The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, November 16, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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H A R Y A N A

Curb crime on highways: CM
CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today sought the cooperation of the police forces of neighbouring states to curb crime on highways.

Indicted IFS officer promoted
ROHTAK, Nov 15 — Strange are the ways of functioning of the Haryana Government. An officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), indicted by the state vigilance bureau for misappropriation of government funds worth several lakhs of rupees has been rewarded with a promotion.

Haryana to strengthen, reconstruct roads
CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — The Haryana Government will spend over Rs 368 crore to strengthen, widen and reconstruct roads, besides the construction of drains in the state in a phased manner.

Staff to restart stir from today
CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Haryana Government employees belonging to general categories and backward classes based here and in Panchkula, who withdrew their pen-down strike in protest against, what they called, the non-implementation of the Supreme Court judgement in the Ajit Singh Janjua case, on November 9, are now again flexing their muscles.

Gurgaon will be cyber capital: Chautala
AMBALA, Nov 15 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today visited Ambala cantonment under the sarkar apke dwar programme. Mr Chautala accepted most of the demands put across by the Ambala cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, at the function held at War Heroes Memorial Stadium.

Haryana teachers to join stir
HISAR, Nov 15 — Government College teachers in Haryana will join members of the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation in gheraoing Parliament on December 12 to press their demand for implementation of new pay scales with effect from January 1, 1996.

Historical doorframe shifted to museum
PANIPAT, Nov 15 — A carved wooden doorframe which was a witness to the Third Battle of Panipat, about 239 years ago, constructed from the wood of ‘Kala Amb’ (black mango tree), has recently been shifted from Karnal to Panipat to be preserved at the museum in Binjhol.

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EARLIER STORIES

	‘Support hinges on public interest’ November 15, 2000
	Mazdoor union threatens stir November 14, 2000
	Gurgaon cyber capital of Haryana November 13, 2000
	Octroi not to be reimposed November 12, 2000
	Civic official named in scandal November 11, 2000
	Bhadana, Rathore must quit: CPM November 10, 2000
	KU panel recommends 5 monthly tests November 9, 2000
	Aviation instructor indicted for fraud November 8, 2000
	CM promises steps to combat drought situation November 7, 2000
	Alarming drop in watertable November 6, 2000
	Advani assures scribes on wage board November 5, 2000
	Haryana police transfers November 4, 2000

Curb crime on highways: CM
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today sought the cooperation of the police forces of neighbouring states to curb crime on highways. The Chief Minister said this while inaugurating the first conference of the DGPs of the North Zone at Pinjore, near here today.

The participants included Mr S.P.S. Rathore, DGP of Haryana, Mr Sarabjit Singh, DGP, Punjab, Mr A.K. Puri, DGP of Himachal Pradesh, Mr B.L. Pandit, ADGP, Himachal Pradesh, Mr R.V. Raju, IGP, Jammu and Kashmir, Mr R.S. Dhillon, DIG(CID), Rajasthan, Mr Qamar Ahmed, ACP, Delhi, and Mr Ajay Kashyap, DIG of Chandigarh. The Chief Minister asked the police officers never to succumb to political pressure. While lauding the performance of the Haryana police during the period when terrorists were active in Punjab, Mr Chautala said there was steep rise in the number of crimes in the state during the period of prohibition.

He claimed that the situation in the state was now well under control. Mr Chautala also launched a website of the Haryana police at the conference. The website, which can be accessed at http://haryanapolice.nic.in, contains information about missing persons, wanted criminals and unclaimed bodies as well as the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of police officers.

The website also has a helpline facility for lodging complaints. While speaking at the conference, Mr Rathore stressed the need for forming a task force of the neighbouring states to check crimes on the highways. He said a separate traffic wing of the police had been set up in Haryana for providing rescue and medical facilities on roads. The traffic wing would set up police booths at every 30 km on the highways for providing these facilities, he said. Mr Rathore also suggested that roadways vehicles plying at night should be fitted with wireless sets and they should move in a convoy with police security. Mr R.S. Dalal, IGP, Gurgaon Range, made a presentation, "Highway robberies in India" at the inaugural session of the conference.

