The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Tree plantation Campaign
Stray cattle a grave threat in Muktsar
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 5
Even though the administration has set up a target of planting 8 lakh saplings across the district during the current year, not enough is being done to protect the saplings planted in the first month of the plantation drive.

Last month, Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh had started the drive by planting saplings in the District Administrative Complex (DAC) and also appealed to the other government officials and commoners to do the same. But it seems he has forgotten to take care of the saplings planted by his own hands.

Most of the saplings planted are without any tree guards and stray cattle, which often enter the DAC, are proving to be a threat to the survival of these plants, which are in their initial stage as of now.

A visit to the area near the canteen revealed that a number of stray cattle were present there, posing a threat to the survival of plants.

When asked about the survival of plants, a document writer, who runs a shop inside the DAC, said, “The rear side of the DAC is more or less a cow shelter, as hardly anyone pays heed towards it. These stray cattle are eating the saplings planted recently. If the administration really wants to achieve its purpose, it must install tree guards so that the plants can be saved.”

Similarly, another shopkeeper said, “The administration should have first removed the stray cattle and only then started the plantation drive. As of now, some plants have been eaten up by the stray animals moving around in the DAC.”

He further said that on previous occasions too, plantation drives have not been much successful.

Local shopkeepers pointed out that the watering of plants was also irregular and if it continued in a similar vein, most of the plants would wilt as the weather conditions are already unfavourable.

When contacted, District Forest Officer (DFO), Sanjay Bansal, said, “We will definitely achieve the target of planting 8 lakh saplings with the help of our staff. Our duty is to provide assistance to those willing to plant saplings. After that, it is the duty of the office or person concerned to take care of the saplings where ever these have been planted.”

“As far as the plantation in the forest area is concerned, our officials are keeping an eye there throughout the day,” added Bansal.

Green drive gets going in Moga

Moga, August 5
A tree plantation drive has been launched by the local Municipal Corporation (MC) in association with the local NGOs here.

The executive officer of the MC, KS Brar, said they were providing 3,000 saplings to the local residents to make the town green. “Wherever needed, tree guards would be erected to save the plants from falling prey to stray cattle,” he said.

The civic body has appealed to the residents to take care of the trees being planted in their areas.

A former president of the local body, Barjinder Singh Brar, has appreciated the effort of the local administration for continuing the green drive launched by him three years ago. — TNS

Govt Primary Schools in Punjab
97 pc students poor, Dalits: GOI survey
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 5
As many as 97 per cent of the students of government primary schools in Punjab belong to Dalit families, a survey conducted by the Government of India (GOI) has revealed.

The survey examined students of primary classes (I-V) in Punjab and found that only three per cent of the students belong to other categories, but they come from economically weaker families.

The government had conducted the survey during the evaluation of the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education.

The educational background of the parents is an important factor for enabling children to continue studies. The survey found that the parents of 50.51 per cent students of government primary schools in Punjab are illiterate. About 23.47 per cent parents have completed primary education while 15.66 per cent studied till class VIII.

In contrast, the parents of 24.12 per cent students of government primary schools in Haryana were either matriculate or above. In Punjab, the figure stands at 10.10 per cent.

In Kerala, the state known for high literacy rate, the percentage of such parents is 42.01, revealed the survey.

At national level, while the parents of 43 per cent students of government primary schools are engaged as labourers in agricultural and other activities, in Punjab the percentage of such parents is 70.65.

Further, the survey found that the intake of milk among 21 per cent of kids in Punjab was nil while 13.5 per cent never got fruits at home.

The students in government schools in urban areas mainly belong to SC/BC categories. In urban areas, the primary government schools cater to only very poor children belonging to SC/BC and other categories.

In the Government Middle School in Bazigar Basti of Faridkot, out of a total of 166 students, 154 belong to SC category while eight were from BC category. Only four students are from general category and they belong to economically weaker sections of society.

