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April 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Running
XI, XII classes on the sly Fires
wreak havoc on Haryana farmers Farmers
face problems in mandis YC seeks sack of Chautala govt Signature campaign on tehelka
issue |
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Compensation,
not jobs, for retrenched staff Another summer of
water shortage Taps go
dry in Sonepat Give
pension from 1995: lecturers Software
worth 2,360 crore exported Faridabad
second in population growth 2 held for
murder after rape Camps for
heart, skin disorders Class VII
student kidnapped Photojournalists
beaten up Accidents
claim three lives
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Running XI, XII
classes on the sly Chandigarh, April 29 The colleges in question were required to phase out these classes from college to schools by 1994 in keeping with the New education policy announced in 1986. A communication to this effect was dispatched to all the colleges, but they continued to run these classes without the knowledge of the Education Department. The matter came to light after the department initiated steps to rationalise staff distribution in colleges and cut down wasteful expenditure. Besides closing these down completely in colleges, the managements will have a lot of explanations to do. Most
of these colleges, getting grant-in-aid from the state government and
utilising funds for salaries to teachers employed for these classes,
were found “violators’’, are draining the exchequer by over Rs 6
crore. The problem, as it exists today, is that most of these colleges have employed staff to run these classes confined to the science stream. The number of students, however, remains abysmally low, confined to two to three students in some cases where an equal number of teachers are employed to handle them. Sources in the department contend that while colleges can offer no justification for keeping the classes in college against orders, tuitions are another attraction against shutting shop as far as the plus two level is concerned. “Unlike
the CBSE board or the state Education board followed in schools of the
state, the session in colleges begins around August. While students
are admitted to the classes and hostels as early as April, the time
till August is utilised in giving tuitions by the teachers, a menace
we are already fighting against,’’ an official said. A direct consequence of the tuitions, an exercise in duplication, has been the poor attendance in classrooms and low education level in institutions, contrary to what the Education Department is striving for. “Besides,
it has led to bogus attendance in classes and contributed to the
indiscipline. We plan to check all this and much more with stringent
action against the violators,’’ the official added. The
matter was taken up at the meeting of a high-powered committee
constituted by Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala. Chaired by the
Chief Secretary, Mr L.M. Goyal, the other members included Mr S.Y.
Qureshi, PSCM, Mr A.N. Mathur, Financial Secretary, Mr R.S. Chaudhary,
Vice Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Mr P.K. Chaudhary,
Education Secretary, and Mrs Anuradha Gupta, Director, Higher
Education. |
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Fires wreak havoc on Haryana farmers Karnal, April 29 Reports gathered by this correspondent show that wheat worth crores of rupees has been destroyed by fires which have occurred because of the electric wires passing over the fields. Information received by The Tribune show that in Karnal district alone wheat in about 300 acres has been burnt because of these fires. In Jamba village (Nilokheri) block wheat was burnt because of ignition from electricity wires. In almost every district, including Jind, Guhla-Cheeka areas of Kaithal, Kurukshetra and even areas like Palwal in Gurgaon, fires have suddenly broken out causing misery and financial loss to the farmers. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has squarely blamed the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) for the fires. It has stated that electric wires passing over the fields of the farmers are loose and when two wires touch each other, ignition takes place which ultimately results in the wheat catching fire. The BKU has also blamed the HVPN for damaged transformers which are not repaired for days together. Short circuit is caused in these transformers and the electric lines catch fire. These ultimately spread in the fields where wheat is awaiting harvesting. Inquiries made by this correspondent show that very little timely help is available to the farmers to extinguish the fires. As, in a number of cases, the villages where such fires break out are located at long distances from the cities, there is no quick method available to the farmers to call for the fire tenders from the cities. Moreover, in municipal committees the strength of fire tenders is very less as compared to the area which they have to cover for controlling such fires. In a number of cases, the fire brigade reaches the spot only after the fields