He said highway crimes were not new in India but the modus operandi had changed over the years. He said that while the number of highway robberies had gone up to 8,407 in 1953 to 23,565 in 1998 in the country, the disposal of cases of robbery by courts was only 11.7 per cent in 1998. The low percentage of disposal was a matter of concern, he said. Mr Dalal suggested a number of hi-tech methods for preventing highway robberies, including the installation of video cameras at strategic points, the use of the global positioning system for tracing stolen vehicles and the use of the data logger to trace the movement of such vehicles.

Intensified police patrolling and networking between jails and police stations would go a long way in reducing the number of highway crimes, he said. The Governor of Haryana, Babu Parmanand, who gave the keynote address at the second session of the conference, laid stress on cooperation among the police forces of the northern states for checking highway crimes in the region. He said police personnel should be given more sophisticated weapons to counter criminals who were armed with the latest weapons. The Governor said police rules and regulations and jail manuals made under British rule must be changed to meet the present requirements.

Indicted IFS officer promoted
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Nov 15 — Strange are the ways of functioning of the Haryana Government. An officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS), indicted by the state vigilance bureau for misappropriation of government funds worth several lakhs of rupees has been rewarded with a promotion.

This happened in February 1999 when the state was facing political instability during the Bansi Lal regime. The vigilance bureau had on June 18, 1997, informed the government that the officer had misappropriated Rs 14.94 lakh when he was posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) at Narnaul in 1994-95. The bureau had told the government that the officer should be charge-sheeted under Rule 7 of the Punjab Civil Services Punishment and Disciplinary Rules, 1988. Action under Rule 7 is considered to be a major punishment.

However, instead of charge-sheeting the officer, he was promoted as Conservator. The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) was reportedly kept in the dark about the recommendation of the vigilance bureau.

The Chief Conservator of Forests, Panchkula, vide an official letter dated June 1,2000, said nearly 16 months after the promotion of the IFS officer, the Commissioner and Secretary, Forest Department, informed that “because of hurry” the report of the bureau could not be brought to the notice of the promotion committee. The Chief Conservator had also urged the government to initiate action against the officer.

The IFS officer, it is learnt, was sent on deputation to the Centre and was posted as Chief Regional Executive, Tea Board, Coonoor in Tamil Nadu under the Ministry of Commerce. He was, however, repatriated to his parent state after allegations and complaints against him.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, vide a memorandum dated April 4, 2000, issued to the IFS officer had asked him to submit his comments on the allegations levelled against him.

The allegations include irregularities and delays in disbursement of loans and subsidies to small and medium growers, incurring infructuous expenditure in carrying out small changes in his residential complex by diverting funds, felling of several trees within the Chief Regional Executive’s office complex without any sanction from the head office and remaining frequently away from the headquarters without informing the head office.

A senior functionary of the Forest Department had on January 28 complained to the Chief Conservator of Forests about the irregularities committed by the officer. He had charged the said officer with asking for huge amounts under the Aravali Project programmes after their closure on October 31, 1999. He urged the Chief Conservator to order another inquiry against the officer.

