TOP STORIES

SCHOOL CHALO ABHIYAN
Drive to enrol and retain children in MCD schools
New Delhi, May 11
That the education in government-run schools in the National Capital is in a shambles is substantiated by the study conducted by Social Jurists, a body of lawyers which takes up public interest issues.

GURGAON’S DEGRADATION
Where is the much-touted Singapore-like city?
Gurgaon, May 11
The representatives of various Residents Welfare Associations (RWA)today expressed concern over the haphazard growth of the city and lamented that the situation was far removed from the promised “paradise” and a “Singapore-like city” made by the Haryana Urban Development Authority(HUDA) and other builders. The feeling was articulated at a meeting of the RWAs held here today.

Governance at its best? Only 3 complaints in redressal committee chaired by CM
Faridabad, May 11
A kind of record was created in the monthly meeting of the District Grievances and Redressal Committee held here today when only three complaints were put up for redressal. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Hair specialist Jawed Habib conveying his best wishes to Ms Nikita Anand on the eve of her departure for the international Miss Universe contest.  — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Critical disclosures not made to blood donor suffering from AIDS
Faridabad, May 11
A donor, whose blood was found to be HIV positive at a donation camp organised by the district authorities here, was not informed that he was suffering from the deadly disease. The infected blood was simply destroyed.

ON CAMPUS
JNU course could be stepping stone to UN
New Delhi, May 11
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has evolved a programme in Global Studies, in collaboration with two foreign universities, to help students who are looking for a career in international organisations like the United Nations.

DAY OF MISHAPS
Five kids charred as Sumo 
catches fire
Ghaziabad (Modinagar) May 11
Five children sitting in a Sumo were badly charred in Modinagar when the vehicle suddenly caught fire while it was parked near the bus stand. They were all referred to a local nursing home. The condition of two of the kids was serious and they have been referred to Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital.

COMMUNITY

Villagers rue tardy road repair work
Sonepat, May 11
Like the previous meeting, the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievances Committee yesterday was dominated by large-scale complaints lodged by the people from more than two dozen villages about the use of substandard material and tardiness in metalling, widening and repair of the Sonepat-Purkhas road.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON SONEPAT
Restaurants face closure as people stay away
Sonepat, May 11
The ongoing period of recession has brought activities in real estate and commercial dealings to a grinding halt. Hotels and restaurants are also struggling for survival in the town. According to reports, a number of owners of hotels and restaurants have already started winding up their business for want of customers.

Toll tax collection tender cancelled due to non-payment of dues
Sonepat, May 11
The Haryana Government has cancelled the tender of M/s Wazir Singh and Sons company for the recovery of toll tax along the Yamuna river on the Haryana-Uttar Pradesh border, near Garh Meerakhpur village in Sonepat district.

Cong activists hit campaigning trail 
Rohtak, May 11
A team of Congress activists of the district left for Fatehabad for campaigning, as part of the decision taken at a meeting held here under the presidentship of Mr Subhash Batra, a former minister today.

CJ lays stone of dist court in Dwarka
New Delhi: The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Mr Justice B. C. Patel, on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the district court in Dwarka. The Department of Public Works will construct the eight-storeyed district court in 24 months at an estimated cost of Rs 86 crore.

MCD pays tributes to Asaf Ali
New Delhi, May 11
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today paid tributes to freedom fighter Asaf Ali on the occasion of his 114th birth anniversary. The Mayor of Delhi, Mr Ashok Kumar Jain, garlanded his statue at Asaf Ali Road near Delhi Gate.

NAD protests against MTNL call charges’ hike

New Delhi: Protesting against the hike in call charges, members of the National Akali Dal staged a demonstration here today. The protesters led by the president of NAD, Mr Paramjit Singh Pamma, set fire to telephone instruments near Janta Mantar here, demanding that the change in tariffs be immediately reverted. Activists of the National Akali Dal protesting against the MTNL tariff hike at Jantar Mantar in the Capital on Sunday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

NCR BRIEFS
DC for sample testing to  ensure safe  drinking water 
Rohtak, May 11
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, has directed the officials of the Health Department to take samples of water from wells, handpumps, ice factories and private water supply companies operative in different villages so as to ensure supply of safe drinking water.

