The technology enables Apollo doctors to view ‘live diagnosis’
Megha Mann
Ludhiana, June 4
THE newly-launched low-cost e-telemedicine project of Satguru Pratap Singh Apollo Hospitals has found takers in small towns such as Fazilka and Doraha. The low cost technology enables experts at Apollo to view live diagnosis such as ECG, TMT and x-rays with minimal investment on behalf of other medical institutes seeking their service.
According to a statement issued here, this technology enables patients to have on-the-spot opinion of experts free of cost, and also ensures delivery of quality medical facilities in small towns.
“Deriving information from ECG is not everybody’s cup of tea. Earlier, the doctors used to first get ECG xeroxed, paste it in pieces on a paper and then fax it. This was a tiresome procedure, and a facsimile copy of ECG gave only a static status. By using this software, doctors can monitor live ECG and the change in modulations that occur by seconds, thereby giving a clearer picture of the defect,” said Manager Marketing Sunil Mehta, who has been instrumental in developing this software.
The usual telemedicine installation requires Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakh, whereas this technique just requires an internet broadband connection and a digital ECG machine. Presently, the EDP (electronic data processing) department of the hospital is laying emphasis on having a tie-up with those institutes that have digital ECG and TMT machines that facilitate easy and immediate transfer of data.
The hospital has a tie-up with Sachdeva Hospital and Jassi Hospital in Fazilka. Talks are on with Sidhu Hospital, Doraha and Ranjeet Hospital, Rara Sahib in this regard. Instead of using the traditional V-sat method, the hospital is relying on this software to have a major breakthrough in providing telemedicine services. The EDP department is headed by Balihar Singh, and its chief officer is Dr SP Singh.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=239574
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A forgotten form of soil regeneration takes root again
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/a-forgotten-form-of-soil-regeneration-takes-root-again_10037445.html
By Ranjana Narayan
Faridkot (Punjab), April 13 (IANS) Vinod Jyani, a farmer of Punjab’s Fazilka district, is a happy man. His paddy crop this year has been very good, without much fertiliser or water being used - thanks to mulching, an age-old system of soil regeneration that has almost gone out of use. Jyani, who grows wheat, paddy, millet, corn, sugarcane and fruits in his 140-acre farm, had begun to despair when he found the yield falling over the past several years. Continuous use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides had made the soil lose its nutrients, as is the case with most farm land in Punjab.
Then he learnt of natural farming techniques - not using chemicals but only biological ingredients like cow dung or cow urine - and of mulching to regenerate the soil.
Jyani tried mulching - covering the soil with a layer of dried leaves or hay to let the soil microbes multiply - on one acre on which he grew paddy.
The result had him elated.
“I got a good paddy crop this year and what’s more, with 50 percent less water, which is a necessary requirement for growing rice. I plan to do grow paddy in five-six acres this year after mulching the soil,” Jyani told IANS.
Explaining the method, Jyani said he would spread the mulch made of dried leaves, grass or crop residue in the field a week after transplanting the paddy saplings from the nurseries.
“This covering prevents the soil moisture from evaporating, helping me save on water. It also makes the soil microbes thrive, which are necessary for the soil to get back its nutrients.”
Jyani is using the technique in his fruit orchards too. He covers the base of the fruit trees with biomass made of crop residue.
“Another big advantage of mulching is that it does not allow weeds to grow. The mulching cuts off the sunlight to the weeds.”
Jyani decided to take to natural farming after being convinced by the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a non-government organisation based in Faridkot, which is working towards ecologically sustainable methods of agriculture.
KVM head Umendra Dutt told IANS: “Mulching is an age-old technique that went out of use after the Green Revolution (in the 1970s). Farmers were told to burn the crop residues instead of using it to spread on the soil. This burning only leads to pollution and the ash does not benefit the soil in any way.”
According to Dutt, crops “don’t need water but moisture”. “Mulching helps reduce use of water, keeping only enough moisture in the soil for the crops.”
Irrigation can lead to “glut of water in the soil, thereby spoiling the soil oxidation process”.
P.L. Gautam, deputy director general of crop science at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), told IANS that mulching had gone out of use in large farms due to mechanised farming.
However, he agreed that it was the most cost-effective technique for soil regeneration. “The crop residues used for mulching also act as humus for the soil. It is by and large a useful method for conserving water. The soil gets recharged.”
One way, said Gautam, was through ‘plastic mulching’, spreading large plastic sheets on the field, which gave the same benefits.
However, according to Dutt, this method is not as useful as natural mulching because it cuts off the oxygen supply to the soil - a vital ingredient for soil oxidation.
Now other farmers in Fazilka and parts of Punjab are opting for mulching, though in small areas first, said Jyani. “It needs two-three years for the soil to begin regenerating itself through mulching. Therefore farmers cannot afford to do it on all their land, even though they find it very useful.
“The government should give a subsidy, like they do for fertiliser, to farmers who opt for natural farming in order to tide over the initial years during the transition,” he said.
By Ranjana Narayan
Faridkot (Punjab), April 13 (IANS) Vinod Jyani, a farmer of Punjab’s Fazilka district, is a happy man. His paddy crop this year has been very good, without much fertiliser or water being used - thanks to mulching, an age-old system of soil regeneration that has almost gone out of use. Jyani, who grows wheat, paddy, millet, corn, sugarcane and fruits in his 140-acre farm, had begun to despair when he found the yield falling over the past several years. Continuous use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides had made the soil lose its nutrients, as is the case with most farm land in Punjab.
Then he learnt of natural farming techniques - not using chemicals but only biological ingredients like cow dung or cow urine - and of mulching to regenerate the soil.
Jyani tried mulching - covering the soil with a layer of dried leaves or hay to let the soil microbes multiply - on one acre on which he grew paddy.
The result had him elated.
“I got a good paddy crop this year and what’s more, with 50 percent less water, which is a necessary requirement for growing rice. I plan to do grow paddy in five-six acres this year after mulching the soil,” Jyani told IANS.
Explaining the method, Jyani said he would spread the mulch made of dried leaves, grass or crop residue in the field a week after transplanting the paddy saplings from the nurseries.
“This covering prevents the soil moisture from evaporating, helping me save on water. It also makes the soil microbes thrive, which are necessary for the soil to get back its nutrients.”
Jyani is using the technique in his fruit orchards too. He covers the base of the fruit trees with biomass made of crop residue.
“Another big advantage of mulching is that it does not allow weeds to grow. The mulching cuts off the sunlight to the weeds.”
Jyani decided to take to natural farming after being convinced by the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a non-government organisation based in Faridkot, which is working towards ecologically sustainable methods of agriculture.
KVM head Umendra Dutt told IANS: “Mulching is an age-old technique that went out of use after the Green Revolution (in the 1970s). Farmers were told to burn the crop residues instead of using it to spread on the soil. This burning only leads to pollution and the ash does not benefit the soil in any way.”
According to Dutt, crops “don’t need water but moisture”. “Mulching helps reduce use of water, keeping only enough moisture in the soil for the crops.”
Irrigation can lead to “glut of water in the soil, thereby spoiling the soil oxidation process”.
P.L. Gautam, deputy director general of crop science at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), told IANS that mulching had gone out of use in large farms due to mechanised farming.
However, he agreed that it was the most cost-effective technique for soil regeneration. “The crop residues used for mulching also act as humus for the soil. It is by and large a useful method for conserving water. The soil gets recharged.”
One way, said Gautam, was through ‘plastic mulching’, spreading large plastic sheets on the field, which gave the same benefits.
However, according to Dutt, this method is not as useful as natural mulching because it cuts off the oxygen supply to the soil - a vital ingredient for soil oxidation.
Now other farmers in Fazilka and parts of Punjab are opting for mulching, though in small areas first, said Jyani. “It needs two-three years for the soil to begin regenerating itself through mulching. Therefore farmers cannot afford to do it on all their land, even though they find it very useful.
“The government should give a subsidy, like they do for fertiliser, to farmers who opt for natural farming in order to tide over the initial years during the transition,” he said.
