Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji 551st Prakash Purb (Nov 30)

2 Punjab Advance November-2020 Editorial The three bills passed by the Punjab Assembly on October 21st, 2020, ostensibly to undo the Centre’s recently enacted farm reform laws, make a populist political point. Proof of it is the provision of “imprisonment of not less than three years and fine” for any purchase of produce at below the official Minimum Support Price (MSP). Farmers across the country are no doubt restive today. The fact that MSP doesn’t even find a mention in the laws enacted recently by the Cen - tre has fueled mistrustamong the farmers who fear that the time-tested regime is on its way out. Though the Union Government has been in - sisting that this system would continue, the farming community in Pun - jab and other states remain unconvinced. The Bills passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha seek to amend the Central legislation to ensure that wheat and paddy – the staple crops grown in the grain-surplus state – are not bought for not less than the respective MSP.Guaranteed MSP is certainly music to the toiling farmers’ ears. With the Central agencies procuring crops at best at the fixed MSP, some states have been offering a bonus – over and above the support price – to compensate the farmers. But the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has cautioned that such moves create distortions in the market and affect the “balance of crops”. Let us agree, that the sparring over the terms of reference of the Fif - teenth Finance Commission (with southern states worried about the al - location if new population figures are taken into account), the controversies around the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime (with states unhappy with the Centre for failing to meet its commitments on compensation payments): and now Punjab’s decision to bring its own leg - islative framework on the farm bills all point to a new trend. This new trend – of a fracture in ties between the Centre and states ruled by non-BJP formations – is worrying. The BJP must be more con - sultative in its political approach.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 3 s

t 11 22 Rice procurement New scholarship scheme Bewitching wetlands n in full swing amid for SC students e Covid-19 norms t n o C

06 Punjab creates history

4 Punjab Advance November-2020 28 38 42 Bewitching wetlands Last of the five-star icons Fizzy drinks bad for teeth

Punjab www.punjabadvanceonline.com November-2020 Advance LVOL›11 L ISSUE›7 Room No. 1, 5 th Floor, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh-160001 Ph.: 0172-2740668, Email Id: [email protected] C.E.O. - Ravi Bhagat (IAS) Editor - Donald Banerjee Designer - Karan Kumar Publisher - Information & Public Relations Department, Punjab

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the authors in the articles published in PUNJAB AD - VANCE are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Punjab Govern - ment or the organization they work for. Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or expand the articles submitted. In case of any dispute, legal jurisdiction will lie in Chandi - garh based courts. Published and Edited by Mr. Ravi Bhagat (IAS) on behalf of the In - formation and Public Relations Department, Punjab at Room No. 1, 5th Floor, Civil Sectt., Chandigarh

November-2020 Punjab Advance 5 Cover Story Punjab creates history l Becomes first state to reject Centre’s farm laws l Passes bills to save farmers, protect MSP

Donald Banerjee

Punjab created history on October 20th when it became the first state in the country to formally reject the Centre’s black Farm Laws, with the Vid - han Sabha unanimously passing a resolution rejecting the legislations and the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill, and seeking their immediate an - nulment along with a new Ordinance to protect MSP and ensure contin - uance of procurement by GoI.

6 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story

he House also passed by voice vote the Tthree farm amendment Bills, along with MSP is lifeline the CPC amendment for exempting farmers from attachment of land up to 2.5 acres, moved earlier by Chief Minister Captain of our socio- Amarinder Singh. All MLAs unanimously voted in favour of the Resolution and the Bills, ex - economic fibre cept the two BJP members who were absent from the House during the special session of Although farmers all over the country are the Vidhan Sabha. protesting against the Central farm laws, but The Chief Minister informed the House these protests are more pronounced in Pun - that he had sought time from the President of jab where common people also support the India to raise Punjab’s concerns on the Farm cause of farmers. Laws and seek his intervention to protect the No doubt the Central Government has vi - farmers. He later led all MLAs to the Punjab olated the constitutional provisions of feder - Raj Bhawan to submit to the Governor, Mr alism by enacting law on agriculture which is VPS Badnore, the resolution passed by the a state subject. However the prime reason House. for the univocal opposition to the new laws is Thanking all members for passing support - due to the blatant attack on the institutional ing the Resolution, the Chief Minister said this system of procurement of wheat and paddy will send a positive message to the farmers. at the minimum support price (MSP), which He assured all support to the farmers and is the lifeline of Punjab’s socio-economic vowed not to let Punjab’s peaceful atmos - fibre. phere be vitiated at any cost. The robust institutional system of pro - curement of wheat and paddy did not come Earlier, responding to a suggestion from up in a single day, it has emanated from a Leader of Opposition, Harpal Singh Cheema, phenomenon known as the Green Revolu - on MSP guarantee by state government, the tion. It was a holistic programme, conceived Chief Minister asked the AAP leader if he had in the early sixties, to pull the teeming pop - any idea about the financial implications of ulation from the ruthless jaws of hunger by such a move. In any case, where would the achieving manifold increase in the yield of state sell the produce even if it purchased the cereals grown in the Indian fields. same, he added, terming the suggestion as im - The programme was conceptualised in practical. two parts, first to increase the yield of grain Replying to questions raised by SAD leader by shifting from traditional agriculture to in - Bikram Singh Majithia on the future of the dustrial agriculture by using high yielding va - state amendment Bills, Captain Amarinder rieties (HYV) of seeds, intensive chemical said he had already made it clear that the Bills fertilizers and consistent irrigation. Second would have to go to the Governor who may or part of the programme was to create an in - may not approve them. Thereafter, they stitutional system to incentivise the farmers would also need to go to the President of by providing them an assured and remuner - India, who may also approve or reject them. ative price of their produce so that they feel encouraged to invest in HYV seeds, fertilizers However, he asserted that, as in the case of

November-2020 Punjab Advance 7 Cover Story

the Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act, the state government will continue to and other inputs to increase the productiv - ity. fight the central laws legally, for which a team Two significant institutions – Agriculture of lawyers and experts was on board. Prices Commission, now known as Commis - The Farmers' (Empowerment and Protec - sion for Agriculture Cost And Prices (CACP) tion) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm and Food Corporation of India (FCI) – were Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amend - established whose respective mandates ment) Bill, 2020; The Farmers' Produce Trade were to fix remunerative support price and and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) facilitate procurement of produce to be dis - (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) tributed amongst the poor of the country Bill, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Spe - through public distribution system (PDS). cial Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, Simultaneously, Punjab established it’s 2020, have been passed by the Punjab Assem - own infrastructure to regulate and stream - bly to protect the state’s farmers and agricul - line the procurement on behalf of FCI.The ture by restoring various safeguards aimed at farmers of Punjab, due to their entrepre - preventing damage apprehended by the farm - neurial attitude and capability to adopt inno - ing community as a result of the central legis - vations, put their blood and sweat to make lations. Besides ensuring MSP, with Green Revolution a success and in less than punishment in case of sale/purchase in viola - 10 years transformed the perception of tion of the same, the legislations provide for India, in food production, from ship to mouth prevention of hoarding and black-marketing of situation to a food surplus nation. foodgrains. The Code of Civil Procedure (Pun - ‘New Laws favour private players’ jab Amendment) Bill, 2020 provides relief to Unfortunately with a single stroke of pen, farmers against attachment of land up to 2.5 this historical edifice has been made redun - acres, in line with the Congress government’s dant by the Union government. The law election promise. favours private players who will outclass the 3-year jail term APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Com - The historic bills passed by the Vidhan mittee) registered trades due to uneven play - ing field. The asymmetric competition Sabha provide for imprisonment of not between the private players and APMC regis - less than 3 years and fine for sale/purchase tered trades are well defined in the provi - of wheat or paddy under a farming sions of “Farmers Produce Trade and agreement below MSP, exemption of farmers Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act from attachment of land up to 2.5 acres and 2020”, which is the most controversial among prevention of hoarding and black- the three Acts. As per this Act, farmers are marketing of agricultural produce, among not required to market their produce through other things. APMC registered trades, they are free to sell The provision on punishment for sale/pur - it to any trader, company or an individual chase below MSP has been incorporated in possessing a PAN. Farmers can create their The Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) own e-platform to market their produce any - Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Serv - where in the country. States can neither ices (Special Provisions and Punjab Amend - check nor regulate intra-state or inter-state ment) Bill, 2020. One of the four Bills movement of farm produce. They cannot levy

8 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story presented in the Vidhan Sabha today by the any tax or duty outside the APMC markets. Chief Minister, the Bill provides that no These provisions will create a parallel market sale/purchase is done below MSP and viola - of unregistered and unbridled individuals, tion of the same shall invite imprisonment and traders and corporations who will open their fine as above. shops anywhere in the state and will com - The Bill seeks to amend sections 1(2), sec - pete with the registered APMC traders who tions 19 and 20 of the Centre’s Farmers (Em - will have to pay the state taxes. powerment and Protection) Agreement on The most visible damage to Punjab will be Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020. the loss of revenue from Market Fees and In - It also proposes to add new sections that are frastructure Development Fund, which is ap - section 4, 6 to 11. proximately Rs 3600 crore per annum. This The Farmers' Produce Trade and Com - fund is dedicated to rural development such merce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special as construction and maintenance of village Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020, link roads, APMC markets, agriculture re - also seeks to amend sections 1(2), 14 and 15 search and allied activities, due to which the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce Punjab’s rural infrastructure is the best in the country. (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 to en - sure that sale or purchase of wheat or paddy ‘More than 500,000 to be affected’ in the State is not allowed below the MSP. The Livelihood of approximately 45,000 APMC traders, 500,000 casual workers who work in amendment Bill also seeks to provide for pun - mandis during rabi and kharif seasons and ishment for harassment of farmers or pay - transporters will also be threatened.There ment of less price to the farmers by inserting are around 5,000 rice mills in MSME sector. new sections 6 to 11. In near future these mills will also be shut Both these Bills are aimed at preventing the down under the monopoly of multinational damage apprehended by the farmers of Pun - companies (MNCs) who will establish their jab with the enactment of the Central Act by own mills of huge capacities. At present Pun - restoring various safeguards, including Mini - jab Mandi Board compiles all the data of mum Support Price mechanism through the daily wholesale price of cereals, fruits, veg - regulatory framework of the APMC laws, in etables and pulses traded in the state. order to secure and protect the interests and Henceforth, there will be no agency to col - livelihood of farmers and farm labourers as lect and tabulate such data because the also all others engaged in agriculture and re - transactions that will take place outside the lated activities. APMC markets will not be recorded any - Meanwhile, to protect the consumers from where.The provisions of contract Act known hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural as “The farmer’s (Empowerment and Pro - produce to secure, and protect the interests tection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020” are also disap - and livelihood of farmers and farm labourers pointing. The farmer’s fundamental right to as also all others engaged in agriculture and approach judicial courts, in case of dispute related activities, the state government has with the companies have been taken away brought in The Essential Commodities by keeping this Act beyond the jurisdiction (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) of legal frame work. Bill, 2020.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 9 Cover Story CM leads all-party delegation to Governor

n a major show of strength, Chief Minister Cap - message that all of Punjab was united against the Itain Amarinder Singh, flanked by leaders of black Farm Laws will go out to farmers across the Punjab Congress, AAP and SAD, expressed the country. optimism that the Governor will listen to the He was addressing mediapersons outside Pun - voice of Punjab, but said his government was all jab Raj Bhavan after meeting Governor VPS Bad - set to take legal recourse if Mr. VPS Badnore does nore and handing over to him copies of the not sign the amendment Bills passed in the Vid - Resolution and the state Bills which the Assembly han Sabha to save the farmers and agriculture. had earlier passed unanimously. During the 20- The Chief Minister said he had sought time minute meeting with the Governor, he was ac - from the President of India between November 2 companied by PPCC president Sunil Jakhar, LOP and 5, and all Punjab legislators will together go Harpal Singh Cheema and SAD’s Sharan Jit Singh to him to seek his intervention in the interest of Dhillon and others MLAs. the state. He said he did not think the Centre Asked about the possibility of the Centre im - could afford to ignore the voice of Punjab and posing President’s Rule in the state to scuttle the hoped they would realise that killing MSP would attempts to negate the Farm Laws, Captain spell the death knell for farming. Amarinder said “let’s wait and see…we will move Punjab’s future and national security were step by step.” However, if the situation came to both at stake, he said, adding that the coming to - such a pass, the Centre would not need to dis - gether of all the parties to fight for the same was miss him as he was carrying his resignation in his a good thing for the state. Expressing his grati - pocket and would give it willingly, rather than tude for the support of all parties to the resolu - compromising on the interests of Punjab and its tion and the Bills, the Chief Minister said the farmers, he said.

