Fazilka Heritage Fest concludes - The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071126/bathinda.htm#5
Fazilka, November 25On the concluding day of Fazilka Heritage Festival, hundreds of youths pledged to ensure reduction in environment pollution. The motive was to create awareness about the detrimental affects of increasing environment pollution and risks of the phenomenon called global warming.
It was also an endeavour to promote use of bicycles to save fuel and save the environment by growing more plants. The youths also vowed to minimise the use of polythene bags.
Members of the Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF), the Students for Society Organisation, Fazilka, the Punjab Sabhyacharak Manch, Fazilka and the Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army jointly organised a cycle rally through the main markets in an endeavour to motivate people to ride bicycles as far as possible instead of using vehicles run on petrol or diesel.
Third and the last day of the festival was observed as “Baba Pokhar Dass Nite”. On the occasion, over 20 teams presented Punjabi folk dances, including Bhangra, Gidha and Jhumar.
The novel attraction at the programme was the auction of a replica of Fazilka’s famous clock tower.
The organisers said the amount received from the auction would be utilised for next year celebrations.
Fazilka Heritage Festival patron Dr Bhupinder Singh, secretary Navdeep Asija said considering the success of the festival in which thousands from the city and the surrounding areas had participated, it has been decided that next year, the festival would be celebrated for one week.
The festival had concluded around midnight

Fazilka Heritage Fest concludes - The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071126/bathinda.htm#5
Fazilka, November 25On the concluding day of Fazilka Heritage Festival, hundreds of youths pledged to ensure reduction in environment pollution. The motive was to create awareness about the detrimental affects of increasing environment pollution and risks of the phenomenon called global warming.
It was also an endeavour to promote use of bicycles to save fuel and save the environment by growing more plants. The youths also vowed to minimise the use of polythene bags.
Members of the Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF), the Students for Society Organisation, Fazilka, the Punjab Sabhyacharak Manch, Fazilka and the Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army jointly organised a cycle rally through the main markets in an endeavour to motivate people to ride bicycles as far as possible instead of using vehicles run on petrol or diesel.
Third and the last day of the festival was observed as “Baba Pokhar Dass Nite”. On the occasion, over 20 teams presented Punjabi folk dances, including Bhangra, Gidha and Jhumar.
The novel attraction at the programme was the auction of a replica of Fazilka’s famous clock tower.
The organisers said the amount received from the auction would be utilised for next year celebrations.
Fazilka Heritage Festival patron Dr Bhupinder Singh, secretary Navdeep Asija said considering the success of the festival in which thousands from the city and the surrounding areas had participated, it has been decided that next year, the festival would be celebrated for one week.
The festival had concluded around midnight

Fazilka set to pioneer use of CFL lamps

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
Novermber, 21, 2007
Chandigarh: It may be called as the first citizen effort to turn to the compact fluorescent light (CFL) lamps and Fazilka would be the first city in Punjab to accept it. This effort has come without any government’s initiative in this regard. The NGO, Graduate Welfare Association of Fazilka (GWAF) has impressed upon all the traders in the city to not only promote CFL, but also to sell it on ‘no profit no loss’ basis during the Fazilka heritage festival starting from November 22 to 25. The theme of the festival is global warming. “Conservation of energy is an important issue for the state as well as for the nation. As citizens of the country we have to save energy, when we told this to the people here, they agreed to turn on to CFL lamps,” said Dr Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor of IIT Roorkee and founder of GWAF. “When citizens are told about the benefits it can give to them as well as to the state, they readily acquiesce to the change,” he added. Fazilka electricity parts dealers’ association chief Pradeep Ahuja added that they would be selling only CFL during the festival in the city. “We cannot offer subsidies, but this would be our initiative towards the mission,” he added. Moreover, all the leading business houses in the city have been asked to turn to CFL and they have agreed to it. Vikram Ahuja of farm solutions said that he has already changed the lamps and have asked other to do so. GWAF has a good influence over most of the citizens in the town, as most of the graduates are its members. It believes that this would set an example for the rest of the state. It is worth mentioning here that the Punjab government and Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has already turned on to CFL. In comparison to the incandescent lamp used by the domestic users, one sixth to one-fourth energy is saved. It is promoted by the PSEB and Central Electricity Commission (CEC) too.

FAZILKA'S FESTIVE MOOD

Hindustan Times : Manoj Tripathi
The Buzz, P.no-134, 24-11-2007
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=24_11_2007_134_010&typ=1&pub=722

The three-day Fazilka heritage festival started on Thursday evening to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the town. Organised by Graduates Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF) in association with Punjabi Sabhyacharak Manch, the opening session was inaugurated by Brig Rajiv Bhutani at Ram Press premises.
The first evening of the festival was dedicated to the renowned poet and writer of the area-Kanwan Mahinder Singh Bedi Sahar. A colourful programme studded with songs, dance and 'mushaira' marked the opening. Historical clock tower of Fazilka is also lit up delightfully.
Stalls, displaying specialties and culture of Fazilka, are set up. These include stalls of juttis, quality agricultural products produced in the Fazilka belt. Besides, meaningful exhibitions on issues such as female foeticide, environmental pollution are also on display. A stall of traditional Rajasthani food and famous pakkhis, handmade sarpo (chapatti boxes) attracted a large number of visitors.
GWAF patron Bhupinder Singh and president Umesh Chander Kukkar and secretary Navdeep Asija said that the heritage festival is being celebrated to keep the culture and heritage of the historical border town alive. They said that this festival would enable the younger generation to know the glorious history of the town