Monday, May 5, 2008
जहां 25 साल से नहीं आई पुलिस
Mar 20, 10:38 am
फाजिल्का [पंजाब] [अमृत सचदेवा]। धन व बल से चुनाव जीतने के बाद पुलिस के जरिए अपने विरोधियों से रंजिश निकालने के मौजूदा माहौल से हटकर फाजिल्का में एक ऐसा भी गांव है जहां चुनावी रंजिश तो दूर, किसी आम झगड़े में भी पुलिस की कोई दखल नहीं है। सच तो यह है कि झगड़े फसाद में पुलिस का गांव आना ही वर्जित है। यहां चुनाव की जगह सर्वसम्मति से सरपंच के चुनाव को वरीयता दी जाती है।
अपवाद स्वरूप कभी चुनाव कराना भी पड़ता है तो चुने हुए सरपंच का कार्यकाल इतना बेहतर होता है कि अगली बार उसी के नाम पर गांववाले एकमत हो जाते हैं। गौरतलब यह है कि गांव चाननवाला में पिछले 25 साल से एक ही परिवार का वर्चस्व रहा है। इस परिवार की पंचायत मामलों में बेहतर समझ और प्रदर्शन का ही सबब है कि गांववासी उन पर पूरा भरोसा करते हैं। बीते ढाई दशक से इसी परिवार का कोई न कोई सदस्य यहां का सरपंच बनता चला आ रहा है। कमोवेश इस बार भी ऐसी ही स्थिति है। जिसके चलते चाननवाला में चुनाव की जगह सर्वसम्मति की कवायद शुरू हो गई है। आगामी चुनाव में भी यह परंपरा कायम रहने के आसार हैं। गांव के सर्वसम्मति से चुने गए सरपंच भाई देवेंद्र सिंह सावनसुखा 15 वर्ष से सरपंच है। उन्होंने 'दैनिक जागरण' को बताया कि वह पहले दो बार चुनाव जीतकर सरपंच बने थे और उनके गांव के प्रति किए कार्यो को देखते हुए ग्रामीणों ने तीसरी बार सर्वसम्मति से सरपंच बना दिया। इससे पहले उनके चाचा शेखर चंद सोनावत गांव के सरपंच थे। मगर तब गांव चाननवाला की पंचायत अलग नहीं थी, बल्कि गांव मुठियांवाली के साथ सामूहिक पंचायत थी। गांव चाननवाला की आबादी करीब पौने दो हजार है, जिसमें लगभग 700 मतदाता है।
उन्होंने बताया कि इस दौरान गांव में कभी किसी विवाद में पुलिस नहीं बुलाई गई। गांव में औसवाल बनिया, राय सिख, जट सिख, छींबा, धानक आदि बिरादरियों के लोग प्रेमपूर्वक रहते है। बीते वर्ष पंजाब कृषि यूनिवर्सिटी द्वारा करवाए मुकाबलों में गांव के फलों को 21 पुरस्कार मिले है।
उन्होंने बताया कि पिछली बार सर्वसम्मति से पंचायत बनाने पर सरकार की तरफ से दो लाख रुपये पुरस्कार मिला था। जिसे प्राइमरी स्कूल व पंचायत घर पर खर्च किया गया है। इस बार भी ग्रामीणों और उनकी खुद की यही इच्छा है कि पंचायत का गठन सर्वसम्मति से हो।
http://www.1bharat.com/newsmchr/?p_source_id=1&p_link_id=95054&p_link_type=news_art&lang=hi
फाजिल्का [पंजाब] [अमृत सचदेवा]। धन व बल से चुनाव जीतने के बाद पुलिस के जरिए अपने विरोधियों से रंजिश निकालने के मौजूदा माहौल से हटकर फाजिल्का में एक ऐसा भी गांव है जहां चुनावी रंजिश तो दूर, किसी आम झगड़े में भी पुलिस की कोई दखल नहीं है। सच तो यह है कि झगड़े फसाद में पुलिस का गांव आना ही वर्जित है। यहां चुनाव की जगह सर्वसम्मति से सरपंच के चुनाव को वरीयता दी जाती है।
अपवाद स्वरूप कभी चुनाव कराना भी पड़ता है तो चुने हुए सरपंच का कार्यकाल इतना बेहतर होता है कि अगली बार उसी के नाम पर गांववाले एकमत हो जाते हैं। गौरतलब यह है कि गांव चाननवाला में पिछले 25 साल से एक ही परिवार का वर्चस्व रहा है। इस परिवार की पंचायत मामलों में बेहतर समझ और प्रदर्शन का ही सबब है कि गांववासी उन पर पूरा भरोसा करते हैं। बीते ढाई दशक से इसी परिवार का कोई न कोई सदस्य यहां का सरपंच बनता चला आ रहा है। कमोवेश इस बार भी ऐसी ही स्थिति है। जिसके चलते चाननवाला में चुनाव की जगह सर्वसम्मति की कवायद शुरू हो गई है। आगामी चुनाव में भी यह परंपरा कायम रहने के आसार हैं। गांव के सर्वसम्मति से चुने गए सरपंच भाई देवेंद्र सिंह सावनसुखा 15 वर्ष से सरपंच है। उन्होंने 'दैनिक जागरण' को बताया कि वह पहले दो बार चुनाव जीतकर सरपंच बने थे और उनके गांव के प्रति किए कार्यो को देखते हुए ग्रामीणों ने तीसरी बार सर्वसम्मति से सरपंच बना दिया। इससे पहले उनके चाचा शेखर चंद सोनावत गांव के सरपंच थे। मगर तब गांव चाननवाला की पंचायत अलग नहीं थी, बल्कि गांव मुठियांवाली के साथ सामूहिक पंचायत थी। गांव चाननवाला की आबादी करीब पौने दो हजार है, जिसमें लगभग 700 मतदाता है।
उन्होंने बताया कि इस दौरान गांव में कभी किसी विवाद में पुलिस नहीं बुलाई गई। गांव में औसवाल बनिया, राय सिख, जट सिख, छींबा, धानक आदि बिरादरियों के लोग प्रेमपूर्वक रहते है। बीते वर्ष पंजाब कृषि यूनिवर्सिटी द्वारा करवाए मुकाबलों में गांव के फलों को 21 पुरस्कार मिले है।
उन्होंने बताया कि पिछली बार सर्वसम्मति से पंचायत बनाने पर सरकार की तरफ से दो लाख रुपये पुरस्कार मिला था। जिसे प्राइमरी स्कूल व पंचायत घर पर खर्च किया गया है। इस बार भी ग्रामीणों और उनकी खुद की यही इच्छा है कि पंचायत का गठन सर्वसम्मति से हो।
http://www.1bharat.com/newsmchr/?p_source_id=1&p_link_id=95054&p_link_type=news_art&lang=hi
Friday, May 2, 2008
Cars and Marriages are Made in Heaven
There was a time when one out of a hundred marriages used to end in a divorce, in India. That was back then. Recent findings show that divorce rates in India have been rising alarmingly. In the capital city of India, Delhi, the divorce rates have literally doubled over the past five years. In one of the most hi-tech cities of India, like Chandigarh and Bangalore, the divorce rates have tripled in the last 3-4 years. These are pretty shocking statistics, given the fact that India used to be one of the most traditional countries with one of the lowest divorce rates in the world. This dangerous trend coincides with an increase of money in market and motorized vehicles on the roads.
According to Harman Sidhu, President of Arrive Safe, Chandigarh based NGO working in the area of safe mobility and access through better transportation policies and planning, “Indian urban lives are moving at a high RPM[1] rate because of the increase in personalized motor vehicle use for commuting”. Commuting distances have been increased three-fold by virtue of wrong transportation policies in the last few decades; the meager and inefficient public transport system has made walking and cycling in urban areas unsafe. This daily unsafe commute has generated high stress levels in the population.
Our visionless urban planners believe that the numbers of vehicles on the roads are an indicator of the degree of development with country. Flyovers and expressways are the buzz words within corridors of power today. More road crash fatalities, crime on roads and road rages in our daily lives are source of the symptoms of the high stress levels in our urban life.