10 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story Rice procurement in full swing amid Covid-19 norms

Punmedia Bureau

addy arrivals and procurement are in full said that 75.35 LMT paddy had been procured Pswing in the mandis as the state is in the mid - out of the 76.35 LMT arrival so far and arrival of dle of another massive 60-day staggered exercise paddy in mandis are staggered. to procure rice with the farmers and officials The Cabinet Minister said that by October 21, rigidly following the distancing and mask norms 2020, 6 lakh 40 thousand 102 MT had been pur - to keep the Covid-19 virus at bay. chased out of the 6 lakh 56 thousand 186 LMT The arrivals and procurement have been good paddy arrivals in the Mandis. Apart from this 6 with the state government procuring nearly lakh 13 thousand 898 MT paddy also lifted on this 44.33 per cent of paddy of the total target by Oc - day. And total 60 lakh 74 thousand 290 MT Paddy tober 22 across the state during the ongoing had also been lifted up till from Mandis success - Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) amid COVID-19. fully. Besides, 9921 crore rupees had also been Giving this information Food and Civil Supplies released regarding paddy procurement. Minister Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu While reiterating the firm commitment of the

November-2020 Punjab Advance 11 Cover Story

state Government led by Chief Minister Captain son. Amarinder Singh to procure every single grain of Also, paddy arrives at a faster pace in mandis, the farmers Mr. Ashu said the State government they said. An average 120 lakh tonne wheat ar - had ensured the smooth, hassle-free and safe rives in mandis while the paddy arrivals are ex - procurement in the grain markets. pected to touch 170 lakh tonne this time. With no signs of Covid-19 subsiding the Pun - The Punjab Government has procured nearly jab food and civil supplies department staggered 96 per cent of paddy of the total arrival so far paddy procurement on the lines of wheat pur - across the state during the ongoing Kharif Mar - chase made from April to June amid pandemic- keting Season (KMS) amid COVID-19, said Secre - induced lockdown. But this time, 2,650 tary Mandi Board Ravi Bhagat. Also, with a view temporary purchasing centres have been set up to ensure staggered movement of paddy in man - besides the existing 1,850 such facilities, taking dis, 10.60 lakh passes have been issued to the the total to 4,500. There are at least 1,000 more farmers through arthiyas across the state. centres than the one set up during the wheat After two days of visits to grain markets in var - procurement season.To maintain social distanc - ious districts of the state, Secretary Mandi Board ing, a cluster of 3-4 villages has one designated expressed satisfaction over ongoing paddy pro - procurement centre. curement operations in mandis amid Covid-19 The department is also using the compounds pandemic. of schools and colleges, rice shelling mills, de - The Secretary further revealed that despite funct mandis and open plinths besides other pub - prevailing situation arising out of Covid-19 pan - lic places with concrete floors for paddy demic, the Punjab Mandi Board and various Dis - procurement which began from October 1. trict Administrations have ensured the smooth, “Since coronavirus cases are hitting the peak hassle-free and safe procurement in the grain this time around, we want to take all precautions markets. He also directed the officials to ensure to ensure that minimum number of farmers the lifting of paddy within 48 hours of its pur - gather at a place. We are looking for premises chase during the ongoing procurement season. which have concrete floors,” said principal sec - He also asked the procurement agencies to reg - retary (food and civil supplies) KAP Sinha.The de - ularly monitor the procurement operations in the partment has sought reports from all 22 deputy districts for the convenience of the farmers. The commissioners to enlist the public places in the availability of masks, water, soaps have been districts which have space for unloading and made in all the grain markets besides the saniti - weighing produce and can be used for purchase zation drive has already been carried out in the by the government agencies. grain markets, emphasized the Secretary also ex - This is the second procurement since the lock - horting the farmers' to desist from burning stub - down was imposed in March to check the spread ble. of Covid19. Wheat procurement that began in The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh has April 15 was carried out from over 3,600 centres. asked the Food and Civil Supplies department to At that time, to stagger the procurement, the ensure prompt lifting of the produce and release premises of 1,650 rice mills were used along with of payment within the stipulated time-frame of existing 1,850 mandis and procurement centres 72 hours. Paddy procurement commenced on managed by the state mandi board.Officials said September 27 due to early arrival of the crop this paddy procurement poses a bigger challenge year owing to advance planting. The procure - since the volume of produce is at least one-third ment operations would continue till November more than the wheat crop during the rabi sea - 30.

12 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story

Kesar Singh, a farmer from Khanpur village, amid COVID-19, the Punjab Mandi Board said procurement arrangements are far better has notified over 4,200 purchase points for pro - this season in comparison to the wheat procure - curement of paddy. To avoid mass gatherings ment in April-June. “The State government has and ensure staggered procurement, the Mandi increased the number of centres for crop’s pur - board has issued 7.71 lakh passes to farmers till chase, which has reduced crowding. I have come October 10. Four state procurement agencies in - with over 100 quintals and my commission agent cluding Punjab Grains Procurement Corporation has informed me that payment is expected to Ltd, Markfed, State Civil Supplies Corporation come in my account in the next 15 days..It’s a Ltd and State Warehousing Corporation besides long wait,” said Mr. Kesar, who has planted the FCI are procuring paddy. The A grade paddy paddy in close to 20 acres. is being procured at the MSP of ₹1,888 per To ensure hassle-free and safe procurement quintal. Farm fires not to blame for Delhi pollution Welcoming the latest data on the link contrast, studies showed that stubble between Delhi’s pollution and stubble burn - burning was only a miniscule part of the na - ing as vindication of his government’s stand tional capital’s problem. on the issue, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Notably, the Indian Institute of Science Amarinder Singh has asked Arvind Kejriwal to Education and Research (IISER), in a research stop lying to divert attention from his own paper based on data for 2018 and 2019, failure to protect the national capital’s has found that Delhi’s pollution is localised environment. and not attributable to the farm fires in Hours after Union Environment Minister Punjab or the NCR. It pointed out that Prakash Javadekar said that stubble burning AQI for Punjab is much better than in Delhi. contributes to only 4% of pollution in NCR, Captain Amarinder pointed out that this is with the rest being caused by local factors, something Punjab has been maintaining for Capt Amarinder slammed his Delhi counter - the past several years, with the pollution part for refusing to accept the results of levels in the state nowhere near as bad as comprehensive studies on the issue. those in Delhi. Kejriwal, said the Chief Minister, had been “Even today, the skies in Punjab are clear spreading misinformation on the issue with and the AQI levels much better than those in the sole agenda of keeping Delhiites in the Delhi,” Captain Amarinder noted, adding that dark about the actual situation, which his gov - even a child can see the difference between ernment had failed miserably to handle over the two. But the Delhi chief minister has per - the years. The fact is that there is absolutely sistently chosen to conveniently ignore this no data to support the claims of the Delhi and blamed Punjab for a mess of his own chief minister, he said, adding that, in making, he added.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 13 Cover Story Centre to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh cr on behalf of states Bridging the gap in GST collections

Punmedia Bureau

he Central government will borrow up to Rs and above their existing limits, to bridge the T1.1 lakh crore on behalf of the states to shortfall. “Under the Special Window, the esti - bridge the shortfall in GST collections, the Fi - mated shortfall of Rs 1.1 lakh crore (assuming all nance Ministry said on Thursday. A slowdown in States join) will be borrowed by the Government the economy since last fiscal has resulted in a of India in appropriate tranches,” the statement drop in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collec - said. tions, upsetting the budgets of states which had “The amount so borrowed will be passed on given up their right to levy local taxes such as to the States as a back-to-back loan in lieu of GST sales tax or VAT when GST was introduced in July Compensation Cess releases.” 2017. The release, however, did not say who will To make up for the shortfall, borrowing from service the interest and principal payments. The the market was proposed.In a statement, the Centre borrowing on behalf of states is likely to Union Finance Ministry said states were offered ensure that a single rate of borrowing is charged a special window to borrow Rs 1.1 lakh crore over and this would also be easy to administer.The

14 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story borrowing, the statement said, “will not have any ceptable to states ruled by the Congress and Left. impact on the fiscal deficit of the Government of The surcharge on cars and other luxury goods India.” “The amounts will be reflected as the cap - and tobacco products varies from 12 per cent to ital receipts of the State Governments and as part 200 per cent on top of the highest GST rate of 28 of the financing of its respective fiscal deficits,” it per cent. It was due to expire in June 2022.This said. has now been extended beyond 2022. Borrowing of the shortfall by the Centre will Interest on the borrowed amount would be avoid differential rates of interest that individual the first charge on the cess, which gets collected states may be charged and will be an administra - beyond the five years. The next charge would be tively easier arrangement, it added. “It may also 50 per cent towards the principal amount which be clarified that the General Government gets borrowed, that is Rs 1.10 lakh crore and then (States+Centre) borrowings will not increase by the remaining 50 per cent would be towards this step,” it said. COVID-19 affected compensation. “The States that get the benefit from the Spe - Under the GST structure, taxes are levied cial Window are likely to borrow a considerably under 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent slabs. On top of lesser amount from the additional borrowing fa - the highest tax slab, a cess is levied on luxury, sin cility of 2 per cent of GSDP (from 3 per cent to 5 and demerit goods and the proceeds from the per cent) under the AatmaNirbhar Package. same are used to compensate states for any rev - ”When the GST was introduced in July 2017, enue loss. states were promised a 14 per cent incremental The payment of GST compensation to states revenue over their last tax receipts in the first five became an issue after revenues from the years of the GST rollout. This was to be done imposition of cess started dwindling since through a levy of a cess or surcharge on luxury August 2019. The Centre had to dip into the ex - and sin goods, but the collections on this count cess cess amount collected during 2017-18 and have fallen short with the slowdown in the econ - 2018-19.The Centre had released over Rs 1.65 omy since last fiscal. lakh crore in 2019-20 as GST compensation. How - To make up for this, the Centre suggested that ever, the amount of cess collected during the the states can borrow against future compensa - 2019-20 stood at Rs 95,444 crore. The compen - tion receipts. The Finance Ministry had earlier sation payout amount was Rs 69,275 crore in this week stated that 21 states have accepted 2018-19 and Rs 41,146 crore in 2017-18. During one of the two borrowing options suggested by April-July of the current fiscal, the total compen - the Centre. sation due to states stands at over Rs 1.51 lakh The borrowing option was, however, not ac - crore.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 15 Cover Story Slum dwellers, small tillers to get land rights

Punmedia Bureau

lum dwellers and specified categories of peo - the guiding framework for the civic bodies to im - Sple, who are in occupation of small parcels of plement the act. agrarian land through inheritance, will now be el - This programme envisages a "slum-free Pun - igible for land ownership rights in Punjab. jab" with inclusive and equitable cities, in which The cabinet, at a meeting chaired led by Chief every citizen has access to basic civic services, so - Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday, gave cial amenities and decent shelter, the spokesper - approval to notify the rules of the Punjab Slum son said." For sustainable growth of the cities, Dwellers (Proprietary Rights) Act, 2020, for the the management of slums in the urban areas of purpose of giving proprietary rights of land to the state is a major concern, which the rules (giv - slum dwellers, thus ensuring basic amenities for ing ownership rights to slum dwellers) will help them. address to some extent," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson of the chief minister''s of - In a bid to confer proprietary rights upon cer - fice said the Local Government Department had tain categories of persons in occupation of agrar - already prepared the ''BASERA - Chief Minister''s ian land in the state, the cabinet approved ''The Slum Development Programme'', which outlines Punjab Bhondedar, Butemar, Dohlidar, InsarMi -

