TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
OF NKC IN PUNJAB
CHANDIGARH JULY 22, 2008
Shikha Nehra
The Punjab government has constituted task force on working
business process re-engineering and on languages and access to
higher education for recommendations of National knowledge Commission,
in both letter and spirit in the state.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government
said that the recommendation made by these two working groups
have already been accepted by the government and had been decided
to convert these groups into task force to ensure the forceful
implementation of the recommendation made by these working groups.
Task force on business process re-engineering was headed by Mr.
Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Irrigation and Power with Mr.
R.K. Verma Director Information Technology, Mr. Vikas Pratap Commissioner
Municipal Corporation Ludhiana, Mr. Tejveer Singh Director Information
& Public Relations and Mr. Krishan Kumar Special Secretary-cum-Director
General School Education as its members.
Similarly another task force on languages and access to higher
education was headed by Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu, Financial Commissioner
Cooperation, Mr. K.B.S Sidhu Secretary School Education, Mrs.
Anjali Bhawara Secretary Higher Education and Languages, Mr. Satish
Chandra Secretary Department of Planning and Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar
Special Secretary Finance as its members.
According to the spokesman these task forces would examine the
recommendation of the national knowledge commission vis-à-vis
the recommendation made by the working groups and would also expedite
the speedy implementation of the recommendation in various departments.
They would also send action taken report to the Secretary Coordination
for consideration of steering committee, he added.
RETRAIN WORKERS TO MAKE THEM ADAPTABLE TO NEW TECHNOLOGY-TIKSHAN
SUD
Chandigarh July 22, 2008
Mr. Tikshan Sud, Labour Minister Punjab today called for a sustainable
system to educate and retrain the working class according to the
fast changing technology in the industry and changing requirements
of economy.
Speaking at the Golden Jublee celebrations of Central Board for
Workers Education at NIPER, Mohali today on successful completion
of 50 years of service to the industry, technical/non-technical
workers, supervisors, managers of organized and unorganized sectors
Mr. Sud said that it is imperative for the Board to chalk out
industry specific technology up gradation programme to educate
the working class and also become . instrumental educating them
to develop harmonious relations and work for the development of
the organization by way of increasing Productivity, Quality and
ensuring Safety.
He said that it is praise worthy that the workers education
has worked for the development of innovative skills among the
workers/management people to compete the competitive scenario
which has been mark of success for every organization. He added
that in the present scenario its pace has become more speedy and
for this the Workers Education has become more competitive by
doing research work. This can be achieved by imparting training
of world class level to make the organization more sharp to become
leader in their own field by doing training in new areas according
to the need of the organization at State & National level.
He said that the Central Board for workers Education has got recognition
for this noble cause. In the last 50 years the Central Board for
Workers Education has worked in the field of trade unions. They
give training to rank and file of workers so that there members
become their own leaders.
Presiding over the programme Mr. Raminder Singh, Labour Commissioner
appreciated the work being done by the Board in Organized and
Rural/Unorganized Sectors in particular. He shown his happiness
for the services rendered by the Board in expanding the Workers
Education Scheme in the State of Punjab and congratulated CBWE
on completion of 50 years of its Golden journey.
The program was also addressed by Dr. Subhash Sharma, Member
Governing Body CBWE and President INTUC Punjab. He recognized
the service rendered by the Board in the filed of Workers Education
and hope that in the years to come the Board will come up with
new and new variety of training programs for the workers of Rural
and Unorganized Sectors.
Sh. Ranbir Singh, Director GNA Group and Sh. K.C. Sharma, President
Malwa Cotton Spinning Mills, Barnala who were the Guests of Honour
in the training programme also spoke high for the efforts being
made by the Central Board for Workers Education for educating
the workers of different sectors. Sh. Ranbir Singh, Director GNA
Group thanked the officers and staff of CBWE for organizing and
celebrating the Golden Jubilee Year 07-08 in such a grand way.
He was very happy with the services rendered and training programmes
conducted by the CBWE, Chandigarh in their organization, with
the motivation of which the Productivity and Quality of products
being manufactured by their units touched new heights. He hoped
that in future too they will be receiving same co-operation and
services from the CBWE.
Sh. Sodhi Mall, Joint Director of Factories and Sh. D.R. Prashar,
Regional Director of Central Board for Workers Education spoke
on "50 yeas journey of CBWE in increasing Productivity and
Safety" and Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Reader University Business
School, Chandigarh delivered talk on "Expanding Role of trade
unions in present scenario".