CRIME

Computer thieves’ gang busted
Jhajjar, May 11
The district police have busted an inter-district gang of thieves who stole computers and computer parts worth about Rs 9 lakh from many schools, colleges and polytechnic institutes in Jhajjar and some other districts.

Inter-state gang of highway robbers busted, 4 held 
Sonepat, May 11
With the arrest of four dreaded criminals, including two from the list of most wanted criminals, the district police have claimed to have busted an inter-state gang of highway robbers operating in parts of Haryana and neighbouring states for the past few years.

Criminals killed in police encounter
Gulawathi (Bulandshahr), May 11
The Bulandshahr police claimed to have killed Deepak Jani, a prominent member of the Vijendra gang, along with a fellow gangster on Saturday. Deepak Jani was among the top criminals of the area and carried a reward of Rs 5,000 on his head, the police said. One Chinese pistol, a country-made revolver and a motorcycle was recovered from the two criminals.

Domestic help arrested  for stealing cash, jewellery 
New Delhi, May 11
A domestic help, identified as Daleep (19), was arrested for stealing Rs 1.5 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 4.5 lakh from the house of Mrs Sudha in Karol Bagh. He was arrested while trying to escape when the police arrived at the house to verify his statements.

BUSINESS

SHOWCASE
Health conscious can quench their thirst without worry
The consumer product division of Zydus Cadila has launched sugar free–D’Lite, a new age drink for health conscious adults, offering 85 per cent lesser calories than the other sugar based soft drinks. It is available in three flavours.

EDUCATION

SCHOOL BUZZ
Vacation time for kids after a swirl of activities

Learner’s Castle Preparatory School, Hudson Line, celebrated Helpers’ Day in the school. The students came dressed as doctors, fire-fighters, policemen and vegetable sellers. Introducing themselves, they then gave an account of their roles in society.   Learner’s Castle children had a fun time while celebrating Helpers’ Day in consonance with the school’s play way method of education.

Song & dance at Step By Step Workshop on career development

‘Art of Serving’ session L-G felicitates students

PRINCIPALSPEAKS Kindness comes back to you in greater measure “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping oneself”, said R. W. Emerson. Life is a boomerang, whether it is our thoughts, actions or behaviour, sooner or later they return and with great accuracy.

SPORTS

Two-tier format for Ranji Trophy finds favour
Rohtak, May 11
The debate which began with the start of the domestic cricket season 2002-2003 questioning the logic and practical aspects of the newly introduced format for the Ranji Trophy championship this year appears to have finally settled in favour of the changes as another chapter of the history of India’s premier cricket tourney came to an end at Mumbai on Thursday last.

Sahara annex Shera Pandit cricket title

New Delhi, May 11 Air Sahara defeated Lal Bahadur Shastri Club by six wickets to annex the 12th Shera Pandit Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakins ground, Ghaziabad, on Sunday. Air Sahara won the toss and put Shastri Club into bat. Their bowlers immediately got down to work to make the going tough for the Shastri Club batsmen. The Air Sahara team, which won the Shera Pandit Cricket Tournament beating Lal Bahadur Shastri Club, with the trophy.

Sonnet sail away with DDCA A Division title

New Delhi, May 11 Sonnet Club defeated Food Corporation of India (FCI) by one wicket and sailed away with the DDCA Super A Division title at the Central Secretariat ground. Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Arun Jaitley inaugurating the Under-15 Cricket Tournament in the presence of DDCA Director Anil Jain and Sports Working Committee convenor Ashok Sharma at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground on Sunday.

Ankit bowls DAV School to victory
New Delhi, May 11
A searing bowling performance by Ankit Dabas, who collected four wickets for 35 runs, was the highlight of DAV School’s (Shalimar Bagh) 120 runs victory against Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Academy in the first Harry Cup Cricket Tournament at the Central Secretariat ground. DAV School moved into the semi-final.

ADMINISTRATION

76 complaints received at open durbar 
Sonepat, May 11
As many as 76 public complaints were received in 86th open durbar organised by the district administration at the BDPO office in Ganaur and presided over by the city Magistrate, Mr Anil Sharma.