are totally burnt. The farmers can salvage some parts of the wheat with the joint and cooperative efforts of the villagers. Inquiries also show that the state government has not made any emergency arrangements for stationing the fire brigade at places from where it can reach the fields of the farmers immediately when fires break out in the months of April and May. Probably, none in the powers that be has given any thought to this unnatural calamity which befalls the farmers every year. It destroys not only wheat worth crores of rupees, but also renders a large number of the farmers to a state of penury. The BKU has also criticised the method of the distribution of compensation to the victims of such fires. The union has taken umbrage to the statement of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, that compensation will be given only for the total loss of wheat destroyed in the fire. The BKU argues that loss during the fire is never total as farmers try to salvage as much as possible during the mishap. The BKU leadership has also blamed the Revenue Department for not carrying out proper survey of the fields destroyed in the fires. It is alleged that compensation to the farmers mostly depended on the whims of the revenue patwaries. In a majority of the cases, the patwaries have been reported to be demanding some monetary benefit for showing the extent of loss in fires. It is rare that senior officers of the districts visit the affected farmers and make an on-the-spot study to know the extent of the damage to the wheat crop. Reports show that the payment of compensation is also delayed inordinately in a majority of the cases. The farmer in such a situation finds himself helpless. His condition can be gauged from the fact that he finds himself unable to pay the debts which he had raised for sowing the rabi crop. The debt trap almost paralyses the farmer’s ability to undertake kharif sowing as the arhtias do not easily advance more money to him. The BKU has urged the government to enforce a fool-proof method to know the extent of the loss and check the frequent fires in the fields. Insurance cover for the crops should be made compulsory as far as the wheat crop is concerned. Mr Swaran Handa, whose wheat crop was destroyed two days back near Mirzapur village, told The Tribune that he had been totally ruined and the government would not easily compensate him for the loss. Mr Fateh Singh, former Sarpanch of Mirzapur village, whose land adjoins the wheat field of Swaran Handa, also suffered colossal losses as his wheat was also destroyed in the fire. FATEHABAD:
Incidents of fire at various places in the district gutted wheat crops in almost 86 acres of land on Saturday evening. Fodder lying in about as many as 156 acres of land was also burnt in the fire. The worst incident was reported at Bhundar village under Rattia subdivision of the district. A devastating fire that broke in to the fields gutted standing wheat crop in as many as 35 acres of land belonging to a local farmer Jagdeep Singh. As the fire could not be brought under control in time, it engulfed the neighbouring fields too. About eight acres of Jagtar Singh, 8 acres of Manga Singh, 9 acres of Amar Singh, 1 acre of Teja Singh and 9 acres of Gularwala village were also affected by the fire. Fire tenders were immediately rushed from Tohana to control the fire. Looking at the ferocity of the fire, fire tenders from the neighbouring Bhuna, Rattia and Fatehabad were also called. The standing wheat crop in almost 70 acres of land was destroyed in this fire. In another incident, cattle fodder lying in about 40 acres belonging to a farmer Bhajan Singh was destroyed in fire at Digoh village in the district. The fire was so fierce that fire tenders from Fatehabad, Rattia, Bhuna and Tohana could control it with a great difficulty. Had the fire not been controlled for some more moments, about 25 to 30 houses belonging to the Dalits, near by, could also have been gutted in the fire. In a third incident of fire, fodder lying in about 35 acres belonging to Gulab Singh was gutted at Babanpur Dhani village. It is learnt that the fire broke out due to a spark from the reaper that was being used for making the fodder. |
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Farmers
face problems in mandis Bhiwani, April 29 Though the government agencies and the administration have been claiming smooth procurement, farmers do not agree with the claims. Farmers have to wait for long hours for the bids. Meanwhile, the arrival of wheat in the mandis of Dhigava, Bhiwani, Loharu, Charkhi Dadri, Jui, Badhra has broken all previous records. In a bid to provide more space the administration has opened the CCI ground for wheat arrival at Charkhi Dadri. On the other hand former Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Congress leader Ran Singh Maan has alleged that farmers were not getting the support price their produce and were being forced to sell at very low prices. Reports say that the arrival of wheat has been encouraged with the assurance of payment within 72 hours by the official agencies. The farmers are now disappointed due to the