Pathankot, December 31
It’s one unique conservation drive. An NGO here has come up with a novel method to protect and conserve traditional crop varieties found in Shivalik Hills of Punjab. ‘Beej Bachao Padyatra’, a Khetri Virasat initiative, also aims at preserving indigenous seed varieties and promoting organic farming.

On Monday, the NGO organised a special march from Goh to Durang Khad village of Dhar Block here. “After conducting a survey throughout the state, we found that villagers of Kandi Area were still using the indigenous seeds for cultivating pulses and vegetables,” said Chander Prakash, joint director of the body. Community participation plays a vital role in such an exercise, he said, adding that the ‘padyatra’ will greatly help the cause. “After collecting these seeds, we want to establish a seed bank which would help in propagation and effective distribution of these seeds to farmers,” he added. The NGO also asked the farmers to save seeds, exchangeand trade them and also get rid of hybrid ones. During the first phase of collection, the NGO selected around a dozen villages in the area. “We also have plans to set up seed panchayats in every village,” said Chander Prakash.

With the onset of green revolution, agriculture witnessed rapid commercialisation. The flip side was overdependence of farmers on external sources. “Earlier, they used to save and share their seeds, but nowadays, they completely depend on companies for their needs. Indigenous seeds are more suitable to a particular region or situation than any hybrid variant,” claims Chander Prakash.

Listing the properties of indigenous or traditional seeds, the agriculture expert said they are hardy, pest-resistant, can withstand unfavourable conditions, require less water and nutritional inputs, fit in better in the organic method of farming and may even have special characteristics such as nutrition, fragrance or colour. However, the hybrid seeds are more prone to pest attacks and diseases. Besides being expensive, hybrid variants cannot be saved or shared with the community members. 

Chandigarh, December 31
In what gives an indication about things to come for bureaucracy in Punjab, the state government has virtually stalled the deputation of two senior IAS Punjab-cadre officers. 

While one of the officials was seen close to the previous Congress regime and is now “facing the music”, the other one is being held back as the ruling SAD--BJP combine feels his services are required here rather than in New Delhi.

The government of Punjab is holding back the permission to allow Mukul Joshi to go on Central deputation. Joshi, a 1975-batch officer, has been empanelled as secretary, government of India. The Centre has asked Punjab to give it concurrence in allowing Joshi to join in New Delhi but the same has been held back for the past five months with nothing having been recorded on the file, sources in the state government said.

The reason for holding back the deputation clearance, being cited in bureaucratic circles, is the perceived proximity of Joshi to the previous regime when he was the financial commissioner excise and taxation. At present, he handles the department of freedom fighters, which has almost no work and is seen as an inconsequential posting. He could have been easily relieved. Rather, Joshi has been on leave for the past couple of months.

In the case of the second officer, Dilsher Singh Kalha, finance secretary, the government of Punjab has not been able to find a replacement for him to handle his department. Kalha, a 1977-batch officer, has also been empanelled additional secretary, government of India.

To appoint an official as an additional secretary in the government of India, the concurrence of the state is required. A concurrence once sent is valid for six months and the official can be picked up by the government of India.

Professionally, for Joshi and Kalha it is very crucial to work in the government of India at this stage of their careers, explained a source. In case, they have to be picked up for selection as secretary to government of India, then a stint as additional secretary is mandatory or else they will not be empanelled as Secretary. Joshi retires in October, 2011, and this may be his last chance to be in the race of being a secretary, an important accomplishment for an IAS officer.

The same is true of Kalha who retires in October, 2013, and the time to work as additional secretary for him is now. Like Joshi, IPS officer Rajinder Singh, who is believed to be close to the previous regime, has been trying for a central deputation for the past six month. 

Nawanshahr, December 31
With an aim to curb incidents of burglaries, the police has mooted the idea of recruiting Community Police Officers (CPOs) in the town.

This was disclosed by the SHO Rakesh Kumar. The SHO said, “Under the scheme around 50 CPOs would be recruited for night patrolling in different residential and commercial areas of the town.” For the purpose, the residents would be required to shell out Rs 50 per month for meeting the expenses like salary, uniform, torch and mobile phones etc of the CPOs, he added.

He said meetings were held recently with the municipal councillors and representatives of various traders association to make them aware of the need and importance of the CPO scheme.

Urging residents to contribute in the scheme, the SHO said CPOs would help in guarding houses and shops during night. Besides, they would remain in touch with the motorcycle patrolling squad who were linked to the police control room (PCR).

“The CPOs would be provided with mobile phone so that they can report immediately incase they find anything suspicious. Moreover, they would also assist the police to nab anti-social elements,” said the SHO adding that the rapport between the residents and CPO would also help in keeping a watch on the migratory labourers and strangers.

Rakesh said, “During the meetings residents did come up with an idea that half of the expenses for CPOs should be bared by the police, but due to shortage of funds it would not be possible.” However, a Community Policing Committee would be formed to keep accounts of the scheme. The committee would also collect the monthly contributions and make payments for the expenses on CPOs.

