Govt directive: Drive eve-teasers to thana
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
In order to check the increasing incidence of eve teasing and molestation in public places, the Delhi Government has initiated a number of steps to ensure speedy intervention and timely redress.

Special instructions have been issued to bus drivers and conductors to take the vehicle to the nearest police station, if such an incident takes place, irrespective of whether a woman complains or not.

Likewise, the Federation of Market Associations in various localities has been instructed to be on the look out for such incidents in the shops and in the market corridors. They have been further instructed to check such incidents and report them immediately to the police.

This was disclosed by Delhi Chief Secretary Shailja Chandra at a seminar `Women power and power to women,’ organised by the Centre for social research at FICCI last evening.

Dwelling on the issue of crime against women, Ms Chandra said: “I find it really difficult to understand why so many incidents of eve-teasing take place in the Capital. We need to develop a culture where the attitude of boys towards girls changes right from the school. It is important that not only schools but also parents give their children good training, so that they realise the importance of caring and sharing.”

Talking in a similar vein, Ms Kanwaljit Deol, Joint Commissioner of Police, Vigilance, said, “The police have a big role to play in checking such incidents, but equally important is for a women to realise the importance of speaking out. From our experience, we fell that such incidents can be checked if a woman breaks her silence and complains immediately.

“It is also important that more and more women join politics and get more seats in Parliament, so that the issues concerning women are appropriately addressed,” added Ms Najma Heptulla, Vice Chairperson, Rajya Sabha.

The seminar, ‘Women power and power to women,’ was organized to learn from the experiences of women achievers and ponder upon how people with the power to influence public opinion, can contribute towards bridging the gender gap. It was inaugurated by Dr Najma Heptulla.

The other important personalities on the panel of speakers were Ms Nafisa Ali, social activist, and Dr Anand Kumar, a professor in JNU. The seminar was followed by a dance performance by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, the Centre for Social Research also released its Second Decade Report on Empowerment of Women.

“We get several phone calls form distressed women at our crisis intervention centres in Delhi and we always encourage them to break the silence and take brave steps. It is important they realise that it ensures not only their safety, but also the safety of other women,” said Dr Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research.

13-yr-old missing

Ghaziabad: The daughter of the Commandant of 7th Battalion of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indira Puram, is missing since Wednesday.

She had gone for tuition in the neighbouring area but did not return home. The commandant filed a report in the Indira Puram police station last night, naming two youths as suspects. The headquarters of the 7th Battalion of the CISF is located in Indira Puram in Ghaziabad. The 13-year-old daughter of Commandant Ved Prakash Nehra of the 7th Battalion was a student of class VIII. OC

BJP seeks probe into rusting mobile toilets
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The secretary of the BJP Delhi unit and Standing Committee member, Mr Vijender Gupta, today urged the Central Vigilance Commission, through a letter, to institute a CBI inquiry to nail the corrupt staff who were swindling crores of rupees from the Slum Department coffers.

The department had got 200 mobile toilet vans manufactured at the cost of Rs. 250 lakh under the Yamuna Action Plan, a stop-gap arrangement till the construction of Jan Suvidha facilities. However, these vans have never been used for this purpose. They are stationed at the Gazipur site of the Slum Department and are rusting under open sky. The parts of almost all the vans have been stolen. The authorities concerned have had full knowledge of the matter, but no action has been taken.

There was a theft of municipal assets worth Rs 10 lakh recently at the Gazipur site of the Slum Department. Mr Gupta alleged that the department concerned did not order an inquiry as it might unravel unsavoury facts about bogus payments to persons provided by placement agencies. The bogus billing is also in the knowledge of the staff.

He further alleged that the Slum Department is paying Rs 200 lakh to private placement agencies for providing security guards and resident caretakers round the clock. However, most of these recruitments are on paper only.

He further alleged that, on one hand, the slum Department was paying Rs 20 lakh per month to private placement agencies for providing security guards and resident care takers and, on the other hand, 60 chowkidars in and around the walled city were being paid Rs 3 crore for doing no work.

MCD food poisoning

The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Government, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, has blamed yesterday’s food poisoning incident in an MCD school on negligence of the authorities. Hundreds of MCD students took ill and were taken to hospital yesterday. Most of the victims were discharged after being given first aid.

Prof Mukhi said that the contractors who had supplied the food and the officers concerned should be held responsible for the negligence.