sale of their produce to agents, who were procuring wheat and mustard at Rs 500 and Rs 1000 per quintal, respectively. It may be recalled that the government had announced Rs 610 for wheat and Rs 1,200 for mustard as the minimum support price (MSP). The opposition party leaders have alleged that the farmers were not getting the fixed support price Rs 500 for barley and they were being forced to sell it for Rs 350 per quintal in the open market. Reports from Charkhi Dadri maintained that farmers were returning with their barley produce as they were not getting the MSP. SONEPAT: Farmers in the district are upset over the recent rains, burning of standing wheat crop and damage to harvested wheat lying in the fields and the indifferent attitude of the officials of the procurement agencies. A tour of the rural areas of the district revealed that the farmers had suffered a huge financial loss as a result of the hailstorm and unseasonal rains. But the state government announced inadequate relief to the affected farmers and this has caused resentment among the farmers. The farmers complain of the poor procurement arrangements by the state machinery and allied agencies, including the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Food and Supplies Department and HAFED. Whether it be Sonepat, Ganaur, Kharkhauda or Gohana, there are no sheds to store wheat. Farmers are finding it hard to get their produce sold as the procurement agencies and traders say that it has excess moisture content. Meanwhile, representatives of various farmers organisations today protested against the slow process of purchasing of wheat at the MSP. They demanded a high-level probe into the complaints and stern action against the guilty officials. PANIPAT:
In order to ensure procurement of wheat at MSP and on the spot redress of farmers’ grievances, the revenue officers have been assigned the duties at wheat purchase centres under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand. According to the DC’s orders, tehsildars and naib-tehsildars of the district have been asked to suprevise the procurement at all 12 purchase centres located in the towns and villages. Every officer has been asked to visit his allotted purchase centre to see that the wheat is being purchased at MSP. Besides, the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Panipat ad Samalkha have also been assigned the duties of supervision of wheat procurement in their respective areas. The DC will also carry out surprise inspections of the purchase centres. To overcome the problems of proper storage and lifting of wheat from the purchase centres, the district administration has acquired the sheds of Garg Rice Mills, Naultha, Vardhmaan Overseas, Vardhman Solvent and Trishla Spinning Mills of the town. The DC claimed that the wheat procurement drive was going on smoothly with minimum complaints from the farmers. He said 87,727 quintals of wheat had arrived at different purchase centres/mandis of the district and of which 87,574 quintals had been purchased by the government agencies. |
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YC seeks sack of Chautala govt Chandigarh, April 29 The five-page memorandum alleged that the government was being run by a “troika of father and two sons assisted by persons of questionable track record. The welfare of the people had been sold for personal
aggrandisement, cheap popularity and promotion of private interests of a selected few. “ The Youth Congress alleged that under the Chautala regime there was a total annihilation of the education structure and institutions. Universities had become the battleground for nourishing political henchmen rather than academic excellence. Office-bearers of the INLD had been appointed against senior positions in the universities, ignoring senior-most academicians of known integrity. Elections to the students’ unions had not been held despite pre-election promises by the Chief Minister, with a view to killing democratic dissent. The memorandum alleged that Mr Chautala had used youth power for perpetuating violence against his political opponents, for the subjugation of the landless and the poor and for rigging the elections. Instead of creating fresh employment avenues, the government had terminated the services of about 50,000 daily wage earners. About half a dozen public sector undertakings had been closed and their employees retrenched. The party alleged that persons with criminal background had been granted pardon by the state Cabinet in a most unconstitutional manner. Mr Chautala
hoodwinked the people of the state by promising them free electricity and water. The “unholy coalition of the INLD and the BJP” had increased the prices of various agricultural inputs. On the other hand the farmers had to resort to distress sale of their produce. Earlier, Mr Sandhu was installed as president at a function held outside the headquarters of the Haryana Congress. Among those who spoke were the president of the Indian Youth Congress, Mr Randeep Surjewala; former Haryana Youth Congress president, Mr Nirmal Singh; Mr Chander Mohan, MLA; Prof Chhattar Pal and Mr Tejinder Singh Maan, former ministers. A message on behalf of the Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was read out by Mr Nirmal Singh. |