16 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story adi, Mukarraridar, Mundhimar, PanahiQadeem, rently, potato crop is grown across an approxi - Saunjidar, or Taraddadkar (Vesting of Proprietary mate area of one lakh hectares in Punjab, gener - Rights) Bill, 2020''. Some 11,231 people in these ating demand of four lakh metric tonne (LMT) of categories, currently occupying private land quality seed potato. However, there is negligible spread across 4,000 acres, will get the propri - supply of quality seed potato from Central etary rights after payment of due compensation Potato Research Institute, Shimla. Some of the as per grades to be notified by the government traders are currently illegally supplying the shortly, the spokesperson said. poor quality seed potato by putting the mark of The cabinet has accepted the proposal of the Punjab seed potato on it.Horticulture crops like Revenue Department to recognise these people potato are emerging as an attractive alternative as ''Specified Categories'' for a period of at least under the state government’s crop diversification 20 years from January 1, 2020, and includes their programme and even though they cover only predecessors and the successors-in-interest, be - 4.84% of total cropped area to produce around fore the coming into force of this Act. 73.50 LMT, their share to the total agriculture These categories were left out at the time of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Punjab is vesting of proprietary rights to occupancy ten - 12.43%. ants under the Punjab Occupancy Tenants (Vest - The council of ministers also approved the ing of Proprietary Rights) Act, 1952 (Act 8 of state government’s proposal to undertake an ex - 1953) and PEPSU Occupancy Tenants (Vesting of ercise to re-verify all the recently deleted and Proprietary Rights) Act, 1954 (Act 18 of 1954). left-out beneficiaries under the smart ration card "The measure is part of agrarian reforms to scheme to ensure that all genuine eligible per - empower tillers of such land, who belong mostly sons get the scheme benefit. Those of the to the economically and socially weaker sections 9,48,801 beneficiaries (approximately 2,37,200 of the society. These tenants have been in occu - families) found, after re-verification, to have pation of small parcels of land for several years been wrongly deleted or wrongfully left out ear - and inherit their rights by succession from gen - lier will be included in the list again.The cabinet eration to generation," the spokesperson also decided that after the re-verification process said.However, since they were not recorded as is completed, the Union ministry of consumer af - owners, they could neither access financial insti - fairs, food and public distribution will be ap - tutions for crop loans nor get calamity relief. proached to allow Punjab to enroll all The Punjab cabinet also decided to allow pro - beneficiaries (found eligible in the process) under duction of quality seed potato through tissue cul - the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. The ture based technology, using aeroponics, net Union government has fixed a capping of 1.4145 house facilities along with the certification of crores of beneficiaries to be covered under NFSA, seed potato and its successive generations so as 2013.Punjab vigilance commission Bill to come to boost potato farmers’ income. It also ap - up in assembly. The state cabinet has approved proved the Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Po - conversion of the Punjab State Vigilance Com - tato Bill, 2020, to meet the demand of potato mission Ordinance, 2020, into a bill for enact - farmers for quality seed potato, and enable the ment in the next session of the legislative development of the state as export hub for seed assembly.The establishment of the multi-mem - potato in the country. ber commission is aimed at bringing in more It would help to incentivise potato production, transparency and check corruption among public leading to greater diversification by bringing servants. It was approved by the cabinet last more area under potato crop cultivation.Cur - month through the ordinance.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 17 Cover Story Swaminathan bats for profitable farming

Punmedia Bureau

mplementation of minimum support price for greatest challenge today? Icrops, rather than loan waivers, is the long- Answer: There are two major challenges be - term solution for the crises faced by farmers, says fore Indian agriculture today: ecological and eco - MS Swaminathan, Founder, MS Swaminathan Re - nomical. The conservation of our basic search Foundation. agricultural assets such as land, water, and bio - “There is an increasing demand by farmers for diversity is a major challenge. How to make agri - loan waivers since their crops have suffered due culture sustainable is the challenge. Increasing to drought or other natural calamities,” says productivity in perpetuity without ecological Swaminathan. While the short-term problems of harm is the need of the hour. In Punjab, and in farmers need to be addressed through immedi - other Green Revolution States, the water table ate help, long-term policy to make agriculture has gone down and become saline. Further, dur - economically viable and stable is far more im - ing the Green Revolution the population was portant. about 400-500 million; now it is 1,300 million and Swaminathan further says: “The National it is predicted to be 1.5 billion by 2030. The grow - Commission on Farmers, which I chaired, recom - ing population pressure has made it pertinent to mended pricing and procurement based on total increase crop yield. cost of production plus 50 per cent principle. This Also, the economics of farming will have to be will provide farmers enough opportunities for made profitable to address the current situation. saving money for meeting the challenge of un - We have to devise ways to lower the cost of pro - favourable season. Also steps will have to be duction and reduce the risks involved in agricul - taken to stabilise yield under difficult growing ture such as pests, pathogens, and weeds. Today, conditions.” the expected return in agriculture is adverse to As India marks 50 years of the Green Revolu - farmers. That’s why they are unable to repay tion this year, the architect of the movement says loans. Addressing the ecological challenge re - sustainability is the greatest challenge facing In - quires more technology while the economics re - dian agriculture. quires more public policy interventions. In my The following are the excerpts from the inter - 2006 report, I had recommended a formula for view calculating Minimum Support Price, C2+50% Q: The greatest challenge facing Indian agri - (50% more than the weighted average cost of culture 50 years back was achieving self-suffi - production, classified as C2 by the Commission ciency in foodgrain production. What is the for Agricultural Costs and Prices). This would

18 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story

raise the current MSP and has now become the bigger burden on the government exchequer clamour of farmers and the nightmare of policy - compared to what higher pay for farm produce makers. will incur. But the government is not prepared to Q: The NDA government has said it wants to give the ₹20,000 crore or so for farmers by way double farmers’ incomes by 2022. But they of higher MSP. In 2009, the UPA government haven’t implemented the recommendations of gave ₹72,000 crore as farm loan waiver, but no the Swaminathan Commission Report that you government is prepared to take long-term steps submitted to the UPA government in 2006? to ensure the economic viability of farming. A.: Yes. All kinds of excuses have been given There are three ways to improve the incomes by governments for not implementing this rec - of farmers. MSP and procurement is one. We also ommendation like food price inflation. But the need to improve productivity. The marketable question is, do the farmers of this country, who surplus from agriculture has to be enhanced. We constitute nearly half of the working population, should also look at making a value addition to also not need to eat? The government is willing biomass. For example, paddy straw is a biomass to pay Seventh Pay Commission salaries to insu - product that could be used to make edible mush - late government servants from inflation, but they rooms. cannot provide a higher income for farmers to Q: The Green Revolution of 1967-68 may improve their lot? If you really look at what is have resolved the food crisis in the short run, but happening now, farm loan waivers are posing a the heavy use of pesticides and high-yielding va -

November-2020 Punjab Advance 19 Cover Story

rieties of paddy have resulted in environmental should adopt those practices here. You should degradation and loss of biodiversity. How do we see how a water controller works in an Israeli cope with these adverse effects? farm. Everything is remote-controlled. They A.: After the Green Revolution, I came up with know exactly which portion of the field requires the concept of the Evergreen Revolution. In this how much water and release only the exact we will see increase in farm productivity but amount. We cannot sacrifice on productivity without ecological harm. This will include inte - now, because land under crop cover is shrinking. grated pest management, integrated nutrient Post-harvest technologies like threshing, storage, supply, and scientific water management to etc. will have to be given greater attention now. avoid the kind of environmental damage wit - If you look at the organic farms in Pillai - nessed during the Green Revolution. I’ve ad - yarkuppam near Puducherry that were started by dressed these issues in my 2016 paper on the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, it is a good model to Evergreen Revolution. I recommended manda - follow for organic farming. They have adopted tory rainwater harvesting and introduction of the requisite crop-livestock integration. Climate change has upset rainfall patterns and In the case of temperature rise, we have this cycle of droughts and floods, which has rendered farming risky. How do we address wheat yield could become a these challenges? gamble. We should start breed- Both less rainfall and a higher mean tempera - ture affect farming adversely. Currently we are ing varieties characterised by witnessing drought, excess rainfall, sea-level high per day productivity than rise… There are both adaptation and mitigation measures to follow in this regard. I’ve evolved a vity. just per crop producti drought code and a flood code... some of the rec - These will be able to provide ommendations I’ve made in recent times include higher yields in a shorter dura- setting up a multi-disciplinary monsoon manage - ment centre in each drought-affected district, to tion. provide timely information to rural families on the methods of mitigating the effects of drought, fodder and grain legumes as rotation crops to be and maximising the benefits of good growing adopted by wheat farmers in states like Punjab conditions whenever the season is normal. Ani - to ensure sustainability of farming. We can also mal husbandry camps could be set up to make declare fertile zones capable of sustaining two to arrangements for saving cattle and other farm three crops as Special Agricultural Zones, and animals because usually animals tend to be neg - provide unique facilities to farmers here to en - lected during such crises. Special provisions could sure food security. Soil health managers should also be made to enable women to manage be appointed to monitor and ameliorate the soil household food security under conditions of conditions in degraded zones and rectify defects agrarian distress. like salinity, alkalinity, water logging, etc. In the case of temperature rise, wheat yield The Prime Minister recently went to Israel. We could become a gamble. We should start breed - have several practices to emulate from there. ing varieties characterised by high per day pro - They have a clear sense of where water is needed ductivity than just per crop productivity. These and where it’s not. The idea of more crops per will be able to provide higher yields in a shorter drop has been implemented well in Israel. We duration.

20 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story

‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ CM vows to fight draconian laws

Punmedia Bureau

he 3-day Punjab `Kheti Bachao Yatra’ of Con - starvation?” he asked, adding that he will now Tgress MP Rahul Gandhi and the Chief Minis - allow this to happen. ter Captain Amarinder Singh culminated on The Chief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh said October 6 at the border along Haryana, with a the regions of Dakala and Sanaur have always vow by the two leaders to not budge even an inch stood by his family and the Congress Party, and from their principled stand in support of the the people of these areas were now standing rock favours, who were under attack by the Centre’s solid behind the party on the issue of the black draconian Farm Laws. farm laws. At a public rally at Francewalavillage, near Castigating the BJP Government, the Chief Sanaur in Patiala District – the final point of the Minister said that farmers all over the country tractor rally of the Congress leaders, including have risen up against the Modi regime and AICC general secretary Harish Rawat and PPCC warned that “these oppressors will be decimated president Sunil Jakhar, Rahul lashed out at the in the next elections.” The Union government, he BJP-led government at the Centre for inflicting said, was hell bent on finishing those very farmers atrocities upon atrocities on the people of all sec - and farm labourers who had given food to the na - tions in the past six years. The poor have become tion all these years, including during the Covid cri - poorer and the rich are getting richer, he said, sis, and was also trying to do away with PDS, FCI, slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi of serv - Mandis and arhtiyas, he added. ing the interests of corporate houses at the cost “If the farmers are really happy with these of those of small businessmen, farmers, arhtiyas laws, as the Modi Government claims, then why and farm labour. are they out on the streets protesting?”, asked “But the farmers would die rather than bow Captain Amarinder Singh, asserting that till these their heads before these unjust and barbaric laws are rolled back, Punjab’s war against them laws,” said Rahul, adding that the mandi and pro - will continue. This is a fight for 'Roti' as 65 percent curement system, which the Farm Laws would of the country's population thrives on agriculture, destroy, was the protective shield for the farming he said, extending his full support to the farmers. community. These laws would make farmers AICC General Secretary and incharge Punjab bonded labourers in the hands of Ambani and Affairs Harish Rawat thanked Rahul Gandhi for Adani, said Rahul, calling upon the farmers to act coming to Punjab in support of the farmers in so that they don’t have to repent later. their hour of crisis. Equating Modi with the This is not a fight only for Punjab but for the British, he said just as the atrocities of the British entire country, said Rahul, warning that once empire failed to dampen the spirit of the Gandhi these laws are implemented, farmers would not family, Modi also would not be able to do so. Call - be able to knock at the doors of Administration ing Rahul Gandhi the future of the country, Rawat for help. “Do you need such a system where shop - said that only he can give a befitting response to ping malls are constructed while farmers die of the Modi Government.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 21 New scholarship scheme for SC students

