AGRICULTURE

Arhtias protest non-payment for paddy
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, December 11
The members of the local Arhtia Association organised a procession in protest against the non-payment of the sum of paddy, which amounted to Rs 9 crore. According to Mr Vijay Jhanji, president, Mr Jagjit Singh, general secretary, the Punjab Government had issued instructions to make payments to the farmers within 72 hours but no payment had been made for the paddy sold at Jagraon Mandi and at purchase centers for the past two months.

They alleged that the District Food and Supplies Department had to pay Rs 5 crore, while the Punjab State Godown Corporation was required to pay Rs 4 crore. They said the farmers were pressing hard to make immediate payments and it had put the commission agents in the doldrums. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the SDM, Mr Jaspal Mittal.

Training on farm machinery concludes
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 11
The Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University, organised a two-day training programme for progressive manufacturers on “Manufacturing technology for improved agricultural implements” that concluded here today. The training was organised under the ICAR-NATP project on “Prototype manufacturing of agricultural implements.”

Dr S.R. Verma, former-Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, who was the chief guest in the concluding session, pointed out that farm machinery was playing a pivotal role in improving farm production and productivity and thereby enhancing not only the quality of product but also reducing the cost of production.

While addressing the participants, Dr V.K. Sharma, Additional Director of Research (Engg.), PAU, who also presided over the function, mentioned about the need of having such training programmes in view of the fact that machinery propagation was only possible through agricultural machinery manufacturers. The PAU had an open door policy in this regard. The university had developed these equipment and the message had to be carried to the beneficiaries through the manufacturers.

Dr I.K. Garg, Senior Research Engineer-cum-Head of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, PAU, informed that 28 participants had participated in the programme. He pointed out the advantages of minimum tillage technologies over the conventional wheat-sowing method. During the training course, participants were given technical know-how about the latest machines like self-propelled sprayers, multicrop planter, flail type forage harvester, etc, by pressing over the need for introducing these machines for not only meeting the challenges of diversification but also for improving the application efficiency and cost reduction for the SE Operations. He emphasised on the need for introducing precision planters, which aligned the seeds not only in rows but also maintained plant to plant spacing. Manual garlic planter was another useful device that could not only save labour from such tedious operations but could also improve the productivity of these crops. Participants were also taken to CTR to acquaint them with CAD/CAM and CNC Machinery and advance technologies.

CPI supports demands of teachers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 11
A meeting of the executive committee of the local CPI unit was held under the presidentship of Dr Arun Mitra.

Mr Kartar Singh Bowani, secretary of the local unit, demanded that government must immediately concede to their long pending genuine demands so that studies in the colleges can be resumed and students career did not suffer.

COURTS

Forum rejects PSEB plea
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 11
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to refund Rs 13,400 deposited by the Dussera Committee, Upakar Nagar. The forum has also directed to pay interest on the said amount from the date of deposit till actual payment at the rate of 12 per cent per annum along with Rs 500 as cost of litigation.

According to the complaint, the committee had deposited Rs 13,400 as security with the PSEB on September, 29, 1999, for getting a temporary power connection to celebrate Dasehra. The said connection was demanded in the name of Mr Jeevan Soni.

It was alleged that the said connection was not given despite making many requests by the committee. The committee stated that there was clear deficiency in services on part of the PSEB.

The PSEB admitted before the forum that the committee applied for a temporary power connection on September, 28, 1999, for celebrating Dasehra and had deposited the required charges for that. The respondent stated that the connection was not given to the committee because an amount of Rs 8,990 was outstanding against the previous temporary connection. It further stated that a memorandum was issued on October 6, 1999, to Jeewan Soni to deposit the said amount. It was also mentioned in the memorandum that only after depositing the said amount, the temporary connection would be issued.

The forum observed that as per the document placed before the forum, the committee applied for a temporary power connection for celebrating the festival.

The forum further stated that Mr Jeevan Soni had deposited Rs 13,400 as security and Rs 3,200 for his domestic connection. But the PSEB did not release the said connection on the ground that an amount of Rs 8,990 was outstanding against the complainant, it added.

However, the PSEB had not placed any document to prove that the said amount was outstanding against the complainant, it further added.

Moreover, the complainant had produced the paid bill of temporary connection released by the PSEB in 1998, the forum said. The forum held that the refusal for issuing the temporary connection on the basis of the plea of any outstanding amount against the committed was not justified on part of the PSEB and the respondent was liable to refund the security with interest from the date of deposit till actual payment.