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Signature campaign on tehelka
issue Ambala, April 29 Talking to mediapersons here today, he said this campaign would form the second phase of Congress action over the tehelka issue. He said although inquiry had begun against Army officers and also civilian officials, the same could be said for politicians involved in the tehelka expose. “It seems that the government is sidelining the issue. The signature campaign will cut across party lines and it will be for those who agree on the removal of Mr Vajpayee on moral grounds,” he said. “The campaign can be considered as a mini referendum against the government. We are also making the tehelka expose a major issue in the Assembly elections to be held in five states,” he said. He said tehelka issue was not just related to corruption, it also indicated that our national security was being compromised. To a query, he said if any complaints were received from the farmers regarding the procurement of wheat at less than the MSP, the Congress would start an agitation. “It is apparent that the government wants to discontinue the practice of Minimum Support Price and bring an end to farm subsidy,” he said. He said that in order to bring unity in the party, Congressmen must set aside their differences and work for the party. “In the next 15 to 20 days, we will come up with concrete proposals for unity in the state unit of the party,” he said. Among others, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, Mr
S.K. Sharma, Mr Darshan Lal Budhiraja, Mr Ashok Jain, Mr T.R. Taneja and Neelam Sharma were also present on the occasion. |
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Compensation, not jobs, for retrenched
staff Chandigarh, April 29 This decision has been taken, according to informed sources, in view of the ongoing drive to downsize various departments, corporations and boards. The government, however, avoids using the word “downsizing”. It prefers to describe its drive as “rightsizing” or “restructuring”, as a result of which a large number of employees will be rendered surplus and, consequently, are to be given the marching orders. When the government had abolished octroi before last year’s Assembly elections, it had absorbed the surplus municipal staff in other departments and public sector undertakings. However, now the government feels that the scope of “absorption of the employees of the public and cooperative sector undertakings rendered surplus by either their rightsizing or due to the closure of unviable organisations and who are facing retrenchment, in other government departments and public enterprises is very limited.” Hence, the decision to invoke the Industrial Disputes Act, as applicable to retrenchment as well as the payment of retrenchment compensation. In the case of those employees who are not covered under the Industrial Disputes Act, their retrenchment will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of their employment. The government has, however, thrown a sop to the retrenched employees, terming it as a “special concession being given on humanitarian considerations”. Stressing its role as a “welfare state”, the government has decided to give relaxation in age up to 50 years to all categories of the retrenched employees for applying for posts to be filled by various government departments and public enterprises, of course subject to their fulfilling the qualifications prescribed for the relevant posts. The sop is patently merely eyewash. The Haryana Government has imposed a complete ban on recruitment in its departments as well as its boards and corporations. The ban was imposed vide its letter no. 5/16/2000-1 B&C, issued on March 16, 2000, ostensibly to curtail the non-plan revenue expenditure. Moreover, since the departments too are being “rightsized”, there will not be any vacancy in the foreseeable future. The Haryana Government has described its drive to downsize as a “global phenomenon”. In a letter to various departments, the Chief Secretary has said that liberalisation and globalisation has led to restructuring and reform of state-owned enterprises around the world. “The economic scenario has completely changed over the past 10-12 years and the Government of India introduced reform in Central public sector undertakings in the early nineties in line with the changing world order and economic environment.” The government has justified its “unpleasant” decision by pointing out that the establishment expenditure of its departments and public enterprises had increased considerably over the years. The major component of the revenue expenditure is on the establishment which accounted for 59.2 per cent of the revenue receipts during 1999-2000. Assuring the retrenched employees that due weightage will be given to their experience, “if relevant to the post being filled”, by the recruiting agency, the guidelines say that a roster of names of the retrenched employees will be maintained by the Employment Department, which will be intimated by the recruiting department before filling any vacancy. But the recruiting department will invite applications from the others also, which virtually means no jobs for the retrenched staff, given the manner in which the recruitment is done these days, usually on political considerations. |