Expressing surprise over the incident, he said it was the second case of food poisoning in a fortnight.

Traders’ body to oppose UAM
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The traders will oppose tooth and nail the unit area method (UAM) of computing property tax, which is to be implemented by the MCD in the Capital from April 1. This was decided yesterday at a meeting of more than 70 leading trade organisations, convened by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which also formed a five-member committee to formulate the action plan.

‘‘The committee will decide next week whether to resort to demonstrations, rallies or a bandh,’’ CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said today. He said the traders were agitated over the unit area method as it was full of ambiguities. ‘‘The taxes are difficult to calculate under the new system,’’ Mr Khandelwal said.

The Delhi Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party and a large number of residents welfare associations have also opposed the new unit area method of calculating property tax, which they claimed would increase the tax liability of some of the categories by as much as two and a half times.

Considering the opposition to the new method, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has already deferred the implementation of the UAM till the next financial year.

With the campaigning for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the National Capital Territory of Delhi warming up, the new property tax assessment is likely to generate a lot of heat. Delhi Pradesh BJP leaders have already proclaimed that they would make it an election issue.

The Congress-led Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), however, claim that the new method of property tax assessment will bring a large number of “unassessed” properties in the fold and thus help in increasing the revenue collection, which was required for maintaining the Capital’s civic infrastructure.

Paper leak: four nabbed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The North district police today claimed to have arrested four persons in connection with the leak of exam papers on March 8, of ninth standard of government schools. The four arrested persons included the owner and an employee of the press from where the papers were printed.

The owner of Modern Printers, Arun Bansal (51), a resident of Navin Shahdra, and his employee Abdul Shakil (45), a resident of Seemlampur, were among the four persons arrested. The owners of the photocopy shop in Ghonda area, Ram Avatar and Pradeep Jain, were also arrested in connection with the paper leak.

The police also seized the original question paper of Hindi of Class IX, scheduled to be held on March 12, from Abdul Shakil’s house and several photocopies from the shop of Pradeep Jain.

On March 8, the police received a complaint from the Assistant Director of Education (Exam) S P Singh that the question papers had been leaked. On the basis of the complaint, the police decided to mount surveillance on the printing press, where the question papers were being printed.

However, when the police sent its sleuths to the given address of Megha Printers on Ram Road, the team found that the printing press was not in existence. Later, the police tracked down Modern Printers at Dilshad Garden and questioned the owner and its 80 employees about the exam leak. During investigation, the police found that two photocopy shops were involved in facilitating the paper leak. The shops were also traced in New Usman Pur and Ghonda and it was learnt that several students had purchased the question papers for Rs 10 – Rs 100.

During investigation, the police also found that Bansal and Shakil were hand in glove; Shakil’s daughter, incidentally, was taking the Class IX examination. Shakil had accordingly got one set of question papers for his daughter and later took the same to the photocopy shops. The leak of Sanskrit and English papers of ninth standard had forced the Delhi government to cancel internal exams of VI, VII, VIII, IX and XI standards on March 10.

Crackdown
With poll round the corner, cops step up
vigil on criminals
Parmindar Singh

Noida, March 12
With the Lok Sabha poll approaching criminals here have reportedly stepped up their activities. They have reportedly been bringing in arms and weapons besides liquor unhindered into Noida from Delhi and Ghaziabad.

A meeting was held in the Noida police control room to review the situation and evolve a strategy for the purpose. All circle officers and SOs of police stations attended the meeting.

The police have accordingly decided to mount special campaigns to stem these criminal activities in the NCR. About half a dozen police teams have been set up to stop this inter-state and inter-district movement of illegal arms and ammunition, liquor and the criminal gangs themselves.

Some terrorist groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed have also become more active in the area. This was proved by the death in an encounter of an area commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist outfit in recent days.

Besides, a member of an agency of the ISI has been nabbed. This proves yet again the ISI is resorting to its old game of inciting trouble during elections. These facts have been confirmed by criminals arrested in connection with manufacturing of illegal arms.

The criminals and terrorists are not hesitating to strike even after vacating their known shelters. Now they have taken recourse to taking houses and rooms on rent to continue with their criminal activities. The arrest of Vicky Tyagi, who was an eyesore for the western UP police, is also proof of the current crime scenario. The arrest of a financial racketeer who had cheated people of crores of rupees from the residence of a DCP of the Delhi police is also being cited as another link in this chain. The criminals in the area are an emboldened lot.

