On a mission to save environment

The Kar Sewa sect, Khadoor Sahib, under the guidance of Baba Sewa Singh, has been making efforts to save the environment. The sect has planted more than 7 lakh saplings by the roadsides and at common places in villages and schools on a large scale. The sect has now planted forests in various parts of the state. Baba Baldev Singh of the sect said 40 forests had been planted. He said these man-made forests would provide habitations to animals and birds which were naturally akin to the state’s geography. “These will also provide oxygen, clean air and absorb harmful gases from the environment, besides providing organic food and fruits,” said Baba Baldev Singh.

The land for the forests was provided by the people, especially by farmers and village panchayats. The ownership of the land under forests would remain with the actual owners but they protect these forests. The biggest ever forest planted by the Kar Sewa sect was of five acres in Janorhi village in Hoshiarpur district and the smallest one was of 5 marlas in Pheruman village in Tarn Taran.

The sect has also planted forest in its own land in Warring and at Baba Sadhu Singh Garden, situated in Khadur Sahib. In Kot Duna Dhanola, Moga, the sect has planted trees in a big number. A half acre of forests was planted in Jahangir village of Tarn Taran district. In the first phase of the campaign, from July to November end, the sect planted 27,810 saplings. The sect has a plan to carry on its move in the future also which was stopped for the winter season. Villagers and social workers are coming forward to cooperate with the sect to by watering and protecting the saplings from stray animals.

Farmers take training in Jaggery making

Keeping in mind the increasing demand of Jaggery (gur) and crop diversification, the Krishi Vigian Kendra (KVK), Booh, organised a two-day training programme on “Scientific sugarcane cultivation and jaggery making”. Farmers of the area participated in the programme. Dr Navjot Singh Brar of the KVK talked about improved varieties, weed management, integrated nutrient management and pest management in sugarcane. Dr Balwinder Kumar, Deputy Director of the KVK, discussed the importance of jaggery making and its procedure. The participants visited a farm of Kashmir Singh Brar of Kakoya village in Hoshiarpur for practical training .

Govindnoor a role model for other students

Govindnoor Kaur, a Class XI student of Akal Academy, Teja Singh Wala, Tarn Taran, has earned fame with her sports skills.

In 2015, she won state bronze medal at Baba Budha Sahib in Tarn Taran. Sandeep Kaur, principal of the academy, said Govindnoor was a brilliant student and good player of fencing in U-14 category. Playing in U-12 category, she won national silver medal at Nasik in Maharashtra and won national bronze medal at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in 2016. In U-14, she won national silver medal at Nasik and national bronze medal at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, in 2017. She also won national silver medal at Cuttack, Odisha, and national gold medal at Manipur in 2018. In U-14, she won national gold medal in Chhattisgarh. In the departmental games (U-14), she won gold medal at Anandpur Sahib and in U-18, she won gold and silver medals at Muktsar Sahib. In U-19, she won national silver medal at Rudrapur, Uttarkhand, in 2018.

Principal Sandeep Kaur said Govindnoor was an all-rounder, who always stood first in the class and has been setting an example for other students to follow. She stood first in the state-level abacus competition.