AGRICULTURE

Harrowing time for cotton growers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 4
The cultivation of cotton crop in the state is facing a crisis this year due to acute shortage of irrigation water. While the weather god has played a spoilsport, the non-availability of water in Gobind Sagar, which is supplied to canals all over the state, is adding to the woes of cotton growers.

The farmers of the south-western districts of the state, which constitute the main cotton growing area of the state, are a harrowed lot as due to shortage of irrigation water the cultivation of cotton is being delayed.

The panic gripped farmers from the four districts including Mansa, Faridkot, Mukatsar and Bathinda, which produce almost all the cotton of the state, have started visiting the scientists at Punjab Agricultural University here for help. Confirming this, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr K.S. Aulakh, said he had received phone calls from many upset farmers who were asking for a solution.

Dr Aulakh further said many farmers had even visited him to talk about the gravity of the situation as the canals had gone dry and no water was being supplied for irrigation. He said the university was helpless as irrigation water was required to prepare the fields for cultivation of cotton.

The delay in cultivation has thrown cold water on the plans of the PAU as the new Vice-Chancellor, Dr Aulakh, while taking over had said the university would promote the cultivation of cotton as a method of diversification. He had said the farmers in the whole state would be encouraged to reduce the area under cultivation of paddy and switch over to cotton cultivation.

The failure of rains during winter and scanty rainfall during the monsoon season last year is being seen as the reason for shortage of irrigation water. The cultivation of cotton, which is to be finished by May 10 for better yield, is getting delayed which can lead to huge losses.

The VC said the farmers of these areas had to depend on canal water for irrigation as the underground water was brackish and was unfit for irrigation. Moreover, these areas were arid and comparatively less rainfall was a characteristic.

He said, “We always recommend that for a better yield the cotton should be sown by May 10 under all circumstances. Otherwise, the late sown crop gives considerably less yield and is more prone to attack of various pests. Not only the pests but many other diseases also attack the late sown crop.”

The Vice-Chancellor said, ‘‘We are not able to do anything as far as there is no water. Irrigation water is the most essential thing for any crop and cotton requires the least amount of it. These districts are sowing cotton only because of less water available. We cannot suggest them to grow any other crop like paddy as it would require even more water.”

He said the rains were the only solution to the woes of farmers. “If we experience a good rain within two to three days then it will be a ray of hope for the cotton growers. It will be a welcome everywhere because the harvesting of wheat is near completion”, he added.

The experts of the Agrometerolgy Department, however, said they had no provision available with them to predict the weather forecast 15 days in advance.

EDUCATION

Spare a thought for school kids

THAT the mercury has already crossed 41° Celsius and paralysed life is well known. But spare a thought for school students. Little students are the worst sufferers. First of all the uniforms provided to them are impractical. Why do students have to wear ties, nylon socks, and belts? All these cause a great deal of discomfort for the students. Why can’t students wear uniforms made of soft material without ties, belts and socks and be more comfortable? Moreover, the students are packed like sardines in the classroom which makes six hours of studies unbearable. Electricity cuts add to their woes. The affluent schools can provide power through generators, but what about the schools in the walled city or the government schools which don’t even have fans, what to say of generators? Even in prestigious schools, adequate cool clean drinking water remains a distant dream. After the recess, when the heat is at the peak, the taps go dry. The parents give ice cubes in thermos flasks. They too get exhausted. The thirsty children can hardly concentrate on the lessons. The lesser said about the schools in small rented buildings, the better. Those teaching shops are totally commercial and hardly any facility worth its name is provided.

The district administration should take strict action against such commercial teaching shops that go by the name of schools and also reduce the school timings so that the students can be home before noon.

Imported fruits like pears, apples, Kiwi fruit and plums have entered the fruit stalls, but mercifully they can’t give competition to mangoes, the king of fruits. Mind boggling variety of mangoes are available in the market and offer good competition to foreign fruits. A lot of migrants have come from Rajasthan. The entire Ferozepore is occupied by them. They are doing brisk business selling watermelons of different shapes and sizes.

No new movie has been released. Good for the college students as they will not be tempted to see one. Fashion forecasters advise cool cottons, loose-fitting clothes, pastel shades, strappy sandals and a good pair of sunglasses to protect the eyes. Use a good sun-screen lotion before setting out from home. Better still carry an umbrella. Too much of sun ruins the complexion and ages the skin faster.

All the gastro ailments are on the rise as high temperatures ferment the food faster. Coupled with contaminated water, Ludhianvis are bound to suffer from waterborne diseases. Take precautions and safeguard your health. AA

Surprise visit to school bears fruit
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, May 4
The Education Department here has implemented the orders passed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, at the time of his surprise visit to Government High School, Kotla Bajwara, on April 27.

The District Education Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib, said here today that a mathematics teacher in the school who was working in the District Education office on deputation as legal adviser, had been sent back to the school.

Similarly, a Panjabi teacher from Government Middle School, Ranwa, had been shifted and she had joined Kotla Bajwara School on May 2.

A school had been upgraded to senior secondary standard on April 30 and work on the boundary wall was in progress. Meanwhile, the list of upgradation of some schools, which was sent for approval, is still awaited.

Declamation contest at Sidhant Kendra
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
A declamation contest to commemorate the 37th death anniversary of Jahawarlal Nehru was organised by the Nehru Sidhant Kendra Trust for school children today. Seventeen schools participated in the contest. Each team was represented by two members.

The topic for the contest in Hindi was “Kainser se bhi bhayanak rog bhrastachar”. Deepti of BCM School won the first prize. Tarun of DAV School was placed second. The third position went to Neelima Pandey of BCM School, Focal Point.

The topic for the students who chose to speak in English was “When people are poor, laws are useless”. The students had a good grasp of the subject and the first prize went to Dilpreet Grewal of GGN Public School. Amrita Grewal of DAV School stood second and Amit Goyal of KVM School came third.

In the Punjabi language, the students chose varied topics. Jasleen spoke on “Karni Nanaka tan man manda hoye” and won the first prize. Simmi of BCM School, Focal Point, came second and Kamini Arora of Rashtriya Bal Vidya Mandir won the third prize.

The chief guest, Mr Joginder Singh, former Principal of the GGN Khalsa College for Boys, gave away the prizes to the winners.

CULTURE

Artist who draws attention
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
Kulwinder, a teenager of Pamal near here, has been creating cartoon strips since childhood, but no one has spotted his talent so far.

This boy has exceptional drawing skills and can become a popular cartoonist. This hobby, which has now become his obsession, makes him draw cartoons while the other children of his age play. A free period in school and the shade of a tree are enough to fire his imagination.

At times, his parents tell him not to waste time on these “useless” drawings, but he carries on. He says that he started drawing cartoons at an early age. He used to draw on a rough notebook with colour pens at a spot where village elders played cards.

Kulwinder wants advice on how to get his huge collection of cartoon strips published. He was inspired to take up this art after reading comics that were available at a shop in his village. He used to save his pocket money to buy these comics to study the drawings in these. Practice brought perfection in his drawings.

He was also fascinated by characters like He Man and made numerous sketches of it. He has created many original cartoon characters and stories.

Kulwinder said, “I have created a character called Stranger. The first story featuring him is titled ‘Badla’ where a man kills his father. Stranger grows up, kills the villain and turns to doing good deeds.”

In another story, the villain implants a machine in Stranger’s head to control his mind. One day, the machine goes out of order and Stranger realises the evil man’s intentions. After this, he helps the police catch the villain.

Kulwinder says, “I spend Rs 25 to buy pens every month and devote an hour everyday to making sketches. I want to become an architect, but I will never stop drawing cartoons.”