Taking these developments into view and the near at hand poll joint teams of the police from Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad have been constituted. These teams will keep an eye on the activities of the criminal gang and smuggling of arms and liquor across the border. Vehicle thefts were termed as a serious crime and a prelude to bigger crimes by Delhi Police Commissioner K. K. Paul on Wednesday.

In Noida the work of combating smuggling of arms and liquor will be supervised by DSP Dinesh Yadav.

ASI to take steps for restoration of
Jahanpanah Wall
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
To provide protection to some recently identified parts of the historical Jahanpanah Wall in the Capital, The Archaeological Survey of India has informed the Delhi High Court that it proposes to bring out a notification in this regard.

The government standing counsel has submitted the documents before the court, stating that ASI would bring out within two weeks a preliminary notification, inviting objections from the public to its decision to provide protection to the remaining visible and traceable parts of the wall that had been declared protected so far.

In view of the statement by the counsel, the judges disposed of a PIL filed by the Forum for Indian Heritage and Conservation which had drawn the court’s attention to the deplorable condition of the monument.

Declaring the monument as protected under the Ancient Rules and Remains Act, it would allow the ASI not only to rid the structure of encroachments but also take steps for its restoration. The wall was constructed in 1325 by Mohammed Bin Tughlak.

Commuters suffer as trains run late as usual
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 12
The late running of not only long-distance but suburban trains also on the Sonepat-Delhi section of Northern Railway has become a routine thanks to the failure of the railway authorities to maintain the punctuality of the incoming and outgoing trains. Moreover, the action of the controller in holding up suburban trains on the wayside stations to allow the long-distance mail, express, superfast and Shatabadi trains has become the subject of commuters’ criticism and caused widespread resentment among government servants, schoolteachers and students.

According to a report, almost all suburban trains originate either from Delhi, Panipat or Kurukshetra and Ambala. Yet, they usually run behind schedule for 30 minutes or above, stranding thousands of commuters who commute between Panipat, Samlakha, Ganaur, Sonepat etc and Delhi. They face departmental action for reaching late in their offices or schools in Delhi.

Many commuters allege that a goods train is allowed to pass every day before a passenger train which is scheduled to pass through Sonepat around 7.06 am almost every day, thereby delaying it for at least half an hour. The goods train which is allowed to pass before it is seen halting either at Badli or Azadpur railway station.

The extension of the Flying Mail (now popularly known as Shaheed Express or Suryo Yamuna Express) up to Darbhanga in Bihar has proved a curse for the passengers as this train never runs on time. This train always runs behind schedule for three to 12 hours or above and the long-distance passengers remain stranded at various stations for hours together. The coaches of this train are always seen empty as the passengers prefer to board other trains to reach their destinations.

The Amritsar-based passengers travelling on this train reach Amritsar around midnight or after whenever it is late for three hours or beyond. As a result, they have to spend the night at the platforms of the Amritsar railway station and wait for the morning. During the winter season, the conditions of such passengers is much worse.

The non-stoppage of the Bathinda-bound Delhi Bathinda Inter-City Express and the Amritsar-bound Superfast Express at Subzi Mandi is causing hardships to the passengers in the wake of the late running of the Amritsar-bound Flying Mail as they have to rush to the New Delhi railway station to board these trains.

Between 30,000 and 40,000 commuters, including more than 5,000 women, commute daily between Sonepat and Delhi and have to undergo an ordeal. The commuters are largely government servants and schoolteachers. There is also a sprinkling of people employed in private firms and a large number of milk vendors and businessmen.

A social body that helps women become self-reliant
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
Ms Mridul Shukla, managing worker of Meghdoot Gramodyog Sewa Sansthan (MGSS), has launched a social organisation called the Maruti Mahila Swalambi Sansthan, a women’s organisation which apart from manufacturing herbal cosmetics and medicines, works at the village level on themes like women and child welfare, population control, literacy and modern practices in farming.

The MGSS has created self-help groups in eastern Uttar Pradesh which help individuals finance their farming, be self-sufficient and self-reliant through informal savings. These self-help groups help women overcome socio-economic oppression and empower them through monetary security. The organisation ensures this by buying the agriculture/medicinal produce at a pre-harvested rate. The process fosters thrift. The organisation has taken the initiative in training women in areas like value additions, packaging and marketing of rural products.