Punmedia Bureau

he Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has culmination of the 6th State Level Mega Rozgar Tannounced the introduction of a new schol - Mela from Patiala, along with Congress leader arship scheme for Scheduled Caste (SC) students, Rahul Gandhi, whom the Chief Minister thanked who had been backstabbed by the Central Gov - for his vision to include the state government’s ernment, which had abruptly ended the post- flagship programme for employment generation matric scholarship scheme for them. - ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar and Karobar’ - in the party’s The new scheme would give an opportunity to manifesto during the 2017 Assembly elections. students of weaker sections to pursue higher Captain Amarinder Singh noted with satisfac - learning in various streams, which they had been tion that his government had, in the past 3.5 deprived of due to withdrawal of the scholarship years, successfully created job opportunities for scheme by the Government of India. The state 13.42 lakh youth through placement and self-em - government was in the process of recasting this ployment assistance under the scheme. Of these, scheme with the aim of ensuring that no SC stu - 50,000 government and 4.04 lakh private jobs dent is deprived of higher education. had been given to the youth, besides facilitating The Chief Minister also reiterated his govern - nearly 8.80 lakh youth in taking up self- employ - ment’s resolve to recruit 1 lakh youth in govern - ment ventures. ment jobs over the next one and half years, of The Chief Minister apprised Rahul Gandhi which 50,000 will be recruited till March, 2021, about the eminent multinational corporates like and another 50,000 by the end of its term. Microsoft, and other private companies of India, He was addressing a virtual programme on the including Trident, Guru Gobind Singh Refinery

22 Punjab Advance November-2020 Cover Story

(HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd.), Bathinda, plyaing a piv - dent Group Rajinder Gupta and Prabhdass, CEO otal role in offering remunerative jobs to Punjab’s of HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd. (HMEL) shared their youth. experiences with Punjab government for part - Complementing the visionary leadership of nering in providing livelihood opportunities to Captain Amarinder Singh in facilitating gainful the unemployed youth. Prabhdass said that employment for youth through this unique HMEL, through its funded programme, is im - scheme, Rahul Gandhi said it was the duty of any parting online training to 50,000 youth for em - government to provide job opportunities for ployment in Central and State Government jobs. youngsters. Terming youth as assets, he said em - Appreciating the initiative of Chairman-cum- ployment opportunities for them could trans - Managing Director Rajinder Gupta of Trident form their destinies and lead to the nation’s Group to start a special residential training pro - development, and failure to do so would end in gramme for 2500 girls at Barnala, Captain tragedy. He described Punjab as a frontrunner Amarinder Singh said that this endeavour would state, with a hardworking, peaceful and resilient certainly go a long way in empowering girls by workforce committed to upholding the basic val - helping them secure gainful employment. ues of humanity. On the occasion, two youngsters - Amandeep Pointing out that Punjab had once led the Kaur and Sahil Sharma - interacted with the Chief country in SME sector, despite being a predomi - Minister and shared their experience of getting nantly agrarian economy, Rahul said the previous jobs through 6th State Level Mega Rozgar Mela Akali-BJP government in the state had decimated held across the state from September 24-30. the same, just as they were now trying to ruin Amandeep Kaur, Post Graduate in Fashion Tech - agriculture. However, under the incumbent gov - nology, has been appointed as Art & Craft ernment, Punjab continues to nurture its cottage teacher in a leading private school at Patran, and small and micro industrial units, which have an Sahil Sharma, BTech in Mechanical Engineering, enormous potential to grow and result in job cre - got a job at Tech Mahindra. ation, he said. He noted that even Microsoft Earlier in his welcome address, Technical Edu - started its journey as a small company, and these cation & Employment Generation Minister Cha - small Punjab units would also grow into large ranjit Singh Channi said that during the 6th State companies under the nurturance of the innova - Level Mega Rozgar Mela, 1.43 lakh private sector tive and hardworking youth. jobs were offered and 93,593 job seekers had Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to create been placed. As many as 9.5 lakh job seekers a perfect synergy between agriculture and in - have been registered with the ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar’ dustry to ensure balanced economic growth in portal. Channi further said that the Punjab Gov - the country. He said instead of bringing the dra - ernment would organize mega job loan melas conian agricultural laws, the Centre should have from October 15, 2020 to December 15, 2020 to helped the farmers by creating an excellent in - facilitate youth by giving loans for self-employ - frastructure and system to ensure holistic growth ment ventures. of agriculture. They should have focused on the AICC General Secretary & Incharge Punjab Af - welfare of the farmers by providing them a well- fairs Harish Rawat, Cabinet Ministers Brahm Mo - knit network of Mandis and silos for scientific hindra, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Vijay Inder storage of foodgrains, he added. Singla, President PPCC Sunil Jakhar, Member Par - Meanwhile, Sonia Sehgal, Country Head of Mi - liament from Patiala Perneet Kaur, were among crosoft, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Tri - those present on the occasion.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 23 Punjabis Overseas Queen’s MBE award for ‘Skipping Sikh’

As 73-year-old Rajinder Singh’s name was tough times amid the pandemic, I believe it’s announced as one of the Member of the not me but the award is for all of us who have Order of the British Empire (MBE) recipient in helped in the fight against Covid. the Queen’s birthday honours list on October Singh, who grew up at Devidaspura village 10, it was a recognition of Indian-origin Har - near Amritsar, studied at Khalsa College, Am - ritsar, and later moved to England in the early 1970s. He worked as a driver at the Heathrow airport before retiring in 2018.He started the Skipping Sikh challenge in April earlier this year after being inspired by 100-year-old cap - tain Tom Moore, who had raised more than 100 million pounds for the NHS.While Singh competed in various marathons in England in the last one decade along with legendary run - ner Fauja Singh, the Harlington resident had learnt skipping from his father and started the lington resident’s untiring efforts to raise challenge at the garden of his home in April. funds to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Daily, he would skip 500-1000 times at his Earlier this year, Singh started a skipping home garden and with more and more peo - challenge by the name of Skipping Sikh to ple taking up the skipping challenge from raise funds of the National Health Service all over the world, Singh raised more than (NHS) in England raising more than 14,000 14,000 pounds. In June, Singh had become a pounds. UK Point of Light awardee, which saw him re - The Queen’s birthday honours list, which ceive a letter of appreciation from UK PM was expected earlier in June, was earlier post - Boris Johnson. poned. A list of 1,495 recipients was an - “When I read about Captain Tom Moore, I nounced with 414 given to persons who told my daughter Minreet Kaur about doing responded to the pandemic. something for NHS and we thought of starting “I was born in the year India got its Inde - the Skipping Sikh challenge since this was the pendence and my father, NaikMakhan Singh, only thing I could do while being at home to who served in the British Indian Army, would raise funds. My father had taught me skipping always tell us his tales of second World War. and it was my way to show my gratitude to He would always tell me to be honest and to him to raise me as an honest person. Within have the capability of helping people. That’s days, people including kindergarten kids to what I have tried to do all my life. As my name elders supported us in this cause and took the was announced for MBE in the Queen hon - skipping challenge. Getting the UK Point of ours list, I remembered all the things which Light award made me to raise more aware - my father taught me and believed in. In such ness in general public,” he said.

24 Punjab Advance November-2020 Punjabis Overseas Sabrina Singh is Press Secy to Kamala Harris Senator Kamala Harris on has appointed In - of America when it was unfathomable. The dian-American Sabrina Singh as the press sec - handsome, 6-ft Sikh of the India League of retary for her Democratic vice presidential America, championed the cause of the right campaign.If Harris made the first woman of to immigration. The long, arduous, nationwide African and Indian descent to make it to the campaign culminated in the then president Harry Truman signing the Luce-Celler Act on July 2, 1946. The signing of the Act allowed a quota of 100 Indians to immigrate to the United States per annum.In her tweets of May 1 of this year, Sabrina wrote, “Today is the start of #AAPI - HeritageMonth and so I'd like to take this (short) thread to celebrate AAPIs in the U.S. and remember those who paved the way for opportunity and freedom.” “Like my grandfather JJ Singh, who was presidential ticket in the US, then Sabrina head of the India League of America. In the Singh became the first-ever Punjab-origin In - 1940s, he & others mounted a campaign dian-American press secretary to a vice-pres - against racially discriminatory policies and idential nominee of a major political party. fought for Indians to obtain citizenship,” she A young achiever, 33-year old Sabrina pre - added.She also tweeted a photo of her grand - viously was the spokeswoman of two Demo - father in the historic moment when President cratic presidential candidates and headed the Truman inked the Act.“This pressure led to press shop of two Democratic presidential President Harry Truman signing the Luce- candidates -- New Jersey Senator Cory Booker Celler Act into law on July 2, 1946, giving al - and former New York mayor Mike most 3000 Indians living in the US citizenship Bloomberg.“I'm so excited to join the #Biden - (second to the right from Truman),” she Harris ticket as Press Secretary for @Kamala - wrote. Harris! Can't wait to get to work and win in She speaks warmly and proudly of her par - November!” Sabrina Singh tweeted after it ents who have also been a great influence on was official that she was Kamala Harris’ press her life decisions.Sabrina Singh’s father, Man secretary. Jit Singh, was born in the US in New York, in Who is Sabrina Singh?Like many Indian- 1956, but when he was just five, her grand - Americans in the US, Sabrina Singh is rooted parents moved the family to independent to Indian culture and her family. She inherits India and to New Delhi. Man Jit and his her tenacity and activism on issues of equality brother Man Mohan grew up in Delhi.After JJ and liberalism as part of family legacy.Sabrina Singh died in 1976, Man Jit Singh, who was Singh was born into the family of Sardar Jag chairman and CEO of Sony India, and her mom Jit Singh, who affected change in United States Srila Singh, decided to immigrate to the US.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 25 Golden Temple illuminated Diwali Greetings (November 14)

26 Punjab Advance November-2020 November-2020 Punjab Advance 27 Bewitching wetlands Harike---a bird watchers’ paradise

Donald Banerjee

ome November and it is time to welcome the the best sanctuaries of the country. Cwinged visitors who throng the wetlands in Situated on the confluence of the Beas and the Punjab. HarikePattan, near Amritsar, the Ropar Sutlej along the Ferozepur and Amritsar border in wetlands and the Nangal wetlands are rated among Tarn Taran district, Harikeis a sprawling wetland

28 Punjab Advance November-2020 Tourism

This count includes more than 370 bird species. The best period to visit the sanctuary is between Octo - ber and February. A few years back Harike was facing a big prob - lem. There was vast undergrowth of water hy - acinth. But, thanks to the timely intervention of government and private nature care societies, a vast stretch of the sanctuary has been cleared of the invasive water plant. Another big obstacle was poaching, which has been curbed to a large extent. Today, with over 368 recorded species, the rich and varied birdlife at Harike has increased further after the massive effort by the army along with the Punjab Wildlife and Forests Department to rid the wetlands of the deadly weeds. The Harike Wetlands also supports other rare and endangered species, some of which are listed in the International Union for Conservation of Na - ture (IUCN) Redlist of Threatened Animals. It is also home to the smooth Indian otter, jackal, Indian wild boar, mongoose and jungle cat and several impor - tant medicinal and decorative plants and trees. In fact, the fruit of the kigeliapinnata is used to treat rheumatism, and the wood of the dilbergiosisso is utilised for making furniture as well as charcoal. After a big rise in the arrival of migratory birds in the 2015-16 season, the bird count fell by 12 per spread over 93 square kilometres. Rated as the cent last year. The birds start arriving in late Octo - country’s second largest bird sanctuary, it is home ber and early November with the bird count reach - to a large number of avifauna which arrive from dif - ing its peak in December. ferent parts of Europe and northern Asia. The According to the Punjab department of forest teaming bird sanctuary was declared a Ramsar site and wildlife preservation, the number of migratory by the international Body of Wetlands under the birds that came to the wetlands spread over Fer - UNDP in 1990. ozepur, Tarn Taran, and Kapurthala districts fell Flamingoes, common teal, pintail, shoveller, from 1,05,890 in 2015-16 to 93,385 last year (2016- crested pochard, warbler and several other species 17). of migratory birds rub feathers with blind dolphins Last year the department and wildlife experts and otters as wild boars nose around on the slushy spotted several bird species like Bar Headed Geese, banks. This is the scene at HarikePattan that show - Grey Legged Geese, Pintail, Ruddy, Shell Duck, Car - cases nature in all its glory, untainted and undis - monent, Eurasian Spoonwill, Spotwill, Painted turbed. Stark, Northern Lap Wing, and Ferruginous The sanctuary is a bird watchers’ paradise and Pochard. attracts thousands of migratory birds, some from Harike, however, is not the only wetland that is as far away as Siberia and the Arctic. A count of witnessing depletion in the habitat for migratory more than 45,000 winged visitors has been birds. According to information, wetlands all over recorded here during the peak migratory season. the country are losing habitat. The main causes are