	Haryana to strengthen, reconstruct roads Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — The Haryana Government will spend over Rs 368 crore to strengthen, widen and reconstruct roads, besides the construction of drains in the state in a phased manner. This decision was taken by the state Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, when it approved the proposal of the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) to stand guarantee in order to obtain Rs 144.08 crore as loan for the first phase of the project from the Housing Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Under the second phase, Rs 150.53 crore would be spent again after taking a loan from HUDCO. The remaining Rs 73.67 crore would be borne by the state government. Under the project, 1065 km length of road would be strengthened and reconstructed, 7,640 km length would get a premix carpet and 330km length of road would be widened. Apart from this, 149 km length of road would be raised and 171 km length of concrete pavement laid. The Haryana State Roads and Bridges Corporation, which would undertake the project, would also undertake 188 drainage works besides constructing 6.50 km-long drains. The Cabinet also decided to raise the authorised share capital and borrowing limit of the corporation from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore to enable it to obtain loans to the extent of Rs 400 crore. It also approved the proposal of the Environment Department to create a new stone crushing zone in Faridabad district. The Haryana Urban Development Authority has been designated as the developing agency for the new zone. A committee, constituted in September last to identify the area found Dhoj village to be the most suitable site because about 750 acres of panchayat land was available there and the underground water level was 25 ft to 60 ft. HUDA would develop about 120 acres in one chunk to accommodate about 75 stone crushing units. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to be made to the Haryana Cattle Fairs Act, 1970, to be known as the Haryana Cattle Fairs (Amendment) Act, 2000. According to this amendment, 20 per cent of the cattle fair fund would be allocated in equal proportion to all zila parishads in the state for the development of animal husbandry. It also decided to transfer a piece of land near Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Subhash Colony, Karnal, to the Haryana Welfare Society for Hearing and Speech Handicapped at a nominal price of Rs 100 for the construction of a welfare centre. The Cabinet reduced the rate of tax on the inter-state sale of telephone cables to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to 4 per cent, subject to the production of a declaration from these organisations. Before the Telecom Department became a corporation, it, being a government department, paid 4 per cent tax. By the new decision the old position has been continued. An official spokesman said that there were five telecom cable manufacturers in Haryana. This decision would enable these units to offer competitive rates at the national level and would strengthen their position vis-a-vis other manufacturers outside Haryana. Sales tax on the inter-state sale of shoddy woollen yarn payable by any dealer having his place of business in Haryana to any dealer outside the state has also been fixed at 4 per cent of his turnover or any part thereof which relates to such sale without requiring the production of form “C”. The decision was taken at the request of the Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which had represented that 80 per cent of the shoddy yard spun in Panipat was being sold to blanket manufacturers of Amritsar. Since blankets made of shoddy yarn are tax free, the manufacturers of these in Punjab are unregistered dealers who cannot furnish form “C” for inter-state purchases. As such, they had to pay 10 per cent tax, adversely affecting their trade. The Cabinet also decided to regularise dwelling units constructed on encroached panchayat land before March 31, 1998, subject to certain conditions. It also approved the proposal of the Development and Panchayats Department to constitute village development committees, known as Gram Vikas Samitis, to ensure the effective participation of the members of the Gram Sabhas in the execution of development work. Another proposal to appoint a gram vikas sahayak in each village was also approved. Each sahayak would receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500. The Cabinet also approved the annual administrative reports of the Prohibition, Excise and Taxation Department for three financial years starting from 1996-97.
	Gurgaon will be cyber capital: Chautala Tribune News Service AMBALA, Nov 15 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today visited Ambala cantonment under the sarkar apke dwar programme. Mr Chautala accepted most of the demands put across by the Ambala cantonment MLA, Mr Anil Vij, at the function held at War Heroes Memorial Stadium. Mr Vij, in his address, demanded 22 issues concerning the Ambala cantonment area. The major issues included the completion of Netaji Subhash Park, a diversion drain to ensure that there was no flooding, extra building at Government College, new anaj mandi at Ghasitpur village, early completion of water works for Ambala cantonment, extra rooms at government schools, to start work at Saha growth centre, road repair and maintenance, lighting on the GT road, improvement in conditions at Civil Hospital, the construction of a dharamshala and the setting up of a sewerage system. Mr Chautala said in democracy, people came first. “We are bringing about positive changes and the sarkar apke dwar programme is a step in that direction. We are keen to decentralise power,” he said. He said with the increase in population, water works was being stressed upon. “We are going to bring water for every individual even if we have to set up booster pumps and high water tanks. In a similar manner, I have directed that old poles should be replaced with cemented ones,” he said. Mr Chautala said the state government was systematically removing unauthorised encroachment. “We are also beautifying the cities,” he said. Referring to the Netaji Subhash Park at Ambala cantonment, Mr Chautala announced that he would be unveiling the statue of