Rationale
Financial independence followed by temperamental and attitudinal problems are the key reasons for divorces[2]. The first investment after attaining financial independence in a family is the desire of ownership for a private motor vehicle. This is primarily because our urban planners and road engineers with their wrong planning and policies have added to the problem. This is a never ending loop; migrations of more and more people to the city followed by a never ending increase of personalized vehicles continue to this day. Even after constructing hi-tech expressways and flyovers, urban traffic is going to face complex problems because transport infrastructure has certain expansion limits and capacities. Transportation in urban cities in India are made more complex because we have heterogeneous traffic, mixed land use, unplanned traffic policies, and no holistic approach to public transport. Increased average trip length forces people to spend more time and money on roads and less with their families. This leads to high stress levels in urban life followed by temperamental issues which leads to disintegration of family life.
International Scenario[3]
Analyzing the international trends in personal relationships in highly motorized/high income developed counties it was found that 51% of women in America were living without their husbands. Four out of 10 marriages in UK end in divorce. Since a decade, divorce rates, while still fluctuating, have shown an upward trend in Australia. In China, the divorce rate is escalating at a rate of 21.2%. Although the overall divorce rate in china is still lower than in Europe or the US, but the long-term trend is tending upwards. 80% of marriages in Russia end up in divorce.
Our Indian Metro Scenario
Delhi[4]
New Delhi leads with the highest number of divorces in the country, with more than 8,000-9,000 cases every year. The number has almost doubled[5] of last four years, according to data compiled from various State courts and the Crime Records Bureau.
Registered private vehicles increased by almost 100% growth in comparison to base year vehicle population in 1999. The number of private registered vehicles increases from 197181 to 244040. The modal share of cars in this increase is in the order of 22 to 25%.
Mumbai
The registered vehicle population of Mumbai was 15.03 lakh as on March 2007; in 1999 it was 8 lakh this account an average increase of 82 thousand motorized vehicles per year.
Study conducted by Mr Ajay Kumar Singh & Dr. R K Sinha of International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai[6], revealed that there was 56% increase in the divorce rate till 2001 in Mumbai. Since 2002, the number of divorce petitions filed in the special family court in Mumbai was 20929. The situation in Thane is worse, where 23993 divorce petitions were filed during the same period. The figure is alarming as the total number of marriages that were registered in places taken together from 2002 to 2007 was 104287[7]. Jump of almost 50 per cent in the number of divorce cases filed over 2002.
Pune[8]
According to Mr Vinay Borikar, principal judge at the family courts, Pune, “ During 2006, there were an average of 150 divorce cases a month but the number went up to approximately 240 cases a month during 2007 indicating an compounding increase of 160%.
In the old days Pune was a bicycle city. The registered motorized four wheelers for March 2006 were 179252; this year the registered motorized four wheeler vehicles increased to 211768 indicating an increase of 132%[9].
Chandigarh[10]
In 1997, 216 cases of divorce were filed by residents in the district courts in the 2005 the number touched 1000. This is almost a five fold increase. During the same period the motorized vehicle population increased from a total of 326,278 to 547,225 with an estimated growth of 100% per year.
Conclusion
The trends of the four Indian cities mentioned above, there is an unexpected degree of disintegration in the social structure of our cities. Personalized vehicle growth is proportionate to the divorce rate. International trends of highly motorized/high income developed nations show similar trends. All major transportation related infrastructure schemes are promoted in terms of travel time saving by the promoters, who increased the commuting distances in the first place by relocating while communities from the city to the suburbs.
We need to take stock of our urban structure holistically and plan not only for today but all our future generation’s tomorrow.
Divorce rate and Global Warming[11]
Already proven that divorce is bad for the environment and contributing a lot to global warming; as it leads to more households with fewer people and greater consumption of water and energy, says a study published in this week's online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, United States.
In the U.S. in 2005, divorced households consumed an extra 73 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water. Thirty-eight million extra rooms required heating and lighting that same year, costing $6.9 billion in additional utility costs, plus a further $3.6 billion for water, and other costs such as land use.
The study concluded that a married household uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household because people watch the same television, share air conditioning and heat, and use the same refrigerator.
References
[1] Revolution Per Minutes
[2] Singh, Ajay Kumar Singh & Sinha (Dr) R K (2005) “Growing Incidence of Divorce in Indian Cities: A Study of Mumbai, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
[3] http://pooja.instablogs.com/entry/is-marriage-a-dying-institution/
[4] http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070717/main2.htm
[5]http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi_Times/Whatmakes_Delhi_the_divorce_capital/articleshow/2253106.cms [6] http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50689
[7] http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jan262008/national2008012648685.asp
[8] http://www.medindia.net/news/Divorce-Rates-Shooting-Up-in-Pune-in-Western-India-31612-1.htm
[9] http://pune360.com/News/2007/05/07/pune-gets-into-fast-lane-to-don-city-of-cars-mantle/
[10] http://chandigarh.nic.in/owin.htm?id="http://chdtransport.gov.in/chk_reg.asp"
[11] http://www.desmogblog.com/soaring-divorce-rates-cited-as-factor-in-global-warming-environmental-stress
[1] Revolution Per Minutes
[2] Singh, Ajay Kumar Singh & Sinha (Dr) R K (2005) “Growing Incidence of Divorce in Indian Cities: A Study of Mumbai, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
[3] http://pooja.instablogs.com/entry/is-marriage-a-dying-institution/
[4] http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070717/main2.htm
[5]http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi_Times/Whatmakes_Delhi_the_divorce_capital/articleshow/2253106.cms [6] http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50689
[7] http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jan262008/national2008012648685.asp
[8] http://www.medindia.net/news/Divorce-Rates-Shooting-Up-in-Pune-in-Western-India-31612-1.htm
[9] http://pune360.com/News/2007/05/07/pune-gets-into-fast-lane-to-don-city-of-cars-mantle/
[10] http://chandigarh.nic.in/owin.htm?id="http://chdtransport.gov.in/chk_reg.asp"
[11] http://www.desmogblog.com/soaring-divorce-rates-cited-as-factor-in-global-warming-environmental-stress
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Fazilka : A Forgotten Form Of Soil Regeneration Takes Root Again
Vinod Jyani, a farmer of Punjab's Fazilka district, is a happy man. His paddy crop this year has been very good, without much fertiliser or water being used - thanks to mulching, an age-old system of soil regeneration that has almost gone out of use.
Jyani, who grows wheat, paddy, millet, corn, sugarcane and fruits in his 140-acre farm, had begun to despair when he found the yield falling over the past several years. Continuous use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides had made the soil lose its nutrients, as is the case with most farm land in Punjab.
Then he learnt of natural farming techniques - not using chemicals but only biological ingredients like cow dung or cow urine - and of mulching to regenerate the soil.
Jyani tried mulching - covering the soil with a layer of dried leaves or hay to let the soil microbes multiply - on one acre on which he grew paddy.
The result had him elated.
'I got a good paddy crop this year and what's more, with 50 percent less water, which is a necessary requirement for growing rice. I plan to do grow paddy in five-six acres this year after mulching the soil,' Jyani told IANS.
Explaining the method, Jyani said he would spread the mulch made of dried leaves, grass or crop residue in the field a week after transplanting the paddy saplings from the nurseries.
'This covering prevents the soil moisture from evaporating, helping me save on water. It also makes the soil microbes thrive, which are necessary for the soil to get back its nutrients.'
Jyani is using the technique in his fruit orchards too. He covers the base of the fruit trees with biomass made of crop residue.
'Another big advantage of mulching is that it does not allow weeds to grow. The mulching cuts off the sunlight to the weeds.'
Jyani decided to take to natural farming after being convinced by the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a non-government organisation based in Faridkot, which is working towards ecologically sustainable methods of agriculture.
KVM head Umendra Dutt told IANS: 'Mulching is an age-old technique that went out of use after the Green Revolution (in the 1970s). Farmers were told to burn the crop residues instead of using it to spread on the soil. This burning only leads to pollution and the ash does not benefit the soil in any way.'
According to Dutt, crops 'don't need water but moisture'. 'Mulching helps reduce use of water, keeping only enough moisture in the soil for the crops.'
Irrigation can lead to 'glut of water in the soil, thereby spoiling the soil oxidation process'.
P.L. Gautam, deputy director general of crop science at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), told IANS that mulching had gone out of use in large farms due to mechanised farming.
