Ludhiana, December 13
The Director of Extension Education, Dr S.S. Gill, PAU, has expressed concern over the exploitation of farmers by multinational firms by selling them costly hybrid seeds.

“We need to check this by formulating a new seed policy in the state,” he said.

Dr Gill was presiding over a state-level monthly review committee meeting of scientists and extension specialists at Farmers Service Centre yesterday.

The meeting was organised by the Directorate of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana.

Members unanimously decided to approach the Punjab Farmers’ Commission and Punjab Government to formulate a clear-cut seed policy for the state.

A committee, comprising Dr T.S. Bharaj, Dr G.S. Dhindsa, Dr M.S. Gill, Dr H.S. Rewal and Dr Maninder Singh, was constituted to prepare a blueprint of seed policy, which will be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh.

Dr Gill told the members that the university had taken initiative on its own to test various hybrid varieties promoted by multinationals for their suitability for cultivation in Punjab so that farmers could be made aware of that.

However, there was a need to check the sale of these hybrid seeds through law. “Their sale should only be allowed in Punjab if these varieties are found fit for cultivation in the state,” he said.

Dr Gill said the Punjab Farmers’ Commission had decided to purchase soybean as seed crop at Rs 1,400 per quintal. Different KVKs in the state had been asked to make aware the farmers to cooperate with the farmers’ commission in this regard.

Dr Gill said since the entire sowing of wheat in the state had been completed in time this year, the production was expected to exceed the targets.

He said the university would soon bring out a publication of potato cultivation, which would help the farmers to grow potato on scientific line. Also, a campaign would be initiated in potato growing and to make the farmers aware of various diseases of potato and their control, he said.

Ludhiana December 13
On the call of AIFUCTO, all members of the Punjab Government College Teachers Association (GCTA) will wear black badges on tomorrow in protest against the policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation being pursued by the Central and state governments. It is also to protest against the non-allocation of 6 per cent of GDP for education.

Mr Jaipal Singh, president of PGCTA in a press statement today said the agreement was not implemented by the then Central Government on September 5,1998. AIFUCTO had been demanding the implementation of the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) from January 1, 1996 instead of July 27, 1998 and third promotion and professorship in colleges. Punjab GCTA is also protesting the step-motherly treatment being meted out by the Punjab Government with the denial of 5 per cent interim relief to college teachers on the plea that their pay scales were determined by the Central Government and the UGC.

"It is unfortunate that they are not implementing various letters/ notifications issued by the UGC/Central Government in which past service is to be counted, feeder grade benefit is to be given, creation of posts of readers in colleges, giving advance increments to M.Phil/Ph.D holders and raising the retirement age to 62 years are mentioned", said Mr Jaipal.

Mr Kuldip Singh, zonal secretary and Mr Harbans Singh, finance secretary have demanded that UGC letters/notifications be implemented in toto and to keep parity with other Punjab Government employees.

The winners of a declamation contest, held at Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph

Punjabi declamation contest: Nisha, S. Atma Singh Public School - Ist; Ekta, Everest Public Senior Secondary School - 2nd; Priyanka, S.N. Public School - 3rd; and Harsimranjeet Singh, BCM Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana - consolation prize.

Principals’ meet at KVM

The Sahodaya Schools Complex Principals’ meet was held at Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, here today.

The meet was organised to implement latest CBSE directions in the present education policies and to plan for common questions papers for Class IX and XI for Sahodaya Schools.

During the meet, feedback of the 13th Sahodaya Schools National Conference, held at Hyderabad on October 13 and 14, was given.

A farewell party was also organised for Mr R.S. Grewal, Principal GGN School, Rose Garden, Ludhiana.

The meet was attended by Sahodaya Schools Complex president S.D. Kalia, Principal, BCM Senior School , secretary S.C. Saxena, Principal, Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, and 35 Principals of various schools in and around Ludhiana.

Prize distribution function

Spring Dale Senior Secondary Public School organised the annual prize distribution function here yesterday.

More than 250 students who brought laurels to the institution by achieving top positions in the inter-school CBSE national and state-level functions were awarded cash awards.

Shabad kirtan was recited by students and a hawan was performed.

The inauguration of the construction of the first floor of the building was performed by Ms Avinash Walia, Director and founder Principal of the school.

The students presented comedy show “Hasgulla”. Various dances, including giddha, were presented.

Ludhiana, December 13
The Department of Extension Education, PAU, will organise a special training programme on rural awareness for B.Sc home science final year students from December 20-27.

The programme has been specially organised to make the students aware of the household and farm problems of rural women.

Experts from different fields will impart knowledge on women empowerment through self-employment and various loan facilities by different banks and financial institutions.

The Head, Extension Education Department, Dr Daljit Singh Dhillon, said the seven-day training programme would make the girl students know the problems and needs of the rural women.

It would help them in better interaction with the rural folks during their internship in villages as part of their course curriculum.

Samrala, December 13
The Panjabi Lekhak Manch, Samrala, will organise a literary meeting on December 17 at the local Senior Secondary school. The president of the manch, Prof Baldeep, will deliver a lecture on 'My visit to England: A cultural context’ at the meeting.'

In the second session there will be a discussion on the book 'Prof Hamdardvi

Naushehrvi's Rachna Sansar' edited by Dr Gurdarpal Singh. Dr Bhagwant Singh and Dr Gulzar Mohammad Goria will present their papers during the discussion. Noted scholars of the region will participate in the discussion.