34 vibrant farmers got 2 weeks training at GADVASU

Tue, May 29, 2018 at 5:05 PM

Thirteen women also participated in training program

Ludhiana: 29th May 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

Thirty four vibrant farmers including thirteen women participants got 2 weeks training on “Dairy Farming”, organized by Directorate of Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana. Candidates from different areas of Punjab and adjoining states have attended the course including a participant from Assam state. In this training program experts delivered lectures as well as hands on training covering all important aspects of dairy farming. This training has evidenced the changing scenario in Dairy Farming with an increased number of women participants that were nearly 40 percent of the total candidates. Dr. H.K. Verma, Director Extension Education interacted with the trainees and enlightened them about huge scope of dairy sector in India as well as in Punjab. While addressing he told that university is persistent in catering all sort of need of dairy farmers. Further, he added that university has also developed two android based mobile applications “Precision Dairy Farming” and “Dairy Prajnan” available on google playstore for the benefit of dairy farmers. Dr. S.K. Kansal, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education informed and encouraged the trainees to start a dairy enterprise on small scale basis then to move on medium and large scale.

At present, two more training programs namely “Specialized Pig Farming” for farmers, farm women & rural youth and “Breeding Specialization for Judging Various Animal Events” for Field Veterinary Doctors, Punjab Govt. are being conducted from 28.05.2018 to 01.05.2018. University is continuously doing the efforts for farmers to train them in scientific pig farming as it is a profitable business because the feed conversion efficiency and prolificacy is much higher of swine as compare to other enterprises of livestock and value addition of pork has greater opportunity to generate self-employment. Forty four farmers are participating.

Training on “Breeding Specialization for Judging Various Animal Events” is very crucial for the veterinary doctors as well as for farmers because now a day's many livestock championship and milking competitions are held in our country especially in Punjab to promote Animal Husbandry which requires identification of livestock breeds and judging of animals as key points to select best one. 25 Veterinarians from Animal Husbandry department, Punjab representing all the districts of Punjab are participating. Dr. Verma said that University also undertakes demand based tailor made courses as per the request from various organizations and also added that GADVASU has already trained vets and farmers from 17 states of the country.  

Demise of Tabiba a big loss to the farming community-PAU

Tue, May 29, 2018 at 4:58 PM

He was a recipient of Babu Jagjiwan Ram Puraskar

Ludhiana: 29th May 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The senior officials of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) expressed deep grief over the sad demise of S. Darshan Singh Tabiba, a progressive farmer who played a significant role in crop diversification and touched heights in agriculture by adopting PAU recommendations. A resident of village Hayatpura (near Machhiwara), district Ludhiana, S. Tabiba practiced farming on 100 acres of land by adopting recommendations of the University. He was also engaged in fish farming and practiced it on 38 acres of area. In addition, he owned big poultry, dairy and pig farms; feeding habits of the animals was one of his areas of interest. He believed in developing farm machinery himself and made modifications in combine harvester for better performance.  He also developed a machinery to manage wheat straw, which was sold to the farmers as well. He was a recipient of Babu Jagjiwan Ram Puraskar by Government of India and S. Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Memorial Award by PAU in 1998. He had long association with PAU Kisan Club, of which, he was the President as well as the member also.

         Dr J.S. Mahal, Director of Extension Education; Dr N.S. Bains, Director of Research; and other senior officials of PAU prayed for the peace of departed soul. They said his demise was a big loss the farming community.

CMC organizes three days Hemophilia workshop

Tue, May 15, 2018 at 3:40 PM

Hemophilia is a common bleeding disorder

Ludhiana: 15th May 2018: (Punjab Screen Bureau)::

The department of Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in association with Hematopathology held a state level workshop "AHEAD”–Advancing Haemophilia Education Awareness & Diagnosis at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. It is a three day workshop, starting on May 15, 2018. Hemophilia is a common bleeding disorder, but facilities for adequate diagnosis and treatment are lacking in the community.

AHEAD is a state level training program for doctors in all the medical colleges and civil hospitals in Punjab, with the patronage of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Health Mission. The theme for this year's program, adapted from the World Federation of Hemophilia is "Sharing knowledge makes us stronger". The training course consists of three arms, consisting of Doctors, technicians and physiotherapists.