However, he agreed that it was the most cost-effective technique for soil regeneration. 'The crop residues used for mulching also act as humus for the soil. It is by and large a useful method for conserving water. The soil gets recharged.'
One way, said Gautam, was through 'plastic mulching', spreading large plastic sheets on the field, which gave the same benefits.
However, according to Dutt, this method is not as useful as natural mulching because it cuts off the oxygen supply to the soil - a vital ingredient for soil oxidation.
Now other farmers in Fazilka and parts of Punjab are opting for mulching, though in small areas first, said Jyani. 'It needs two-three years for the soil to begin regenerating itself through mulching. Therefore farmers cannot afford to do it on all their land, even though they find it very useful.
'The government should give a subsidy, like they do for fertiliser, to farmers who opt for natural farming in order to tide over the initial years during the transition,' he said.
Jyani, who grows wheat, paddy, millet, corn, sugarcane and fruits in his 140-acre farm, had begun to despair when he found the yield falling over the past several years. Continuous use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides had made the soil lose its nutrients, as is the case with most farm land in Punjab.
Then he learnt of natural farming techniques - not using chemicals but only biological ingredients like cow dung or cow urine - and of mulching to regenerate the soil.
Jyani tried mulching - covering the soil with a layer of dried leaves or hay to let the soil microbes multiply - on one acre on which he grew paddy.
The result had him elated.
'I got a good paddy crop this year and what's more, with 50 percent less water, which is a necessary requirement for growing rice. I plan to do grow paddy in five-six acres this year after mulching the soil,' Jyani told IANS.
Explaining the method, Jyani said he would spread the mulch made of dried leaves, grass or crop residue in the field a week after transplanting the paddy saplings from the nurseries.
'This covering prevents the soil moisture from evaporating, helping me save on water. It also makes the soil microbes thrive, which are necessary for the soil to get back its nutrients.'
Jyani is using the technique in his fruit orchards too. He covers the base of the fruit trees with biomass made of crop residue.
'Another big advantage of mulching is that it does not allow weeds to grow. The mulching cuts off the sunlight to the weeds.'
Jyani decided to take to natural farming after being convinced by the Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a non-government organisation based in Faridkot, which is working towards ecologically sustainable methods of agriculture.
KVM head Umendra Dutt told IANS: 'Mulching is an age-old technique that went out of use after the Green Revolution (in the 1970s). Farmers were told to burn the crop residues instead of using it to spread on the soil. This burning only leads to pollution and the ash does not benefit the soil in any way.'
According to Dutt, crops 'don't need water but moisture'. 'Mulching helps reduce use of water, keeping only enough moisture in the soil for the crops.'
Irrigation can lead to 'glut of water in the soil, thereby spoiling the soil oxidation process'.
P.L. Gautam, deputy director general of crop science at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), told IANS that mulching had gone out of use in large farms due to mechanised farming.
However, he agreed that it was the most cost-effective technique for soil regeneration. 'The crop residues used for mulching also act as humus for the soil. It is by and large a useful method for conserving water. The soil gets recharged.'
One way, said Gautam, was through 'plastic mulching', spreading large plastic sheets on the field, which gave the same benefits.
However, according to Dutt, this method is not as useful as natural mulching because it cuts off the oxygen supply to the soil - a vital ingredient for soil oxidation.
Now other farmers in Fazilka and parts of Punjab are opting for mulching, though in small areas first, said Jyani. 'It needs two-three years for the soil to begin regenerating itself through mulching. Therefore farmers cannot afford to do it on all their land, even though they find it very useful.
'The government should give a subsidy, like they do for fertiliser, to farmers who opt for natural farming in order to tide over the initial years during the transition,' he said.
TAPI pipeline from Dauletabad to Fazilka; Talks on IPI project on April 25
1,680 km pipeline planned from TurkmenistanU.S. encouraging India and Pakistan to import gas
India to join Turkmenistan pipeline project, says Deora
NEW DELHI: Seeking to work aggressively to secure its aim of energy security, India has decided to formally join the strategic U.S.-backed $3.5 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project this week.Before leaving for Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora told journalists here that the Indian delegation was going to Pakistan to sign the agreement for the TAPI pipeline at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The Steering Committee of the TAPI pipeline is meeting in Islamabad on April 23-24. This will witness India formally joining the project; Mr. Deora said.Besides signing the Project Heads of Agreement, the four nations would also ink a Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement for the pipeline that is sponsored by the ADB.The U.S., which had opposed the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, is encouraging India and Pakistan to import gas from Turkmenistan for their growing needs.The 1,680-km pipeline from Turkmenistan will transport 100 million standard cubic metres per day of gas from the Dauletabad gas field, of which India share is likely to be 60 mscmd.Mr. Deora said that on April 25 he would hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart to resolve the transit fee issue that had been impeding the IPI project progress. ;It will be different when the Minister takes up the topic. We expect some resolution; he said.
The rival TAPI line will run from the Dauletabad gas field in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. From there it will be constructed alongside the highway running from Herat to Kandahar, and then through Quetta and Multan in Pakistan. The final destination of the pipeline will be the Indian town of Fazilka, near the border with Pakistan.$3.5 billion project.
The pipeline will be 1,420 mm in diameter with a capacity of 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually. The cost of the project is estimated at $3.5 billion at the 2005 cost level.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/23/stories/2008042355491200.htm
India to join Turkmenistan pipeline project, says Deora
1,680 km pipeline planned from Turkmenistan U.S. encouraging India and Pakistan to import gas
NEW DELHI: Seeking to work aggressively to secure its aim of energy security, India has decided to formally join the strategic U.S.-backed $3.5 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project this week.Before leaving for Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora told journalists here that the Indian delegation was going to Pakistan to sign the agreement for the TAPI pipeline at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The Steering Committee of the TAPI pipeline is meeting in Islamabad on April 23-24. This will witness India formally joining the project; Mr. Deora said.Besides signing the Project Heads of Agreement, the four nations would also ink a Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement for the pipeline that is sponsored by the ADB.The U.S., which had opposed the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, is encouraging India and Pakistan to import gas from Turkmenistan for their growing needs.The 1,680-km pipeline from Turkmenistan will transport 100 million standard cubic metres per day of gas from the Dauletabad gas field, of which India share is likely to be 60 mscmd.Mr. Deora said that on April 25 he would hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart to resolve the transit fee issue that had been impeding the IPI project progress. ;It will be different when the Minister takes up the topic. We expect some resolution; he said.
The rival TAPI line will run from the Dauletabad gas field in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. From there it will be constructed alongside the highway running from Herat to Kandahar, and then through Quetta and Multan in Pakistan. The final destination of the pipeline will be the Indian town of Fazilka, near the border with Pakistan.$3.5 billion project.
The pipeline will be 1,420 mm in diameter with a capacity of 33 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas annually. The cost of the project is estimated at $3.5 billion at the 2005 cost level.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/23/stories/2008042355491200.htm
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Malwa Region Water Management Programme will save an estimated 49.5 billion liter of fresh Water for the year 2008-09 in the region used for irrigatio
Water—A key to Second Green Revolution
“Malwa Region Water Management Programme” by Zamindara Farmsolutions
“Malwa Region Water Management Programme” by Zamindara Farmsolutions
Mark Twain at the start of the 21st century once said ‘Whisky is for drinking, water is for fighting over," his gloomy view on the water side of the equation later has been endorsed by United Nation in 1999 when Mr. Klaus Toepfer, Director-General of the United Nations Environment Programme said “A future war over water is a distinct possibility”. But Progressive farmer of Fazilka believe to turn down this statement by adopting state of the art irrigation practice to improve yield with minimal use and without wasting water.
First Green Revolution overcame the problems of low yields, pests and lack of scientific farming practices to make India self sufficient in terms of food grain. The second Green Revolution will have to overcome a far tougher problem- the shortage of water.