He said, “Though the public response is not encouraging enough to launch the scheme, residents of some localities did approach me to launch the idea in their areas.”

The SHO revealed that he would hold meetings with different welfare associations to convince them to adopt the scheme. 

Hoshiarpur, December 31
On the order of the SSP, Hoshiarpur, Anita Punj, Sadar police today registered a case under section 302 of the IPC against Amarjit Singh alias Billa of Bassi Karungna, for allegedly killing Balbir Singh of the same village.

According to the SP (D) Sushil Kumar, the body of Balbir Singh was found on the outskirts of Bassi Karungna village on August 7, for which the Sadar police carried out proceedings under section 174 of the Cr PC.

Kuldip Kaur, wife of the deceased, Balbir Singh, approached the district police many times, alleging that her husband was killed by Amarjit Singh. But police failed in taking any action into her allegations. Later, on September 25, she approached the Director General of the Punjab Police in this connection, who marked an inquiry into her allegations.

During the probe, it emerged that on the night of August 6, 2007 Amarjit Singh came to the residence of Balbir Singh and asked him to accompany him for leaving a person at Piplanwala, a suburb of Hoshiarpur city. Balbir accompanied Amarjit and did not return till the next morning.

When Kuldip Kaur enquired about her husband from Amarjit Singh, the latter could not give her a satisfactory answer. It is said there was an old enmity between the deceased and . Amarjit, who is still at large. 

Jalandhar, December 31
The musical feast of the 132nd Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan going on in the city since December 25 came to an end on Sunday night.

A vocal performance by Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan and Ustad Jawad Ali Khan set the ball rolling. They presented different raags and were able to get huge applause from the audience.

After them came Suvir Misra, who is one of the few distinguished left hand artistes mastering the three traditional veenas - rudra veena, saraswati veena and surbahar. He gave a performance on rudra veena.

Ustad Maqbool Hussain Khan of Rampur Seheswan gharana was the next one to perform. He performed vocals in raag Malkauns and bandishe.

Then came the magic of sitar by Pandit Kartik Kumar and his son Pandit Niladri Kumar. The jugalbandi presented by the duo was appreciated by the audience. After them Savita Devi’s presented dhrupad and thumari.

The limelight of the evening was tabla performance by Ustad Sattar Khan ‘Tari’, who had come all the way from Pakistan to participate in the event. Even in the green room, while Ustad Tari was rehearsing for the event, his fans waited outside to just be the first one to have glimpse of their favourite artiste.

The last performance of the night and the fest was of Pandit Bhola Nath Mishra who through his voice kept audience bonded to their seats late till night.  

Chandigarh, December 31
Punjab Culture Department’s move to amend the 29-year-old constitution of Punjab Arts Council responsible for promotion of culture in the state has invited sharp criticism from heads of two of the three culture akademis working under the council.

At the heart of criticism is not the fact that constitution is being amended but that the five-member committee constituted for the purpose has no artiste on board. None of the presidents of three Punjab akademis - sangeet natak, lalit kala and sahitya -- is a member of the committee supposed to prepare a draft of the amendment, which is admittedly ‘redundant’.

Among committee members are Swaran Singh, principal secretary, cultural affairs, Punjab; N.S. Rattan, vice-president, Punjab Sahitya Akademi; Rajpal Singh, secretary-general, Punjab Arts Council; Seema Bhalla, secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi and SM Kant, vice-president Sanget Natak Akademi. “Such a committee should have had artistes to discuss important issues. Otherwise it will be a futile exercise,” says Dolly Guleria, president, Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi. She along with Shiv Singh president Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi are planning to meet Punjab Chief Minister to complain against the culture department’s decision to shift the offices of their akademies out of Chandigarh to Punjab. They say the decision is against the council’s 1979 constitution which states that akademi offices must work from Chandigarh.

“The culture ministry wants to enhance the activities of arts council. So it decided to shift the office of lalit kala akademi to Amritsar and Sangeet Natak Akademi to Jalandhar. These will be housed in Virsa Vihar Kendras set up by Kartar Singh Duggal,” says Rajpal Singh, secretary-general, arts council. He adds that Guleria and Shiv Singh were present at the meeting where the five-member committee to draft the constitution was formed. “They should have objected then” he says, while Singh and Guleria claim they are being targeted, adding that the decision to shift their offices would prove counterproductive.

“You can at best have branch offices; how can you shift the main office. Moreover, why has the office of Sahitya akademi not been shifted? Why just us?” asks Shiv Singh, claiming the decision aims to sideline them.

Enquiries however reveal the decision to shift akademi offices applies equally to Sahitya Akademi. It was put on hold when the government found out that Virsa Vihar Kendra, Patiala where it was to house sahitya akademi had been given to north zone Cultural Centre.