Workshop on “Contemporary social issues and Punjab agriculture” organized

Ludhiana, October 22, 2019: A one-day workshop on “Contemporary Social Issues and Punjab Agriculture” was organized by the Department of Economics and Sociology, and the Indian Society for Agricultural Development and Policy at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today. Eminent economists from various universities, and faculty and students from PAU and city colleges participated in the workshop. Dr RS Sidhu, Registrar, PAU, who was the chief guest, said, “The agriculture sector has progressed since Green Revolution. Agricultural income is the highest in Punjab but still we are facing issues in agriculture.” With employment opportunities low in Punjab, migration is taking place in big number, he added. Expressing concern over deterioration in health and education sector, Dr Sidhu said, “We are passing through critical phase in rural sector.” Job markets are out of the reach of rural people. Economic crisis is leading to social crisis and social crisis is leading to economic crisis,” he observed. The rural crisis is complex and economists need to show pathways to solve these major issues, he stressed. Dr NS Bains, Director of Research, PAU, stated, “Punjab has been a particular model of agriculture. But it needs to go for transformation in contemporary times.” Recently, experts have been struggling with the recommendations for the transformation of agriculture in India, he revealed. “We need to catch the right way in handling the situation of agriculture as well as farmers,” he added. Dr Bains called for making analysis between the myth and the reality in agriculture. Dr Shammi Kapoor, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, voiced concern over Punjabi youth giving up agriculture and growing preference for nuclear families, not joint families. “We need to bring back youth in agriculture, promote joint family system and gender equality,” he stressed. Speaking on “Migration and Changing Rural Economy,” Dr PS Judge, Professor of Sociology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, observed, “Migration of Punjabis is very old. The rural population of Punjab is 62.5 per cent. Diaspora contributes to the economic development of Punjab in many ways.” Referring to migrant labourers, he said that in view of Green Revolution, the need for migrant labourers was essential and seasonal. At present, the migrant labourers of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are moving to developed states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he divulged. Renowned economists Dr BK Nagla and Dr Madhu Nagla, Professors of Sociology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak and Dr Harvinder Bhatti, Professor of Sociology, Punjabi University, Patiala, spoke on “Emerging Social Problems in Punjab Economy,” “Health Issues of Rural Punjab” and ”Modernization and Inter Personal Relationships,” respectively. Dr Kamal Vatta, Head, Department of Economics and Sociology, PAU, in his welcome address, called for strengthening sociology aspect along with economic aspect. Dr Shalini Sharma, Professor of Economics, conducted the programme.