November-2020 Punjab Advance 29 Tourism the same: rainfall/drought, water pollution, sand ties. mining, water hyacinth, and overuse or misuse of The new facilities have been developed by the natural resources. Punjab government to attract more national and in - ORIENTATION ternational tourists and bird watchers. For tourists there is only one main entry point The department of tourism has completed the into Harike Wetlands. This is from the Nanaksar - infrastructure development works in this wetland Gurdwaraacross the barrage at the southern end at a cost of Rs. 9.76 crore which include construc - on the Ferozepur side of Harike. At the Harike Po - tion of interpretation centre, where information lice Station, turn off from the Amritsar-Ferozepur about our winged guests and other literature for Road, and then head left for the Harike Wildlife Of - promotion of eco-tourism in the state would be fice (opposite the canal Rest House) and the bar - rage, the former issuing permits for entry. Though boating is not possible at Harike with - out special permission, there are plenty of trails of - fering rich sightings of birdlife. Jeep Safari Birds can be sighted from various points of the sanctuary but the finest trails are along the Left Bund passage. In terms of numbers, coots are the largest migrants, followed by the common pochard, red-crested pochard and the tufted duck. Among non-diver birds, the wigeon is the most abundant, followed by the gadwal and shoveller. The vulner - able species found at Harike Lake include the fer - ruginous duck, Pallas’ fishing eagle, greater spotted kept for the information of the visitors in general eagle, imperial eagle, black-bellied tern, pale- and students in particular. backed pigeon and Syke’s nightjar. Besides this, the bird watch towers constructed Other birding spots include the area behind the in the wetland will give an exciting experience to NanaksarGurdwara, the acacia as well as shisham the tourist for watching birds. At this place, a woodlands, the marshlands, weedy embankments boardwalk has also been constructed, where the and sandbars along the canals, especially down - tourists will be able to have a close look of the birds stream. Amid the forested tracts north of the Sut - in the wetland. lej and west of the main road, you’ll discover bird Forest enthusiasts and morning walkers will also species like the penduline tit and slaty-blue fly- be able to enjoy walking on the nature trail in the catcher. Along the banks of the Sutlej, about 5 km Sadabrat Protected Forest in Ropar Forest Division, away from the barrage, look for Syke’s nightjar near which is a part of the wetland. Ropar Wetland was the tamarisk bushes. designated as Ramsar site of international impor - Jeeps are allowed only along motorable roads. tance in the year 2002. Earlier under the same proj - Since there are no Forest Department jeeps for ect, the road to Gurudwara Mata Gujriwas also tourist activities, It would be best to hire the vehi - widened. cle from Amritsar. Due to its proximity to Chandigarh, where we New facilities as Ropar wetland have an international airport, and due to its strate - A few days ahead of the arrival of winged guests gic location on the way to Sri Anandpur Sahib, Kullu from Siberia and other countries, the state govern - and Manali, this place has a very good potential for ment has decided to develop Ropar wetland into a development as an international tourist destina - tourist attraction by augmenting the existing facili - tion.

30 Punjab Advance November-2020 Tourism ChhatBir Zoo gets WAZA recognition

Punmedia Bureau

hhatBir Zoo, situated 22 km from Chandi - Cgarh and considered the largest zoo in Asia, has joined the select band of zoos with recogni - tion at the international level. Yes the zoo has ac - quired the membership of WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquarium). Giving this information Forests and Wildlife Preservation Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that infrastructure up-gradation was high on the agenda and revealed that the zoo would soon have a Dinosaur Park and Food Plaza. Wildlife Conservation and Development should go hand in hand to maintain biotic cycle Under the animal exchange programme soon said Sadhu Singh Dharamsot Forests & Wildlife new species of tigers and bears are also to be Preservation Minister Punjab while presiding brought to Chhatbir Zoo. over the state level function organised at Chhat - After the successful release of the Alligator in bir Zoo to mark the Wildlife Preservation Beas last year, 25 to 30 more will be released in Week.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the Beas by the end of the year, when the water that Wildlife Preservation Week is an ideal occa - level recedes. sion to reaffirm our commitment towards con - Besides, development of the Indus valley dol - servation of wildlife. He said that wildlife phin conservation plan and the Harike and conservation is ingrained in our ethos and it is an Siswan eco- tourism plans are in pipeline. integral part of our tradition and culture. Earlier the Minister inaugurated biosafety The Minister informed that Punjab is at the chamber in the service entry of the zoo, con - second position in the country after UP to have structed in the wake of covid. He also dedicated maximum Wetland Ramsar Sites. Punjab has 6 zoo born rare variety of Indian fox pups to public. sites being closely at heels to UP which has 7. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Ji - He informed that earlier there were only three tendra Sharma, ACS Forests Mrs. Ravneet Kaur, sites but under able guidance of the Chief Minis - Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab RK Mishra, Direc - terCaptAmarinder Singh 2019, three more sites tor Chhatbir Zoo Mr Saudagar IAS also spoke on namely Keshopur, Nangal wetlands and Beas the occasionThe Minister presented awards of river system were included as Wetland Ramsar honour to various individuals and organisations Siteslst year. working in wildlife preservation.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 31 Tourism 300-year-old Banyan tree gets heritage status

Punmedia Bureau l Mini-forest rich in bio-diversity l Forms 3.5 acre canopy in Fatehgarh Sahib

300-year-old banyan tree has spread its site. Aaerial roots forming a 3.5 acre mini-for - The gnarled old tree with its mini-forest of est at Cholti Kheri village in Fatehgarh Sahib thousands of aerial roots touching the ground district. and new branches spreading at nature’s will. The sprawling 14,164 square-metre The banyan stands with pristine pride amid canopy is a complete ecosystem supporting lush-green paddy fields. rich biodiversity, which incudes peacocks, The banyan tree has spread on private owls and many other birds, reptiles such as agricultural land and villagers make way for snakes, monitor lizards, garden lizards, in - it by clearing the patch of fields where the sects, arthropods, millipedes, nematodes, wayward roots and stems move. There is a epiphytes, bryophytes, fungi, algae and taboo against obstructing the banyan tree’s lichens. growth as the villagers believe that those Located in Khera Mandal block of the dis - who tried to do so in the past came to mis - trict, the Kaya Kalp Vriksha (great banyan fortune. Even the use of dead wood or fallen tree) has been selected as the first biodiver - leaves is forbidden. Thus the tree has grown sity heritage site of the state. uninterrupted. The Punjab Biodiversity Board (PBB) has fi - The banyan is India’s national tree and it nalised a proposal to get the site of this tree has many myths, fables and religious beliefs listed as a biodiversity heritage site (BHS) for attached to it. Although colloquially known as its conservation and management under Sec - ‘bargad’ or ‘borh’, people of Cholti Kheri tion 37 of the Biological Diversity Act (BDA), fondly call it ‘baroti baba’. Says Shamsher 2002. Kaur (60), whose family has given up some The tree is situated on private land, but five marlas of their land to the banyan, “A Jat owners of the land have willingly given their will not part even with an inch of land and a land for declaration of the tree as a heritage bitter dispute could ensue. She then adds

32 Punjab Advance November-2020 Tourism

with a smile: “But who will fight our baroti laugh. baba? What he claims is his own.” However, the belief that wishes are ful - Superstition has played a positive and neg - filled in the banyan abode have started bring - ative role in the protection and decline ing money. A concrete temple and a of the natural reserve. Gurmail Singh (70), a dharamshala (resthouse for pilgrims) have farmer, recalls how members of the come up right beside the tree. Gurharminder Tarksheel (rationalist) Society came to the vil - says, “We have cautioned the temple keeper lage several years ago and urged them to and villagers that any more concrete con - chop the spreading roots, assuring them that struction may harm the banyan further.” they would not come to harm. “No villager The sub rail track to cater to the power lifted an axe but told them that they may plant nearby is not desirable and of late chop but the villagers would not. Finally, they fewer peacocks are spotted there, he adds. left hearing the stories we told them of dis - The tree has been the abode of sadhus for asters that befell those who tried to meddle generations, but earlier it was in small with the ‘baroti baba’,” he recounts with a thatched huts, not concrete structures.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 33 Career n Competition

Merchant Navy beckons you

Punmedia Bureau

he opportunity to travel around the world and finishing class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Math - Tthe lure of adventure on the high seas, besides ematics. the possibility of high remunerations attracts many • Candidates have to be unmarried Indian cit - youngsters to make a career in the Merchant Navy. izens (male or female). Merchant Navy is different from the navy in the • Normal vision is required but glasses up to sense that it offers commercial services, as opposed plus or minus 2.5 may be allowed. to the navy, which is largely involved in the defence • Admission is through an entrance followed of a nation. by a screening test and a main written examination. Merchant Navy is the backbone of international • After clearing the test, there is an interview trade, carrying cargo all over the world. The mer - and a medical test. chant ships employ a huge number of workers to • You also need to complete a ship-training carry and deliver goods from one country to an - course prior to the employment. The course is gen - other. Without the merchant navy, much of the im - erally short-term where the candidates are taught port-export business would come to a grinding basic security concerns of voyaging. halt! There are some private institutes, which offer A career in the merchant navy is considered a training for merchant navy as well. These institutes glamorous job, especially by the people who have prepare students for jobs such as deck cadets and been bitten by the travel bug. It offers an opportu - marine engineering jobs. nity to visit new and exotic places all around the How to Join Merchant Navy After 12th globe. Merchant Navy career is not only monetar - After class 12, you are eligible to study the fol - ily rewarding but also satisfying and a quite chal - lowing merchant navy courses: lenging. B.Sc. Nautical Science, B.E. Marine Engineering, Eligibility Criteria B.E. Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering, • The eligibility for joining merchant navy is B.E. Petroleum Engineering, B.E. Mechanical Engi -