Fazilka Heritage Fest a hit

Hindustan Times : Manoj Tripathi
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=26_11_2007_134_006&typ=1&pub=722
The three-day Fazilka Heritage Festival concluded here on Saturday evening with an overwhelming participation from the local residents.
Baba Pokhar Dass Nite was organised the last day to remember the noted Jhumar dance artiste of Fazilka. Artistes from different schools, dance club including GMP Fire Group, Zindva Group, Arniwla, Godwin Public School, Ghallu and others took part in the event.
Jawans of Infantry Brigade took out a bicycle rally against air pollution. GWAF members, Punjabi Sab hyacharak Manch, Army Wives Welfare Association and residents of Fazilka pledged to protect the environment by minimising the use of polythene bags, planting trees and creating a green belt.
A replica of the famous clock tower of Fazilka enclosed in a glass box was auctioned to raise funds for next year's Fazilka Heritage Festival. Vansh Chuchra, an artist's family, offered the highest bid of Rs 18,000 for the tower's model.
The festival's patron Dr Bhupinder Singh and secretary Navdeep Asija said the festival would be celebrated for one whole week next year onwards

फिल्मों में गाना चाहता है वॉयस आफ फाजिल्का

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_3932599.html
24th November, 2007
फाजिल्का -फाजिल्का के स्थापना दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में आयोजित तीन दिवसीय महोत्सव के दूसरे दिन गीत प्रतियोगिता में राहुल वर्मा को वॉयस ऑफ फाजिल्का खिताब से सम्मानित किया गया। राहुल के गीत 'जाने वालो जरा मुड़ के देखो मुझे, मैं भी इंसान हूं' ने श्रोताओं को इतना प्रभावित किया कि कार्यक्रम के बाद घर लौटते समय भी लोग वही गीत गुनगुना रहे थे।
राहुल स्थानीय एसकेबी डीएवी सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल की दसवीं कक्षा का विद्यार्थी है। मां सरस्वती की उसपर अपार कृपा है। जो भी शख्स एक बार उसका गीत सुन लेता है, वह उसकी सुरीली आवाज की तारीफ किए बिना नहीं रहता। राहुल ने 'दैनिक जागरण' से बातचीत में बताया कि उसे बचपन से ही संगीत से लगाव है। उसके दादा पंजाब राम बांसुरी बजाने के शौकीन है। उसके पिता केवल कृष्ण भले ही गीत नहीं गाते, लेकिन उन्हे गीत सुनने का बहुत चाव है।
अपने दादा और पिता के प्रोत्साहन से राहुल ने छह वर्ष की उम्र में ही गीत गाना शुरू कर दिया था। प्राइमरी कक्षाओं तक वह स्कूल कार्यक्रमों तक ही सीमित रहा, लेकिन डीएवी सेकेंडरी स्कूल में दाखिला लेने के बाद उसे अन्य शहरों में होने वाले कार्यक्रमों में भेजा जाने लगा। उसने बताया कि उसके पिता ने संगीत विशेषज्ञ मास्टर रोशन लाल से उसे दो साल तक संगीत का प्रशिक्षण दिलाया। एक से पांच नवंबर 2007 तक अमृतसर में आयोजित सांस्कृतिक प्रतियोगिता में कव्वाली व लोक नृत्य में वह द्वितीय स्थान पर रहा। इससे पहले नवंबर 2006 में गाजियाबाद में हुई राष्ट्रीय स्तरीय की प्रतियोगिता में भी उसे शानदार सफलता हासिल हुई थी।
राहुल को मास्टर सलीम की माता की भेंटे बहुत पसंद है। उसके मनपसंद गीतकार नुसरत फतेह अली खां है। राहुल का कहना है कि उसका लक्ष्य फिल्मों में प्ले बैक सिंगिंग करना है। राहुल के स्कूल के प्रिंसिपल मदन लाल शर्मा का कहना है कि राहुल एक अच्छा संगीतकार होने के साथ पढ़ाई में भी होशियार है। उसे स्कूल की ओर से जिस भी प्रतियोगिता में भेजा जाता है, उसमें वह स्कूल का नाम रोशन करता है।

साइंटिस्ट ने किया अनूठा प्रयोग

http://www.bhaskar.com/2007/11/17/0711170720_iit_man.html#

गुलशन कुमार.
Saturday, November 17, 2007 07:18 [IST]

चंडीगढ़ राजधानी से 325 किलोमीटर दूर पंजाब के एक छोटे से शहर फाजिल्का के लोगों ने अपने ही दम पर हेरिटेज फेस्टिवल की अनूठी पहल की है। साइबर हाईवे पर इस फेस्टिवल ने विदेशी टूरिस्ट्स को भी आकर्षित किया है। एक आईआईटी साइंटिस्ट की देखरेख में चल रही इस मुहिम में शहर भर के नौजवान जुटे हुए हैं।
अमृतसर, पटियाला, फरीदकोट आदि में तो पांच साल पहले सरकारी खर्च पर विरासत मेले शुरू हुए, लेकिन फाजिल्का शहर के नौजवानों ने खुद ही फाजिल्का हेरिटेज फेस्टिवल ‘महक सरहद दी’ का आयोजन करने की ठान ली। 22 से 24 नवंबर तक होने वाले इस फेस्टिवल में फाजिल्का से जुड़े लोग दुनिया भर से अपने शहर पहुंच रहे हैं। आईआईटी में कार्यरत नवदीप असीजा नवदीप की देखरेख में गठित ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन, फाजिल्का ने इस पूरे आयोजन की जिम्मेवारी संभाली हुई है। फेस्टिवल में गीत-संगीत से लेकर कला के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों को शामिल किया गया है।
गीत-संगीत की महक :
फेस्टिवल में पद्मश्री पुष्पा हंस नाइट, फोक डांस नाइट, छनकाटा पैंदा गली-गली आदि आयोजनों में गीत-संगीत की महक बिखेरी जाएगी। पैनोरमा सेक्शन में हिंदी-पंजाबी की चुनिंदा फिल्में भी दिखाई जाएंगी। भारतीय सेना का बैंड अलग से प्रस्तुति देगा। नाटकों का भी मंचन और फाजिल्का कार्निवाल परेड भी आयोजित होगा।