The Golden Jubilee program, apart of different trade union leaders,
Presidents, Vice Presidents, General Managers, Managers and Supervisors
of different industries situated in the State of Punjab and U.T.
Chandigarh, was attended by more than 300 participants.
The program was well appreciated. It may be added that the Central
Board for Workers Education which was started with only one Regional
Directorate at Indore about 50 years back now-a-days is having
network of 50 Regional Directorates and five Zonal Offices situated
all over India
PUNJAB TO INITIATE PILOT PROJECT ON OLIVE CULTIVATION
OVER 300 HECTARES
CHANDIGARH JULY 22, 2008
The Punjab government is all set to launch olive cultivation
over 300 hectares under a 'pilot project' to ensure better remunerative
returns to the farmers on one hand and towards a dedicated push
for diversification of agriculture on the other.
Reviewing the prospects of the olive plantation in a meeting,
Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today explored all
the possibilities of olive plantation in the state in a big way.
Punjab Agro – the nodal agency for this project had already
held negotiations with Indolive Enterprises Limited, Israel to
study the prospects of olive plantation in the state. Indolive
along with a Private Indian Company had already entered into an
agreement with Rajasthan Government for Olive Cultivation Project.
The meeting was informed as per the preliminary information collected
by Indolive had concluded that olive cultivation was definitely
feasible and had a great economic viability in Punjab.
The Chief Minister asked the Punjab Agro to encourage the Punjabi
farmers to adopt olive cultivation as the climatic conditions
in the state were suitable for moderate to high yield olive cultivation
which would result in 3 fold increase in their income as compared
to Paddy-Wheat rotation. Presently, the olive oil prices are US$
3.6 per kg. With the given price the income would be approximately
over Rs.3 lac per hectare from 6th year onwards as the fruiting
starts from 3rd year and average oil yield would be 600 kg, 1200
kg, 1600 kg and 2000 kg per hectare in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th
year respectively. He said that the project on olive cultivation
in Punjab would give benefits like water conservation, increased
income, generate employment, foreign exchange earning, ecological
balance and diversification in agriculture.
Financial Commissioner Development RS Sandhu informed that the
Wheat and Rice combination in Punjab consumed at least 45,000
M3 of water per hectare. Olive will only need about 5,000 M3 per
hectare, using drip irrigation, in order to give high yield and
high quality crop thus it consumes 1/9th of water quantity as
compared to wheat-paddy.
Managing Director Punjab Agro SK Sandhu said that the olive cultivation
would be in Public Private Participation (PPP) mode in a transparent
manner by inviting expression of interests globally and nationally.
The Punjab Government, Foreign Company and an Indian partner would
establish a private company in equal shares with one third each.
The new company-Punjab Olive Company (POC) would set up three
commercial pilot plantations in each "Rain Zone" of
North, Central and South Punjab.
It was also informed in the meeting that investment in this project
was expected to be around $2.5 millions (Rs.10 crore). Out of
which 25% of the investment would be covered by subsidies from
National Horticulture Board (NHB) and National Horticulture Mission
(NHM), 45% by the Government of Punjab and 30% by the Private
Investor. Foreign company's contribution would be in a form of
technology supply and business management. Foreign collaborator
would invest in the extraction plants and will guarantee to buy
the fruits from the farmers for a price that would be calculated
based on a formula linked to the price of the olive oil in Spanish
market.
The meeting was attended by Special Principal Secretary to Chief
Minister KJS Cheema, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister
Gagandeep Singh Brar and Director Agriculture BS Sidhu.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO IMPART SKILL DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING TO THE INMATES IN PRISONS
CHANDIGARH JULY 22, 2008
In a unique gesture, the Punjab government today formulated
a scheme to utilize the optimum potential of the inmates lodged
in the various jails of the state to impart skill development
training to them on one hand and to provide employment opportunities
on the other.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the top functionaries
of the departments of Jail, Technical Education, Industry and
Employment Generation here this morning. The Chief Minister asked
the senior officers of these departments to have detailed interaction
with the representatives of the industry to ascertain the quantum
of requisite job work to be undertaken by the inmates. Mr. Badal
cited an example of hosiery and woolen products in Ludhiana where
the services of inmates in local Borstan and Lady's jails could
be utilized besides exploring the possibilities to impart training
to them as per the requirements of the industry. He further asked
the officers to offer regular counseling to the inmates in view
of their aptitude to enable them to choose the vocational occupation
of their choice. He said that the services of the experts from
the colleges, universities especially from the Punjab Technical
University and other institutions of repute could be availed of
for exploring their capabilities and capacities.
