Campaign against FMD launched
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 17
The Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab, has launched a campaign to administer haemorrhagic septicemia and foot and mouth disease vaccine to all animals in the state to counter any kind of eventuality during the coming rainy season.

This was announced by Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Animal Husbandry Minister, Punjab, while presiding over a state-level meeting of deputy directors of the department from all the districts here last evening.

Mr Kang directed the officials go for 100 per cent vaccination in all districts by the June end and warned that strict disciplinary action would be taken against those who would not achieve the given target under this programme.

He cautioned the defaulters that after the explanation regarding the poor performance, the adverse remarks would be entered in the ACRs. The minister reminded the officials that the state government was giving top priority to promote the dairy and other related ventures under the diversification programmes keep the farmers away from wheat-paddy crop pattern, which was no longer a profitable and employment generating venture.

He asked the officials to create awareness among the people to save their livestock from these deadly diseases by vaccinating them as these diseases were causing severe damage to the production.

Referring to another programme launched by the department for improvement of breed of the milk animals, both cows and buffaloes, by providing frozen semen from the imported parent stock for artificial insemination in all parts of the state, the minister directed the offices to observe the required precaution carefully to maintain and use the frozen semen at the prescribed temperature right up to the insemination time.

On a point raised by Mr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, regarding the laxity on the part of field staff in maintaining the temperature of frozen semen, the minister said this gross irregularity, if prevalent, would be viewed seriously and stern action would be taken against the guilty officials. He informed that the department had to make lot of efforts and hard work in producing the frozen semen from the imported bulls by implementing strict quality control and called upon the officers to ensure proper handling of frozen semen at their level.

He said the government had also launched a programme named ‘Adarsh Gram Yojana’ under which 140 villages had been adopted during the last year and similar number of villages were being covered in the current financial year. He said under this programme joint camps by all three departments including animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries were being organised in the selective villages to create awareness among the people regarding the stress of the government on dairy and fishery departments. Mr Kang said in these camps, educated youths were selected from the surrounding village for giving them training and subsidised loans to set up commercial dairy farms, so that they could be on their own.

Later addressing a meeting of the officers of the Fisheries Department, the minister called upon them to put in serious efforts to spread the area under fisheries, as the fish farms in the state were showing excellent performance as compared to other states. He claimed that the average fish production in the state has been recorded a 6,094 kg per hectare as compared to the national average of 2,200 kg per hectare.

Procurement price of milk soon: Kang
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 17
Giving assurance to all dairy farmers in Punjab on fixing the procurement price of milk, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, said that a decision in this regard would be taken up soon by a special board set for the purpose.

Stating this at a function organised for honouring the dairy farmers at PAU yesterday, Mr Kang said that an 11-member board would deliberate on reducing the expenses being incurred by Milkfed so that it could offer them a higher price.

Mr Kang said that several awareness campaigns were being organised throughout the state to educate the dairy farmers about maintaining their sheds, taking proper care of the animal health, cross-breeding them with high-yielding exotic cattle and producing milk without any traces of harmful chemicals.

The minister also informed that farmers could avail hi-tech training in the field from various institutes set up at Phagwara, Dera Baba Nanak and Tarn Taran. 

Honours for an unassuming Tulsa
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 17
It was the honours of Tulsa, the unassuming Nepalese daughter of a watchman, who got second place in the plus two examination of the Punjab School Education Board, results of which were declared recently. During the last two days Tulsa’s non descript residence in the isolated industrial shed in the Focal Point has seen a stream of visitors, who come here to congratulate her.

Yesterday, when the filmstar-turned politician Mr Sunil Dutt visited her residence it was an occasion for celebration for the family, the neighbourers and other workers who live in the vicinity. Mr Dutt presented a bouquet and a shawl to Tulsa, who said, she felt proud and honoured.

The encouragement she had been getting from people had made her think big.

Earlier, she said, she had hoped to become a teacher. “But now I think I may be able to do something bigger and better”, she told Ludhiana Tribune. Tulsa said she was grateful to Mr Dutt who had spared his precious time to see her.