Biggest ever project taken by any individual to save 49.5 billion litre of fresh water in PunjabIntense use of water and depleting water tables have created a situation where even advanced states like Punjab are finding that the lack of water is now the main impediment to the second Green Revolution. Current irrigation practices are based on flood irrigation whereby the farmer uses Canal/ Tube Well water to flood the plot to be irrigated. This practice is flawed because (a) The uneven level of plots means that large quantities of water and power are wasted and (b) All plants are flooded with water rather than being given water according to their requirement. This alternate wetting and drying with a fixed irrigation interval, irrespective of soil type and climatic demand resulting in over or under irrigation under different soil and weather situations. Here it is important to note that about half of the total fresh water used for irrigation in Asia is used for rice production because of flood irrigation methods[1].
Vikram Ahuja, a progressive farmer and Director, Zamindara Farmsolutions (ZFS) from the region on the launch of “Malwa Region Water Management Programme” quoted “an estimated India’s total landmass under cultivation is varying from 45-48%; food demand has increased significantly with the increase of population. We need to look into some value addition techniques in our existing crop and irrigation pattern to increase productivity, which should be economical for the farmers and best in Indian, and for Malwa region context best is Water Management”.
ZFS, India’s first ISO- 9000 certified agricultural services company, is adopting a science driven approach to help solve the problem. ZFS’s commitment to farming goes beyond profits and it is building active collaborations between agricultural universities, equipment suppliers and farmers. In terms of saving to the farmers are;
- 25% higher yield
- Lower expenditure on fuel/energy in pumping out water
It is based upon their state of the art, agriculture automation process;
(a) Use sophisticated Laser guided instruments for leveling - Preliminary research indicates that each centimeter level gap removed per acre can save upto 10,000 liters of water. Assuming an average gap of 10 cm this translates into a saving of 1,00,000 liters of water per acre. Multiply that by the 30 irrigation’s required for a rice crop and the potential saving could be 3 million liters (30,00,000) litres per acre per rice crop.
(b) Use of Scheduling Soil Metric Potential (SMP) based irrigation can yield a saving of upto 3,00,000 liters of water per acre.
Combining the two could yield a best case of figure of saving 33,00,000 litres per acre per year. ZFS is attempting to cover 15,000 acres this year- if it achieves its targets the water savings would be phenomenal.
Detailed Calculation
(A) Estimated water saving due to LLL per centimeter/per acre on each irrigation = 10000 liters
Average minimum level gap is 10 centimeters
Water Saving 10000 x 10 = 1, 00,000 liters/ one acre/each irrigation
(Minimum number of times irrigation is required on rice field = 30)
Water saving on one acre for only one crop = 30, 00,000 litres
ZFS will laser level targeted 15000 acres this season
15,000 x 30, 00,000 = 450, 00000000 litres
(B) Estimated additional water saving through’ Scheduling soil metric potential based irrigation SMP
Water savings thro’ above (tensiometer) per acre = 3, 00,000 litres
15000 Acres x 3, 00,000 = 4500000000 (B)
(A+B)(Total water saving on 15000 acres = 495, 00000000 liters (49.5 Billion)
This significant saving will help the Malwa belt of Punjab to fight against global warming.
Zamindara Farmsolutions seriously took the recent warming by United Nations about the Ug-99 wheat virus. This fungus virus is capable of wreaking havoc to wheat production by destroying entire fields. The virus, if it reaches Pakistan, could easily reach here in Fazilka, as wheat fields in the Pakistani Punjab are separated barely by a few yards from Indian wheat fields in districts like Ferozepur Amritsar, and Gurdaspur that lie on the Indo-Pak border. ZFS after taking expertise opinion from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, also planning to start campaign to spread awareness about Ug-99 wheat virus to the farmers. “For us our country’s food security is our prime concern and this is a right time to take all initial measures” said Vikram Ahuja.
The border state abounds in wheat fields and is one of the largest wheat producing districts in the state and country.
[1] Kukal, S. S., Hira, G. S., Sidhu, A. S. (2006) Soil matric potential-based irrigation scheduling to rice (Oryza sativa)., Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141 004, Punjab, India, Irrigation Science, 2005 (Vol. 23) (No. 4) 153-159
Detailed Calculation
(A) Estimated water saving due to LLL per centimeter/per acre on each irrigation = 10000 liters
Average minimum level gap is 10 centimeters
Water Saving 10000 x 10 = 1, 00,000 liters/ one acre/each irrigation
(Minimum number of times irrigation is required on rice field = 30)
Water saving on one acre for only one crop = 30, 00,000 litres
ZFS will laser level targeted 15000 acres this season
15,000 x 30, 00,000 = 450, 00000000 litres
(B) Estimated additional water saving through’ Scheduling soil metric potential based irrigation SMP
Water savings thro’ above (tensiometer) per acre = 3, 00,000 litres
15000 Acres x 3, 00,000 = 4500000000 (B)
(A+B)(Total water saving on 15000 acres = 495, 00000000 liters (49.5 Billion)
This significant saving will help the Malwa belt of Punjab to fight against global warming.
Zamindara Farmsolutions seriously took the recent warming by United Nations about the Ug-99 wheat virus. This fungus virus is capable of wreaking havoc to wheat production by destroying entire fields. The virus, if it reaches Pakistan, could easily reach here in Fazilka, as wheat fields in the Pakistani Punjab are separated barely by a few yards from Indian wheat fields in districts like Ferozepur Amritsar, and Gurdaspur that lie on the Indo-Pak border. ZFS after taking expertise opinion from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, also planning to start campaign to spread awareness about Ug-99 wheat virus to the farmers. “For us our country’s food security is our prime concern and this is a right time to take all initial measures” said Vikram Ahuja.
The border state abounds in wheat fields and is one of the largest wheat producing districts in the state and country.
[1] Kukal, S. S., Hira, G. S., Sidhu, A. S. (2006) Soil matric potential-based irrigation scheduling to rice (Oryza sativa)., Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141 004, Punjab, India, Irrigation Science, 2005 (Vol. 23) (No. 4) 153-159
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Fazilka and Layallpur Clock Towers
Both the clock towers were placed at the city center connected by four /eight markets roads in Fazilka and Lyallpur (Now known as Faislabad) respectively. Bird's-eye view of both the clock tower looks like the Union Jack i.e. national flag of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Both the cities Fazilka and Lyallpur came into existence between 1840-1880. Historical evidance says both city centre were designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag with eight/four roads radiating from a large clock tower in the centre to main separate markets. Layallpur Clock Tower was built by the British Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir Charles James Lyall for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Fazilka Clock Tower was built by famous philanthropist of Fazilka Late Mr. Ram Narayan Pediwal
Fazilka clock tower is the tallest clock tower in the North India (Height 95 feet appox.). Here it is important to note that Fazilka Clock Tower is the first of its kind of Brick Masonry multistoried Building in built in Punjab. (est. 1939). Picture of Fazilka Clock Tower is placed in Picture gallery of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh
Fazilka clock tower is the tallest clock tower in the North India (Height 95 feet appox.). Here it is important to note that Fazilka Clock Tower is the first of its kind of Brick Masonry multistoried Building in built in Punjab. (est. 1939). Picture of Fazilka Clock Tower is placed in Picture gallery of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh
Thursday, January 31, 2008
History of Fazilka : Firozpur District Gazzette
Fazlika: - Headquarters of the tehsil/subdivisions of Fazlika are connected both by rail and road. It is a junction and terminus railway station of the Rewari-Bathinda-Fazlika Section of the metre-gauge line of the Northern Railway. It is also connected by the Fazilka-Firozpur Cantonment section of the broad-gauge line of the Northern Railway. By rail, Fazlika is 80 km from Kot Kapura, 428 km from Rewari and 99 km from Firozpur cantonment. By road, it is 87 km from Firozpur. 56 km from Malaut, 34 km from Abohar and 15 km from the international Sulemanki border with Pakistan. Its population was 3,406 in 1868, 6,651 in 1881, 10985 in 1911, 25935 in 1951, 32015 in 1961, 36,281 in 1971 and 43,548 in 1981.
When in 1844, the tract of country on the Satluj was ceded by Bahawalpur, there was no village where Fazilka now stands, but Vans Agnew, the first officer stationed there, built himself a bungalow, in which the office of the Subdivisional Officer (Civil), Fazilka, is now located. From that bungalow, the place became known as Bangla, a name still given to the town and tehsil by the people. Two years later, Oliver established a few shops there, and gave the place the name of Fazilka from Fazil, one of early Wattu settlers. Its favrouable position near the Satluj enabled it to engross almost the whole of the export trade from the great desert tract towards Sind (now in Pakistan), and made it very soon a flourishing market. A most destructive flood visited Fazlika in 1908 and practically the whole of the town collapsed and had to be rebuilt.