34 Punjab Advance November-2020 Career n Competition

neering, B.E. Harbour & Ocean Engineering, B.E. • Catering & hospitality crew (pursers, stew - Civil Engineering, B.E. Electrical & Electronics Engi - ards, chef, housekeeper etc.) neering, B.Sc. Marine Catering, Electro Technical In Merchant Navy, the salary can range from Officer Course anywhere between Rs.12000 and Rs.8 lakh How to Join Merchant Navy After 10th per month though the pay structure differs from Merchant navy courses that you can pursue company to company, city to city, the export-im - after 10th include: Near Coastal Voyage (NCV), port needs, seniority etc. All crew members Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS), Commercial Div - and officers are given free meals on board and sen - ing, G.P. Rating ior officers can take along their wives for the voy - Merchant Navy - Job Prospects age. There are enormous employment opportunities A Junior Engineer on a ship can earn around Rs. in this field. Candidates who have finished the basic 30,000 per month with free board and lodging course in merchant navy can get jobs very easily while signed on board the vessel. The next level is through various consultants and placement agen - of Second Engineer and finally, Chief Engineer on a cies. Merchant navy fleet consist of cargo ships, ship. As you keep getting promoted, your salary in - container ships, barge carrying ships, tankers, bulk creases substantially. A Chief Engineer at sea earns carriers, refrigerators ships, passenger ships, as well Rs. 1.5 lakh per month or more net of taxes. It takes as roll off/roll on ships. The possibility of finding about 6-7 years for a Junior Engineer Officer to get employment in cargo ships is more as compared to promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, depending the others. on individual capabilities and job opportunities Companies that run merchant ships require available. trained people who can operate and maintain the A Third Officer's salary is around Rs. 50,000 per ships. Some of these companies are: Chevron and month plus free board and lodging while on Mobil of USA, Wallem Ship Management of Hong board.Next levels in increasing order of seniority Kong, Denholm of UK, K Line, Bibby Ship Manage - are Second Officer, a Chief Officer and Captain of a ment, d'Amico etc. India too has its shipping com - ship. A Captain's pay package is Rs. 2 lakhs per panies, such as the Shipping Corporation of India, month or more net of taxes. It takes about 8 years Great Eastern Shipping, Essar and Chowgule Ship - for a Third Officer to get promoted to the rank of ping. Trained people are required for the three Captain, depending on individual capabilities and main departments of the ship: the deck, the engine the job opportunities available. and the service department. Besides this, imported liquor, cigarettes, canned In India, job opportunities are also available in foods, cosmetics are available on board duty free. government and private shipping companies like They are also entitled to four month leave every Shipping Corporation of India, clearing houses, del year. The interesting fact is that there is no income credere agents etc. tax return imposed on the earnings of a merchant Merchant navy job profiles navy professional. • Deck officer (navigation officer) Life in merchant navy can be adventurous for all • Electro-technical officer (ETO) those with wanderlust. The long periods of solitude • Engineer notwithstanding, the opportunity to see the world • Ratings - ratings are skilled seafarers who and get paid while doing so, just cannot be argued help all the officers with daily tasks with.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 35 Current Events COVID-19 Johnson halts vaccine trial its go-ahead for conducting Phase-1 human Johnson & Johnson, a pharmaceutical com - clinical trial of 'antisera', a potential treatment pany announced on October 12th, 2020, that COVID-19. ICMR officials revealed on October it decided to pause the advance clinical trial, 6, 2020 that antisera, which was developed by ENSEMBLE, of one of its vaccine. The step was injecting inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in horses and taken by the company after an unexplained ill - can be a potential treatment for COVID-19. ness was found in one of the volunteers 100 m Serum vaccine doses of the clinical trial.According to the statement Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced released by the company, following the guide - that it will produce up to an additional 100 mil - lines, the illness in the participant is lion COVID-19 vaccine doses for India and low being reviewed and evaluated by the and middle-income countries in 2021.The an - ENSEMBLE independent Data Safety Monitor - nouncement takes forward the collaboration ing Board (DSMB), as well as the internal safety between the Serum Institute of India, GAVI and clinical physicians of the company. EN - Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates SEMBLE is the name of the study and the in - Foundation.The additional COVID-19 vaccine jection is being developed by the Janssen dose commitment follows the August an - vaccine arm of Johnson & Johnson to fight the nouncement of up to 100 million doses to be ongoing pandemic. The clinical trial by the delivered to India and other low and middle- company is also one of the biggest trials with income countries by the collaboration. Now, a 60,000 people. total of 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines Antisera trials begin will be delivered to India by 2021 by the part - The Drugs Controller General of India has given nership. NATIONAL Longest highway tunnel September 25, 2020.The Bihar Elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated will be the largest elections to be held amid Atal Tunnel, the world's longest highway tun - COVID-19 pandemic, as per CEC Sunil Arora. nel at Rohtang on October 3rd, 2020. The 9.02 The term of the Bihar Legislative Assembly is km tunnel, built at an altitude of 3000 meters, scheduled to end on November 29, 2020. will connect Manali in Himachal Pradesh to La - Hence, the new house needs to be constituted haul-Spiti valley throughout the year.Previ - before then. ously, Lahaul-Spiti valley was cut off from other Cinema halls to reopen parts of the country for almost six months The Union Information and Broadcasting Min - every year due to heavy snowfall and in - istry on October 6, 2020, released the standard clement weather. operating procedures (SOPs) for the reopening Bihar elections of cinema halls and theatres. Under Unlock 5, The Bihar General Elections 2020 will be held in the government has allowed the reopening of three phases on October 28th, November 3rd cinema halls and theatres with certain restric - and November 7th respectively. The counting tions from October 15. Under the SOPs, the of votes will take place on November 10, 2020. Centre has allowed cinema halls to function The Bihar Election Schedule was announced by with only 50 per cent of their total seating ca - Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on pacity.

36 Punjab Advance November-2020 Current Events SPORTS Rafael Nadal wins French Open Online Chess Championship of Chess.com in Rafael Nadal has beaten Novak Djokovic 6-0, Chennai. In the finals, Sarin has beaten Russia’s 6-2, 7-5 to win the title of the 13th French world junior No. 6 Alexey Sarana 18-7.With this Open in tennis. With this victory on October win, the 16-year old Sarin has earned $8,766 11th, 2020, Nadal is now equal to Roger Fed - and has also become enable to qualify for the erer’s all-time record of winning 20 Grand 2020 Speed Chess Championship Final which Slams titles.The defeat in French Open for will be featuring the world’s best players. world number one Novak Djokovic has ended Dean Jones is no more his hopes of winning the 18th Slam and also of Legendary former Australian batsman Dean becoming the first man since Rod Laver to win Jones passed away on September 24th, 2020, all the four majors twice in 1969. due to cardiac arrest. He was 59. Dean Jones Nihal Sarin wins Jr chess title was part of the Star Sports commentary team Young Indian Chess player Nihal Sarin has been and was in a bio-secure bubble in a seven-star declared as a winner in the 2020 Junior Speed hotel in Mumbai. INTERNATIONAL Literature Nobel Prize for Louise Gluck lated objects simultaneously, for broad societal The Nobel Prize in Literature 2020 has been benefit rather than maximal revenue. The Eco - awarded to American poet Louise Gluck for her nomic Science Laureates have not just clarified unmistakable poetic voice that with austere how auctions work and why bidders behave in beauty makes individual existence universal. a certain way but used their theoretical dis - The American poet Louise Gluck was born 1943 coveries to invent entirely new auction formats in New York and currently lives in Cambridge, for the sale of goods and services. Massachusetts. Besides writing, she is an Eng - 3 share Nobel Prize for Physics lish professor at Yale University, New Haven, The Nobel Prize 2020 in the Physics category Connecticut.Louise Gluck's debut literary work has been awarded to Roger Penrose while the was Firstborn, which released in 1968, follow - other half is jointly awarded to Andrea Ghez ing which she was regarded as one of the most and Reinhard Genzel. The award for Physics prominent poets in the contemporary litera - was announced on October 6, 2020. ture of America. The three scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences prestigious prize for their groundbreaking Nobel Prize 2020 in Economic Sciences has discoveries about the black holes. As been awarded to Paul R Milgrom and Robert B per the Secretary-General Goran K. Hansson, Wilson for improvements to auction theory the recipient’s work has helped reveal the and inventions of new auction formats.Paul ‘darkest secrets of the universe’. A panel at the Milgrom and Robert Wilson were chosen for Karolinska Institute in Stockholm announced the prestigious prize for coming up with im - the names of the winners under the Physics proved auction theory and inventing new auc - category. In the past, this category had tion formats, benefiting sellers, buyers and honoured the discoveries about the tiniest of taxpayers around the world. They invented the particles and the vast mysteries of outer new formats for auctioning off many interre - space.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 37 Salute

Remembering Marshal Arjan Singh Last of the five-star icons

Punmedia Bureau

ir Force Marshal ucation at Mont - AArjan Singh, an gomery (now Sahi - icon of India’s mili - wal, Pakistan). His tary history, will al - first assignment on ways be being commissioned remembered as a was to fly Westland war hero who had Wapiti biplanes in successfully led a the North-Western young IAF during the Frontier Province as a 1965 Indo-Pak war. The only officer to attain the member of the No.1 RIAF Squadron. highest post of Marshal of the Air Force equiva - On August 15, 1947, he achieved the unique lent to the Army’s five star field marshal, Singh honour of leading a fly-past of over a hundred IAF was a fearless and exceptional pilot who had aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi. After his pro - flown more than 60 different types of aircraft. He motion to the rank of Wing Commander, he at - played a major role in transforming the IAF into tended the Royal Staff College at the UK. one of the most potent air forces globally and the Immediately after Indian independence, he com - fourth biggest in the world. manded Ambala in the rank of Group Captain. In We remember the only five-star General of 1949, he was promoted to the rank of Air Com - the Indian Air Force on his third death anniver - modore and took over as Air Officer Command - sary on September 17th. ing (AOC) of an operational command, which Singh was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyalpur later came to be known as Western Air Com - (now Faislabad, Pakistan), and completed his ed - mand. Singh had the distinction of having the

38 Punjab Advance November-2020 Salute longest tenure as AOC of an operational base, ini - contribution during the war, the rank of the CAS tially from 1949-1952 and then again from 1957- was upgraded and Arjan Singh became the 1961. first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force. He After his promotion to the rank of Air Vice remained a flyer to the end of his tenure in IAF, Marshal, he was appointed as the AOC-in-C of an visiting forward bases and units and flying with operational command. Towards the end of the the squadrons. He retired in August 1969, 1962 war, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief there upon accepting Ambassadorship to of the Air Staff and he became the Vice Chief of Switzerland. He was Lieutenant Governor of the Air Staff in 1963. He was the overall com - Delhi from December 1989 to December mander of the joint air training exercise “Shiksha” 1990. Having been a source of inspiration held between IAF, RAF (Royal Air Force) and RAAF to all personnel of Armed Forces through (Royal Australian Air Force). On August 1, 1964, in the years, government conferred the rank the rank of Air Marshal, the Marshal of the Air of the Marshal of the Air Force upon Arjan Force Arjan Singh took over reins of IAF, at a time Singh in January 2002 making him the first and when it was still rebuilding itself and was gearing the only ‘Five Star’ rank officer with Indian up to meet new challenges. Air Force. Singh was the first Air Chief to keep his flying A moving salute to Abdul Kalam currency till his CAS rank. On July 27, 2015, Marshal of the Indian Air Having flown over 60 different types of aircraft Force Arjan Singh, then 96, was among the many from pre-World War II era biplanes to the more dignitaries to lay a wreath at the base of the cof - contemporary, Gnats and Vampires, he has also fin carrying the mortal remains of former Presi - flown in transport aircraft like the Super Constel - dent APJ Abdul Kalam at the Palam Airport in lation. In 1965, when Pakistan launched its Op - New Delhi. eration Grand Slam, with an armoured thrust It was indeed a poignant moment for citizens targeted at the vital town of Akhnoor, Singh led as well as personnel of the armed forces to see IAF through the war with courage, determination the highly decorated, aged and uniformed Singh and professional skill. He inspired IAF to victory, rising out of his wheelchair and using a walking despite the constraints imposed on the full-scale stick to slow-step march up to the podium to use of Air Force combat power. Singh was place a wreath of flowers at the base of the na - awarded Padma Vibhushan for his astute leader - tional flag-draped coffin, and offer a smart and ship of the Air Force during the war. dignified salute in tribute, of course with the as - Subsequently in recognition of the Air Force’s sistance of an air warrior.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 39 Luminaries