Mr Dutt was accompanied by local Congress leaders, including Mr Pawan Dewan, Mr KK Bawa, Mr Jarnail Singh Grewal, Mr Akshay Bhanot, Mr Subash Rajasthani and several others. Mr Dutt was on his way back to Delhi from Talhan (Jalandhar) where he had gone earlier in the day.

Sunil Dutt said, children like Tulsa promised hope for the country. “It is children like Tulsa who give me great hope”, he said, while adding, “It is a classic case of an ordinary girl doing something extraordinary”.

He observed that there might be a number of other students like her who would need some help and assistance to shine in life.

He thanked Mr Pawan Dewan for arranging a meeting with the “bright and extraordinary girl”.

He said, “it gave me immense joy to come and see this girl in her house...I really feel I have met some one great, no matter if she is too young as yet”. 

Summer camp concludes 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 17
Exhibition and competitions held today marked the conclusion of a fortnight-long summer camp that was being organised for the students of Spring Dale Public School, Sherpur.

As many as 200 students had been taking part in various activities such as English speaking, computer education, moral education, paintings, folk dances, western dances, martial arts and music. Students displayed various items such bedsheets, table cloth, TV covers and sofa backs adorned with dot painting, nib painting and embroidery work. Chinese painting done on glass pieces, soft toys, candles and paper flowers were also exhibited.

Ms Avinash Kaur Walia, Principal, gave prizes to the best performers. Davinder of Class III won prize for playing harmonium, Ashmeet of UKG was declared the youngest tabla player. Monik and Mohit of Class VIII received prize for fluency in English speaking. In computers, Kulwinder Singh and Ashish of Class VII won prize in senior group while Paramjit Kaur, Jasjeet Rekhi and Madhulika of Class III and Abhishek and Rishab of Class II were declared winners from junior group.

In art and craft, Alka of Class IV, Kulwinder of Class VII and Shruti of Class XI received prizes. Money of Class VIII received prize for bhangra and Rohit won the prize for martial arts. 

Orientation programme for KCW students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 17
A five-day placement orientation programme for M.Sc. (IT) students of all Panjab University affiliated colleges in Ludhiana district commenced at the Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, here today.

The programme is being organised by the Information Technology Centre for College Education (ITCCE), Panjab University, Chandigarh, in its endeavour to help the students in finding job placements, once they pass out. The programme is aimed at helping the students in preparing for the campus interviews to be held at the PU, Chandigarh, where the top software companies would be invited.

Dr Varinder Kaur Thind, Principal, Khalsa college, Ludhiana, welcomed the distinguished guests, faculty members of different colleges and students. Prof Ramesh Kapoor, Dean, College Development Council, and Hony Director, ITCCE delivered the inaugural address. Col D.S. Cheema, Head, Department of Professional Studies, DAV College, Chandigarh, gave the inaugural lecture.

Natak mela organised
Our Correspondent

Samrala, June 17
The local ‘Paras Rang Manch’ organised a ‘natak mela’ in Harnam Nagar here, on Sunday night. This cultural programme was inaugurated by MLA Amrik Singh Dhillon while Mr Tej Parkash Singh Kotli, Transport Minister, was the chief guest. Others present were Mr Bhupinder Singh Benipal, former chairman of the Block Samiti, Mr Malvir Singh Khatran, member, Block Samiti, a senior Akali leader, Mr Gurtejpal Singh Bhanwanpura, and senior Congress leader Avtar Singh Ghulal.

In the fancy dress contest Bhawanjeet, Navjot stood first and second, respectively. A choreography ‘ghodian’ and khoon di holi’ were presented. In the juniors bhangra contest a KG team was first and Jaggu club second. Among the senior bhangra team contest Rajgarh Club was first and Hada club, Punjab, stood second.

A drama ‘Pachhtawq’ was also staged which was written and directed by the director of the rang manch, Mr Paramjeet Deputy. The theme of the drama was intoxication among the youth was very appreciable.