Netaji on his birth anniversary in the park. On Anaj Mandi, he said that the formalities are being completed. The demand for making Ambala cantonment a subdivision would be considered only after the census, he said. Later talking to newspersons, Mr Chautala said order for 700 new buses have already been placed. “We today got the cabinet approval for giving of residential plot to Malleshwari,” he said. “The foreign tour was fruitful and big foreign companies have shown keen interest. We are laying emphasis on information technology,” he said. We are going to make Gurgaon, the cyber capital of the country. “This will create employment opportunities,” Mr Chautala said. The Citizens Council submitted a memorandum to Mr Chautala, through Mr Vij. Dr N. C. Jain, chairman of Citizens’ council, has demanded for four-laning of the Jagadhari road. “There is a necessity for a canal- based water supply, hence the scheme which has been under process may kindly be expedited. Also, sales and purchase of property in Ambala Sadar area is a big problem to get NOC from Executive Officer Municipal Council, the Ambala Sadar or DC, who is the Estate Officer. The local electricity authorities are not cooperating to the industry and trade, hence they should be directed to cooperate to provide electricity to the industry,” the memorandum stated.
	Staff to restart stir from today Tribune News Service CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Haryana Government employees belonging to general categories and backward classes based here and in Panchkula, who withdrew their pen-down strike in protest against, what they called, the non-implementation of the Supreme Court judgement in the Ajit Singh Janjua case, on November 9, are now again flexing their muscles. An emergency meeting of the Haryana General Category and Backward Classes Employees Welfare Organisation was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Desh Raj Lamba. A spokesman of the organisation said that representatives of almost all directorates, the Haryana Civil Secretariat and the office of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, attended the meeting. The spokesman said taking serious note of the "appeasement policy" of the state government towards the Scheduled Castes employees, the meeting unanimously resolved to revoke the suspension of the agitation and restart it with effect from tomorrow. He said it was decided that to start with a prominent leader of the employees would observe an indefinite fast, which would begin at rally of the employees to be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow outside 30-Bays building in Sector 17 here. He said the next line of action would be announced at the rally with a view to mounting pressure on the government to implement the orders of the apex court in letter and in spirit. The spokesman said a landmark judgement was given by the Supreme Court in the Ajit Singh Janjua case in 1996. A Constitution Bench further clarified the judgement in the Ajit Singh-II case. The apex court held that accelerated promotions did not snatch the right of seniority of the general category or backward class employees. On the basis of the judgement the government revised the seniority list of various departments and reverted certain Scheduled Castes employees. However, the reversion orders were temporarily stayed till the return of the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary from abroad, which led to a 24-day pen-down strike by the general and backward class categories of employees. He said after a categorical assurance from the government that the stayed orders would be implemented immediately after November 13, when a case related to the issue was to come up before the apex court, the agitation was suspended. Unfortunately, he said, after the suspension of the agitation, the government backtracked from its assurance. He also regretted the fact that though three days had passed since the apex court dismissed the contempt petition against a former Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Varma, and certain other officers on November 13, the government had not implemented the stayed orders.
	Haryana teachers to join stir From Our Correspondent HISAR, Nov 15 — Government College teachers in Haryana will join members of the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation in gheraoing Parliament on December 12 to press their demand for implementation of new pay scales with effect from January 1, 1996. The association said that more than 2 lakh teachers from all over the country would participate in the gherao. It added that the teachers would also stage a dharna under the banner of AIFUCTO in front of Parliament on the same day. The government had revised the pay scales of all employees of the country from January 1, 1996, but the teachers had been given the scales from July 27, 1998. It said there was great resentment among the teachers against the Human Resource Development Ministry in this regard.
	Historical doorframe shifted to museum From Our Correspondent PANIPAT, Nov 15 — A carved wooden doorframe which was a witness to the Third Battle of Panipat, about 239 years ago, constructed from the wood of ‘Kala Amb’ (black mango tree), has recently been shifted from Karnal to Panipat to be preserved at the museum in Binjhol. A team from the Department of Archaeology, Haryana, led by its Deputy Director took possession of the ‘Chaukhat’ at the Gandhi Memorial Hall. It will be treated with chemicals to be preserved for at least 500 years. The ‘chaukhat’ has been made from a mango tree which witnessed the battle between the forces of Ahmad Shah Abdaliand the Marathas. The battle was fought at a place named “Kala Amb”, near Ugrakheri village in 1761. The place was named after the mango tree. It is a tourist centre now and the Haryana Government is constructing a museum here in the memory of the Marathas. More than 20,000 Marathas were killed near this spot and it is said that the tree turned black when their blood ran into its roots. Later, a local pandit, Shugan Chand, got two frames carved out from the wood of this tree and presented these to Queen Victoria. She in turn gifted one of the frames to the King of France, Louis XIV. The second doorframe was used in the Victoria Hall here which was renamed as Gandhi Memorial Hall after independence.

