjab’s agriculture, based on practical experience, is a unique contribution to an array of farm literature now available to the farmers of Punjab.

No wonder, the joint efforts of this farmer couple made Punjab government honour them with a State Award in 1989. Incidentally, Mr Grewal is the founder-president of the Punjab Kisan Club. Both husband and wife nursed and nurtured this club which was confined earlier to the geographical boundaries of Ludhiana district. They spread its branches to the entire state. In the process they inspired the village youth, farmers and farmers’ wives to look at agriculture not merely as a source of livelihood but as their own “life line”.

Formally releasing this book, “Meri Lo” (My Light), the Vice-Chairman of the Punjab State Planning Board, Dr.S.S.Johl, said it is a window to the social awakening of the women.

Speaking on the eleventh death anniversary of Jagbir Kaur, Dr Johl said no society or community could progress without the development of women. The PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh has written the foreword to this book.

The crux of the life journey of this progressive farmer couple is that their entire produce is for “seed production and home consumption” and never ever a single grain is marketed. Their sweat and toil in making “multiple cropping” a success is an example for Punjab farmers to emulate and spread.

A former Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Dr Khem Singh Gill, presented the first copy of the book to Mr Grewal. The Punjab Principal Secretary (Home), Dr. B.C. Gupta, shared his experiences when he was the Development Commissioner. He confessed that he had never come across as great a progressive farming couple as the Grewals. It is his grit, determination and love for Punjab fellow farmers and farming that he today occupies a slot in the commission. “A farmer, who practically drove the tractor is today at the helm of decision-making at the national level. Therefore, farmers of Punjab can feel reassured that their future is in the right hands,” he added. 

Schoolteachers up in arms 
P.S. Batra

Samrala, September 15
One swallow does not make a summer. The innocent, hardworking and honest male teachers with a good track record in Punjab government schools should not be dislocated merely on one incident, where a teacher raped a girl student.

To brand the entire male teaching staff of government schools in Punjab as guilty is against common sense; was the sentiment among government school teachers in Punjab. Strongly criticising the Punjab Education Department’s proposal to uproot all male members from government schools, teachers’ leaders— Mr Charan Singh Sarabha (state leader), Mr Behari Lal Saddi, Mr Ram Ratan, Mr Amar Nath Tagra, Mr Prem Sagar Sharma, Mr Ajmer Singh, Mr Darshan Singh Kang— have admonished the Education Minister, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, for this hasty step during mid-session.

There is great resentment and panic among the teachers affected by the Mohammad Tuglak-like decision making. The solution to this malady is to book the culprits and take them to task. Dislocating male teachers of integrity will breed hatred towards the government and the party in power. 

From Schools & Colleges
Three student cadets selected for camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 15
The three cadets Shivam Sharma, Aditaya Srivastava and Gurbeer Singh of 19 Punjab Battalion from BCM Sr Sec School, Chandigarh Road, have been selected for the R D Camp. The commanding officer of 19 Punjab Battalion was Col S.S. Saini and this camp was being held in Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur. The Manager, Mr S.K. Mehta and Principal Mr SD Kalia congratulated Mr Gurwinder Singh and all the cadets for their efforts.

Freshers' Night: Hostellers’s Freshers' Night of Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women (GNKCW) was held last evening at the college premises. The evening included lighting the lamp by Ms Amrit Sarna, Mr Gurbir Singh Sarna, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Ms P. Kahlon and Ms Manju Chawla.

Other items from classical to western, old Hindi cinema to remixes, fusion, parodies, skits, Punjabi dances were presented. Girls wearing elegant saris, embroidered lehngas and traditional suits looked confident and gorgeous.

Zinia was crowned Miss Fresher while Gagandeep was adjudged first runner up and Amandeep won the second runner up title. Shivali was declared Miss Charming, Jasdeep Miss Personality and Ramandeep Miss Graceful. Miss Ethnic Wear was Prabhjot and Ishadeep bagged the title of Miss Best Smile. The Principal Ms Manju Chawla presented a vote of thanks.