Remembering Reshma, the folk song queen ‘Lambi Judaai’, literally

Donald Banerjee

he broke the silence of the desert----a Dil ‘, ‘Ankhion Ko Rehen De, Ankhion De Kol’ and “S voice so wounded that pain became the ‘Lambi Judai’. song” Who can forget Reshma’s ‘Ankhion Ko Rehne “A voice of passion, not of this earth: Haay - De Ankhion Ke Aas Paas’ which was sung by Lata oRabba” for Raj Kapoor’s Bobby starring Rishi Kapoor and These tweets on Twitter aptly sum up Dimple Kapadia. Reshma, the legendary folk singer, whose sev - Pirated tapes in Reshma’s golden voice were enth death anniversary falls on November 3. openly sold in Indian markets. Yes that painful cry of “Hai O Rabba, Nahion However this singer with pain in her voice was Lagda Dil Mera” has gone on ‘Lambi Judaai’. The able to perform in India much later. In fact, in the legendary singer who broke the man-made bar - eighties, when India and Pakistan allowed ex - riers of the subcontinent, died in Lahore on No - change of artistes, Subhas Ghai used her voice in vember 3, 2013, after remaining in coma for a the film ‘Hero’, which featured her famous song month and battling with throat cancer for two ‘Lambi Judaai’. decades. Her live performances in India came at a time Born in Bikaner, Rajasthan, in a Banjara family when the queen of folk song was diagnosed with in early 1947, Reshma’s tribe migrated to Pak - throat cancer. The effect of the disease was istan soon after partition. But her voice took the painfully visible as the legendary singer took listerners back to the deserts in Rajasthan. No di - pains to sing the ragas that were once the land - rector or producer making a tele-drama on mark of her performances. desert life could miss the background voice of Later when the pain became unbearable, she Reshma. discontinued singing. Pakistan President Pervez When she was just 12 years old, she was spot - Musharraf sanctioned a sum of Rs 10 lakh to ted singing atShahbazQalandar’s shrine by a tel - meet her medical expenses. evision and radio producer who coaxed her Her health deteriorated to such an extent that into recording the song ‘Lal Meri…’ on Pakistan she was hospitalized I Lahore on April 6, 2013. Radio. She went into a coma in October and breathed That was the beginning. Reshma went on to her last on November 3 the same year. become one of the most popular folk singers of A modest Reshma used to say: “My voice is a Pakistan. But the artiste in her broke the man- gift from God, for which I amgrateful to the made barriers as Bollywood beckoned her. That Almighty”. was another turning point. Reshma virtually took She got the recognition and awards too, yet over the entire subcontinent with hits like ‘Dama the government did not do what she deserved. Dam Mast Kalandar’, ‘Hai O Rabba, Nahion Lagta But this has happened with all legendary figures

40 Punjab Advance November-2020 Luminaries

in Pakistan. ration, Love just for four days, oh my God, Very ‘Lambi Judaai’ has remained one of Reshma’s long separation.) favourite songs. ‘Hero’ starred Jackie Shroff and Ek to Sajan mere pas nahin re, Meenakshi Sheshadhari. Duje milan di koi aas nahin re, Given below are the ‘Lambi Judaai’ lyrics, with Uspe ye sawan aayaa, the English translation in brackets: Aag lagayae hai, Lambi Judai. Bichhde abhi to hum kal parson, (Oh, my beloved is not near me, Second there is Jioongi mai kaise, is haal mein barson, no hope of meeting him, And on that, this rainy Maut naa ayi, teri yaad kyon aayi, season, Oh it fires me up, oh, this long separa - Hai Lambi Judai tion.) (We separated just two days ago, But how will I Baag ujad gaye, khilne se pehle, live in this condition, Death didn’t come, but why Panchi bichad gaye, milne se pehle, your memories, Oh this long separation.) Koyal ki kook, ne hook uthaee, Chaar dinon ka pyaar ho rabba, Hai Lambi Judai’ Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai. (Gardens got devastated, even before blossom - (Love just for four days, oh my God, Very long ing, Lovers got separated, even before meeting, separation.) The sound of the Koyal, fuels my despondency, Hoton pe aye meri jaan duhaai, Oh, this long separation.) Hai Lambi Judai, Chaar dinon ka pyaar ho rabba, Chaar dinon ka pyaar ho rabba, Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai. Badi Lambi Judai, Lambi Judai. (Four days of love, Oh my God, Very long separa - (There was prayer on my lips, Oh, this long sepa - tion, long separation.)

November-2020 Punjab Advance 41 Health Fizzy drinks bad for teeth

Punmedia Bureau

esearch shows that orange squash, cola and by wearing away the hard tissue or enamel. Rother carbonated drinks can cause both Can fizzy drinks cause eczema or asthma? dental erosion and tooth decay. Some evidence shows that some additives can Tooth erosion involves the loss of hard tissue trigger allergies such as eczema and asthma in from the tooth's surface through a chemical re - some children. However, nutritionists say aller - action with acids - many of which are found in gies to fizzy drinks happen in less than one per carbonated fruit drinks. If untreated, it can cause cent of young children. sensitivity, enamel fracture and pain. Such allergies are caused because the children Tooth decay occurs as a result of high sugar affected have less developed immune systems content in our drinks. Some fizzy drinks can con - than adults and their bodies don't yet recognise tain up to 21 lumps of sugar in just one can. The additives as safe. As a result this can lead to an good news is that sugar-free fizzy drinks (or diet overreaction by the immune system where itch - drinks) do not lead to tooth decay. They can, ing or wheezing can occur. however, still erode your teeth by wearing away Nutritionists say nine out of ten children who the hard tissue or enamel. develop allergies of this kind grow out of them Each time you drink anything sugary, your by the time they reach adulthood. teeth are under 'acid attack' for up to one hour Verdict: Fizzy drinks can cause allergies -but after drinking. This is when sugar from drinks re - only in a tiny percentage of children. If you are acts with bacteria in our plaque (the sticky coat - worried about your child's health, consult your ing on our teeth) and produces harmful acids. GP. Dentists claim it only takes a week for an ex - Can fizzy drinks make you fat? tracted tooth in a glass of cola to become a jelly- Although some research has shown that soft like mass. drinks can lead to obesity, the jury is still out on Even more surprising is the news that even whether one single factor is to blame. sparkling water can also damage our teeth. This Scientific evidence published in the Lancet last is because our teeth are constantly being bathed year highlighted a study by David Ludwig of Chil - in a weak acid solution containing carbon diox - dren's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. ide. The Boston researchers studied 548 children Dentists recommend drinking from a straw to with an average age of 11 in four Massachusetts help minimise acid attacks because fluid is being communities. They monitored the children's in - drawn to the back of your throat, rather than hit - take of sugary drinks like soda, sweetened tea ting the front of your teeth directly. and fruit drinks, and noted changes in their Body Verdict: Fizzy drinks can cause both tooth Mass Index, or BMI, a measure of body fat. decay and erosion. If you want to limit the dam - Even when they accounted for factors like age to your teeth, choose sugar-free fizzy drinks physical activity and other diet choices, the rela - (or diet drinks) because they do not cause tooth tion between obesity and consuming fizzy drinks decay. They can, however, still erode your teeth remained.

42 Punjab Advance November-2020 Health

However, dietician Lyndal Costain says it's sugar. hard to blame one factor in particular. 'Although CONCLUSION fizzy drinks can contribute to calorie intake, it's There is no strong evidence to prove that oc - likely that children in America have larger por - casionally having fizzy drinks is directly bad for tions and eat high quantities of junk food.' your health and there is no reason to avoid them. Nutritionists say the real worry is that people However, there is some evidence to show that who rely on carbonated drinks to quench their large quantities of carbonated drinks (more than thirst are consuming 'empty calories' - high three litres each day) can cause bone thinning calorific drinks without nutrients. and tooth decay. They can also trigger the 'jitters' Also, the problem is that people who rely on in a small group of people who are caffeine sen - fizzy drinks are missing out on important nutri - sitive. ents from other drinks. For example, calcium Also, carbonated drinks don't bring any vita - from milk, tea and coffee and vitamins from fruit mins or minerals to the diet. juices. 'The biggest worry is that people who drink Costain recommends opting for diet versions too many fizzy drinks could be missing out on es - of fizzy drinks if you want to avoid calories. sential nutrients,' says Catherine Collins of the 'The diet versions of fizzy drinks are better for British Dietetic Association. you because they contain no sugar and only two The other concern is that people who rely on calories. This compares to regular fizzy drinks pop tend to leave out other drinks which can con - which can contain up to 21 lumps of sugar and tain valuable nutrients including calcium from around 120 calories,' she says. milk and vitamins from fruit juices. Verdict: Fizzy drinks are fairly calorific, but if 'Try to drink no more than one to two cans of you limit your intake to one to two cans a day and fizzy drinks a day,' says Catherine Collins. eat a healthy, balanced diet, there is no scientific 'Rather than just drinking pop, try to alternate evidence to show that fizzy drinks alone cause it with other liquid sources such as milk, tea, cof - obesity. If you are worried about weight gain, fee and fruit juices to boost your nutrient intake,' choose a low calorie version which contain no she says.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 43 Health Ankle injuries: Proper treatment prevents instability

Dr Ravinder Chadha

nkle joint is an extremely common joint to rup, brace/crepe bandage and in severe cases leg Abe afflicted by injuries and the most com - cast is applied. In some cases crutches are used mon form is sprain. Anatomically various liga - until pain free weight bearing is achieved. ments that are stretched or torn surround the • In the next stage, priority is to increase ankle joint when ankle is forced to land in varied motion and strength that help in facilitating cir - unnatural positions. Ankle sprain ranges in sever - culation and inhibit swelling. ity from grade-I to grade-III depending on the ex - • Start with upward/ downward movement tent of injury to the ligament, which may range of the ankle progressing to inward/ outward from partial tear to complete tear with associates symptoms of the ankle swelling and discoloration movement of the ankle up to the point of pain. (due to accumulation of blood and fluid). • Toe curls with the help of a towel Prolonged immobilization, improper rehabili - and marble picking with the toes should also be tation returning to activity without proper heal - done. ingmay result in instability vis-à-vis a balance • Walking on toes/heels improves the deficit that increases the risk of re-injury. strength of the muscles supporting the ankle Individuals when not treated adequately ex - joint. perience a feeling of “giving away” of the ankle. • Balance Exercises: While standing raise On an uneven surface/ while climbing stairs such one foot off the floor and balance on the other individuals are good candidates for recurrent foot with arms raised at shoulder level for a ankle sprain. Recurrence causes chronic ankle count of ten. Increase the count gradually to laxity that is manifested as twenty. Start this exercise with eyes open and - Pain or soreness. later on close the eyes also. - Recurrent swelling. Wobble Board Exercises: When the patient - Loosening of ankle. achieves full weight bearing without pain, exer - - General disability e.g. locking or giving cises are started for the recovery of balance and away. postural control on a wobble Board. Patient is in - Treatment in the initial stage aims is to reduce structed to stand on the board on both feet and post injury swelling, bleeding and pain especially maintain the balance. during the first twenty-four hours. Once pain free motion is attained, strength - • Protection of ankle during initial healing ening exercises are advised with a stretch band. phase is extremely important. Taping, ankle stir - Sitting on the floor/ chair, looping band over foot with heel on the floor ankle is moved outwards/

44 Punjab Advance November-2020 Health

Walking on toes Walking on heels Co-ordination

External rotation Internal rotation Rocker board inward, upward and downward. fected limb. Patients can be declared fit to return to nor - Ankle pain if managed properly and well in mal activity only-- time the incidence of chronic pain can be effec - - When there is full range of motion of the tively reduced. ankle. Dr Ravinder Chadha is a former - Ability to walk without a limp. physio-therapist of the Indian cricket team - Pain free hopping possible on the af - Tel-0172-2702929, 9814088327