Move to activate gram sabhas
From Bijendra Ahlawat

FARIDABAD, Nov 15 — With a view to involve the Panchayati Raj institutions, the district administration has launched a comprehensive programme to activate gram sabhas and gram vikas samitis.

According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, the meetings of the newly set up gram sabhas would be held between November 15 and December 15. He said Gram Vikas Samitis would be created in all villages.

The vikas samitis would not only supervise the development works in the village, but would also coordinate with gram sabhas and the district administration. The Samitis would be headed by sarpanches and would include a woman panch, besides some local residents. A nodal assistant would also be appointed to liaise with the administration and the panchayat.

The district administration had also deputed 54 officials who would hold meetings of the gram sabhas during the stipulated period.

There were about 336 gram panchayats in this district. The authorities had deputed 13 officials for 98 panchayats in Palwal subdivision, eight officials for 43 panchayats in Faridabad, 10 for 63 panchayats in Ballabhgarh block, 10 in Hathin (66 panchayats), seven in Hassanpur and six in Hodal to supervise the meetings and the process of the formation of gram vikas samitis.

A meeting was held at Bhachat Bhavan here on Monday in which the Additional Deputy Commissioner gave necessary direction to officials in this regard. It is learnt that reports of various development schemes would be discussed during the meetings.

The process of setting up village vikas samitis started on Wednesday, with gram sabha meetings in all 232 villages of this district. The process will be completed by December 15.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik, said all villagers who had completed 18 years of age could participate in these meetings.

Ambala girl gets Geeta Chopra award
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Nov 15 — The prestigious Geeta Chopra national award for bravery this year has gone to a courageous girl from Ambala, Henna Bakshi.

Henna, daughter of Lt Col Pradeep Bakshi, serving in 14 (I) Armoured Brigade, displayed rare courage and presence of mind which led to the nabbing of burglars active in the Ambala Cantonment area.

Lt Col Bakshi, who hails from Pundri village in Kaithal district, said that he learnt about his daughter getting the prestigious Geeta Chopra award from The Tribune. “I read about the bravery award in The Tribune. We are yet to receive any formal communique in this regard,” he said.

A proud papa, Lt Col Bakshi said that it was a great honour. “Henna, who was then just 10-year-old, had shown extraordinary courage. As a parent, it is great joy for us and our blessings are always with her,” he said. “She has shown traits which are uncommon for her age and made our fauji family proud,” he added.

Henna, a student of Convent of Jesus and Mary, had exhibited bravery which led to the nabbing of burglars who had entered her house in Ambala Cantonment. Ultimately, a gang of thieves was busted.

Well past midnight at 2 a.m. on August 3, 1999, three intruders tried to enter her house. One of them entered through the window of the drawing room with the intention of committing a theft and then sneaked into Henna’s bedroom.

Henna woke up as the intruder closed her bedroom door and noticed him in the darkness. She composed herself and using her presence of mind, pretended to be fast asleep. Unable to get any valuables, the burglar went to the adjacent bedroom where her parents were sleeping.

The little girl quickly followed the burglar. She then stood firmly in the bedroom door and shouted for help, in the process waking up her father who nabbed the fleeing thief. Later, the burglar’s two accomplices were also caught.

On interrogation, it was revealed that the burglar was a member of a larger group operating in the Cantonment area. The gang had burgled the same house a few days earlier and had stolen a brief case containing documents. It was subsequently recovered. Following the gang’s arrest, a number of thefts and burglaries committed by this gang have come to light.

Talking to The Tribune, Henna, said that she was happy to receive the Geeta Chopra award. “I am feeling on top of the world. Papa told me about the significance of the Geeta Chopra award for bravery,” she said. “I have informed friends and relatives who are also elated,” she added.

Henna said that the sequence of events of that night was still clearly etched in her memory. “I did not feel any fear during the whole episode. As a matter of fact, I wanted to hit the burglar with something but at that moment, I did not find any suitable thing. So, I decided to follow the robber and woke up my parents. Papa pounced upon the robber and caught him,” she said.

“I am aware that I will now get to sit on the elephant during the Republic Day parade and I am looking forward to it,” she said.

