Amritsar, May 19
Despite a ban by District Magistrate Bhagwant Singh on the burning of wheat crop stubble, the practice still continues unabated in the rural belt of the district, including Attari, Ajnala and Majitha, by the farmers unaware of its harms to environment and health of the general public.

A visit to the border villages reveals that the farmers are not following the ban orders as the method is cheap and quick to dispose of the stubble.

Sometimes, the fire lit by farmers reaches outside the fields, causing damage to trees and destroying the flora and fauna.

The farmers were least concerned about the degradation of environment. Due to massive air pollution, birds and animals also perish in such fires. The fertility of land also decreases due to heat generated by the fire that penetrates into the soil up to 1 cm and thus elevating temperatures, says an official of the agriculture department, preferring anonymity.

Last year, a major mishap was averted when the stubble fire entered the Amritsar International Airport complex due to which various flights were diverted or delayed.

The seriousness of the district administration regarding the implementation of the ban orders was quite clear from the fact that as more than a week had passed, not a single case has been registered so far in this regard, while farmers continue to burn the crop waste.

When contacted, Bhagwant Singh said as he and the staff of the district were busy with the election process, they could not check the menace.

The official of the Agriculture Department said instead of issuing the ban orders, a law should be enacted to curb the practice effectively just on the lines of the Ground Water Preservation Act for paddy plantation in order to raise the level of groundwater. He said as purchasing or hiring the Rotovater to dispose of the stubble by converting it into small pieces and mixing with earth which required funds, besides labour, the farmers were preferring to burn the stubble by making use of a single matchstick.

Harbhajan Singh, a farmer of Attari, pointed out that the stubble cut into pieces comes up on the surface while ploughing the fields and paddy plantation.

Amritsar, May 19
The police, the major law and order enforcement agency, remains on the receiving end as it faces heavy staff shortage and its men are forced to do almost double shift on daily basis and that too without any incentive or remuneration.

According to the figures, there are about 5,000 police personnel for about 20-lakh population in the district, which comes down to one policeman responsible for the security of 400 persons.

Apart from protecting the lives and properties of residents, the security of large chunk of foreigners and tourists from other states visiting the holy city for paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple or Jallianwala Bagh or witnessing the beating the retreat ceremony at Attari joint check post, was also their responsibility.

According to the Police Rules Act, a policeman is supposed to be deployed for only 8 hours a day but due to the shortage of staff, they have to perform duties for about 12 to 14 hours every day without getting any extra remuneration for the overtime.

They are also entrusted with the duties of detection of crime (Detective), traffic controller (traffic wing), crime stopper wing, family counseling, clerical work and VVIP duties.

According to the reliable sources, at present there are 540 Home Guards, 410 special police officers (SPO), 3100 constables, 518 head constables, 189 assistant sub-inspectors (ASI), 57 sub-inspectors (SI), 20 inspectors, 8 DSPs, 4 SPs and one SSP. A senior police official preferring anonymity said although the there was shortage of staff in the police, the border district has the maximum number of policemen. The official added that a number of times the government has been reminded in this regard, however, nothing has been done so far.

Jagdish Singh, president, Rail Musafir Union: The clear mandate would provide stable and secular government. He said the stable government would be able to take strong decisions in the favour of the general public which would help in the development of the country and its people.

Brij Bedi, social activist: The people of the country must be congratulated as they have given a clear mandate and saved the major alliance from horse-trading and chaos. He said it was a good omen for the nation and hopefully the stable government would provide good governance. He said the new government should eradicate the social evils like illiteracy and poverty by giving thorough emphasis on proper implementation of government schemes.

Beant Singh Tarn Tarani, president, All-India Freedom Fighters Sainik Sangh: The winning of the Congress-led UPA had paved the path for the development of the country. Congratulating Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh, he said that winning of the Congress in the state defeating the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab had also ushered in a new era. 

Amritsar, May 19
In order to popularise the mechanised paddy plantation, the Agriculture Department has urged the farmers to go in for mechanised paddy plantation, which was not only time saving but also cheap and did not require much labour.

Chief Agricultural Officer Paramjit Singh Sandhu said the results were encouraging where paddy was planted with mechanised way last year. He said farmers could get machines used for paddy plantation on subsidised rates from the companies short-listed by the department. He said farmers could procure the machines with upto 50 per cent or a maximum of Rs 1.50 lakh subsidy. He said the farmers could contact the block-level officials of the Agriculture Department for procuring the machines on subsidised rates.

While detailing about the method, he said paddy saplings used for mechanised plantation were prepared in a special way which were grown up on mats. He said these saplings were ready for plantation in 20 to 25 days. He said the department was organising a number of camps for spreading awareness of the advantages of mechanised plantation and its methods.

As per the statistics, more than 8 lakh migrant labourers used to work in the farms of the state, of which 50 per cent used to work on temporary basis and arrive in the state during the peak agriculture season. However, a shortage of labour was being felt for the past several years. The mechanical devices could plant 33 seedlings per sq m at equal distance which was not possible manually. 

Amritsar, May 19
The new Punjabi jutti has become an important part of traditional Punjabi dress but with the latest style. It’s the only thing in the fashion world which was being used by all, including the young and the old.

However, with the change in the fashion the tastes of the people have changed and they want modifications in the Punjabi jutti also. Now the shoe makers have invented the colourful embroidered jutti so that it can be matched with the suits people wear on special occasions. These special juttis have not only attracted the local people but also the tourists coming to the city from across the world.

Rajesh, owner of Raunak Punjabi, selling the juttis, said the people were extremely fond of the new Punjabi jutti and did not go in for the old jutti on which ‘tilla’ (thread coated with silver or gold) has been used. He said the people now preferred the juttis with hand made embroidery.

