Govt adopts tough posture
By Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Haryana Government has decided to adopt the policy of "carrot and stick" to deal with various sections of its agitating employees. While on one hand the government has announced upward revision of various allowances like travelling allowance, house rent allowance, medical allowance, city compensatory allowance along with raising of maximum limit for various loans, on the other the government has decided to be tough with the agitating employees.

According to informed sources, a high-level committee of Secretaries set up to go into the issue of pay anomalies, has almost finalised its report.

The sources say the committee had received about 70 cases of pay anomalies arising from the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission report. Its report is expected within a few days.

It is another matter that the revision of various allowances has not appeased the employees. In a joint statement issued here today the senior vice-president and the general secretary, Mr Ram Murti and Mr N.K. Sharma, of the Haryana Employees Coordination Committee, respectively, described the revision as "inadequate".

They said while the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission report was a welcome step, the half-hearted implementation had, however, harmed the interests of the employees. Now inadequate revision of allowances would add to the resentment among the employees. The committee will shortly convene a meeting of representatives of employees of 70 departments to discuss the issue further and to chalk out its future plan of action.

The Haryana Sarb Karmchari Sangh, a pro-Left organisation the employees, has already announced that its members would organise dharnas in various districts on different dates. It has also decided to stage demonstrations outside the residences of Haryana Ministers and to court arrest. This would be followed by a one-day token strike on September 16.

Haryana to open 1000 schools
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Haryana Government will open 1000 government primary schools, mostly for girls, during the Ninth Five Year Plan.

This was stated by the Haryana Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, here today.

He said 5000 posts of JBT teachers, including 2000 posts for opening of 1000 government primary schools, would also be created during this Plan period for covering additional enrolment in schools. He said that 500 new posts of teacher had been sanctioned for the Mewat area of district Gurgaon, where through a special enrolment drive, 35,000 children were enrolled in schools during 1997-98.

Parishad to take disciplinary action
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 6 — The local zila parishad has decided to take strict disciplinary action against those members of the body who try to create nuisance or show indiscipline during the meetings of the parishad.

This was decided at a meeting held here today. The issue came up for discussion after a member of the parishad had a heated exchange with the chairman of the parishad, Mr Anand Prakash Kadian, over some agenda items adopted by the body for approval. The vice-chairman, Mr Rambhaj Chaudhary, also supported the move.

The other issues passed by the body at the meeting included repair work of the building of parishad, launching of zila yojna samiti, approval of grants of some panchayat samitis and expenses of the local office. A total of 18 items were tabled in the meeting.

Man kills three of his family
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Aug 6 — A resident of a nearby village allegedly killed three members of his family, including his mother and brother, following a property dispute.

According to the police, the gruesome murders took place at Rookhi village, 20 from here. The village falls under Gohana subdivision of Sonepat district.

According to reports reaching here, the accused, Leena Singh, in a fit of anger attacked his family members with an axe while they were asleep in their house. The mother, Manbhari Devi, brother Jai Bhagwan and the sister-in-law of the accused, Sarju, died on the spot. The father, Surajmal, and two sons of Jai Bhagwan were injured in the attack. The injured have been shifted to hospital.

It is learnt that the accused was not living with his family. He had been reportedly denied his share in land by his parents.

The police has registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC.

330 doctors to be recruited
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Haryana Government will recruit 330 medical officers to provide better healthcare facilities to the people, especially in the rural areas during the current financial year.

Stating this here today, Haryana Health Minister O.P. Mahajan said that at present there were 1642 sanctioned posts of medical officer in the Health Department, out of which 1360 posts had already been filled.