	Amba complex may face rough weather From Rahul Das Tribune News Service Ambala, Nov 15 — The Amba Commercial Complex, to be built near Capital Chowk, Ambala cantonment, may run into rough weather following concerns raised by the Telephone Department regarding crucial cables running below the ground where the complex is going to built up. After learning about the project being undertaken by the Cantonment Board, the department has written a letter to the Executive Officer of the board pointing out the importance of the cables passing below the site. A senior telecom official said it had come to their notice that a shopping complex is to be constructed by the board between Capital Chowk and Arya Girls College. “In this area a large number of very important telecom cables and U/G cable duct system is working. These telecom cables are feeding the whole area of Ambala cantonment. Also optical fibre cables feeding Yamunanagar, Naraingarh, Barara and their linked exchanges are also passing through this area. On the whole, most of the telecom cables main route feeding Ambala and Yamunanagar districts are passing through this area,” the official said. He emphasised that there should be no damage to the cables while digging in this area. “We are keen that a joint survey of the area should be undertaken so that a way can be worked out in such a manner to fulfil the objectives of both the agencies,” he said. The cantonment Executive Officer, Mr S.S. Chahal, said that they were aware of the matter. “I must point out that we too are keen that this issue should be jointly resolved. Regarding this, we have been in touch with the DoT for the past couple of years,” he said. Mr Chahal said the board had written long ago to the DoT requesting that the cable network should be shifted out from the present site. “We are already in touch and the telecom officials are apprised of the matter. Incidentally, the complex project was initiated in 1979 and since then these matters are being taken up with the officials concerned,” he said. He said that the board was keen that the project should come up in such a manner so as not to hinder the working of the DoT. “We are going to jointly work out the things,” he said. The foundation stone of the complex was laid by the then GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lieut-Gen Vijay Oberoi. The complex will comprise 51 showrooms, offices, shops, 20 booths and 10 display cubicles. The project, which is going to be a revenue earner for the board, is going to be built at a cost of Rs 240 lakh.
	Rail men to oppose privatisation move Tribune News Service AMBALA, Nov 15 — The annual general meeting of the Northern Railway Men’s Union, being held here for the first time after the formation of the Ambala division, began today. The identification of losses and the ways to bring about improvements in the Railways, the future of railway employees, fragmentation in trade unions and demand for filling of vacant posts would be some of the major issues to be discussed at the meeting being held at the Ambala cantonment railway station. Talking to newspersons, general secretary of the All-India Railway Men’s Federation, Mr J P Choubey, said they were going to oppose any move to privatise the Indian Railways. “Today, the Railways all over the world are under attack and somewhere they were being privatised and sold to multi-national companies and in some countries, restructuring has been done under the government,” he said. Mr Choubey said, “The question to be asked is what is wrong with the particular railway system and what are its needs.” “The ILO report warns against privatisation which is not approached as an option but as a jump on a fashionable bandwagon without a thorough assessment of its financial, economic and social implications,” he said. He said the potential negative side-effects of privatisation, such as corruption, lobbying, mismanagement or bankruptcies, are still not known. “Privatised railways encounter greater difficulties in obtaining bank loans for the long term investment needs than the public Railways,” he said. He observed that the core problem of the railway restructuring, including privatisation, was what economists euphemistically called labour adjustment. Railwaymen would continue to lose their jobs by thousands. Over the past decade, the larger cuts had been in the USA, Japan, the UK, Australia and Brazil. The same is happening in Central and Eastern Europe. Mr Choubey said the capital supports from the general exchequer were also reduced from 75 per cent in the Fifth Plan to 18 per cent in the Seventh Plan. This showed that the Indian Railways was made to starve of funds and driven to a large market borrowing to a staggering amount of Rs 2520 crore. Mainly because of under investment over a long period of time, the share of the Railways in freight movement had also dropped from 89 per cent in 1950-51 to about 40 per cent now. “Despite this, the Indian Railways is the only railway system in the world generating profit after paying divident and contributing to depreciation and other reserve funds and meeting social obligation at a loss of Rs 1800 crores per annum. Due to paucity of funds, the track and rolling stock needing replacement could not be replaced. The various recommendations of the accident inquiry committees to ensure the safe running of trains were also not implemented because of paucity of funds.” President of the