 |
Saturday,
September 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
|
Haryana may have defence varsity:
Jaswant Union Secy: invest more in
horticulture Haryana scheme for scavengers’
weal Notice to govt on bollworm
attack Scribe case: NHRC seeks police version 4 murder suspects arrested Panun Kashmir observes Balidan Divas |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Robbers’ gang busted Body found
|
|
Haryana may have defence varsity:
Jaswant Panchkula, September 14 The Defence Minister also announced that the government had taken a decision to set up a national defence university in the country. Responding to the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala’s earlier plea that a military academy or a national university be set up in Haryana, Mr Jaswant Singh said that given the number of people joining the armed forces from this region, a site in Haryana for setting up the university would certainly be considered. Stating that he had come to the rally as a soldier and not as a minister, Mr Jaswant Singh, who is the first ex-serviceman to hold the portfolio of Defence, said that it was his duty to look after the interests of service personnel as well as ex-servicemen. On the issue of one rank, one pension, he said that while the anomalies in the case of officers had more or less been sorted out, certain anomalies still remained in the case of personnel below the rank of officer, which he said would be removed at the earliest. He added that the issue relating to a minimum service of 33 years to be eligible for full pension would also be considered. Presiding over the rally, Mr Chautala announced several sops for ex-servicemen. He agreed to their demands to reduce the recently hiked excise duty on liquor as well as sales tax on cars sold through CSD canteens. The Chief Minister also agreed to the demand to hike the war jagir in Haryana from Rs 1,000 per annum to Rs 5,000 per annum as well as to increase financial assistance to non-pensioners from Rs 22 per month to Rs 400 per month. He added that he would issue orders that all Haryana Roadways buses should make scheduled halts in cantonments located in the state so that ex-servicemen faced no difficulty while travelling to work. Listing various welfare measures and schemes launched by Haryana for ex-servicemen and next of kin of martyrs, Mr Chautala said that the government has allotted 38 petrol stations and 20 gas agencies besides providing jobs to 65 next of kin. Stating that welfare measures were an important aspect for maintaining high morale, the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt-Gen Surjit Singh, said that several issues had been sorted out during the recent Civil Liaison Conference as well as Rajya Sainik Board meetings. He added that many issues needed to be resolved and the attention of the Army, the state government as well as the Central Government remained focused on them. He assured the ex-servicemen that the Army was there for rendering any assistance they required. A Member of Parliament from Haryana, Capt Inder Singh, urged the Defence Minister to accept the demands made by the ex-servicemen during the rally. Earlier, the president of the Haryana Ex-Servicemen's League, Maj-Gen Sami Ram (retd) highlighted various demands raised before the Central and state governments. These included one rank, one-pension, removal of the 33 years ceiling on service to be eligible for full pension as most of the servicemen retired much before the stipulated period, a separate wage board for the armed forces, free medical services for ex-servicemen who were unable to visit military hospitals and rationalisation of the honoraium paid to honorary Naib Subedars. The demands put forward before the state government included the removal of excise on liquor and cars sold through CSD canteens, enhanced reservation in jobs as well as in professional colleges, representation in the Haryana Public Service Commission and the Services Selection Board and grant of facilities to gallantry awardees as were being given by the Punjab Government. Highlighting various welfare measures, the secretary of the Rajya Sainik Board, Brig S.S. Nagwan (retd), said that Haryana was the only state in the country where free vocational training as well as board and lodging were being provided to widows of service personnel or their dependants. Nine Sainik Parivar Bhavans, with an annual student intake of about 400 were functioning in the state, he added. Brigadier Nagwan also stated that Rs 50 lakh had been sanctioned for a state-level war memorial at Rohtak, where the foundation stone of a Sainik Parivar Bhavan, costing about Rs 2 crore, had also been laid. |
|
Union Secy: invest more in
horticulture Gurgaon, September 14 Delivering his inaugural address during a national workshop organised by the National Horticulture Board, he said the sector could register 6 per cent growth if investment was pumped in it. Growth was possible by enhancing productivity, he said. Mr Srivastava underlined the need for an increase in the onion storage structures. The board has special schemes, including provision for subsidies, for setting up cold storages and other ventures for the growth of horticulture. The Managing Director of the Board, Mr J.P. Negi, said the board had introduced the concepts of back-ended capital investment subsidy for the first time to boost commercial horticulture. He said the board was in the second year of implementation of the new schemes and so far it had released Rs 103 crore to assist 335 cold storage units as a back-ended capital investment subsidy. A storage capacity of more than 16 lakh metric tonnes was being established. Chandigarh, September 14 Government sources said a two-pronged strategy had been drawn up for this purpose. Dry latrines will be converted into wet ones and scavengers will be provided other jobs abandoning the use of dry latrines. Sources claimed that already five towns — Siwani and Narnaud in Hisar district, Rania and Ellenabad in Sirsa district and Rania in Mahendragarh district have been declared scavenger-free. Remaining towns of the state would be free of scavengers by the end of the next financial year (March 2003), said the sources. “Earlier they carried night soil in big containers on heads now wheelbarrows are used — but social stigma of the people doing this job has remained same”, said an official. According to a 1993-94 survery, the number of