Ludhiana, February 9
The disparity between the rural and urban needs to be understood in terms of decreasing rural participation in higher education. This was stated by Dr N.S. Malhi, Director of Extension, Punjab Agricultural University, during the concluding function of a training course on agriculture diversification and allied fields. The course was organised in collaboration with the Bank of India for farmers.

Citing the statistics from a recent survey, Dr Malhi said only four out of every 100 children receiving higher education were from the rural background. He warned that this gap could lead to serious social and economic repercussions. Achieving higher income targets might not be easy through traditional crop rotation whereas diversification could contribute to better soil health and higher income, he added.

Dr Malhi informed the farmers about the newly constituted section in the Department of Agronomy, which dealt with research and extension services regarding medicinal and aromatic plants. Only innovation could give a new direction to agriculture, he affirmed.

Giving the example of BT cotton, Dr Malhi said the crop was financially viable, of superior quality and saved the environment from the use of harmful pesticides. He prevailed upon the farmers to adopt agriculture in a focused manner keeping in mind the intricacies and scientific implications of the profession. This also happens to be in tandem with the slogan for the coming Kisan Mela “Save Environment, Save Punjab”.

Mandi Gobindgarh, February 9
The RIMT Institute of Management and Computer Technology will organise its Annual Inter-College Cultural Extravaganza-“Rhythmz 07” on February 10.

Dr B.S. Bhatia, director of the institute, said more than 600 participants from management and degree institutes from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh will showcase their talent.

Mr Anil Khanna,CEO of Se Asia, will be the chief guest and the programme will be presided over by Hukam Chand Bansal, Chairman of the RIMT Group of Educational Institutes.

Participants will compete for 18 different events. The main stage events include skit, choreography, group dance, solo song, modelling, quiz, antakshri, laughter challenge and ad mad show. The off-stage events will be mehndi, rangoli, poster-making, creative writing, best out of waste, collage-making, cartooning, sell IT and software development.

Prof Harmail Singh, coordinator of the programme, said the institutes, which have already confirmed their participation include Gian Jyoti Institute, Mohali; Baba Kuma Singh Ji Engineering College, Amritsar, Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute of Engineering College, Jalandhar, Gobingarh Public College, Mandi Gobindgarh; Bhutan College, Guru Nanak Girls College, Ludhiana; Ramgarhia College, Phagwara; Khalsa College, Ludhiana, Chitkara-Pharmacy College, Rajpura, Lal Bahadur Arya Mahila College, Barnala; S.M. Degree College, Sangrur; Govt College of Bathinda; RIMT Engg College, Mandi Gobindgarh; RIMT B.Ed. College, Mandi Gobindgarh; Desh Bhagat College, Mandi Gobindgarh; Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engg. College, Amritsar; A.S. College, Khanna; SM Degree College, Lehragaga; Lal Bahadur Shastri College, Barnala; Swami Satyanand College, Ambala; Mata Gujari College, Fatehgarh Sahib; Lincoln Law College, Maghi Memorial College; AIMT, Ambala; Khalsa College, Patiala, RIMT Institute of Engineering, RIMT B.Ed. College, Gobindgarh Institute of Engineering, Mandi Gobindgarh.

Ludhiana, February 9
Clout remains a desire for a vast majority of persons. But not for this segment of students, who have decided to remain unmoved by promises of any political party. A local faction of students has decided to generate awareness among the youth on their rights, particularly pertaining to education.

This segment has chalked out a programme to organise 42 plays and 11 seminars in various educational institutions across the state before the elections take place, which would focus on rights of people and principles of Bhagat Singh.

"We have decided not to extend support to any political party. Instead, we would generate awareness among students in a manner that they can question political leaders on the validity of the claims they are making," said Harpreet Jirak, president, Punjab Students Union. Perturbed over rising costs of education and "absence of a clear cut policy on education", the students of this union said they would seek replies from politicians on plans related to this field.

"It is a sorry state of affairs where attaining education is getting out of reach of not only the economically weaker sections, but also the middle class. It is such problems which have made us opt for a way out like this one."

Jirak said PSU will rope in famous theatre activist Gursharan Singh of Bhai Manna Singh fame for their plays.