Mr. Badal also asked the officers to develop facilities for
the training of these inmates in jails in collaboration with the
local industry. The Chief Minister also pointed out that even
the state government could also install permanent machinery and
infrastructure for the training of the inmates in consultation
with state technical education department. Special training modules
could be prepared by the technical education department for the
benefits of the inmates. Mr. Badal said: "The underlying
objective of this scheme is to bring inmates in the mainstream
of the society thereby keeping them involved in the vocational
activities".
Later Mr. Badal also reviewed the position of the agriculture
farm measuring 178 acres in the Nabha jail to develop it into
hi-tech seed farm for the production of foundation seed of wheat
and paddy under the direct supervision and guidance of Punjab
Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana. The Chief Minister assured
the jail administration that state government would provide all
possible financial and technical support to make it one of the
leading foundation seed farms in the state on the pattern of PAU.
Mr. Badal also asked the state agriculture department and PAU
authorities to depute its technical staff to impart know-how and
other inputs to them for the production of high quality seeds.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting including
Principal Secretary Technical Education Tejinder Kaur, Principal
Secretary Home Dr.BC Gupta, ADGP Prisons Mohamad Izhar Alam, Principal
Secretary Industries SS Channy, AIG Prisons Roop Kumar Arora,
Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema, Mr.Gagandeep
Singh Brar and Mr.AK Mahajan (both Additional Principal Secretaries
to Chief Minister).
IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR KHARIF SEASON ANNOUNCED
CHANDIGARH, July 22, 2008
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational
irrigation Programme for the Kharif Season through Canal water
from 24 July to 31 July, 2008. The channels of Sirhind Canal System
would run on priority basis from Bhatinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal,
Sidhwan Branch, Patiala feeder and Abohar Branch respectively.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Irrigation department
said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line, in Group
'A' being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Ghaggar link and its off taking
channels i.e. Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that the Punjab channels off taking
from Harika and Ferozepur Head Works & Branches i.e. all the
direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in-group "A"
being in the first preference would run to their indent. Balance
water supplies would be utilised in Abohar Branch off taking from
Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/minors in-group "B".
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper
Bari Doab Canal i.e. Lahore Branch with its distributaries being
in first Preference would run to their indent. Balance Surplus
water available would be utilised in Main Branch Lower, Kasur
Branch Lower and Sabraon Branch with its distributaries.
18,000 teachers required in Europe by
2015
Chandigarh , July 22, 2008
Aryans Group of Institutes (AGOI),Chandigarh and London School
of Management Education (LSME), London organized a seminar on
"Career for a Teacher in Europe" at ICSSR Hall, Punjab
University, Chandigarh today. Prof. Pandit Palande, Pro-Vice Chancellor
of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nasik
was the chief guest. A special team from London under the leadership
of Dr. Ravi Kumar, which included Dr. David Day and Dr. Sarita
Parhi addressed the seminar and also enlightened the participants
about the exciting career opportunities for teachers in Europe.
Mr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Institutes presided
over the function. Prof. Palande inaugurated the function by lighting
the lamp.
Dr. David Day, Head of Life Long Learning, said that UK Schools
& Colleges desperately need teachers with modern skills to
enrich the curriculum. There are estimated 15-20 % vacancies for
teachers in London, said Day. According to Office of National
Statistics', UK, at the present primary pupil teacher ratio, this
will require an extra 18,000 primary school teachers by 2015.
Dr. Ravi Kumar, MD, LSME, said that the purpose of this seminar
was to deliver a vision of life long learning that equips managers,
tutors, teachers and trainers with modern & transformational
standards. They further said that Lifelong Learning will be a
next generation Teaching & Emerging Lifelong Learning Sector
in the UK & Europe. Dr. Sarita Parhi, Director, LSME, said
Aryans Group has taken a great step in enhancing the Global education
in India by having tie-ups and collaborations with LSME.
Mr. Kataria, Chairman, AGOI, said that the objective of this
seminar was to inform the participants about the Teacher Training
Reforms in the Lifelong Learning sector. This collaboration is
a global educational opportunity as Indian graduates & higher
graduates will get a great opportunity to work as teachers or
lecturers in the UK.
Dr. G. S. Sodhi, Director GND College of Education; Dr. Suresh
Sharma, Chairman, Deptt. of Statistics, PU; Mehul Rejgor, Managing
Partner, Karam Consultancy (Immigration & Students Consultancy)
also participated in the event. The seminar was a resounding success
as all participants welcomed the changes and expressed genuine
interest in the program.