कार फ्री जोन होगा शहर :
शहर को उन दिनों कार फ्री जोन रखा जाएगा और लोगों को पैदल या साइकिल से ही चलने के लिए प्रेरित किया जाएगा। फेस्टिवल के दौरान पॉलिथीन बैग्स पर पाबंदी रहेगी। फाजिल्का रतन अवार्ड भी दिए जाएंगे। नवदीप ने बताया कि वर्ल्ड कार फ्री नेटवर्क, चैक रिपब्लिक अपनी मैगजीन कार फ्री नेटवर्कर्स ने ताजा अंक में फाजिल्का पर विशेष आर्टीकल भी प्रकाशित किया है।
भारत-पाकिस्तान सीमा से महज 11 किलोमीटर पीछे स्थित फाजिल्का का इतिहास करीब 169 साल पुराना है। इस फेस्टिवल से फाजिल्का की एक अलग पहचान बनेगी। —नवदीप असीजा

Fazilka Heritage Festival- Invitation

India's most pedestrian and cycle friendly township calling you on their most eco-friendly annual, art cultural and food festival

Invitation

Fazilka Heritage Festival - Mehak Sarhad Di
22nd to 25th November, 2007
www.fazilkafestival.org

India’s smallest big town, inviting people across the country and continent to come and discover the rich heritage and culture of Fazilka.

It gives us immense pleasure to announce the dates for Fazilka’s Second annual, food, art and cultural festival “FAZILKA HERITAGE FESTIVAL -Mehak Sarhad Di-2007” from 22nd to 25th November 2007. Started in the year 2006 under the aegis of the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka®, the Fazilka Heritage Festival is an annual feature ornamenting the fair face of the city of Fazilka. Fazilka Heritage Festival is an offering sublime not just for the music and art lovers of Fazilka but also for those of the entire state of Punjab and region put together. Conceived and planned as a cultural event showcasing the various aspects of art, music and food culture of the erstwhile Fazilka with a view to injecting a fresh lease of life into them, the Festival is literally an art and cultural extravaganza. Fazilka Heritage Festival 2007 brings out this very spirit alive in the shape of a mega cultural fest where cultures unite, wits battle, ideas and imaginations evolve creating a joint and ever lasting euphemism. The cultural facet of the event provides a podium for creative and imaginative display of teams, talent, ideas and thoughts. The season is all set and the mood is like never before. Fazilka Heritage Festival 2007 promises to be a much bigger, broader and better affair that will go down the memories as a sophisticated as well as enjoyable event - the basic essence of this festival. The main aim of this heritage festival is to promote Fazilka’s rich culture and heritage worldwide. This event will not only promote the vibrancy of Fazilka’s culture and Punjabiat in the border region of Punjab but also will help to establish Fazilka as a Brand city. This branding will directly or indirectly support the local handicraft, workers, sweet makers and will generate employment opportunity through tourism in the region for many.

Teams meet from corners of the country, and we have confluence of ideas. The vision of Fazilka Heritage Festival continues to be. The targets that we set out last year, in Mehak Sarhad Di, we managed to achieve, and our goals are set higher now.

The main highlights of this mega event shall be;
Our Legends
1. Padamshree Pushpa Hans Night –Singing night in the honour of Veteran Punjabi singer and daughter of Fazilka Padamshree Pushpa Hans
2. Folk Dance Night – In the memory of Late Baba Pokhar Singh, founder of Jhummar dance.
3. Chankata Penda Gali Gali – Live DJ performances and live shows in front of Fazilka’s historic building Clock Tower.
4. Panorama Section – this event will showcase Punjabi and Hindi movies
Car free Zones
5. Pedestrian and bicycle friendly food street – This will not improve the health of participants through walking but here you can also taste the delicious food of Malwa region of Punjab around clock tower.
6. Artist’s corner –, where on the both sides of the roads, local artist will display their products related to handicrafts and traditional fine arts.
7. Safety Zone – lecture and live shows in association with ArriveSafe , Chandigarh based NGO to promote road safety amongst users especially school children
The Community
8. Fauj – live band and special performances by Indian Armed forces, the savoir of Fazilka town.
9. Rang Manch – Nukkar Theatre event dedicated to street and stag plays by various participants groups across the country.
10. Paridhan- A fashion event based upon the theme Fazilka revisited.
11. Fazilka Carnival Prade – Parade by the participants, Indian Defense Forces and school children, displaying various forms of Fazilka’s lifestyle.
12. The Great Fazilite Dream – If you’ve ever thought some of a vision/change/mechanism to make our city a progressive and better place, we appreciate you. The rest if follow suit. “The Great Fazilite Dream” brings you a confluence of such ideas where dreams are discussed. Dreams that would shape the portrait of tomorrow.
and many others fine and performing art events.

This year “FAZILKA RATTAN” awards during the festival shall be given to these five dignitaries who brought laurels to the name of city Fazilka - Padamshree Fazilite Smt. Pushpa Hans, World famous neurologist Fazilite (Dr.) Jagjit Chopra, , Fazilite Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi “Sahar”, a famous urdu poet , Fazilite (Dr.) Harpreet Singh, HOD, Department of Electronics, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA and Fazilite Sardar Gurbachan Singh Brar, former captain of Indian Hockey Team.

Last year, pedestrianisation in Fazilka through festival was appreciated by Transport Department, University of Vienna, Austria. In continuation to that, this year festival theme has been chosen as “Global Warming”. During festival time, special emphasis shall be given to keep the city as pedestrian and cycle friendly. This will the recorded as worlds most eco friendly festival, use of plastic in terms of carry bag shall be banned during and after the festival. At present Fazilka generates 17.5 tons of solid waste everyday. Local volunteers shall be trained to promote for the best waste management practices.