scavengers and their family members dependent on them, was 36,000. Another survey put their number and dependents at 18,000 half of 1993-94 survey number. Second figure is relied upon more by the Social Welfare Department of the state. Official estimate says there are 8000 scavengers in the state eligible for government help like soft loans for rehabilitation. The government recently received 1000 applications from those eligible and more than 600 of them had been forwarded to banks for grant of loans. Many of the scavengers are shying away from making use of the scheme. Sources felt that reluctance to get the loan could be due to fear of moving away from an age-old practice. At a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary here earlier this week, attended by officers of the Social Welfare, Rural Development and Urban Development departments, it was decided that camps be set up in all towns having scavenger population to publicise the benefits of the loan. |
|
|
Notice to govt on bollworm
attack Hisar, September 14 The Civil Judge (Senior Division), Mr Sanjeev Kumar, today issued notices to the government and its various officers, including the Director (Agriculture), Assistant Plant Protection Officer and Quality Control Inspector, for September 18 in this regard. Plaintiffs Rajesh Jakhar and Baljeet Singh Kultharia alleged that cotton in the entire state had been infested with the American bollworm and was spreading fast. They fear the worm could affect other crops, too. They said the government was responsible for controlling and regulating the production and sale of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides. It was also bound to guide farmers about the proper and timely use of these inputs. They alleged that the government and its officers had failed to discharge their duty properly as a result of which a public nuisance had been created. The lawyers alleged that some vested interests were making money out of this situation by selling unapproved, irrational and ineffective remedies to farmers ranging from “spiritualised” ashes to chemicals. Affected farmers were falling prey to them. They requested the court to direct the government to take steps to eradicate bollworm and announce compensation to farmers. |
|
Scribe case: NHRC seeks police version Faridabad, September 14 The commission has sought the version of the SSP here, after a complaint was lodged with it by the father of the scribe. The complainant, Mr Niranjan Singh, a retired DSP, in his application to the commission has alleged ‘gross’ police atrocities on his son, Satish Kumar, editor of ‘Majdoor Morcha’ a daily published from here. According to the complaint, Satish Kumar had not only been booked under ‘false’ case, he had been confined behind bars under a conspiracy hatched by a senior police officer and some local government officials. He has claimed that the officials had got his son framed and arrested to teach him a lesson as the scribe had been exposing corruption and misdeeds of certain officials. The NHRC has been informed that the police arrested Satish Kumar. Mr Niranjan Singh has claimed that certain persons whose names also appeared in the FIR were spared by the police and only his son was made the target. Claiming that arrest of his son was a glaring example of violation of human rights as well as the law of land, the complainant has quoted a 1984 ruling of the Supreme Court, that no person can be arrested on the basis of doubts vide RCR-1994 (2) 601, SC. It may be recalled that the scribe was among five persons who were booked for cheating in connection with getting advertisements from the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) office here about one and a half years ago. Satish was arrested on August 18 last. |
|
4 murder suspects arrested Karnal, September 14 The police nabbed Jaibir Singh, Ramesh and Ombir of Padhwa village near Butana, and Naresh of Bhojpur (UP), a police spokesman said here today. The accused have confessed to their involvement in the murder of the deceased by strangulating. His body was dumped in a canal near Garhi Birba village of the Indri police station area.
PTI |
|
Panun Kashmir observes Balidan Divas Ambala, September 14 A peaceful demonstration was organised in front of the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Ambala cantonment by the local unit of Panun Kashmir and members of the migrant community. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs in Jammu and Kashmir, including Army and police personnel. The recent terrorist attacks in the USA were also condemned. A memorandum was submitted to the Divisional Commissioner. Those present on the occasion included Mr
N.N. Kaul, Mr A.K. Wali, Mr J.K. Khachroo, Mr D.N. Kaul, Mr D.N. Watal and Mr Ved Prakash. The organisation demanded safe and honourable return of the Kashmiri migrants, rehabilitation of the displaced migrants, saving of innocent lives, release of house rent and other allowances and arrears to employees, deserving pensioners and those who had been displaced and also for non-camp dwellers. The other demands include free education, placement and reservation in government jobs, reasonable compensation for damaged property and restoration of peace and normalcy in the valley. |
|
Robbers’ gang busted Ambala, September 14 Mr Khirwar said that CIA Inspector Nripjit Singh on the basis of suspicion had nabbed Pradeep from whose possession two illegal arms and two cartridges were recovered. During questioning, Pradeep said that he had got the arms from UP. He had admitted to commiting a robbery in Raja Park and Ekta Vihar, a release said. He said that the CIA staff had busted a gang which allegedly used to steal vehicles. The gang had lifted a Tata Sumo, a Maruti car and a Maruti van recently. |
|
Body found Pinjore, September 14 Sajan Singh of the village who was going towards his fields in the morning, saw the body lying on the road. He informed the Pinjore police immediately. The police took the charge of the body and inquired about it from the nearby villagers but nobody could identify it. The body was brought to the Civil Hospital, Kalka, for the post-mortem and after the post-mortem the body was handed over to the Municipal Committee, Kalka for cremation. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 304-A, IPC. It is suspected that the man died due to some accident. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