The organisation aims to make the youth aware that self-employment is the passport to individual growth. The aim is to wipe out poverty through initiative in sustained development. It has created enormous job opportunities for the youth in production and marketing of its products. The organisation takes part in several health camps and has opened several exclusive stores for creating awareness about its products. According to Ms Mridul Shukla, the basic aim is to link people to Ayurveda and rural India. The success lies not only in selling products but enhancing people’s participation at all levels of product development and human behaviour. The organisation through its socio-economic efforts has touched the life of thousands of people in villages and towns.

Agitating Dalits allege police discrimination
Our Correspondent

Meerut, March 12
Hundreds of agitated Dalits from Mahalwala and Kankarkhera villages held demonstrations. They were protesting against the alleged harassment meted out to them by the area police in two different cases. The Dalits accused the police of discriminating on the basis of caste and creed.

They also alleged that local police of Kankerkhera and Kithore police stations had proved to be biased in a number of cases earlier. According to some villagers, a Dalit youth, Bijendra (24), of Mahalwata village was done to death by some upper caste (Tyagi) persons while playing Holi on March 7. In the attack made by Tyagis, Shiv Kumar, Arvind. Sohanlal, Roshanlal, Chandra Kiran, Jaipal, Ramesh, Subhash and Sandip Dalits were also injured that day. The Dalits alleged the police wrongfully booked these people under various sections of the IPC, including Section 307, for attacking Tyagis. Hundred of Dalits from Mahalwala village led by BSP district president Vinod Harit reached the SSP’s office and shouted slogans alleging police discrimination. Infuriated Dalits alleged the local SHO and CO had “hidden” contact with the Tyagis. Dalits gheraoed the officials present and returned only after officials assured them of taking fair action after an independent inquiry.

Committee on transporters’ grievances soon: Paul
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The Commissioner of Police, Dr K. K. Paul, today assured transporters that a committee to look into their grievances of harassment by police at various points on highways in the Capital would be constituted.

The committee, which will include three representatives of transporters, would meet at regular intervals. The assurance was given when a delegation of transporters met the Commissioner of Police and made a complaint of insecurity on highways. The delegation of the All India Transporters Welfare Association was led by its president RB Bansal.

Mr Bansal said the Police Commissioner’s response was very positive and he assured that he would issue instruction to all DCPs and other officers to give due attention to their problems.

Among the transporters main complaints was checking at various points in the city instead of just at entry points, which held them up for long, forcing them to speed up to make up for the time lost.

Another complaint was that truck drivers possessing genuine documents were unnecessarily harassed by traffic police, while no action was being taken by those driving on fictitious papers.

The transporters also demanded adequate night patrolling by police to check highway robberies and setting up a special FIR lodging cell to which drivers and transporters could complain against any policeman without the fear of disclosure of their identity. They also suggested formation of a special cell under the Carriers Act for speedy redressal of their problems.

Loadshedding

The North Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) has announced loadshedding in the Narela, Shakti Nagar and Civil Lines areas on Saturday due to some maintenance work.

While the maintenance work will take place in the Narela and Shakti Nagar areas from 10 am to 4 pm, in Civil Lines it will be from 10 am to 5 pm.

No headway in identifying half-burnt body
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 12
The Rai police have failed to achieve any breakthrough so far in identifying the person whose half-burnt body was recovered form the cremation ground at Badhkhalsa village in the district on Wednesday.

According to a report, the police denied the recovery of the half-burnt body and maintained that it had been burnt fully and conducting a postmortem of the body did not arise. Thus, the police are facing hardships in identifying the body of the victim.

Seal broken

The seal of the godown of electricity goods was found broken in the office of the Municipal Committee at Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here yesterday.

According to a report, some members of the committee had sealed the godown last month after receiving public complaints about the bungling of electricity goods purchased by the committee for streetlight arrangements. The incident has caused panic among the officials and members of the committee.

PCO burgled

Thieves are reported to have broken a public call office (PCO) of the BSNL on the premises of the Civil Hospital here last night and taken away cash from it.

According to another report, the thieves broke open the locks of an electronic shop at Ganaur town, 16 km from here last night, and decamped with a variety of goods form the shop. The owner of the shop has informed the police about the theft, but no case has been registered so far.

NCR briefs
Man gets life term for killing father-in-law
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
A city court has sent a person for life imprisonment for killing his father-in-law. Deepak, the convict, killed Jyotish Mandal (father-in-law), on January 17, 1996, by stabbing him.