To facilitate the participants, an official website http://www.fazilkafestival.org/ for the event has been launched. Registration for participation in the competition and cultural events has started. Sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers can directly register through this website. This website is a brainchild of Mr. Gautam Chaudhary, a 17 years old 11th standard student from Fazilka.

Registration- About our Website

One can Registration for Participation in the events, Exhibition, Sponsorship and for becoming a volunteer by visiting http://www.fazilkafestival.org/ or can directly go to registration section http://www.register.fazilkafestival.org/.

Registration through mobile- To facilitate people we have also launched a mobile site wap.fazilkafestival.org . One can also register by visiting this site through their Mobile browsers. ( Additional Data cost may be applicable, depend upon the service provider while opening this site)

You can write your comments or suggestions in our Guestbook. It is available at http://fazilkafestival.org/guestbook

We have added a ‘Link to Us’ section from where you can get HTML Codes for Fazilka Heritage Festival Banners and you can use the same in all those websites where which allow use of HTML. For example, you can use these in the Scrapbooks of your friends in orkut and thus help in the promotion. These HTML Codes will work in most of the sites.

You can also subscribe to our RSS Feeds to get latest news and information about Fazilka Heritage Festival. A weekly newsletter shall be launched to apprise you development of the festival. You can subscribe by clicking on the RRS Sign in the left top and bottom corners of our website. Or by directly adding the address “http://fazilkafestival.org/rss/feed.xml“ to a RSS Feed reader.

So guys tighten up your belt to fly with us on a journey called Fazilka Heritage Festival.

Cheers,
Fazilka Rocks


Team Fazilka Heritage Festival

Our other Official Websites are;

http://www.lovefazilka.esmartweb.com/
http://www.fazilkaonline.com/
http://www.navdeepasija.blogspot.com/

Punjab cycles its way to eco-friendliness

The Tribune, Bathinda Edition, Punjab, 1st October, 2007 http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071101/bathinda.htm#2

Punjab cycles its way to eco-friendliness
By Navdeep Asija
Fazilka, October 31The number of bicycle users in Punjab is among the highest in the country, proving amply that people here understand the meaning of sustainable development.
According to an analysis conducted by Navdeep Asija of Fazilka, who has done his Masters in Geotech and Geo-environmental Engineering from IIT Delhi, cycle density per 10,000 people in Punjab is the highest compared to states that have a similar terrain and geographical conditions, except for the hill states. His research is based on the 2001 census.
State Loves To Pedal
A study says that cycle density per 10,000 people in Punjab is the highest compared to other states.
Asija's analysis reveals that as per capita income in the states is going up, the number of cycle users is going down. This is the trend in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
But Punjab has shown an altogether different trend. Despite the fact that Punjab has the maximum per capita income (as per 2001 data), after Goa, the Punjabi's love for the bicycle has not gone down. Almost every second occupied household in Punjab has a minimum of one bicycle.
The high density of non-motorised mode of transportation proves that Punjab is moving ahead as far as ecologically sustainable development is concerned. \n\u003cp\>In Punjab, there are 1,257 cycle users for every 10,000 persons while in Haryana, it is just 835 users per 10,000 people. \n\u003cp\>A research conducted by Urja Purash of Uttarakhand Dr Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor at IIT Roorkee, reveals that to burn one litre of fuel, 15.2 kg of air from the atmosphere is needed. \n\u003cp\>Based on this, if we consider the average daily length of a cyclist's trip as 5-6 km in a day; then one cycle user is saving half a litre of fuel and 7.6 kg of fresh air. Therefore, the high density of cycle users in the state is also contributing to the preservation of environment a daily basis. \n\u003cp\>Other states, which have a lower but comparable result in terms of cycle density, are Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It is so because of lower per capita income, between Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per annum, as modes of motorised transport can be an expensive affair. Punjab is equally attracted to other modes of motorised transport but here, bicycle has not been ignored by the people. Cycling is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people taking to bicycles to commute, communities experience reduced traffic snarls, improvement in air quality and greater physical fitness, all beneficial to people.

The high density of non-motorised mode of transportation proves that Punjab is moving ahead as far as ecologically sustainable development is concerned.
In Punjab, there are 1,257 cycle users for every 10,000 persons while in Haryana, it is just 835 users per 10,000 people.
A research conducted by Urja Purash of Uttarakhand Dr Bhupinder Singh, a retired professor at IIT Roorkee, reveals that to burn one litre of fuel, 15.2 kg of air from the atmosphere is needed.
Based on this, if we consider the average daily length of a cyclist's trip as 5-6 km in a day; then one cycle user is saving half a litre of fuel and 7.6 kg of fresh air. Therefore, the high density of cycle users in the state is also contributing to the preservation of environment a daily basis.
Other states, which have a lower but comparable result in terms of cycle density, are Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It is so because of lower per capita income, between Rs 5000 to Rs 7000 per annum, as modes of motorised transport can be an expensive affair.
Punjab is equally attracted to other modes of motorised transport but here, bicycle has not been ignored by the people.
Cycling is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people taking to bicycles to commute, communities experience reduced traffic snarls, improvement in air quality and greater physical fitness, all beneficial to people.