It is a class Ii municipality. There are a degree college (M.R. College), 3 high schools for boys and 1 higher secondary school for girls; 3 middle schools (2 for boys and 1 for girls) and 12 primary schools. There are two libraries, viz. the Sunam Rai Municipal Library and the Sadhu Ashram Library. There are three rest-houses, viz. the P.W.D. Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and the Market Committee Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and Market Committee Rest-House, besides one serai, viz. Aggarwal Ashram. There are a civil hospital, a maternity and child-health centre; 4 private Ayurvedic dispensaries; a veterinary hospital; a police-station and sadar police-station; and a post and telegraph office, 2 sub-post offices and a telephone exchange. There are three separate parks for men, women and children, situated adjacent to one another. There is a centrally located clock tower.
Before the partition of the country in 1947, Fazlika was the biggest wool market in India, but thereafter the trade has been hit very hard, with a major portion of the supply area going to Pakistan and the Bikaner Town gradually attracting the raw wool produced in Rajasthan. Other products, for which the town is known, are baan, moorhas and sirkis.
http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gazfzpr22.htm#ch19
When in 1844, the tract of country on the Satluj was ceded by Bahawalpur, there was no village where Fazilka now stands, but Vans Agnew, the first officer stationed there, built himself a bungalow, in which the office of the Subdivisional Officer (Civil), Fazilka, is now located. From that bungalow, the place became known as Bangla, a name still given to the town and tehsil by the people. Two years later, Oliver established a few shops there, and gave the place the name of Fazilka from Fazil, one of early Wattu settlers. Its favrouable position near the Satluj enabled it to engross almost the whole of the export trade from the great desert tract towards Sind (now in Pakistan), and made it very soon a flourishing market. A most destructive flood visited Fazlika in 1908 and practically the whole of the town collapsed and had to be rebuilt.
It is a class Ii municipality. There are a degree college (M.R. College), 3 high schools for boys and 1 higher secondary school for girls; 3 middle schools (2 for boys and 1 for girls) and 12 primary schools. There are two libraries, viz. the Sunam Rai Municipal Library and the Sadhu Ashram Library. There are three rest-houses, viz. the P.W.D. Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and the Market Committee Rest-House, the Canal Rest-House and Market Committee Rest-House, besides one serai, viz. Aggarwal Ashram. There are a civil hospital, a maternity and child-health centre; 4 private Ayurvedic dispensaries; a veterinary hospital; a police-station and sadar police-station; and a post and telegraph office, 2 sub-post offices and a telephone exchange. There are three separate parks for men, women and children, situated adjacent to one another. There is a centrally located clock tower.
Before the partition of the country in 1947, Fazlika was the biggest wool market in India, but thereafter the trade has been hit very hard, with a major portion of the supply area going to Pakistan and the Bikaner Town gradually attracting the raw wool produced in Rajasthan. Other products, for which the town is known, are baan, moorhas and sirkis.
http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/gazfzpr22.htm#ch19
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषियों को गोल्ड मेडल
Jan 28, 10:07 pm
Dainik Jagran
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4124228.html
फाजिल्क - कलकत्ता में श्रीराम कृष्ण शास्त्री द्वारा 19 से 23 जनवरी तक आयोजित 31वीं वार्षिक इंटरनेशनल एस्ट्रोलाजी एंड ओरियेंटल हेरिटेज कान्फ्रेंस 2008 में फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषियों को सम्मानित किया गया। कान्फ्रेंस में इंग्लैंड, कैनेडा, श्रीलंका, नेपाल, बांग्लादेश, मारीशस, म्यांमार, पंजाब, हरियाणा, हिमाचल प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, बिहार, मिजोरम व अनेक राज्यों के ज्योतिषाचार्यो ने भाग लिया था।
सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन भारत सरकार की मिनिस्टर आफ स्टेट फार हेल्थ एंड फैमिली वेलफेयर पाना बाका लक्ष्मी ने 31 दीपक जलाकर किया। सम्मेलन में श्रीरामकृष्ण परमहंस, मां शारदा, स्वामी विवेकानंद जी को श्रद्धांजलि भेंट की गई। फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषाचार्य पंडित मदन लाल शर्मा ने अनुभूत योग, डा. देसराज ग्रोवर ने वास्तु शास्त्र और रोग, डा. अभिमन्यु कुमार ने पंच गव्य और जलालाबाद के रतन लाल कुक्कड़ ने वास्तु शास्त्र पर अपने विचार व्यक्त किए। उन्हे अंगवस्त्र, हार पहनाकर गोल्ड मेडल और ज्योतिष विद्या रतन की उपाधि से सम्मानित किया गया। सभी ज्योतिषाचार्यो को दक्षणेश्वर काली मंदिर, 12 ज्योर्तिलिंग, विक्टोरिया हाल, सितारा विज्ञान प्लेनेटोरियम, स्वामी रामकृष्ण परमहंस, विद्यापीठ, वलूर मठ, हुगली नदी, गंगासागर स्नानक करवाकर कपिल मुनि मंदिर के दर्शन भी करवाए गए।
Dainik Jagran
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4124228.html
फाजिल्क - कलकत्ता में श्रीराम कृष्ण शास्त्री द्वारा 19 से 23 जनवरी तक आयोजित 31वीं वार्षिक इंटरनेशनल एस्ट्रोलाजी एंड ओरियेंटल हेरिटेज कान्फ्रेंस 2008 में फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषियों को सम्मानित किया गया। कान्फ्रेंस में इंग्लैंड, कैनेडा, श्रीलंका, नेपाल, बांग्लादेश, मारीशस, म्यांमार, पंजाब, हरियाणा, हिमाचल प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, बिहार, मिजोरम व अनेक राज्यों के ज्योतिषाचार्यो ने भाग लिया था।
सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन भारत सरकार की मिनिस्टर आफ स्टेट फार हेल्थ एंड फैमिली वेलफेयर पाना बाका लक्ष्मी ने 31 दीपक जलाकर किया। सम्मेलन में श्रीरामकृष्ण परमहंस, मां शारदा, स्वामी विवेकानंद जी को श्रद्धांजलि भेंट की गई। फाजिल्का के ज्योतिषाचार्य पंडित मदन लाल शर्मा ने अनुभूत योग, डा. देसराज ग्रोवर ने वास्तु शास्त्र और रोग, डा. अभिमन्यु कुमार ने पंच गव्य और जलालाबाद के रतन लाल कुक्कड़ ने वास्तु शास्त्र पर अपने विचार व्यक्त किए। उन्हे अंगवस्त्र, हार पहनाकर गोल्ड मेडल और ज्योतिष विद्या रतन की उपाधि से सम्मानित किया गया। सभी ज्योतिषाचार्यो को दक्षणेश्वर काली मंदिर, 12 ज्योर्तिलिंग, विक्टोरिया हाल, सितारा विज्ञान प्लेनेटोरियम, स्वामी रामकृष्ण परमहंस, विद्यापीठ, वलूर मठ, हुगली नदी, गंगासागर स्नानक करवाकर कपिल मुनि मंदिर के दर्शन भी करवाए गए।
Fazilka celebrates award for Dr Chopra
Hindustan Times, Region, P.no-004, 28-01-2008
Manoj Tripathi
FAZILKA WON a civilian honour this Republic Day in the Padma Bhushan for neurologist of world fame, Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra, who hails from the district. Earlier, bureaucrat S.S. Bedi and Punjabi folk singer and actor Pushpa Hans had won the honour for Fazilka.
Dr Chopra, Founder Director and former principal, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, was born in Lahore and made his medical beginnings in Patiala, where he graduated in medicine.
He has served as Head of Department, Neurology, at the PGI, Chandigarh. Dr Chopra has to his credit 235 scientific papers referred in 48 chapters of books, has submitted 89 research projects, 54 monographs and presented papers at 145 global conferences on neurology .
