Five rabi crops to be sown on contract
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
The Punjab Government has decided to sow five rabi crops under contract farming in the forthcoming season. These will include durum wheat, hyola, gram, peas and sunflower in 1.65 lakh hectares.

This was stated by Dr Ajmer Singh, Director, Agriculture, Punjab, on the concluding day of a two-day state level workshop organised by the Directorate of Extension Education, Punjab Agricultural University, at Pal Auditorium here today. The workshop aimed at finalising the latest recommendations for the forthcoming rabi crops with inputs from the scientists working for various research developments and agricultural officers on the basis of their field observations.

Dr Ajmer Singh said that in the current kharif season, 90,000 hectares was brought under basmati, 20,000 hectares under maize and 4,000 hectares under guar. He said that contract farming had proved to be quite successful and, therefore, it was now being decided to cultivate more crops on a larger scale in the forthcoming season.

The director said that the monoculture pattern being adopted by the Punjab farmers had led to reduced fertility of the soil. He said that the paddy-wheat pattern being followed here had not just deteriorated the health of the soil but also led to lowering of water table. He said that the level of underground water was going down by 30 to 45 cm in Punjab every year. Besides, he said that pesticides and fertilizers being used were having an adverse effect on human health.

Endorsing the recommendations of Dr S.S. Johl on crop diversification, Dr Ajmer Singh said that 10 lakh hectares would now be sown with crops such as pulses, oilseeds, basmati, maize and sunflower. He said that crop adjustment was the need of the hour and this would remain his top priority during his tenure.

The director pointed out that eight insecticides had been temporarily barred. He said that these included phosphamidon, formothion, fenitrothion, trichlorphon, fenvalerate, endosulfan, EDb and EDCT. These chemicals are used for rabi crops including barley, field pea, rapeseed, mustard, sunflower and gram. These insecticides were being deleted from the package of practices adopted for rabi crops in Punjab for 2003-04, he said.

Also heading the Punjab State Variety Approval Committee, Dr Ajmer Singh, said that four new varieties had been released today for the final approval. These included GSC-5 and Hyola PAC, both varieties of gobhi sarson, buland, a single cross hybrid variety of maize and BL-42, a quick growing variety of berseem.

Meanwhile, on the second day of the agriculture officers’ workshop held at PAU, all the participants were taken for a field visit in the morning. This was followed by technical session on oilseeds and winter maize which was chaired by Dr A.S. Sandhu. A technical session was also held in the field of economics, sociology, agro-forestry and agricultural implements which was presided over by Dr J.S. Kolar, Director of Extension Education.

PAU employees hold rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
Members of the Punjab Agricultural University Employees Union and the PAU Class IV Workers Union held a rally here today. They burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister and demanded that all “anti-employees” policies should be withdrawn. Mr D.P. Maur, president of the union, said the decisions of the state to bring changes in pension commutation, reduction in time of leave encashment and changes in calculating gratuity would lead to exploitation of the employees working in the public sector.

Mr Amrit Pal Singh, secretary, of the union opposed the move of the government to shift 29 departments under the panchayats by October 2. He said Departments of Health and Education had also been included. He said the government was trying to shirk away from its responsibilities.

Teachers observe strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
The Colleges of Ludhiana, Khanna, Samrala, Doraha, Sudhar, Dakha, Narangwal, Raikot , Jagraon and the Arya College Teachers’ Unit(ACTU) observed a two-period strike in response to a strike call given by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union(PCCTU).

The main demands of the PCCTU include 95 per cent grant-in-aid, to bring the uncovered posts and unaided colleges under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme, pension and gratuity, pay parity to DPE's and librarians, HRA to the teachers working in the rural colleges and career advancement scheme from January 1, 1996, etc.

Jaghera's judicial remand extended
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
Mr Jasbir Singh, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) , today again extended the remand of Shamsher Singh Jaghera, president, International Sant Samaj, till August 27. He has been charged in a rape case and has still not filed any bail application.

The accused was arrested on July 18 and booked under Section 376 of the IPC at Model Town police station. He was allegedly caught red-handed while raping the wife of a sewadar of his dera. However, his supporters maintained that the allegations were false and were part of a conspiracy hatched by his detractors to take control of the dera’s property. He was produced in the court of the Illaqa Magistrate on July 19 and was remanded in judicial custody till July 30.

Let the colour go to your head
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
The craze for looking different has caught the fancy of the hip and happening in the city and what better way than to indulge in your fantasies by having your hair highlighted in honey, tobacco, walnut, cinnamon, almond shades.

The fashion conscious are making a beeline for Oleega Saloon where Ms Aseel, technical director of L' Oreal, has come from Delhi to give different colour highlights to your hair to make heads turn.

Aseel, an Arabic beautician, came for to India on a visit but decided to stay on. She has been trained by L'Oreal experts from France and is in charge of further imparting her expertise to others. She says,‘‘I love my work though it means long hours of standing. But when I see my clients looking gorgeous , I think it is my reward. I always wanted to be a teacher and God has fulfilled my wishes as I am constantly teaching others. Like a good teacher, I am learning constantly too as we are given refresher courses by the company every now and then.’’

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune she said new range of hair colour ‘Magi Lift’ has been specially devised for Asian women keeping the texture of their hair and complexion in mind. These hair colours use lesser amounts of developers and hence the hair are not at all damaged by colouring.

Musical bonanza on Aug 17
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 13
An executive general body meeting of the Citizens Club, Ludhiana, was held under the chairmanship of Mr N.S. Nanda here yesterday. Mr N.S. Nanda, president, and Mr Vinod Thapar, general secretary, of the club said in a statement today that a musical programme would be organised on August 17 at the Punjabi Bhavan.

Prominent persons would be honoured for their contributions the art and culture. Mr S.K. Sharma, MC Commissioner, would be the chief guest.