Ludhiana, February 3
Winner of national award for innovative farming and Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award, Mr Sukhpal Singh Bhullar attributes his success to growing organic fruits and their self marketing. A progressive fruit grower from Bathinda district, Mr Bhullar said leasing his land to contractors had always been a loosing proposition for him. “Ever since I started marketing my own produce, my income has grown manifold,” he said.

Mr Bhullar is a successful kinnow grower. He has developed a system for proper grading and marketing of kinnows that has enabled him to earn much higher profits. Besides, increasing income for himself, he has also generated employment avenues for others at his village.

Sharing his experience at the PAU today, he said through waxing technique he had learned to increase the shelf-life of his kinnows. For this, training at the Post Harvest Technology Centre at PAU had been very helpful, he added.

Mr Bhullar uses Internet to keep a watch on the market. “Timely harvesting, proper grading and attractive packing is my success mantra,” he says proudly and adds, “Get rid of the middleman if you want to earn more.”

Meanwhile, eminent Punjabi writer and personal assistant to Director of Extension Education at Punjab Agricultural University, Dr Tarsem Lal, retired yesterday after 40 years of service at the university. An avid reader, Dr Tarsem Lal completed his PhD in Punjabi literature from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He also wrote a book “Naam Padarath Har ki Seva”. 

Ludhiana, February 3
The Principal of Tagore Public School (TPS) joined the staff and students to give a warm send-off to Class XII students here yesterday. The outgoing class was given a warm welcome as their juniors arranged a colourful fiesta for them. The Principal appreciated their contribution towards the school and wished them great success in life. Pallavi of XI welcomed the seniors and thanked them for their support. The colourfully attired students were judged on various aspects and were declared as the best dressed girl and the best dressed boy, the most disciplined girl and boy and Mr TPS and Ms TPS.

Ludhiana, February 3
The Lok Boli Mela was held at Punjabi Bhavan by the Lok Boli Mela Trust here today. Mr Janmeja Singh Johal, president of the trust, said, “We wanted to convey through this mela that Punjabi culture is vast but unfortunately things that were popular earlier and were very essential part of our tradition were being pushed to the background.”

One saw for a change a different aspect of the mela. There were artistes adept in “kissa gatha” (story depiction) and “kavya gatha” (rendering of poems) and told stories in a very effective manner.

Mr Johal said it took him six months to track these artistes. “I travelled through villages and collected photographs and bio-datas of performers who were not famous but were talented. We want to preserve their art and hence we are trying to popularise the fairs at the grassroots level.”

That the mela was popular was evident as the audience sat through the mela that started at 11 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

Another interesting part of the mela was the use of old traditional musical instruments which one does not get to see these days.

Doraha, February 3
A five-member team of Rotary district No. 5630, Nebraska, USA, led by Rotarian Thomas L. Kraus arrived here on February 1 for a three-day visit to Sidhu Hospital Doraha, Ludhiana. The team comprised of highly qualified professionals in various fields. Dr Ravinder Singh Sidhu and Dr Gursaran Kaur Sidhu, both Directors of Sidhu Hospital, accorded a warm welcome to the visiting Rotarians. Dr Ravinder Singh mentioned that the 150-bedded multispeciality hospital in a total rural setting was the brainchild of Dr Harbans Singh Sidhu, the Managing Director, who laid the foundation more than 42 years ago. He further said the hospital had continuously upgraded its professional skills and had the latest diagnostic equipment. It was one of the main healthcare providers for the rural masses in the region.

The Sidhu School of Nursing, Doraha, organised a cultural programme in honour of the visiting team. Ms Teliza Rodriguez and Kerri Rempp could not restrain themselves and tried their steps at the famous folk dances of Punjab, bhangra and giddha. During an informal interaction with the students of the nursing school, the visiting team members were highly impressed by their level of academics and general awareness. Mr Jeffrey A. Golus, an agro-scientist, and Mr Jeff A. Tidyman, an aerospace engineer, interacted with the nursing students, who were primarily from agricultural families, and wese pleasantly surprised at the information they had on agricultural matters.

During the visit to the hospital, the team felt that world-class medical treatment and health care was being provided by highly-qualified professionals, both doctors and paramedics. Interacting with some of the patients, Mr Kraus appreciated the personal and close involvement of the hospital staff in providing excellent treatment to the needy patients. He felt that this could well be one of the reasons for the early recovery of serious patients.

Ludhiana, February 3
The stage is set for the first Ludhiana Marathon to be held on Sunday. Around 2000 participants have registered their names for this mega event to be organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad. Arrangements made for the smooth conduct of this marathon were reviewed at a meeting of the organising committee here this afternoon.

Mr Rajinder Sharma, coordinator of this event, informed that the participants had been asked to assemble at Guru Nanak Stadium at 9 am where they would be handed over the kits. A tricycle race for the physically handicapped would also be held on this occasion. The participants would cover a distance of 1.5 km.

This would be followed by the 8.2 km marathon run. Among others, Dinesh Mongia, member of the Indian cricket team, Ms Punjaban World Japjee Khaira, Ramandeep Singh Grewal, former captain of the national hockey team currently working as Deputy Director, Sports, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Suman Sharma, Arjuna awardee (basketball) and Arun Dhand, former world veterans champion (badminton) would also participate.

Mr Chander Shekhar, ADGP, Punjab (Law and Order) will flag off the marathon at 11 am. The winners in the men's and women's sections will be given a cash prize of Rs 5,100 while the runners up would pocket a cash prize of Rs 3,100 besides attractive mementoes.

A team of doctors from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Rama Charitable Hospital, and Viklang Sahayta Kendra run by the Bharat Vikas Charitable Trust would accompany the participants to provide assistance if needed, Mr Sharma said.

Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the marathon, the Bharat Vikas Parishad had resolved to make the event an annual affair, he added.