He holds editorial responsibilities of at least ten international journals and has published books on Tropical Neurology A . professor emeritus at PGI and at the National Academy of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, Dr Chopra was the first Indian neurologist to be honoured in the US.
Fazilka SDM Rajiv Prashar, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Umesh Chander Kukkar, patron and president, respectively, Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka, Inder Singh Sidhu have hailed the award as well deserved
Manoj Tripathi
FAZILKA WON a civilian honour this Republic Day in the Padma Bhushan for neurologist of world fame, Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra, who hails from the district. Earlier, bureaucrat S.S. Bedi and Punjabi folk singer and actor Pushpa Hans had won the honour for Fazilka.
Dr Chopra, Founder Director and former principal, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, was born in Lahore and made his medical beginnings in Patiala, where he graduated in medicine.
He has served as Head of Department, Neurology, at the PGI, Chandigarh. Dr Chopra has to his credit 235 scientific papers referred in 48 chapters of books, has submitted 89 research projects, 54 monographs and presented papers at 145 global conferences on neurology .
He holds editorial responsibilities of at least ten international journals and has published books on Tropical Neurology A . professor emeritus at PGI and at the National Academy of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, Dr Chopra was the first Indian neurologist to be honoured in the US.
Fazilka SDM Rajiv Prashar, Dr Bhupinder Singh, Umesh Chander Kukkar, patron and president, respectively, Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka, Inder Singh Sidhu have hailed the award as well deserved
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
विकलांग सहायता कैंप : 600 का किया चेकअप
Jan 20, 08:52 pm
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4102268.html
फाजिल्का -रविवार को रोटरी क्लब द्वारा जमीदारा फार्म शोल्यूशन के सहयोग से स्थानीय डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल में विकलांग सहायता कैंप का आयोजन किया गया। शिविर का शुभारंभ एसडीएम राजीव पराशर ने किया। क्लब के अध्यक्ष डा. अजय धवन ने बताया कि यह कैंप शहर व पास लगते गांवो के विकलांग लोगों के लिए लगाया गया। उन्होंने बताया कि बाहर से आई डा. हांडा की टीम द्वारा रविवार को विकलांगों के अंगों का माप लिए गए। इसमें करीब 600 मरीजों की जांच की गई।
बीस मार्च को कृत्रिम अंग व खराब टांगों के लिए बैसाखी आदि क्लब की ओर से मरीजों को वितरित की जाएंगी। जिन जरूरतमंदों को ट्राइसाइकिल की जरूरत होगी वे प्रशासन के सहयोग से मरीजों को मुफ्त दिए जाएंगे। इस कैंप में करीब 25 हजार का खर्च होगा जो फाजिल्का के जमीदारा फार्म सोल्यूशन की ओर से दिए जाएंगे। उन्होंने बताया कि जिन लोगों के हाथ कटे हुए है, उनको जयपुर रेफर किया जा रहा है। उनका इलाज वहां की भगवान महावीर सेवा समिति के सहयोग वहां के एसएम अस्पताल में नि:शुल्क किया जाएगा। पोलियो से जिन बच्चों के जोड़ जाम हो चुके है, उन बच्चों को उदयपुर के श्री नारायण सेवा समिति विकलांग अस्पताल में भेजा जाएगा। वहां पर उनका इलाज मुफ्त में किया जाएगा। अंबाला से अपनी टीम के साथ आए डा. हांडा ने बताया कि इस शिविर में कृत्रिम अंग उपलब्ध करवाए जा रहे है। इसके लिए माप लिए जा रहे हैं। उनको क्लब के सहयोग से वे बीस मार्च को खुद अपनी टीम के साथ आकर कृत्रिम अंग लगाएंगे। इस शिविर में उद्योगपति सुरिंद्र अहूजा, डायरेक्टर विक्रम अहूजा, प्रिंसिपल डा. बीसी जोसन, अढ़तिया एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष ओम प्रकाश सेतिया, संस्था के प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन असीम कामरा, सचिव डा. रजनीश कमरा, को-प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन दविंद्र अग्रवाल, प्रिंसिपल मंजुला सहगल व अन्य सदस्यों ने पूर्ण रूप से सहयोग दिया।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_4102268.html
फाजिल्का -रविवार को रोटरी क्लब द्वारा जमीदारा फार्म शोल्यूशन के सहयोग से स्थानीय डीसी डीएवी पब्लिक स्कूल में विकलांग सहायता कैंप का आयोजन किया गया। शिविर का शुभारंभ एसडीएम राजीव पराशर ने किया। क्लब के अध्यक्ष डा. अजय धवन ने बताया कि यह कैंप शहर व पास लगते गांवो के विकलांग लोगों के लिए लगाया गया। उन्होंने बताया कि बाहर से आई डा. हांडा की टीम द्वारा रविवार को विकलांगों के अंगों का माप लिए गए। इसमें करीब 600 मरीजों की जांच की गई।
बीस मार्च को कृत्रिम अंग व खराब टांगों के लिए बैसाखी आदि क्लब की ओर से मरीजों को वितरित की जाएंगी। जिन जरूरतमंदों को ट्राइसाइकिल की जरूरत होगी वे प्रशासन के सहयोग से मरीजों को मुफ्त दिए जाएंगे। इस कैंप में करीब 25 हजार का खर्च होगा जो फाजिल्का के जमीदारा फार्म सोल्यूशन की ओर से दिए जाएंगे। उन्होंने बताया कि जिन लोगों के हाथ कटे हुए है, उनको जयपुर रेफर किया जा रहा है। उनका इलाज वहां की भगवान महावीर सेवा समिति के सहयोग वहां के एसएम अस्पताल में नि:शुल्क किया जाएगा। पोलियो से जिन बच्चों के जोड़ जाम हो चुके है, उन बच्चों को उदयपुर के श्री नारायण सेवा समिति विकलांग अस्पताल में भेजा जाएगा। वहां पर उनका इलाज मुफ्त में किया जाएगा। अंबाला से अपनी टीम के साथ आए डा. हांडा ने बताया कि इस शिविर में कृत्रिम अंग उपलब्ध करवाए जा रहे है। इसके लिए माप लिए जा रहे हैं। उनको क्लब के सहयोग से वे बीस मार्च को खुद अपनी टीम के साथ आकर कृत्रिम अंग लगाएंगे। इस शिविर में उद्योगपति सुरिंद्र अहूजा, डायरेक्टर विक्रम अहूजा, प्रिंसिपल डा. बीसी जोसन, अढ़तिया एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष ओम प्रकाश सेतिया, संस्था के प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन असीम कामरा, सचिव डा. रजनीश कमरा, को-प्रोजेक्ट चेयरमैन दविंद्र अग्रवाल, प्रिंसिपल मंजुला सहगल व अन्य सदस्यों ने पूर्ण रूप से सहयोग दिया।
Monday, January 14, 2008
Community Lohri for girls
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080114/punjab1.htm
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
While most people are celebrating Lohri to welcome their newly born sons, a substantial number of people are celebrating Lohri for their daughters.
But one of the most welcome steps this festive season is that people of Fazilka are jointly celebrating tonight what they call “A Lohri to fight the darkness”.
Organised by Rakesh Nagpal, editor of a local newspaper “Sarhad Kesri”, the function that started earlier tonight and will go on till late in Fazilka is celebrating the birth of all girls born last year.
“It is a community Lohri and more than 100 families have registered, while the actual presence is much more”, according to Navdeep Asija, a Fazilka resident and a scientist at the IIT, Delhi.
The families of the new-born baby girls and their families are celebrating the festival with achievers and personalities of Fazilka in what has been termed as “Kanya Samman community Lohri”.
As per 2001 census, urban Fazilka has sex ratio 909:1000, which is much better than most parts of Punjab.
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 13
While most people are celebrating Lohri to welcome their newly born sons, a substantial number of people are celebrating Lohri for their daughters.
But one of the most welcome steps this festive season is that people of Fazilka are jointly celebrating tonight what they call “A Lohri to fight the darkness”.
Organised by Rakesh Nagpal, editor of a local newspaper “Sarhad Kesri”, the function that started earlier tonight and will go on till late in Fazilka is celebrating the birth of all girls born last year.