Excellent results: With the declaration of results of MA-I (Sociology) of Panjab University, Chandigarh, the students of Guru Nanak Girls College have once again brought laurels to the college. The college boasts of 100 per cent pass result. Students have clinched 3 positions from the top ten in the university. Mudita Sharma stood 3rd in the university with 275 marks (68.75%), Kulwinder Kaur and Jasmeet Kaur bagged the 5th and 8th positions with 267 (66.7%) and 257 (65.5% marks respectively. Principal Dr (Ms) Charanjit Mahal congratulated the staff and students.

Extension lecture: Department of Geography, SCD Govt College, organised an extension lecture by Dr Surya Kant, Chairman, Department of Geography PU, Chandigarh, here yesterday. He delivered two lectures on 'Geography and Globalization' and 'Fieldwork in Geography'.

In the first topic, he was of the view that Geography should adopt new technologies like-remote sensing, GIS and GPS in the competitive world so that geography could be made as a leading social science as well as a physical science.

In the second topic, he discussed the importance of fieldwork in which he suggested a geographer must focus on fieldwork to understand the realities. Dr Dharam Singh Sandhu, Head of the Department, gave the thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving function: The freshers and student council organised a Thanksgiving function at Government College for Women here today to express their gratitude towards their seniors. Anu Singh accorded a warm welcome to the staff and seniors of the college.

There was a cultural extravagenza replete with prayer dance, instrumental medley, solo, Punjabi tappe and dance etc. Speaking on the occasion, Principal Ms Prabhjot Kaur congratulated the students and appreciated their efforts.

Workshop: The post-graduate department of Commerce of GTB National College, Dakha, organised a Workshop on career opportunities for commerce students here today. The well-attended program had imminent personalities from the industry and academics, Mr D.Goswamy, vice-president, HR, Vardhman Group of Companies; Dr Prem Kumar, President, PCMA; Prof Ashwini Bhalla, Prof Harbilas, senior members of PG Department of SCD Government College. Dr Balbir Singh, Principal GTB National College, in his welcome note said in the era of globalization, students of commerce were facing new challenges.

Prof Bhalla explained various options available to commerce students, especially in event management, mass communication, insurance etc. He also urged the students to analyse the skills they need to improve.

COURTS

Three convicted for looting
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 15
Mr Roshan Lal Ahuja, presiding officer of the Fast Track Court has sentenced Jugnu, Ram Kewal and Shiv Badal of Basti Abdullapur to undergo two years rigorous imprisonment on the charges of looting a person after offering him drug-laced biscuits.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 each upon the accused. The accused were booked under Sections 328 and 379 of the IPC at Model Town police station, Ludhiana, on October 2004, on the complaint of one Mahesh Kumar.

The complainant had told the police that he used to deal in scrap. On October 6, 2004, the accused met him on the pretext of selling copper. Later, they gave him drug-laced biscuits to eat. When he ate the biscuits, he became unconscious. He regained consciousness on the next day and found that the accused had looted Rs 1,000 from his pocket along with a silver chain which he was wearing. 

HEALTH

Dental camp today

Ludhiana, September 15
A dental check-up and awareness camp will be held at Ramgarhia College, here, tomorrow in which more than 1,000 students and staff members will be examined for dental problems.

Dr J. Bindra, Professor and Head, Department of Dentistry at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said besides dental check-up, a multi-media supported interactive talk would be given to the participants to educate the college-going girls about the problems that were specific to their age group. — OC

SPORTS

BCET shuttlers secure berth in quarter-finals
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, September 15
Students of the Bhutta College of Engineering and Technology (BCET), Alamgir-Rara Sahib road, Bhutta, near here, gave a fine performance to secure berth in the quarter-finals of the Punjab Tehnical University Inter-College Badminton Championship being held at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur College of Engineering and Technology, Fatehgarh Sahib.

According to Mr A.S. Bansal, Principal of the BCET, team comprising Balwinder Singh of mechanical engineering and Munish Thakurof electronics and communication engineering beat BIS Science College, Kot Ise Khan, Moga and then defeated Amritsar College of Engineering and Technology in straight sets to advance into the last eight stage.