A FOOT IN TRADITION

Kasuri juttis are very much available on this side of the border. You just have to go to Fazilka. MANOJ TRIPATHI reports

Hindustan Times Exculsive Coverage , 28th October 2007, Sunday Magazine, Page 7

MAKING JUTTIS NEEDS NO MACHINERY; THEY ARE ONE HUNDRED PER CENT HAND-MADE. BUT
CRAFTSMEN NEED HELP A FAMILY HAS TO WORK AT LEAST 12 HOURS TO PRODUCE THREE-FOUR
PAIRS OF JUTTIS & EARN Rs 35-Rs 40 A DAY

Who can forget Surinder Kaur singing ‘Jutti Kasuri peri na poori hai rabba sanu turna paiya?' With its reference to Ka sur, the song certainly has a pre-47 flavour, but maybe you don't know that Kasuri juttis are still easily available on our side of the border. Same extra-durable heavy tanning, same distinctive dabka work on the upper - but made in Fazilka! In the wake of Partition scores of shoe-making families migrated to Fazilka from Kasur and set up their workshops afresh. About 200 families are engaged in the manufacture of these song-celebrated shoes. Fazilka's annual output is about 1.2 lakh pairs with turnover Rs 240 lakh.
The demand for juttis has seen ups and downs over the past 60 years but it has never dried up completely In. fact, in recent years, demand has been brisk with orders coming in not only from Punjab but from distant parts of India and even from foreign retailers.

Another thing about the footwear that Fazilka now calls its own - it has admirers in all kinds of high places. Sukhbir Badal prefers juttis from Fazilka and so does Jagmeet Brar. These shoes definitely cut across party lines. Film star Juhi Chawla swears by 'em and so does Jimmy Shergill. In fact, who would think of visiting Fazilka and not making a beeline for Indra Market where dozens of shops are stacked floor to ceiling with these slippers.

Traditionally the colours were only black, shades of tan and a unique deep red but with the advent of more sophisticated dyes - and changing tastes - juttis are made in all sorts of colours. Match any outfit! "The traditional designs still attract the maximum number of cus tomers," says shoemaker Dalip Kumar. However, he hastens to add that his workmen are fully capable of producing more ‘modern' styles, including uppers with cutwork, braid or crimp finish.

‘Workmen', did we say? Actually , making a pair of jutti is a whole-fami ly exercise with women carrying out the embroidery and detailing - or as they call it tila bharai. An artisan family on an average produces about three pairs of jutti every day working , up to 12 hours a day .

Buffalo leather is used for the soles and goat leather is taken for the uppers. The special tanning process makes buffalo leather supple and superior to the camel leather commonly used in juttis from Rajasthan. "Their juttis are hard; ours are soft and pliable," says Dalip.

It is back-breaking work - literally The older workers can no longer . stand straight - their spines are permanently curved from hunching over the cobblers' last. If a family can manage to turn out three pair of jutti per day it will earn about Rs 35 to Rs 40 - that is, about Rs 18 to 20 per pair.

Now are you remembering the prices from the last time you shopped for juttis? The simplest pair went for Rs 200, those with a bit of embroidery were priced from Rs 500 to Rs 750 and the heavily embroidered pairs went up to about Rs 1,500. Prices in Fazilka's bazaars is much less but even then a simple pair of jutti will cost not less than Rs 90.

"Middle men profit, not us producers," shrugs Dalip.

Middlemen are only one of many problems. Jutti Manufacturers Union president Subhash Chandra Dhalia has them all on his fingertips: "Juttis are at the top of the list when anyone names Punjab's handicrafts. The government says it wants to encourage and preserve traditional crafts and help craftsmen, but we get no help at all. Neither from the Centre, state government, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, nor from any of those big Delhi NGOs like CAPART. We are left to sink or swim by ourselves. Himachal, Haryana and Rajasthan levy no tax on juttis but Punjab taxes our product. We need a research and design centre to help us upgrade our shoes and cater to modern tastes. A centre could improve the skills of even the illiterate mochis. Leather is more and more costly and no one engaged in this trade has any margin to let him build up a stock of leather to tide over the fluctuations in price. Moreover, juttis sell mainly in the winter months and we face a long lean period for the rest of the year. In actual fact, we don't get bank loans; either we manage from our own capital or take loans from moneylenders who charge interest of even 50 per cent. Some of them cheat us too. We need micro-credit schemes and marketing assistance."

In the first week of October the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce for the Leather Workers visited Fazilka and saw the notso-good condition of the industry . The committee's answer to the problems is "form a cooperative society" and members urged the local administration to help the artisans to form a coop which would be eligible for many benefits. But Dhalia points out: "We have a cooperative but its just on paper and completely non-functional. Why start a new one if we have never been able to set the old one right? Marketing is the key, we want a tax holiday to encourage this handicraft industry and government help for direct retailing so that we would actually benefit from consumer demand. We keep hearing about all kinds of government schemes to help the economy in border areas. Fazilka is right on the border. Why is there nothing for us?"

Making juttis needs no machinery; they are one hundred per cent handmade. The craftsmen are still there, they still have the skills, but they need help. "If this is not forthcoming, then the younger generation will seek any other kind of employment and traditional juttis will vanish from the landscape of Punjab forever," warns Dhalia.

As you sow, so shall you weep? – Pusa 1121 Hybrid Rice

Navdeep Asija

This modified phrase holds valid for the farmers of Malwa region Punjab, especially Fazilka belt who brought their area under the cultivation of Pusa-1121 hybrid variety of Rice. People are bound to modify this phrase due to changed policy and last minute notification by centre government for the rating Pusa-1121 as non-basmati rice. Punjab State government also seems, not very serious about farmer’s this problem.

Pusa-1121 is an evolved (hybrid) variety of rice developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). Pusa-1121 has similarities with an earlier IARI hybrid, Pusa Basmati-1 (PB-1), which was approved for commercial cultivation in 1989. Their grains of Pusa-1121 also display the traits associated with basmati: Distinct aroma, non-stickiness and elongation upon cooking

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on October 9, 2007 imposed the ban on non-basmati rice. This happened after Pusa-1121 was sown by the farmers keeping in mind that it belonged to the Basmati category.