“It is a community Lohri and more than 100 families have registered, while the actual presence is much more”, according to Navdeep Asija, a Fazilka resident and a scientist at the IIT, Delhi.
The families of the new-born baby girls and their families are celebrating the festival with achievers and personalities of Fazilka in what has been termed as “Kanya Samman community Lohri”.
As per 2001 census, urban Fazilka has sex ratio 909:1000, which is much better than most parts of Punjab.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Lohri for girls receives appreciation
Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
13th January, 2008, Times of India, Chandigarh Edition
Chandigarh: Fazilka, situated near the Indo-Pak border, has put itself at the heart of the battle against female foeticide. On Friday the town celebrated a collective Lohri for more than 100 newborn girls. The folk festival of Punjab is usually celebrated for newborn boys only. While this reflects on the inherent patriarchic nature of the society in the state, the celebration for girls can be seen as an attempt to reform the mindset that works against them. The celebrations, organized by a local tabloid Sarhad Kesri have now received the appreciation of two women who hail from the town and have been successful in different spheres of life. Padmashree award winning singer Pushpa Hans and Maharashtra IG (crime) Meera Chadha Borwankar told TOI in separate communications that they were moved by the report regarding the celebration they read in the electronic version of the newspaper's Chandigarh edition. The celebration in Fazilka had the town's who's who taking part. This was a first of its kind celebration in the state organized without government help. Rakesh Nagpal, the organizer of the event said he was happy that two of the successful women from the town had appreciated the effort. Punjab has been criticized globally for its skewed sex ratio. The government has started acting against the evil of female foeticide but has not been very successful. "I still remember my days at my home there. My town has a history of supporting girls. The people there will not allow the menace of female foeticide to prevail," said Pushpa Hans. She is a noted Punjabi singer considered a living legend. She added that her area is known more for successful women than men. Be it Noorjahan, Reshma or Mandira Bedi. "I am sure that my town is proud of its girls," she said. Meanwhile, Meera Chadha Borwankar said she was proud of the efforts being made in her hometown. She stated that it was only because of her hometown's culture that both she and her sister, who is senior income tax officer had made it big. "We are ready to make any contribution needed to spread the message for saving the girl child," she said. It is high time that we wake up and stop female foeticide and killing of newborn girls, she said.
13th January, 2008, Times of India, Chandigarh Edition
Chandigarh: Fazilka, situated near the Indo-Pak border, has put itself at the heart of the battle against female foeticide. On Friday the town celebrated a collective Lohri for more than 100 newborn girls. The folk festival of Punjab is usually celebrated for newborn boys only. While this reflects on the inherent patriarchic nature of the society in the state, the celebration for girls can be seen as an attempt to reform the mindset that works against them. The celebrations, organized by a local tabloid Sarhad Kesri have now received the appreciation of two women who hail from the town and have been successful in different spheres of life. Padmashree award winning singer Pushpa Hans and Maharashtra IG (crime) Meera Chadha Borwankar told TOI in separate communications that they were moved by the report regarding the celebration they read in the electronic version of the newspaper's Chandigarh edition. The celebration in Fazilka had the town's who's who taking part. This was a first of its kind celebration in the state organized without government help. Rakesh Nagpal, the organizer of the event said he was happy that two of the successful women from the town had appreciated the effort. Punjab has been criticized globally for its skewed sex ratio. The government has started acting against the evil of female foeticide but has not been very successful. "I still remember my days at my home there. My town has a history of supporting girls. The people there will not allow the menace of female foeticide to prevail," said Pushpa Hans. She is a noted Punjabi singer considered a living legend. She added that her area is known more for successful women than men. Be it Noorjahan, Reshma or Mandira Bedi. "I am sure that my town is proud of its girls," she said. Meanwhile, Meera Chadha Borwankar said she was proud of the efforts being made in her hometown. She stated that it was only because of her hometown's culture that both she and her sister, who is senior income tax officer had made it big. "We are ready to make any contribution needed to spread the message for saving the girl child," she said. It is high time that we wake up and stop female foeticide and killing of newborn girls, she said.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Lohri to fight the darkness : FAZILKA AGAINST FEMALE FOETICIDE
Times of India, Chadigarh, 10th January, 2008
Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
Chandigarh: The cold, dark practice of female foeticide in Punjab is about to find resistance in the warm glow of the Lohri bonfire. In Fazilka subdivision of Ferozepur district, a local tabloid, Sarhad Kesri, is going to celebrate this festival for the girl children of the area. Lohri, which marks the last day of Paush month in the Vikrami Samvat calendar, is traditionally celebrated only for newborn boys. Fazilka is a far-flung, lessdeveloped area of Punjab. But this celebration can bring it to the forefront of spreading awareness against the killing of girl children and female foeticide. The local tabloid with it's small office here, will hold the celebrations for about 100 newborn girls. This would be the largest such programme to celebrate Lohri for girls in Punjab. That too without government support. "I have details of all the 937 girl children born this year in the sub-division, but we had limited resources, so we decided to keep it a low key affair," says Rakesh Nagpal of Sarhad Kesri. They have asked the families of the newborn girls to register themselves and they will be made part of the celebrations on a first come first serve basis. "We have already exceeded the 100 mark, but will accommodate the additional entries," said Rakesh. He said they had budget of Rs 35,000, which he was putting in from his own pocket. "I might not save every girl child in the state, but I am sure my small effort would encourage others to accept them," said Rakesh. The sex ratio of Punjab is 874 females per 1000 males, much below the national average. Ferozepur also comes low on the national district wise sex ratio chart. Punjab has also received criticism for not controlling the decline in sex ratio. Nagpal said the traditional song of the festival, 'Sunder Mundriye' also carries the message to save the girl child. Nagpal said that is what inspired him, "The whole song is based on a girl, and is sung by girls. It will be very unfair if we do not celebrate this festival for girls," he said. Wife of local MLA Surjit Jayni, Nirmala, is helping Nagpal in this effort. "The celebrations in this programme for newborn girls will be the same as they are traditionally for the boys. Every child will be given new clothes, and sweets like gachhak, rewri apart from peanuts, popcorn etc," said Nagpal. It can be added that in the recent times this area has shown improvement in sex ratio, especially infant sex ratio.
Chandigarh: The cold, dark practice of female foeticide in Punjab is about to find resistance in the warm glow of the Lohri bonfire. In Fazilka subdivision of Ferozepur district, a local tabloid, Sarhad Kesri, is going to celebrate this festival for the girl children of the area. Lohri, which marks the last day of Paush month in the Vikrami Samvat calendar, is traditionally celebrated only for newborn boys. Fazilka is a far-flung, lessdeveloped area of Punjab. But this celebration can bring it to the forefront of spreading awareness against the killing of girl children and female foeticide. The local tabloid with it's small office here, will hold the celebrations for about 100 newborn girls. This would be the largest such programme to celebrate Lohri for girls in Punjab. That too without government support. "I have details of all the 937 girl children born this year in the sub-division, but we had limited resources, so we decided to keep it a low key affair," says Rakesh Nagpal of Sarhad Kesri. They have asked the families of the newborn girls to register themselves and they will be made part of the celebrations on a first come first serve basis. "We have already exceeded the 100 mark, but will accommodate the additional entries," said Rakesh. He said they had budget of Rs 35,000, which he was putting in from his own pocket. "I might not save every girl child in the state, but I am sure my small effort would encourage others to accept them," said Rakesh. The sex ratio of Punjab is 874 females per 1000 males, much below the national average. Ferozepur also comes low on the national district wise sex ratio chart. Punjab has also received criticism for not controlling the decline in sex ratio. Nagpal said the traditional song of the festival, 'Sunder Mundriye' also carries the message to save the girl child. Nagpal said that is what inspired him, "The whole song is based on a girl, and is sung by girls. It will be very unfair if we do not celebrate this festival for girls," he said. Wife of local MLA Surjit Jayni, Nirmala, is helping Nagpal in this effort. "The celebrations in this programme for newborn girls will be the same as they are traditionally for the boys. Every child will be given new clothes, and sweets like gachhak, rewri apart from peanuts, popcorn etc," said Nagpal. It can be added that in the recent times this area has shown improvement in sex ratio, especially infant sex ratio.
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