The police found the victim lying in a pool of blood in a road. On investigation, the police also recovered the weapon of the crime.

Jyotish Mandal was a local vendor in the area and married his daughter Kamla to Deepak two years back. But Deepak was unemployed and was not having good relations with his wife Kamla. Thus, Jyotish took her back to his house.

On the day of incident, Deepak along with Moti Chand Mandal went to Jyotish and had a scuffle with him. During the scuffle, Deepak whipped out a knife and stabbed Jyotish and sped away from the spot.

Moti Chand Mandal, a close relative of the victim, had already been sent for life imprisonment on March 20, 2002, for helping Deepak in the killing.

Youth run over

Sonepat: A youth, Raghbir Singh of Narinder Nagar, was run over and killed by a goods train at the railway station here last night.

According to a report, the Government Railway Police (GRP), have sent the body for the postmortem examination. It is stated that he was crossing the railway track when the accident occurred.

24 cases of cheating detected in Jhajjar

Jhajjar: The Chairman of the Haryana School Education Board, Brig (retd) O. P. Chaudhary, visited various examination centres in the district and detected 24 cases of unfair means at eight centres in the examination of class 10+2, which started from today.

A spokesman of the board informed the mediapersons here today that these cases of unfair means were detected in school situated in Birohar, Matanhale, Ladayan, Salawas, Subana, Dakla, Hasanpur and Bhaproda villages. He said that the menace of copying has been controlled to a great extent as is evident from the environment in the centres.

Mr J. S. Sahu, DEO, also said that during his visit to various centres in villages and township areas, the environment was quite peaceful except small gathering at certain centres in villages. He said that four flying squads of the education department, two squads of the HSEB, and 10 squads of the district administration have been deployed to check the disturbances and coping in the examinations.

Delhi digest
Commemorative function organised
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The Chairman, Delhi Sikh Education Council, Mr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, organised a commemorative function recently on the occasion of the establishment of Guru Teg Bahadur National Integration Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala, at India International Centre here. The chair was established at Punjabi University, Patiala in 1991-92, with the main objective to propagate and promote all around the globe the sacrifices and high ideals of great guru of human causes.

The president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, (DSGMC), Mr Prahlad Singh Chandok, presided over the function. Swaran Singh Boparai, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, was the chief guest of the occasion.

Vikramjit Singh Sahney acclaimed the establishment of National Integration Chair in the name of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur as a major landmark in the history of the university. He also lauded the efforts of the chair and said, “The university has been actively engaged in promotion of national integration communal and religious harmony through its various activities. He assured financial and material help to the university and gave a clarion call to the youth of India to follow the high ideals and principles of the great Guru.

Mr Chandok said that the rise of Sikhism was unique in many respects and the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur was not to save Hindu or Sikh but to defend the religion.

Swarn Singh Boparai said that Punjabi University was the first ever university to commence graduation courses in Gurmat Sangeet (Devotional Music).

SPEAKING OUT

DO YOU HAVE A GROUSE?

Do you have a grouse against the apathetic attitude of the authorities? Are you fed up with the dilly-dallying tactics of officialdom and the stranglehold of red tapism? If so, please write to us. We have a full half page every week reserved just for you. The letters should be clearly marked, Speaking out, NCR Tribune, First Floor, Dyal Singh Library Building, 1 Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, New Delhi-110002.

Mrs Balwant Kaur, a 75 years old woman, has a saving bank account with the Punjab National Bank, N.I.T. Faridabad. She is a pensioner. This apart, she has a joint-saving bank account with her son, which has savings exceeding Rs two lakh.

Now, she is too frail to walk. Moreover, she fell down from the staircase and was badly injured, limiting her movements.

This month, when her son went to the bank with his mother’s authority to withdraw some cash, the clerk created unnecessary bureaucratic problems on the pretext that her signature did not tally with the original signature.

When the matter was taken to the manager, he too wanted the woman to be present in person to with draw the amount.

He only relented and suggested that her signatures be verified by another man who knew her after it was pointed out that their ATM did not work and the secret code allotted to them for the purpose did not function.

I hope that a responsible bank like the Punjab National Bank would make itself more customer- friendly in future.

UJJAL PAL SINGH, Faridabad

Is news all about sensationalisation?

