The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Farmers told about benefits of group dynamics
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (PAMETI), Punjab Agricultural University, organised a five-day workshop on ‘Group dynamics’ which concluded here today.

The workshop was organised for field functionaries of agricultural and allied departments to acquaint them with developing and working of farmer groups. Benefits of working in a group were discussed in the programme. Dr S.P.S. Brar, Director of the institute, said, ‘‘Small and marginal farmers find it difficult to venture into any agri-enterprise as they have limited resources. Further, if a unit is very small, the quantity of produce is also small and for that meagre produce, the producer finds it difficult to locate markets. Instead, if the farmers group themselves and work collectively, they will have produce in bulk which they can sell rather easily at predetermined terms’’.

During this workshop, the formation of various farmer groups, income generating activities and group entrepreneurship were discussed in detail. The benefits of registering a group with cooperative societies and the role of commercial banks were also highlighted. Participants also interacted with farmer groups at Kaulseri village in Sangrur. The group members explained how their groups were formed and how they progressed.

Dr Brar said agricultural extension was now focusing on group approach because it was effective to extend knowledge to a group rather than to individuals. If one member of a group had any relevant information, he could disperse it among others. By working in groups, individuals could supplement each other's knowledge, skill and resources, he said.

Workshop on teaching aids
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
Nearly 25 teachers from government elementary schools in the district took part in a workshop on teaching and learning materials at the Government Inservice Training Centre here today.

The teachers were given training on the preparation of working and non-working models, charts and quiz cards on different topics from the syllabus. They used thermocol sheets, chart papers, marker pens and other accessories to prepare teaching aids on topics from science, mathematics, languages, social sciences, art and craft and physical education.

Various topics chosen by the teachers included structure of candle, structure of eye, silviculture, digestive system, structure of human heart, periscope, kaleidoscope and parts of speech and their use. In the art and craft section, they made flowers, using stockings and other material, besides posters, portraits and paintings.

Ms Shashi Trehan, a lecturer of biology, said all teachers would make seven different kids of aids during the ongoing five-day workshop. She said every teacher was getting Rs 500 per annum for preparing teaching aids, which could help them in effective teaching. She said since more senses were involved in the process, it helped in 70 per cent retention. Concepts could be made very clear by using these aids, she added.

School organises annual function
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, December 12
Om Parkesh Bansal Modern School celebrated the First part of its 5th annual day cultural show and prize distribution function here today. Mr Hukum Chand Bansal, founder and chairman of the school, was the chief guest on the occasion. The closing ceremony will be held tomorrow when, Dr A.A. Siddiqui, Director General Police, will be the chief guest .

Children from Classes I to IX put up a variety show of folk songs and dances, English and Hindi group songs, classical dance and plays in English and Hindi. The programme began with a shabad and Ganesh vandana. The entire programme was organised by class X students.

The Principal, Mr P.K. Dhar, in his address said all children were participating in the function. The school had achieved distinctions in various co-curricular activities he said, adding that students had contributed for the Gujarat earthquake, cancer patients, the National Foundation, New Delhi, the CMC Ludhiana, for the treatment of poor patients, the PGI Chandigarh, the Child Care (CRY), Mumbai, the Institute of Handicapped and the District Red Cross Society, Fatehgarh Sahib. Mr Bansal said he was striving hard to see that the school would become one of the 10 premier schools in the country.

PAU staff honour union chief
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
The non-teaching staff of the College of Agricultural Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, organised a function in the honour of Mr D.P. Maur, who was recently elected as the president of the PAU Employees’ Union for the eighth consecutive term.

Mr Paramjit Singh Gill, senior vice-president of the union, while welcoming Mr Maur and his team, expressed deep concern over the issue of double audit system introduced in the university. He said employees, dealing with the audit work, were facing a lot of difficulties, resulting in unrest among them. Mr Gill appealed to the president to take up the issue with the authorities concerned.

Mr Maur, while addressing employees, thanked them for their support during the elections. He claimed that during the past 8 years, many demands of the employees had been conceded as a result of the efforts of the union.

These included study leave for non-teaching staff and 80 per cent medical advance for indoor patients. He promised that he and his team would fight for the fulfilment of demands, mentioned in their election manifesto, including time bound promotion policy for the non-teaching employees, implementation of G-IV for left over categories, implementation of 2:1 ratio laboratory for attendants, filling up of promotional posts of technical staff and filling up of other vacant posts of all categories as per sanctioned strength to reduce stress on the employees. He has said the executive committee would render all possible help to the laboratory attendants to win the court case for parity.

Mr Amritpal, general secretary, Dr Gulzar Pandher, senior vice-president, Mr Parshotam Lal (Gurdaspur), Mr Satpal Sharma, vice-president, Mr Joginder Singh, and Mr Narinder Singh also spoke on this occasion. Mr Baldev Walia, propaganda secretary of the union, thanked all non-teaching staff of the College of Agricultural Engineering for attending the function.

Move against physical science students decried
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
Members of the Panjab College Science Teachers Association at a meeting held here on Wednesday condemned the reported move of marginalising candidates of physical sciences from getting sizeable shares in the UPSC and state service commissions by the lobby of social sciences people. The members said that it was highly unjustified to discriminate against the best and most intelligent section of society, including engineers, doctors and scientists.

The meeting was attended by Prof Mahavir Singh (President of the association), GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, Prof Barinderjit Singh Birdi, Prof Jagmohan Singh, Malwa College, Bondali (Samrala ), Prof Deepak Chopra, Govt College, Ludhiana, Prof Inderjit Singh, GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, Prof Parveen Sharma, Arya College, L udhiana, Prof R. P. Singh, GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana.

Quiz contest at SDP College
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
The History Society of SDP College for Women, Ludhiana, observed Martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadur “Hind Di Chaddar” by organising a quiz contest on the college campus. Mrs S. Verma, Principal, was the chief guest.

Ms Neha of BA (II) acted as the quiz master. Five teams comprising 15 students from the Department of History participated in it. Fifty questions in the 10th round were asked on the life achievements and personality of Guru Teg Bahadur.

The results of the quiz are as follows: The first prize for team (A), — Ms Madhu, Ms Neelam and Ms Dimple, second prize to team (C)- Ms Seema, Ms Veena and Narinder, at the third prize to team (B)- Ms Raju, Lata and Savi.