DUSHANBE, September 17, Asia-Plus -- A progress of cotton-harvesting campaign and preparations for winter was major topic of a September 14 government session presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, presidential press service said.  

President Rahmon demanded once again at the meeting that schoolchildren should not be sent to harvest cotton.  As far as students at higher educational institutions and vocational-technical schools in the cities and districts of the country, except Dushanbe, are concerned, they can participate in the cotton-harvesting campaign on a contractual basis.  

The president also expressed concern about untargeted use of fertile arable and so-called ‘presidential’ lands  He ordered that plots, which are used by their owners rationally, should be returned to the state.  

On the preparations for winter, the head of state pointed to the necessity of taking adequate measures to ensure the regular work of the country''s economy during autumn-winter 2007-2008.