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Another
summer of water shortage Kalka, April 29 Residents of the town receive a low-pressure water supply for only about 25 minutes every day. There is no fixed time of water supply, which makes residents wait all day in anticipation of it. The water level in the wells of Sukhna Nadi has gone down considerably and most areas of the town receive water supply from these wells. These wells are about 50-year-old and due to the increase in the population of the town in these years, these are now unable to quench the thirst of all residents of Kalka. The situation seems to be out of control and may worsen in May and June when the heat is at its peak. Reportedly, the administration is planning to supply water through tankers in the town. The SDM said Rs 1.50 lakh might be earmarked for the purpose. The proposal has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner for approval. According to a spokesman of the Public Health Department, an underground pipeline from Housing Board Colony to Gandhi Chowk is being laid here and the work is expected to be over soon. However, the work is progressing at a slow speed. |
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Taps go dry in Sonepat Sonepat, April 29 This correspondent made a number of attempts to contact the officials of the Public Health Department as well as the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), but failed to get a satisfactory response. The officials did not inform the people about the disruption of the water supply. The district authorities too remained silent spectators in this regard. People were seen carrying pitchers on heads and fetching water from distant places to meet their requirements during the scorching heat. Residents alleged that the water supply was erratic since the onset of the current summer season. Their complaints in this regard to the officials concerned have fallen on deaf ears. The authorities of the Public Health Department blamed the officials of the UHBVN for the water crisis and alleged that they had failed to ensure regular power supply at the main waterworks at Murthal and boosting stations in the city. They alleged that the nigam authorities had not yet replaced an electricity transformer which was damaged about a month ago at the main waterworks at Murthal, in spite of repeated representations. As a result, two tubewells could not be utilised, causing water shortage in the city. |
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Give pension from 1995: lecturers Yamunanagar, April 29 Professor K.C. Thakur, president of the Haryana Retired College Teachers Association, in a press note here today stated that the government had announced the pension benefit scheme for them w.e.f. May 11, 1998. But the scheme for university teachers of the state is w.e.f. April 1, 1995 despite a parity between government aided college and university lecturers regarding pay scales, grades and nature of work. Professor Thakur stated that in 1995, the government announced the pension scheme for affiliated college employees. The Governor had confirmed the decision of the introduction of the scheme w.e.f. April 1, 1995, on the floor of assembly in March, 1995. However, the present government had backed out of the promise and introduced the pension scheme w.e.f. May, 1998, he said. The association condemned this action and pleaded the government to withdraw the order. |
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Software
worth 2,360
crore exported Yamunanagar, April 29 Mr Khandelwal said in 1997, software worth Rs 177 crore was exported by Haryana. The figure rose to Rs 1,160 crore in 1999 and reached Rs 2,360 crore in 2001. He said this stupendous increase in the export of software highlighted the level of inputs in the state. In his presidential address, Dr K.L. Johar, a former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, and general secretary of the institute, observed that in the present era, information technology played a major role. Dr Johar appreciated the Haryana Government’s decision to spend 10 per cent of GDP on education and human resource development. He urged Mr Khandelwal to help the institute in getting a licence for Microsoft certification and a tie-up with the USA- based company. Mr Khandelwal distributed prizes to students for excellence in academic, sports and cultural activities and lauded the role of young faculty members of the institute |
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Faridabad
second in