Survey finds

* The parents of over 50 per cent students are illiterate, 23.47 per cent have completed primary education while 15.66 per cent studied till class VIII.

* The parents of close to 70 per cent students of government primary schools in Punjab work as labourers in agricultural or other activities.

* About 21 per cent of the students don’t get milk at home while 13.5 per cent were never fed fruits.

* The government schools in urban areas of Punjab mainly cater to students belonging to SC/BC categories.

Farmers distribute liquor to ‘please’ the Rain God
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 5
After failing to ‘please’ the Rain God by offering free sweetened water to commuters, nearly a hundred odd farmers of Kaoni village of the Gidderbaha sub-division, facing almost a drought-like situation, today served free liquor to commuters.

In yet another attempt to ‘please Indra Devta’ and hopeful of getting some showers in the next few hours, the villagers continued this “illegal” practice for almost four hours.

Both young and old were seen enjoying ‘daaru da langar’ at an open bar that came up in the village.

The villagers had also arranged for accompaniments to liquor.

It is learnt that at about 11 am, the villagers chanted some religious hymns and later, started signalling the commuters on Guri Sanghar road to stop and partake of “daaru da langar”.

“We are offering free liquor to everyone, as our all the methods to please the Rain God have failed. We have pooled money to offer free liquor to commuters,” said a tipsy elderly in the village.

A young man at the open bar said, “Much disturbed over the unfavourable weather conditions, we finally took this step. Our paddy crop is drying. It is believed that after offering liquor to commoners, the Rain God becomes happy and showers his blessing.”aWhen contacted, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh said, “I have been told by my subordinates that residents of Kaoni village serve free liquor as a prasad after holding some religious ceremony or fair, every year. Still, I will check the facts.”

Direct payment to farmers
It will prove fatal to our business: Arhtiyas
Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 5
Punjab Mandi Board chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and vice-chairman Ravinder Singh Cheema are at loggerheads over implementing the Centre’s directive to make payment against the procurement of produce directly to farmers.

Lakhowal heads the main faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) while Cheema is the president of Punjab Arhtiya (commission agents) Association.

At a meeting of the commission agents of the region here, Arhtiya Association district president Satinder Bhandari and additional president Pramil Kalani regretted that the Mandi Board observed “exceptional haste” in enforcing the directions of the Union Agricultural Minister VK Thomas on making payments directly to the farmers instead of routing it through commission agents.

They also resented that Lakhowal had told commission agents in the state to arrange for computerised equipment to weigh the farm produce and use power cleaners to make the grains dust-free.

Training guns at the UPA Government, the district officials of the Arhtiya Association alleged that the government, led by the Congress, was pursuing “divide and rule” policy by creating a wedge between commission agents and farmers even when both had been dependent on each other for more than a century.

Claiming that Cheema had asked them to protest against the new directions issued by the Board, the commission agents resolved to submit memorandums to the state agricultural minister, through the DCs in all districts of the Malwa region, on August 21.

They believe that the new policy would prove fatal to the business of commission agents. They will seek withdrawal of the directions issued by the Mandi Board.

They claimed that CM Parkash Singh Badal had assured that justice would be done to the commission agents.

From Russia with love!
Tribune News Service

Fazilka, August 5
Rare photographs of the first Indian to winter over the South Pole and circumnavigate the Antarctica, Dr Paramjit Singh Sehra, have been presented by Alexander Pshenichnyy, son of Vitaly Evanovich Pshenichneyy, in Russia.

These two are among Dr Sehra’s rarest and most precious Antarctic photographs taken by Vitaly Evanovich Pshenichneyy, who was the first mate and captain of the ship Navarin, which took him to Antarctica, at that time. Dr Parmjit Singh Sehra has visited and worked in all the seven continents of the world, including the coldest place, ‘Vostok’, in Antarctica and the hottest place, ‘El-Zizia’, in Libya. Dr Sehra is currently the director principal of the Ghubaya College of Engineering and Technology, Jalalabad, in Fazilka district.