It is sad that journalists, both from the print and electronic media, seem obsessed with news that have the potential to sensationalize, create thrill and excitement or promote consumer culture such as eating, drinking, shopping, relaxing and accumulating designer clothes.

Consequently, other important issues escape their attention and go unreported.

Thus, news, which have the capacity to elevate human mind and nature go unreported, and are rarely highlighted.

The latest example of this trend is the failure of the media to report the well attended bhajan sandhya, “Ek Sham Bankey Bihari Ke Naam” by Vinod Agarwal of Mumbai and Baldev Krishan Sehgal of Jagadhari, held in Janakpuri on February 28.

Sri Bankey Bihari Parivar, Janakpuri, had organized the programme, which was attended by more than 6,000 devotees from Delhi and neighbouring states.

In view of Holi season, Vinod Agarwal and Baldev Krishan Sehgal recreated the true spirit and mood of the festival through their bhajans, associated with the Lord Krishna, Sri Radharani and their companions.

Devotees discarded all sense of diffidence and enjoyed themselves.

Overwhelmed by deep feelings, some were even seen shedding tears. It was a feeling as if Vaikuntha had descended on earth.

It is hoped that an esteemed newspaper like the NCR Tribune will keep track of such unique events and report them regularly for the benefit of a large section of its readers interested in such matters of heart and soul.

TISH MALHOTRA, Rohini, Delhi

Development without planning

The nomenclature of HUDA should have been Haryana Urban Development and Planning Council. Development without planning has no meaning.

Today, an average HUDA allottee is a victim of red-tapism.

Lack of sustainable development in urban areas is reflected through poor civic services provided to the residents.

RAMAUTAR, Rewari

Maintaining the sanctity of exams

The Haryana Education Board started a commendable job by initiating anti-copying drives during the Middle standard examinations. The special campaign should be improved further by removing the impediments that have been recently felt.

However, the sad truth is that despite all the efforts made by the Board authorities along with the district administration, the use of unfair means could not be contained fully during these exams, thanks to the non-cooperative attitude of some teachers, guardians and students.

It is shocking that some teachers are bold enough to help their students in the use of unfair means during the exams. They feel it to be a matter of pride to do such illegal works. Even as there is some satisfaction that there has been some improvement in comparison to the past, a greater effort is required to stem the rot of copying and maintaining the sanctity of the examination process.

It is clear that if the authorities continue with their efforts in the coming years, a change will definitely come about in the thinking process of the teachers, students and their guardians.

In time, students will start working hard and teachers will do their work sincerely and efficiently.

As a result, the guardians and parents would not have to worry about the examination of their children, particularly for using unfair means during the examinations.

In this process, the students would be benefited and would be comfortable in facing entrance tests and competitive examinations later on in life.

Therefore, it is necessary that the anti-copying drive should be continued with greater efforts so as to maintain the sanctity of the examination process and improve the education system and the society as a whole.

KARAN BAWWA, Rewari

Need for petrol pumps

Perhaps the IOC and IBP are unaware of the fact that there is no petrol pump on the North Western side of Panipat, i.e., beyond the G T Road-main Railway line on Jind side.

Nearly half of the seven lakhs population of the city resides in the colonies in the area, including Model Town, Industrial Area, Bhatia Colony and Narain Singh Park.

The vehicle owners in these areas have to go to petrol pumps situated on the G T Road, either on Delhi side or on the Karnal side, which are located about two-km from the main city.

The industrial area, which falls in the region, consumes thousands of litres of diesel on a daily basis. The industrial complex on Kabri Road also needs huge intake of diesel.

Besides, the district administrative offices and courts are also located in the same region. Apart from the government vehicles, hundreds of vehicles of the local people ply here.

A number of educational institutions are also functioning in the same areas.

In view of these circumstances, installation of a petrol pump near Hali Lake or on the Assandh Road, near Latif Garden, is of vital importance.

Will the IOC, which has a refinery situated at a short distance, take immediate steps to install a petrol pump in the area and remove the difficulties of the citizens?

A. N. BHANDULA, Panipat

Giving a face-lift to ISBT

I would like to request the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, to visit the Inter-State Bus Terminal at Kashmiri Gate. The Inter-State Bus Terminal, known as Maharana Pratap Inter-State Bus Terminal, needs an urgent facelift.

Thousands of passengers visit the bus terminal daily from all parts of the country. Hundreds of buses originate from here, many of them to different parts of India.