AIRF, Mr Umrao Mal Purohit, said an attempt was being made to privatise engine and coach manufacturing. “Today, the cheapest locomotives are made here and an effort is being made to truncate the Indian Railways towards only the operational part. We are going to oppose any move to privatise the Railways,” he said. The union leaders observed that the Indian Railways achieved a record in carrying goods traffic during the year 1999-2000, more than 456 million tonnes against the budgeted target of 450 million tonnes. The passenger earning also increased during the period by 12 per cent. The total earning thus increased from Rs 5299.44 crore to Rs 5569.42 crore during the year. This had been the position inspite of there being no increase in the passenger fare and freight consequent upon the hike in diesel prices increasing in working expenses by Rs 475 crore on this account alone which was met by the increase in earnings. In addition to the social burden which the Indian Railways was shouldering, projects worth more than Rs 55,000 crore had been sanctioned with majority of them having negative rate of return.
	‘Honest tax payer free from worries’ Tribune News Service AMBALA, Nov 15 — “An honest tax payer spends little on his medical bill, does not suffer from insomnia, is free from day to day worries and of course commands a honourable status in the society”, the highest income tax payee of Ambala range, Mr G D Chhibber said. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mr G.D. Chhibber, Chairman cum Managing Director, of Mcneil and Argus Pharmaceuticals Ltd, who was recently awarded samman patra for being the highest income tax payee in a particular category, observed that a person possessing black money has everything to fear. “A person having black money is mentally tortured at every level and his money is wasted at every point. His weakness for black money is normally blackmailed by his employees or the departments concerned and he is a source of disrespect and ridicule,” Mr Chhibber said. He opined that at 30 per cent tax rate, we should pay full tax and contribute to the fast progress and development of our country. “The ‘samman patra’ award ceremonies throughout the country shows that the government has changed its attitude towards the honest tax payers. Earlier, it was assumed that a small error in financial transactions can cause great harassment and inconvenience to the tax payer but now it is not so. We should reciprocate the good intentions and friendly attitude of the finance ministry,” he said. Mr G.D. Chhibber criticised the menace of tax evasion by a large number of people who should pay taxes. “It is painful that people try to invent new ideas to avoid taxes. The large amount of ill-gotten black money adversely effects the much needed developmental work in the country.” Mr Chhibber said and added that the government provides security, education, road, electricity, water and numerous other things apart from providing benefit of good governance. The highest income tax payee said he began working in a pharmaceutical company and had got taxable salary since 1977. “Since then, I have been diligently paying income tax. In 1979, I started my own unit. I didn’t realise that one day I will be honoured for being the highest income tax payee in the range,” he said. “When starting a unit, it is presumed that one must show losses in the beginning. However, I did not do any such thing. Instead, as I had got profits, I showed it clearly and I paid income tax. Interestingly, some financial consultants had advised me against it but I did what I strongly believed in,” he said. Mr Chhibber said “In my opinion, paying income tax is discharging of our social responsibility. As a matter of fact, it has now become my favourite habit to encourage people to pay income tax,” he said.
	Purists decry mixing of dance forms From Our Correspondent SIRSA, Nov 15 — Kurukshetra University’s youth festival (Hisar zone), scheduled to start on November 17 here, and the recent announcement of the Haryana Chief Minister to set up a cultural academy in the state has given rise to a discussion on the promotion and preservation of the cultural tradition of the state. Cultural analysts and artists have appreciated the Chief Minister’s initiative in this regard but have expressed reservation about the manner in which Haryana’s culture is being promoted. According to them, Haryanvi items presented at youth festivals show the mongrelisation taking place in the name of cultural preservation. Mrs Ellawadi, dedicated to dance forms in Haryana for over two decades, said Haryanvi culture was getting eroded. Talking about Haryanvi dance, she said though the original steps were changed to suit the “Rang Dharma”, the recent changes in the folk dance were due to the influence of cinema. She said cultures of all regions must be respected but the purity of a dance form must be maintained. Mongrelised dances were not only being presented but were also being awarded prizes, she lamented. Ms Samriti, a senior secondary school dance teacher, objected to the changes that were taking place in traditional Haryanvi costumes. Ms Sunita Sharma, a music teacher, and Mrs Ranjana, a lectur in music at the local Girls’ College, suggested that mixing of dance forms of two different cultures at youth festivals must be treated as a disqualification. They also objected to the inclusion of females in Haryanvi orchestras.