The distinct advantage of this crop from conventional Paddy (Parmal) is it’s sowing in monsoon season which is June-July. This directly or indirectly results, saving in ground water, power consumption and minimal use of pesticides. Due to its distinct advantages last year, Malwa region farmer, the most advanced region of farming in the state adopted this change from conventional paddy (Parmal) crop cultivation to Pusa-1121. Last year, an estimated area of about 10000 acres was brought under Pusa-1121 cultivation mainly in Fazilka, Jalalabad (W), Mukatsar, Ferozepur, Guruharsahai, Faridkot, Kotkapura and Gidderbaha of malwa belt. Pusa-1121 was also promoted by Markfed, Pepsi and other agro based agencies.

The irony though is that 1121 is notified as non- basmati on the contrary, the government has included Shabnam as basmati variety this year. The reason: The official definition of `basmati' requires at least one of the two parents to be a traditional basmati land race. In this case, only the grandparents happen to be `pure' basmati lines. "We need to adopt a trait-cum-geographical indication based definition instead of a narrow parentage-based definition. “As long as a particular variety exhibits all basmati traits and is grown within the region, does it matter whether these are inherited through parents or grand-parents," said Vikram Ahuja, a progressive farmer and founder of Zamindara Farmsolutions.

Last week when these farmers brought their crop to the Fazilka Mandi, the price was rupees 2050 /- per quintal. But the prevailing price what farmers are getting in the order of rupees 1450/- per quintal. If they take it back the crop back to the village, this will add additional loss of rupees 100/- per quintal in terms of cost of loading, unloading and transportation. The estimated loss against the earlier price would be rupees 15,000/- per acre. According to Mr Ravi Doda and executive member of Aartia Association Fazilka, Fazilka mandi alone is expecting arrival of 150 thousand quintal of Pusa-1121 crop in this season and if government does not respond timely on this matter and will continue his delay further on this. This will result huge financial and economic loss to the poor farmers of the region and farmers will left with no choice but to go back to the normal Paddy (Parmal).

Fazilka Shinning - First Agri Based Call Centre of North India in Fazilka

Farmers call for problem solving

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN :
Fazilka/Chandigarh: Call centres are definitely proving a boon for farmers in far off villages where technology and its advantages may otherwise never reach them. In a similar effort started six months back, though a far cry from swanky settings but nonetheless effective, NRIturned-farmer Vikram Ahuja caters to needs of the farming community from his dusty office on the outskirts of Fazilka in Ferozpur district. Farmers from around this town and neighbouring areas of Rajasthan call on 9915184000 and are attended to by five people employed at the call centre running from the first floor of Ahuja’s Zamindara’s Farm Solutions. ‘‘It is high time we connect the laptop with agriculture for a good market,’’ says Ahuja. Equipped with five computers running on Pentium II and old-fashioned headphones, this centre has reportedly become very popular among farmers. Vikas Rai, a farmer of Nehal Khehra village near Abohar says, ‘‘I was suggested laser-levelling in my field and it has benefited me more than traditional levelling methods. And the solution was just a call away,’’ says a happy Rai. While word of mouth has familiarised farmers with this call centre, the local media has also played a positive role, says Ahuja. Apart from catering to individual farmers, this centre reportedly outsources its services to farm products producer group Haryali and it has also done a pilot project with Punjab Agro and Punjab agriculture department. ‘‘We guide farmers to opt for citrus farming, horticulture, cotton, wheat and use of agritools for special work. I got the database from US, Italy and other European countries. With the help of government machinery, I hope to help the local farming community,’’ says Ahuja. Starting with minimum infrastructure, Ahuja is glad to say, ‘‘We get calls from Ganganagar and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. Most farmers have small problems and with better communication, call centres like ours will really benefit them.’’ It is a free of cost service, which Vikram has initiated for farmers of this backward and border area of Fazilka Abohar and neighbouring areas. In my various trips to abroad I have seen that technology is giving a big boost to various fields, then why not in farming, saidVikram. “ It is quick, fast and free of cost for farmers. I am focusing on reducing input costs of farmer, I advice them to rent tools rather than buying them, and use a technique, which is best suited.’’

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOICG/2007/10/18/TOICG_2007_10_18_5.pdf

Times of India, Chandigarh Edition, 18th October, 2007

Fazilka's Innovative way to protect their Heritage Monuments through Community Participation

Fazilka is setting up new trends in Indian History. First time people of Fazilka came forward to protect their heritage monuments linked with historic Importance of Fazilka. Fazilka is a historical town, established by Britisher Mr. Van Pat Agnew in the year 1844. Since its inception many historical monuments are being built here, important one is Fazilka’s City Centre, Ram Narayan Pediwal Clock Tower.
Mission started by Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF)on 30th June 2007 along with Press Club Fazilka, Pediwal Trust and Pediwal Family (Family who established clock tower), Manav Kalyan Sabha, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Municipal Council Fazilka. Arya Samaj and many other volunteer people and organisation are taking its shape. Bajran Gupta, ex-president Municipal Council fazilka contributed special role to execute the same.
Opinion from Berger India, Nerolack Paints Asian Paints and Snowcem Paints were called. Snowcem paints were shortlisted for the final execution of the Work. They will not just paint the structure but will protect the monument. Mr. J. S. Saini and Mr V.Lakhanpal from Snowcem India Paints taken up this project around month back and they have developed four different models to paint and protect this historical clock Tower Fazilka. Apart from business angle Snowcem India people personally providing their full technical support as a part of their business social responsibly.
Ram Narayan Pediwal Clock Tower Fazilka Inaugurated on 6th June 1939. Since then, this is adding beauty to the city skyline. Two of this type clock towers are built in the world, another one is in the Lyallpur Pakistan. Due to poor maintenance by Municipal Council Fazilka and political negligence after militancy era in punjab. This structure was losing its charm. With this initiative, this small town is setting trends for the rest of the world.
Through online and offline methods, polling will be conducted to take peoples opinion for the most suited colour scheme on this structure. These online polls will be available on the Fazilka website www.lovefazilka.esmartweb.com
Talking to media persons, Mr. Sushil Pediwal, Member Pediwal Trust Fazilka said “our culture and heritage is our pride and these historical monuments link us with the past legacy set by our elders, we must protect the same for our future generations”.
Dr Bhupinder Singh and Mr. Umesh Kukkar, founder members of GWAF are appealing to the entire citizen to participate in this campaign. After clock tower, historical Asafwala War Memorial built in the memory of Indian martyrs of 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak war shall be taken up.
Some trees were planted in the periphery area of the clock tower, Navdeep Asija, Geotechnical Engineer submitted the report to Municipal Council Fazilka for replanting these tress to somewhere else. Roots of these trees are disturbing the stability of this structure by developing crack in raft foundation of the structure. Ornamental trees shall be planted in the periphery area, which will add beauty to this structure. This entire execution shall be done under the supervision of Navdeep Asija. This will be ready before diwali.