The highlight of the program includes lectures by experts in the field from CMC Ludhiana. Dr. M Joseph John, Dr. Chepsy Philip and Dr. Suvir Singh from the department of Clinical Hematology spoke on clinical management and manifestations of Hemophilia. Dr Naveen Kakkar and DrVandana from Hemato-Pathology spoke about various lab aspects, and are planning hands on training sessions for lab technicians, to make them adept at laboratory techniques required to diagnose and monitor patients with Hemophilia. DrMullai and her team from the department of physiotherapy also spoke on muskuloskeletal manifestations of Hemophilia and measures to treat them. External faculty for the program also consists of eminent experts from PGI Chandigarh, including Dr Pankaj Malhotra, Professor and Head of Clinical Hematology, and Dr Deepak Bansal, Professor of Pediatrics, and Dr Anita Tahlan from GMCH, sec 32. They will be speaking on various aspects of diagnosis and management of patients with Hemophilia. Dr. William Bhatti, Director CMC hospital, Ludhiana was also among the dignitaries present and he congratulated everyone for the efforts made to conduct this three day workshop. 

The program was graced by Dr. Parminder Pal Singh Sidhu, Civil Surgeon Ludhiana, who was the chief guest for the occasion. DrManpreetChhatwal, Additional Project Director and DrSukhwinder Singh, Joint Director Blood Transfusion Services Cum SNO, State blood cell, graciously accepted to be guests of honor. This program was done as prelude to National Health mission (NHM) providing free anti Hameophillia factors to all theGovernment medical colleges and CMC Ludhiana for the patients of Punjab. It is hoped that such workshops would help to increase awareness about Hemophilia in the community and improve facilities for diagnosis and treatment at the state level. This would help towards the long term goal of making Punjab a Hemophilia free state, and provide free or subsidized treatment for patients.

Protest by UFBU against IBA’s meager offer of 2% hike

From November, 2017, IBA did not call

Ludhiana: 8th May 2018: (M.S. Bhatia//Punjab Screen)::

On the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), bank Workmen and Officers are holding massive demonstrations opposing IBA’s meager offer of 2% hike and demanding Expedited & Adequate Wage Revision. As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit:Ludhiana) held a massive demonstration  in front of  State Bank of India, Fountain Chowk, Ludhiana. Com. Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions, Com. J.P.Kalra, President State Bank of India Officers Association, Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees” Federation,  Com. J S Mangat, Dy. General Secretary, State Bank of India Officers’ Association, Com. Iqbal Singh Malhi, Dy. General Secretary, SBI Staff Association, Com. K K Khullar, Regional Secretary,  SBI Staff Association, Com. Gurmeet Singh and Com. Chiranjeev Joshi from AIBOA addressed the bank employees.      

While addressing the bank employees, leaders of  United Forum of Bank Unions said that  you are aware that in view of the impending expiry of 10th Bipartite wage settlement/officer wage revision as at the end of October, 2017, the Government had been sending their directive to Banks as early as from 12-1-2016 advising the Banks and Indian Banks Association to commence the wage negotiations and conclude the same not later than November, 2017 when the revised settlement will become due.  There have been several reminders from the Government to the IBA in this regard.

With the same intention to expedite the wage revision settlement, we had submitted our charter of demands to the IBA as early as May, 2017 with a request to negotiate and resolve the demands before November, 2017.  IBA also assured they would endeavour to complete the discussion and conclude the settlement before November, 2017. Even though the discussions by IBA with the UFBU commenced in May, 2017 and even though 15 rounds of negotiations have been held by IBA with the Unions so far, IBA, one pretext or the other, had been avoiding to make any offer in regard to increase in wages. Discussions have been held only on other service conditions but IBA did not make any offer on wage revision.  

From November, 2017, IBA did not call for any meeting to discuss our demands. In this frustrating background, we met the Hon Finance Minister on 21-11-2017. The IBA re-commenced the discussions with UFBU and another round of talks were held after a period of 6 months.

While we were expecting a reasonable offer from the IBA to make a basis for further negotiations, to our surprise and utter disappointment, IBA made an offer of 2% hike in the Wage Bill as on 31-3-2017.  In the last settlement from 2012 to 2017, it was agreed at 15% hike in wage bill.  Since then the banks’ business have grown, workload on employees and officers have increased beyond tolerable limit and hence it was expected that wage revision will be better than last time. 

To substantiate their offer, IBA stated that the financial position of our Banks is not conducive to offer better wage revision and that the Banks profits have been eroded in the recent years. It is well-known that all the Banks have been earning more Operating Profits year after year.

Rs in Crore.

The net profits are getting reduced only due to huge provisions for bad loans and not due to any reasons attributable to the employees and officers of the Banks. Hence denying reasonable wage revision for the bank employees and officers on this count is unfair.

At this hour, we feel that the wage revision demands of bank employees should be settled expeditiously so that the entire workforce in the Banks can concentrate their time and energy in addressing the multiple challenges facing our Banks and to restore the confidence of the people on our Banks.  But the approach of the IBA in attempting to victimise the bank employees and officers with merger wage revision despite best contributions being extended by them in the present trying situation will only result in serious industrial unrest in the Banks and dislocation of banking services.

Hence we expect from IBA to adequately increase their offer and come forward to resolve our demands without precipitation.