population growth Faridabad, April 29 According to official figures regarding the latest demographic structure, Faridabad recorded 48.47 per cent of population growth rate during the past decade. Panchkula has topped by touching 51.16 per cent. The total population of Faridabad has reached to 21.93 lakhs while Gurgaon, the second largest district in terms of population, has about 16.57 lakhs, according to the latest Census report. But Gurgaon has also recorded a whopping 44.64 per cent as population growth during this period. The density of population in this town is also the heaviest. About 1,020 persons live in 1 sq km here while the density of population in the state is only 477. The second heaviest density in Haryana is 763 in Panipat district. It is only 599 in Gurgaon. The least heavy density is 260 in Sirsa district. According to the DATA, the population of children between age group of 0-6 years is also is also the highest here. There are 37,4512 children in this age-group. Gurgaon has 32,9147 children. |
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2 held for murder after rape Panipat, April 29 The accused have allegedly confessed to their crime. The body is yet to be recovered from the canal. Mahendra Gera of Madloda town had come to Panipat along with his wife and three children to participate in a marriage on Friday evening. Late in the night, he asked his car driver to drop the children at his residence in Madloda. However, the driver, Pawan, and his associate Sunder left the two children at Madloda but brought the third child 12-year-old daughter of Mahendra Gera, back in the car with the plea that her mother had asked them to bring her back to Panipat. Then they took her to a jungle and raped her. The girl reportedly became unconscious and fearing disclosure of their crime, they threw her in a deep canal. After committing the crime, the two returned to Panipat. When he found his daughter missing, and was told by the two children that she was taken back by the driver, he suspected some foul play and handed over both the suspects to the police. |
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Camps for heart, skin disorders Panipat, April 29 At a camp at the local Madaan Hospital, a team of cardiologists from Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre examined more than 300 patients. As many as 521 patients were attended out of which 305 were registered for further treatment. Dr Shushma Madaan said the patients follow-up would be carried out regularly in the cardiac unit of the hospital. A camp for free treatment of skin diseases was organised by the district units of the Indian Medical Association and Rotary Club at the local Goshala in which skin specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, PGI, Rohtak and local hospitals examined 225 patients and prescribed treatment. The patients were given medicines free of cost. The Panipat unit of the Haryana Medicines Representatives Sangh also organised a camp mainly for asthma patients in which more
than 700 patients were examined. The camp was organised at the local SITI cable complex. At another camp at Sharma Clinic hepatitis-B injections were given to patients at concessional rates. |
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Class VII student kidnapped Sonepat, April 29 According to a report, Nitin who is son of Mr Ramesh, used to go to Gohana on a bicycle to his school. Vishesh, a student of Class VI, was accompanying at the time of incident. The accused have reportedly asked his parents for a ransom of Rs 1.50 lakh. A case has been registered in this regard. According to another report, some INLD workers reportedly stopped a car on the G.T. Road near Panchi Gujran village, about 23 km fom here, yesterday, roughed up the occupants and snatched the cash from them. When they resisted they were intimidated. Later, the workers forced their way into a farm house owned by a gazetted officer and misbehaved with him and his relative. When they resisted they were attacked, after which they fled. The workers including the brother of an INLD leader, were alleged to be in an inebriated state. |
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Photojournalists
beaten up Rohtak, April 29 Earlier, they beat up two press photographers who had reached the spot for coverage. The police has registered a case in this connection. According to information, Jatendra Panchal and Sanjay Panchal, photographers of “Star Vision”, a local cable TV network, reached the Jain Jati Ji dharamshala, located on the Jhajjar road here, for the press coverage of a meeting of the Jain Sabha. They were attacked by some people of a faction who did not like the proceedings of the meeting to be filmed. The photographers were punched and their clothes were torn in the scuffle. Their video camera was also damaged. The SSP ordered the registration of an FIR. |
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Accidents
claim three lives Faridabad, April 29 Suresh, son of Dhuri of Ambedkar Nagar, was found lying dead on the side of a road. A 16-year-old girl Feroz, daughter of Alisher of Khera village, was overrun by a train between Ballabgarh and Asavati stations yesterday. In the third incident, the police found the body of an unidentified person, who was reportedly crushed by a speeding vehicle near the border on the Delhi-Mathura road on Saturday. |
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