संसद में उठाई जाएंगी फाजिल्का की रेल समस्याएं

Oct 14, 01:14 am
फाजिल्का -भारतीय संसद में फाजिल्का की रेलवे संबंधी समस्याओं को प्रमुखता से उठाया जाएगा। यह बात वीरवार को केंद्रीय वाणिज्य विभाग की पांच सदस्यीय संसदीय टीम ने 'दैनिक जागरण' के साथ बातचीत में कही।
उल्लेखनीय है कि सांसद एवं पूर्व केंद्रीय कपड़ा मंत्री कांशीराम राणा के नेतृत्व में राज्य सभा व लोकसभा के पांच सांसदों की एक टीम फाजिल्का में जूती व्यवसाय से जुड़े लोगों की समस्याओं का अध्ययन करने आई थी। इस टीम में श्री राणा के अलावा ई पुन्नू स्वामी, बनवारी लाल, मुहम्मद अमीन व टी बालाकृष्ण पिल्ले शामिल थे। इस संसदीय टीम के साथ राज्य सभा के निदेशक सुरेद्र वाट्स भी मौजूद थे, जो मूल रूप से फाजिल्का के ही रहने वाले है। श्री वाट्स के आवास पर दैनिक जागरण के साथ बातचीत में संसदीय दल को बताया गया कि भारत विभाजन से पूर्व फाजिल्का एशिया की ऊन की सबसे बड़े मंडी हुआ करती थी, लेकिन केंद्र व राज्य सरकार की अनदेखी के कारण अब ये एक छोटा सा कस्बा बनकर रह गया है। जब उन्हे ये बताया गया कि फाजिल्का से दिल्ली के लिए कोई सीधी गाड़ी नहीं है। जनवरी 2003 में चलाई गई एक लिंक गाड़ी को भी जून 2006 में बंद कर दिया गया था। टीम के सदस्यों ने हैरानी जताते कहाकि आपकी ये आवाज आपके इलाके के सांसद को लोकसभा में उठानी चाहिए थी। अब हम फाजिल्का की इस मांग को संसद में उठाएंगे। इसके अलावा संसदीय दल को ये भी बताया गया कि फाजिल्का से हरिद्वार के लिए भी कोई गाड़ी नहीं है। फाजिल्का में 1947 से भी पहले बनी वाशिंग लाइन को भी 1991 में मीटरगेज से ब्राडगेज में बदलते समय उखाड़ दिया गया था। 16 साल बीतने पर भी उसे दोबारा नहीं बनाया गया। दल के सदस्यों ने आश्वासन दिया कि वे इस मुद्दे को खुद रेलमंत्री लालू प्रसाद यादव के समक्ष रखेंगे। सदस्यों ने कहाकि वे पाकिस्तान के रास्ते भारत में आने वाली गैस पाइप लाइन को फाजिल्का सीमा से व भारत पाक के बीच सादकी चौकी को खुलवाने का मुद्दा भी संसद में उठाएंगे। जब सदस्यों से ये पूछा गया कि उनका फाजिल्का आगमन कैसा रहा तो उन्होंने कहा कि यहां की तीन बातें बहुत पसंद आई है। लोगों की आवाज में मिठास, यहां की विशेष मिठाई तोशा व आसफवाला में बनी शहीदों की समाधि। उन्होंने कहा कि आसफवाला समाधि व उसका इतिहास देखकर वे 1971 में देश की रक्षा करने वाले शहीदों के समक्ष नतमस्तक हुए है।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_3818962.html