November-2020 Punjab Advance 45 Children’s World

Hi kids,

ere I come, in support of healthy sleep Hduring this time of Covid-19, when fami - lies are home together and work/school rou - tines are upended? While a lot of professionals are making general recommendations about sleep, these may not be based upon the science of sleep and may not be best for your child or teen. Here's a step-by-step plan for parents to make and there are owls (late-to-bed, late-to-rise), in - sure their children are getting enough sleep in cluding teens who often have a later sleep cycle. the face of less-structured schedules. So keeping a regular school schedule may not be Except for very young children, discuss with recommended for every child or teen. For the your child or teen the importance of establishing “lark” – if your child or teen can easily fall asleep a sleep schedule.This is not the time for conflict within 20 to 30 minutes and get enough sleep about sleep. Many children and teens are feeling when waking up at a regular school time, then it relief that they have more flexibility with regard might work well to keep the regular schedule. For to their bedtimes and wake times now. Not hav - the “owl” – many children function better if al - ing to get up very early for school during the lowed to fall asleep when they are sleepy in the week can be beneficial for those with later sleep evening and wake up naturally in the morning. cycles. Most teens have a regular sleep cycle (or circa - When negotiating their sleep schedule, first dian rhythm) of 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., so a normal figure out how much sleep your child or teen ac - school day sleep schedule doesn’t fit with their tually needs. How much sleep your child/teen natural biological rhythm. needs to function well should be based upon Finally, while there may be leeway for bed - your observations of them and what they tell you times and wake times, a regular schedule for rather than on national guidelines or others’ sleeping is very important. A lot of research on opinions. Guidelines for sleep duration for differ - sleep regularity shows that keeping a regular ent ages of children usually reflect what the “av - sleep cycle is best for children and adults.Most erage” child or teen sleeps, but the range is large. important, consider keeping the wake time Some children and teens need more sleep than within a two-hour range or less regardless of the this average, while others need less. Figure out, day of the week. This means that if your teen gets based on observing your child/teen and talking up at 9 a.m. during the week, it’s best to wake up with them about how they are feeling, to come by 11 a.m. (or earlier) on the weekends.It’s an up with what works best for them.If your child or even healthier option to figure out a regular time teen wants to take naps during the day or falls for waking up and keep this consistent.Recognize asleep easily during down times (such as when and Respect DifferencesMost important, realize watching a movie), nighttime sleep may not be that all family members may have different nat - adequate. ural sleep cycles and need for sleep. Now is the Take into account your child's natural sleep time for being considerate of others. cycle. There are larks (early-to-bed, early-to-rise) All the best, Uncle Don

46 Punjab Advance November-2020 Children’s World

The Honest Thief

(Folktales for kids)

here was once a cunning thief, Bhairav, who again.” Talways planned his moves carefully. One day Bhairav was surprised that the holy man did he decided to rob the holy men who came to the not ask him to stop stealing. All he had to do was local temple from far off lands for the temple’s speak honestly. So he decided, he would go annual festival. He calculated that all these peo - about his work – of stealing – without lying. ple came from distant towns, so they must be One day, Bhairav decided to rob the king’s carrying lots of money. palace. As he approached the main gate, the sen - So Bhairav dressed up like a holy man and try inquired who he was and what was his pur - went to attend the pose of visit. festival. At the tem - Remembering his ple, he slowly made promise of honesty, friends with one Bhairav told the particular person sentry that he was who appeared to be a thief and wanted wealthy. After to rob the king’s spending a few days palace. The sentry at the temple, the was shocked at thief and holy man first, but then became friends. The thought to himself thief was so im - that this must pressed by the na - surely be a joke, ture of his new that Bhairav must friend that he did not want to rob him any more. be an old friend of the King. He smiled and let So much so, that he confessed the original rea - Bhairav into the palace. son for his friendship to the holy man. Surpris - So Bhairav went in, picked up whatever he ingly, the holy man did not call the police. wanted, put it in a bundle and started to walk Instead, he gave the stunned Bhairav some of his back to the main gate. On his way out, again money. someone stopped him and asked who he was Impressed with the man’s greatness of heart, and what was in the bundle. Once again, he Bhairav asked him for advice. He said, “You are spoke honestly, “I am a thief and inside this bun - such a wonderful person. Even after knowing dle are valuables from the king’s palace.” The that I had evil designs on your money, you will - sentry thought, surely this is some important per - ingly shared it with me. Please make me your dis - son who is upset at the fact that I did not recog - ciple, and advise me on how to live my life”. The nize him and let him pass. holy man replied, “Okay, but let’s start one step So Bhairav came back home with a lot of at a time. To begin with, I’ll ask you to do just one wealth without having spoken a single dishonest thing. From now on just stop saying anything un - word. But from that day on, he decided never to true. Just speak honestly. That’s it. Next year steal again and started waiting for the next festi - when I come for this festival, then we will meet val when he could meet his spiritual friend.

Punjab Advance 47 November-2020 What the stars foretell Dr. Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer, Palmist, Numerologist & Vastu Consultant) email: [email protected]

Aries: (March 21-April 20): In this Leo: (July 23-August 23): You are Sagittarius: (November 23-December month, you are likely to impress the likely to enjoy someone’s company, 21): Some of you are likely to reach the people who matter. Your services who is close to you. Work-wise you final stage of acquiring property. Dis - may be sought on the social front, will be able to impress superiors re - interest may become your biggest which you will happily render. Set - garding your capabilities. Someone enemy at work and threatens to give ting up a romantic evening with the may look up to you for guidance on you devil-may-care attitude. Choosing one you love cannot be ruled out. A the professional front, so don’t disap - the best investment option amongst profitable journey is foreseen for point.. Family life will cruise along the many currently available may con - those on a business trip. Investing in smoothly with much love and bon - fuse some. Not remaining physically gold is likely to give you good re - homie. Enjoying romantic moments active may adversely affect your fit - turns. You will become more health with someone special in your life ness on the health front. Manage your conscious and keep fit. cannot be ruled out. time well.

Taurus: Taurus (April 21-May 20): Virgo: (August 24-September 23): A Capricorn: Capricorn (December 22- Much fun is in store for those on a pat on the back can be expected by January 21): Good planning on your vacation. Success on the professional some for a job well done on the pro - part will help in avoiding obvious pit - front is a foregone conclusion and fessional front. Give romance prior - falls in a project at work. You may fi - will improve your career graph. nally be able to realise outstanding ity over other things, as it will help Money is likely to come in dollops dues on the financial front. A differ - and add to your wealth. Ailments are enhance togetherness. Homemakers ence of opinion may escalate into a likely to disappear, as you enter a may acquire a major item for the fight, as spouse may not appear in a re - healthy phase of life. Understanding house. A new exercise routine may lenting mood. Some turbulence on the and love will make you feel closer to be adopted by some on the health romantic front is foreseen for those the one you love. Don’t sweat the front. Spouse may need her space, so not being able to devote much time to small stuff. respect that. lover.

Gemini: (May 21-July 21): Suspi - Libra: (September 24-October 23): It Aquarius: (January 22-February 19): cions and apprehensions may not let is best to seek clarification regarding Something you are organising prom - whatever queries you have in your you rest easy. You are likely to re - ises to be a thumping success. You will mind about issues on the academic find people warming up towards you main health conscious with the aim front. Investment options will be on the social front. Enjoying love life to become totally fit. It will not be in aplenty, but you will do well to wait to the hilt is a foregone conclusion. An your interest to spoil the relationship out for some more time. On the so - outing with family is on the anvil and with someone you don’t see eye to cial front, you may find yourself may take you to someplace serene. eye. A property issue gets settled am - much in demand. Chances of taking a You are likely to take on more chal - icably. Someone’s health issue needs short break look real for some. lenging jobs at work just to showcase to be addressed. Health remains satisfactory. your capabilities.

Cancer: (July 22-July 22): Some ad - Scorpio: (October 24-November 22): Pisces: (February 20-March 20): justments need to be made in the You are likely to set an example for Aproductive time is foreseen at work, situation you are presently in. You others on the professional front. Sys - which will enable you to clear the temic approach to workplace prob - may become the initiator of a family backlog. Previous investments may lems will keep you from falling into gathering, just to boost your social start giving handsome returns now. image. Romantic endeavours are obvious pitfalls. A perfect evening out Attending a wedding or a function is likely to get a positive response from with lover is foreseen and will do indicated and will help in expanding someone from the opposite camp. An much to cement your loving bonds. excursion with friends promises to be Socially, you are likely to remain in a your social base. Spending time in exciting. A property can be yours at a helpful mood and get appreciated for seclusion and murmuring sweet noth - bargain price, if you act in a timely the same. Health remains good due to ings is likely to be the highlight on the fashion. your efforts. romantic front.

48 Punjab Advance November-2020 FEEDBACK

- How do you like the magazine? - What do you like about the magazine? - What are your suggestions to make it more readable?

Suggestion:______

Please post your reply to the following address: Punmedia, Room No. 1, 5th Floor, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh-160001 or you can email: [email protected]

November-2020 Punjab Advance 49 LAST WORD Leopard in drawing room

Donald Banerjee

magine, a spotted leopard barging into the ment.As word spread about the leopard enter - Idrawing room of a house and reclining on the ing a house, panic buttons were pressed and very sofa viewing a film on television. This could be a soon people had started gathering in groups out - straight lift out of a wildlife movie beamed on side the house.Because of the noise the big cat Animal Planet. No joking, this drama unfolded in preferred to remain inside the drawing room. Of - real life in Panchkula on October 28, 1998. ficials of the Haryana Wildlife Department tried The leopard had strayed into Panchkula from their hand at firing tranquilliser guns. The police Berwala in Morni Hills. Around 7 a.m. Ten-year- had a difficult time controlling the crowd. old Arjun Mittal opened the door of his house An SOS to ChhatBir found the zoo director, Dr (728, Sector 8), walked out and froze. Right in Vinod Sharma, arrive with his team and a tran - front of him was the spotted beast.He shouted: quilliser gun. Dr Sharma opened the window of "Daddy, daddy sher."Their dog, a German shep - the drawing room, while a team of officials put a herd, sitting on the first floor, sensed the fear in cage near broken wire mesh of the front door. the child's cry. It leapt on to the balcony wall let - The leopard looked at the tranquilliser gun ting out a growl followed by barking. The leop - trained at him. It got up and tried to go out of ard looked up. It was easy meat for the big cat, the same broken wire mesh and ended up into but out of reach. The dog, seeing its little master the cage.A police official, Mr Surinder Pal Singh, in danger, again leapt on to the wall of the bal - who was standing nearby was clawed by the an - cony. In the process a flower pot came crashing imal before Dr Sharma's tranquilliser darts down. found the mark. The animal banged its head The big cat brushed past Arjun and clawed at against the cage walls. But then the effect of the the door. But the dog's barking made it leap over tranquilliser began to show. It collapsed. The the wall and into the next house. Randhir Singh crowd heaved a sigh of relief as the leopard was staying in the annexe of the neighbouring house loaded onto a jeep trailer for its journey to (No 727) had just gone out to leave his daugh - ChhatBir Zoo. ter. The leopard ripped open the wire mesh of Mr Anil Mittal, advocate, father of 10-year-old the front door and barged into the drawing Arjun, said it was the German shepherd that had room. The housewife, who was cutting vegeta - saved his son. The dog still looked down on the bles, screamed and ran into the next room bolt - crowd from the balcony, exhaustion writ large ing the door. Finding itself alone, the spotted on its face. A student of class VI in St Kabir Pub - animal made itself comfortable on a sofa and lic School, Arjun overcame his fear and attended seemed to be enjoying the television pro - school. Flower pots and plants in both houses gramme. were damaged. This damage was not caused by A phone call was made to the police. This was the animal, but the onlookers who thronged the followed by phone calls to the wildlife depart - area during the three-hour operation.

50 Punjab Advance November-2020 The Government of Punjab is now on Social media

he Government of Punjab has made forays into the world of social media in an endeavour to facelift to facilitate a vibrant two-way communication between T the State Government and the people of Punjab. Join our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress and YouTube for regular real-time updates on latest events, news, policies, schemes and initiatives for a factual account on ‘Everything Punjab’. Connect with #PunjabGovtIndia and like/comment/share on the official pages at:

You can also e-mail us at [email protected] for any queries and/or suggestions. For a detailed account on State Development Facebook.com/PunjabGovtIndia

Twitter.com/PunjabGovtIndia

Punjabgovtindia.wordpress.com

Youtube.com/c/PunjabGovtIndia

Initiatives/Schemes, you can also download the monthly e-magazines for Punjab Advance (English), Vikas Jagriti (Punjabi), Vikas Jagriti (Hindi) at www.diprpunjab.gov.in and www.punjababvanceonline.com

your insights are valuable to us. You can revert with your comments on the magazines at [email protected]

we look forward to hearing from you.

November-2020 Punjab Advance 51 Postal Registration No.CHD/0161/2013-2015 Actual date of posting 10 to 15-10-2017

Karva Chauth Greetings (November 4)