He said that earlier the major problem with Punjabi jutti was the rashes on skin caused by the hard leather. But now they were using the oily and soft leather for preparing the juttis which were very comfortable.

He said that while the people coming from various parts of the country or abroad were preferring quality juttis and were ready to shell out an extra penny from their pockets, the people of the walled city were going in for the cheaper ones.

He said earlier their shops were near the Golden Temple and did brisk business as most of the tourists visited their shops. But they had to shift from there as the site had been declared as parking site, and had started their business again after purchasing shops outside the walled city. Another shopkeeper Raj Kumar said the attraction of the Punjabi jutti would remain for ever in the fashion world. He said that now not only the girls but boys also prefer to wear it with sherwani during their marriage functions. He said the young generation was also using it with jeans and T-shirts to have a different look.

Amritsar, May 19
Guru Nanak Dev University has invited applications on prescribed forms for admission to year-long job-oriented certificate and diploma courses for matriculates and 10+2 pass unemployed youth for 2009-10 session on the University Campus here and at its regional campus at Gurdaspur under the aegis of its Department of Adult Continuing Education and Extension.

R.S. Sandhu, Director of the department, said matriculate girls were eligible for admission to one-year certificate course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring, while plus-two girls could seek admission to Diploma in textile designing, diploma in cosmetology, diploma in computer application and diploma in computer hardware maintenance.

While male students, who had cleared 10+2, could seek admission to Diploma in computer hardware maintenance only, he added. These courses would start on the university campus and the admission forms for the same could be received from the office of the Department of Adult Continuing Education and Extension, situated on the second floor of Working Women’s Hostel (university campus) and filled forms could be submitted at the same place by June 26, Dr Sandhu said.

He said interview for admission to the certificate course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring would be conducted on July 3, diploma in textile designing on July 6, diplomas in cosmetology and computer hardware maintenance on July 7, while for diploma in computer applications on July 8.

Dr Sandhu said application forms for admission to certificate courses in dress designing, cutting and tailoring at Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus, Gurdaspur, could be received from the Regional Campus and filled forms could be submitted before July 3. The interview for admission to the course would be conducted at the Regional Campus, Gurdaspur, on July 9.

Amritsar, May 19
The Punjabi Writers Co-operative Society Limited released Punjabi poetry book ‘Amrit Ahsas’ penned by Amrit Lal Mannan here recently.

It was the second anthology, consisting of 68 poems, by the writer, in which he has expressed his experiences in rhymes. His feelings for friendship, minute comparison between flowers and children and insightful relationship of flowers and gardens were described in poignant way.

Charanjit Singh Gumtala, managing director of the society, said the book was a nice attempt to connect with the roots.

The poet through his poems desired to give a voice to repressed feelings of the middle class and vent his feelings for emancipation of women.

Numerous incidents and happenings unfold in routine life but it needed a poetical expression to illustrate them. The poet has efficiently placed his trivial happenings in daily course of life in poetical form.

Famous Punjabi poet Parminderjit commented that poems of the book were free from high sounding bombastic words, intellectual expressions and mentality. The poet effortlessly conveys the meaning of his poetry and directly connects with readers.

Mannan describes his displeasure over ills plaguing the society and wished for their change. However, he also makes it clear that change can not come with a lightening speed and favours gradual and meaningful transformation. 

Amritsar, May 19
“Delivering quality, serving communities: Nurses leading care innovations” was the main theme during International Nurses Day observed recently to enlighten the sacrifices made by Florence Nightingale.

Week-long activities, beginning May 12, were held where nurses were engaged in innovative activities on a daily basis, which resulted in significant improvements in patients’ healthcare, population control and health delivery systems.

Prof Amarjit Kaur Sandhu in her keynote address “Healthy perspective towards health: Accept patient challenges to provide excellent services” said the nursing profession is committed to provide excellent healthcare to their patients.

Sandhu said the main theme of World Health Day was “Health facilities in emergencies” and there was need to create awareness in this regard to effect changes that would ensure health facilities and services to function smoothly in emergencies and disasters to ensure protection of lives of patients, serve the affected population and keep health workers safe. She said one would have to ensure the structural resilience of health structures with existing technologies, improving the preparedness and risk-reduction capacity of health workers, besides involving the communities and non-governmental organisations in this effort.

Amritsar, May 19
Iqbal Sandhu has been elected president of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU). He defeated P.K. Sharma by 37 votes.

Stating this to mediapersons, newly elected PCCTU general secretary H.S. Walia said the Brar-Jagwant-Walia group had got the heavy mandate in the PCCTU elections held at Jalandhar yestertday in which about 433 delegates from the non-government colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh elected their office-bearers and state executive members for 2009-10. The other newly elected office-bearers include Dr Jagwant Singh (vice-president), Vinay Sofat (finance secretary) and J.R. Prashar, Gurnam Singh and Avtar Singh (area secretaries representing Panjab University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjabi University, respectively).

Walia said their priority would be to strengthen the organisation and get the new pay scales implemented. He said there should be no problem for the state government to implement the new pay scales notified by the UGC as 80 per cent of the financial burden was to be borne by the Central government.

He appealed to the government to accept their long-pending demands which include inter-alia, implementation of the career advancement scheme for physical education teachers and librarians, lifting the ban on recruitments and disbursement of arrears pertaining to 50 per cent merger of dearness allowance in the basic pay. — TNS

Amritsar, May 19
Standard Chartered Bank has launched eSaver account which would enable customers to maximise returns on their savings.

C.D.K. Sai Narain, General Manager, Consumer Transaction Banking of the bank, said in a press release here that this was a unique account which offers the flexibility of a savings account with the higher returns of a fixed deposit. The customers were being offered an interest rate of 7 per cent per annum on the term deposit tenure of 100 days. — TNS