राजनीतिक भूल है लुधियाना मेट्रो रेल समझौता

यद्यपि पंजाब सरकार ने लुधियाना में मेट्रो रेल सेवा शुरू करने संबंधी दिल्ली मेट्रो रेल सेवा कारपोरेशन के साथ किए समझौते (एमओयू) को ऐतिहासिक करार दिया है और साथ ही कहा है कि इससे पंजाब तीव्र गति परिवहन के अति आधुनिक दौर में शामिल हो जाएगा, लेकिन सवाल यह उठता है कि सरकार का यह कदम कितना प्रासंगिक व उचित है। इस बात पर बहस होनी चाहिए कि कहीं यह प्रोजेक्ट पंजाब के लिए अति आधुनिक तकनीक के बजाय पोस्टमार्टम तकनीक तो नहीं साबित होगा। इस समझौते से यह स्पष्ट है कि सत्तारूढ़ दल के नेता राज्य के माथे पर ऋण के बोझ को अनावश्यक रूप से बढ़ाएंगे। और यह प्रोजेक्ट भविष्य में एक बड़ी भूल के रूप में सामने आएगी, जिसे आज सियासी नेताओं द्वारा बिना ठोस योजना के जानबूझकर थोपा जा रहा है। वर्णनीय है कि पंजाब के वित्त मंत्री पहले ही कई बार जिक्र कर चुके हैं कि सूबे की मौजूदा वित्तीय हालत ठीक नहीं है। ऐसे में इस प्रोजेक्ट पर आने वाली 3000 करोड़ रुपये की लागत का भार कहां से और किन स्रोतों से वहन किया जाएगा। बहरहाल, इस प्रोजेक्ट को लेकर इतनी भारी भरकम राशि का एस्टीमेशन वास्तविकता से जुड़ा प्रतीत नहीं होता है क्योंकि इसमें अन्य खर्चो के अलावा समय के साथ बढ़ने वाली लागत को शामिल नहीं किया गया है। मेट्रो जैसे बड़े प्रोजेक्ट को लेकर फंड के मद में हर बारीक पहलुओं का ध्यान रखा जाता है लेकिन इस समझौते में ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं है। जोकि अंतत: अपने निर्माण की अवधि में राज्य के खजाने पर भारी वित्तीय बोझ ही बनेगी। सरकार के इस फैसले के बाद आतंकवाद के दिनों में राज्य सरकार पर पड़ा वित्तीय बोझ भी इस प्रोजेक्ट पर आने वाली लागत के समक्ष बौना दिख रहा है। लुधियाना, मोहाली, अमृतसर जैसे शहरों में रेल आधारित तीव्र परिवहन व्यवस्था बनाने की बजाय द्रुतगामी सड़क परिवहन व्यवस्था को तवज्जो देना बेहतर विकल्प साबित होगा। इसके लिए मौजूदा सड़क व्यवस्था के इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर में ज्यादा परिवर्तन भी नहीं करना होगा। इसी में कुछ आमूलचूल परिवर्तन कर तीव्र सड़क परिवहन व्यवस्था के तौर पर इसे विकसित किया जा सकता है। वैसे भी बस आधारित तीव्र परिवहन व्यवस्था (एमआरटीसी) मेट्रो की तुलना में शहर के 80 फीसदी यात्रियों को बेहतर यातायात सुविधा प्रदान कर सकती है। गौरतलब है कि एक किमी. एलिवेटेड मेट्रो रेल लाइन के निर्माण की लागत ग्रेड आधारित बस लेन के निर्माण की तुलना में 35 गुणा ज्यादा आती है। वहीं मेट्रो का निर्माण शहर की स्काईलाइन को भी प्रभावित करेगा। उदाहरण के तौर पर लुधियाना के चौरा बाजार में निर्मित फ्लाई ओवर ने सिटी स्ट्रक्चर को बुरी तरह तहस नहस करके रख दिया और उसके बावजूद यातायात जाम की समस्या से निजात नहीं मिल सकी है। मेट्रो के निर्माण से शहर की सामाजिक व भौतिक ढांचे को बहुत हद तक बदलना पड़ेगा, जिससे सामाजिक असंतुलन भी पैदा होगा और उद्देश्य भी सफल नहीं हो पाएंगे। बहस का एक पहलू यह भी है कि मेट्रो का निर्माण भविष्य की जरूरत को ध्यान में रखकर किया जाता है ताकि लोगों को यातायात संबंधी दिक्कतें न हों। लेकिन यहां तो स्थिति ठीक इसके उलट है। मौजूदा यातायात समस्या को बेहतर मास्टर प्लान बनाकर भी खत्म किया जा सकता है। पंजाब को उन जगहों से सीख लेने की दरकार है जहां पहले से मेट्रो रेल चल रही हैं। दिल्ली में मेट्रो सुविधा चालू होने के बावजूद आज सड़कों पर कुल यातायात में बस परिवहन की भूमिका साठ फीसदी है। दिल्ली मेट्रो के पहले चरण में 65 किमी. के तीन लाइन के निर्माण में कुल 10571 करोड़ रुपये की लागत आई। (जो दस 747-बोइंग विमान की कीमत के बराबर है) और अभी दिल्ली मेट्रो में रोजाना 7.5 लाख यात्री सफर करते हैं जो दिल्ली की कुल आबादी का एक फीसदी भी नहीं है। वर्ष 2011 तक 20848 करोड़ रुपये की लागत से बनने वाली कुल 213.7 किमी. की दिल्ली मेट्रो से आनुपातिक तौर पर सिर्फ दो फीसदी आबादी लाभान्वित हो पाएगी जो कतई बेहतर परिवहन विकल्प नहीं है। वहीं दिल्ली मेट्रो उम्मीद के मुताबिक यात्रियों को आकर्षित नहीं कर पाई है। दिल्ली मेट्रो के इन आंकड़ों से स्पष्ट है कि यह सिर्फ इंट्रा सिटी परिवहन के लिए ही उपयुक्त है न कि इंटर सिटी परिवहन के लिए। लुधियाना में आबादी का घनत्व 804 व्यक्ति प्रति वर्ग किमी. है जबकि दिल्ली में आबादी का घनत्व 9296 व्यक्ति प्रति वर्ग किमी. है। लुधियाना से 11 गुणा आबादी घनत्व ज्यादा होने के बावजूद दिल्ली मेट्रो में यात्रियों की कुल अनुमानित संख्या के आधे लोग भी सफर नहीं कर रहे हैं। ऐसे में यह सवाल लाजिमी है कि लुधियाना में यह प्रोजेक्ट कितना सफल हो पाएगा, वह भी तब जब शहर में सड़कों की कनेक्टीविटी अच्छी है। पंजाब सरकार का लुधियाना में मेट्रो रेल प्रोजेक्ट किसी दृष्टिकोण से उपयोगी नहीं है और मैं उम्मीद करता हूं कि सरकार अपनी गलत नीतियों व योजना में सुधार करके दूसरे मेट्रो शहरों की तरह लुधियाना का वह हश्र नहीं करेगी। (लेखक आईआईटी दिल्ली में ट्रांसपोर्टेशन इंजीनियर हैं)

Dainik Jagran, 13th October, 2007, Page 7
http://epaper.jagran.com/main.aspx?edate=10/13/2007&editioncode=41&pageno=7#