PAU PENSIONER'S WOES END: GOVERNMENT TO
BEAR LIBALITY BADAL ASSURES LIBERAL HELP FOR ADVANCED FARM RESEARCH
CHANDIGARH JUNE 17, 2008
The Punjab Government today decided to bear full financial liability
of the Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana for payment of
pension. Issuing instructions to the effect the Punjab Chief Minister
Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that the government would also totally
support renewal and expansion of research activities by the university
scholars of the farm university.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting on the fiscal
and academic health of the university. The meeting was chaired
by Mr. Badal.
Giving details of the decision, Chief Minister's Media Advisor
Mr. Harcharan Bains said that Mr. Badal had also convened a full-length
one day interactive session with farm academicians, progressive
farmers and top government functionaries for an in-depth study
of the state of agriculture and agricultural research in Punjab.
PAU Vice Chancellor Dr. MS Kang would represent the university
at the meeting, said Mr. Bains.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister declared that the government would
fund the university to the tune of nearly Rs.3 crore every month
to meet its liability towards its pensioners till February 2009.
The government would also put in place a regular mechanism for
meeting this liability in future also. Mr. Badal strongly feels
that the woes of the PAU pensioners must end immediately as the
issue effected the overall morale of the entire academic fraternity
on the campus. The chief minister infact is keen to go a step
further institutionalize incentives for those engaged in outstanding
research in agriculture", said Mr. Bains.
Mr. Badal's assurance in this regard came at the end of meeting
he had with varsity's Vice Chancellor Dr. Manjit Singh Kang and
eminent farm economist Dr. SS Johl and top government functionaries
at the Chief Minister's office here this morning.
Taking part in the deliberations, the Chief Minister asked Dr.
Kang and Dr. Johl to suggest ways and means to improve the productivity
and quality of wheat and paddy through undertaking extensive research
in the field of high yield varieties of seeds. He also emphasized
the need to motivate the Punjabi farmers to take up allied activities
like dairying, fishery and floriculture besides cultivation of
high value added cash crops.
The Chief Minister also asked the Vice Chancellor to activate
the research prospects in the Varsity so that the farmers of the
Punjab could richly benefited from their experience. He asked
the university scholars to develop sufficient quantity of 'breeder
and foundation seeds' for the farmers of the state. He also asked
the authorities of the university to effectively promote extension
education services which were the real foundation of the state's
initiative for heralding the second Green Revolution. He extended
fulsome support and cooperation to the PAU in the pursuit of excellence.
Interacting with the delegation of PAU, Finance Minister Mr.
Manpreet Singh Badal assured the Chief Minister that Finance Department
would immediately release funds for the research purposes as it
was the base of state's agricultural economy. He said that young
blood should be recruited in the University so that the research
and development work carried out by the senior faculty members
and fellows in the different wings of agriculture could be passed
on to new hands especially as most of the senior teachers were
already at the verge of retirement.
Mr. Badal extended full government support for improving and
enhancing the flow of agriculture credit, increasing investment
opportunities and storage facilities, launching a national horticulture
Mission to increase the output and trade in fruit and vegetables
and promoting research and training in agriculture. He said that
Krishi Vigyan Kendra should be set up in every district to spread
the benefit of advanced research and training in order to change
the mindset of our farmers towards diversification.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included
Media Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Harcharan Bains, Financial
Commissioner Development RS Sandhu, Vice Chancellor of PAU Dr.
MS Kang, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister DS Guru, Secretary
Agriculture SS Dhillon, farm economist Dr.SS Johl and Secretary
Punjab State Rural Development Board Kulbir Singh
CHANDIGARH JUNE 17, 2008
The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today ordered
an ambitious Rs.1225 crore plan for expanding and upgrading link
roads network in Punjab and modernizing its agricultural marketing
infrastructure in the state.
A decision to this effect was taken here at a high level meeting
chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here
this morning.
Disclosing this here today Chief Minister's Media Advisor Mr.
Harcharan Bains said that while existing link roads measuring
7200 KM would be repaired at a cost of Rs.600 crore, the network
would be expended by adding 1500 KM of new link roads. This would
entail an additional expenditure of Rs.225 crore during the current
financial year.
The Chief Minister ordered that new link roads measuring 20
KM be constructed in each of the 108 rural constituencies in the
state as per prescribed norms of rural population. Mr. Bains said
that the Punjab Agricultural Marketing Board has been asked to
undertake the modernization of agriculture marketing infrastructure
through out the state. The task would be completed within the
next two years at a cost of Rs.400 crore to strengthen the agri-marketing
base. A sum of Rs.75 crore has been earmarked to provide post
harvest technology links, granting of power transmission lines,
cooling and ripening chambers to ensure hassle free marketing
of fruit and vegetables, apart from minimizing the losses on account
of transit of these perishables. The facility would also help
the vegetables and fruit growers to realize maximum profits of
their produce. The Chief Minister also asked the Mandi Board to
make the field engineering staff accountable for the quality for
the road and timely implementation of the allotted works.
"This is the first time in the last decade that such a
comprehensive revamp of rural road network is being undertaken.
We intend to change the face of rural connectivity and strengthen
the logistics for giving a new push to the farm economy of the
state," said Mr. Badal in a statement.
The meeting was attended by Media Advisor Mr.Harcharan Bains,
Financial Commissioner Development RS Sandhu, Vice Chancellor
PAU Ludhiana Dr.Manjit Singh Kang, Principal Secretary to Chief
Minister DS Guru, Secretary Mandi Board Dipinder Singh and Secretary
Punjab State Rural Development Board Kulbir Singh.