CULTURE

The dying culture of Punjab
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, December 11
Gone are the days when the sons and daughters-in-law in Punjab used to get up early in the morning to offer respects to their parents. Now people, more so those belonging to the younger generation, start their day with ‘hello’ and ‘hi’. The rich Punjabi traditions seem to have gone into the background with deep and widespread western cultural influence replacing them.

The elders these days regret with nostalgia the old days. Ms Manjeet Sodhia, former Principal, Government College for Women, Ludhiana, said it was unfortunate that today’s’ generation was not only forgetting the culture but was also not aware of it. One of the main reasons for this “cultural degradation” was the massive and wide media exposure.

“The so-called Punjabi channels which claim to promote Punjabi traditions and culture exploit the younger generation. The male and female artists wear lousy dresses, exposing their bodies. They use vulgar language. Is this promoting Punjabi culture”, asked Ms Sodhia.

Punjab has rich culture. Earlier, marriages were solemnised at homes and gurdwaras where ‘nanke’ and ‘dadke’ used to give ‘sithniyan’ to each other. There used to be a lively atmosphere all around. With the upcoming of so many marriage palaces, all these rich traditions have vanished as people find these marriage palaces convenient, added the former principal.

The ‘suhags’ and ‘ghoris’ sung by Punjabi womenfolk have been replaced by DJs. One hardly finds any woman fully clad in Punjabi suit with ‘baagh, phulkari’ and ‘Punjabi jutti’ even in marriages. Women specially the young girls, prefer to wear western outfits, the showy and skimpy ones. They term the traditional people as “old fashioned”, regretted Ms Sodhia.

“The younger generation hardly knows anything like ‘peediyan, pankhiyan, baltoi, gagar, pippal pattiyan, pangoore, manjiyan and singtapitiyan’. One can tolerate this much but the sad part is that the values and ethics which have been lost by the younger generation are irreplaceable. They do not respect their elders”, maintained Ms Sodhia.

Ms Paramjit Kaur Kahlon, one of the directors of Guru Nanak International Public School, said people had been “neglecting their virsa”. She said: “Our traditions and customs can play a vital role in developing the personality of children. It is sad that our culture is dying. Today’s’ generation does not know anything about ‘sufi kalam, shabad gayan and shlok’. They know the pop music of these jazzy singers”.

Ms Kahlon further added that today girls preferred wearing showy and scanty dresses so that they can get the attraction of people around them. “Take the example of Pakistani women. They are always fully clad. Are they not beautiful? Have they not maintained their traditions? They promote their culture in a decent manner. They look gorgeous yet dignified. They know their limitations”, said Ms Kahlon.

Ms Kahlon said it was unfortunate that people of developed countries “admired our traditions and customs but here we are losing them”. She said the media could play a positive role in promoting Punjabi culture as it was easily approachable to ruralities also.

Ms Pappo Abnash, a social activist of the city, said the youth was not familiar with the Punjabi customs. The grace and charm of ‘jaago’ has vanished. The concept of nuclear families has changed the entire scenario. There are no feelings and attachments. The old ones become a burden on their children, she said.

ADMINISTRATION

MC removes temporary structures around temple
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 11
As part of operation clean-up, the Municipal Corporation staff today removed a number of flower stalls and temporary structures in front of Durga Mata Mandir here. The MC had cleared a few kiosks and a ‘jora ghar’ on the other side of the road in front of the temple about a fortnight ago to reduce congestion and improve the flow of traffic on the busy stretch of road from the Jagraon bridge turning to Fountain Chowk.

According to MC Zonal Commissioner Prem Chand, this was routine exercise by the Tehbazari Department of the MC and there was no resistance of any kind from any quarter. He said a vigorous campaign was on to clear all kinds of temporary encroachments along the roads to bring a semblance of order to the chaotic traffic conditions.

When asked on the MC stand on the encroachment by the temple building, Commissioner R.L. Kalsia told Ludhiana Tribune that the temple management had assured the administration that the encroachment on part of the road would be cleared during the next two or three days. “We are waiting for a positive response from the temple management as promised by them.” However, he made it clear that the MC would not let the matter hang fire for an indefinite period and move in accordance with the provisions of law to remove the encroachment and to clear the road to meet the demand of ever-increasing vehicular traffic and a large number of devotees visiting the temple.