However, it seems that the place has not been given a face-lift for a long time. The sanitation condition here is pitiable. Garbage is thrown around the terminal. In effect, there is no cleanliness around the terminal.

It not only makes a pathetic sight but is a major source of discomfort for the passengers using the terminal.

There is no place for the passengers to relax while changing buses or taking buses to new destinations.

In these circumstances, it is necessary for the Chief Minister to have a first hand information about the situation in the bus terminal.

It is high time that the bus terminal, named after a historical hero, is beautified where all the basic amenities are provided.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA, MDU, Rohtak

Clarification on rail concession

There are a number of rail travel concession rules issued by the Railway Ministry for the benefit of the general public. However, the apathy and the ignorance of the officers have become an impediment for the public.

Serial No. 3 of Part-A of rail travel concession rules makes an unemployed youth under the age of 35 eligible to avail of 50 per cent concession to attend interviews of the government and government undertaking organisations.

When I approached the Bhiwani Railway Station to extend the 50 per cent concession for my son to attend interview (written test) of NRL Refineries Ltd., Guwahati, which is a Central Government organisation, the personnel at the computer reservation counter refused to oblige. When the matter was taken to the Station Superintendent, the clerical personnel started arguing over the definition of interview. Thereafter, a number of written complaints with all the required proofs were made to the higher authorities of North Western Railway stationed at Bikaner head quarters.

However, I received only an acknowledgement, which said that my petition was under investigation and I will be informed accordingly. To my surprise, even after the lapse of six months, my complaint has not been settled.

I would like to know whether the authorities are willing to settle the passenger grievances or not?

One wonders why the directorate of public grievances and its subordinates function at the Railway Headquarters at Bikaner when they cannot settle such cases. I want that this rule is clarified so that unemployed youth under the age of 35 could benefit to the maximum.

M. F. SHERIFF, Tosham, Bhiwani

Land grabbers arrested
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The Economic Offences Wing has arrested three land grabbers who were illegally using the government land besides selling the same to some unsuspecting buyers.

The accused persons after making some sheds in the property also rented out to some companies and were receiving the payments.

The sleuths arrested Ajit Singh (36), Bhavinder Singh (42) and Satish (45), all residents of Tughlakabad for illegally occupying the land belonging to Tughlakabad Fort Complex. The constructions were demolished by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

Woman burglar held

The Crime Branch Anti-Homicide Cell has arrested a woman burglar who was active in the R K Puram and Nanakpura areas.

The accused Gomti, resident of Peera Garhi relief camp, was apprehended by the sleuths in the Peera Garhi area.

The accused confessed that she, along with her associate Bimlesh, operate under the leadership of Neelam, resident of West Sagar Pur.

Gomti said that she and Neelam had committed five daylight burglaries in R K Puram and Nanak Pura areas and used to carry iron rods under their garments.

With the arrest of two persons, the Central district police have claimed to have solved three cases of dacoities in the district.

The accused were identified as Mohammad Suhail, resident of Hauz Qazi and Shakeel Urjhan, resident of Rajasthan.

Raid on Electrical Company

The Crime Branch along with Standard Electricals Limited raided the Delhi Electric Company, Mukherjee Nagar and seized large quantity of counterfeit Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs), MCB Enclosures, Distribution Board, Sockets, MCB Chassis and Manufacturing Dies under the trademark of “Standard”.

Sonepat cops arrest 12 youths during 36-hr drive
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, March 12
In its drive against the anti-social elements, the Sonepat police nabbed as many as 12 youths during the past 36 hours from different places in the district. The police recovered a canter and a motorcycle from their possession.

According to police information, a police party of Kundli police station was patrolling on the G T Road on Wednesday, when it noticed a number of youths standing in the cremation ground of village Kundli. When the police party reached near them, they tried to escape in a canter. However, they were surrounded by the police and taken into custody.

The accused were identified as Shekhar, Praveen, Arun, Sandeep, Praveen alias Kullu, of village Kundal, Sandeep of Nangal, Rajesh of village Rahampur in Bihar, Deen Bandhu of old DC Road and Praveen of Khewra.

The police also recovered a countrymade pistol, knives, iron rods, and other sharp-edged weapons, besides the stolen canter No HR-55-5489. A case has been registered against them in Kundli police station. During interrogation, one of the gangsters confessed to have stolen the canter from Kanina and the canter was loaded with 75 bags of sugar.

The accused also confessed to have stolen scraps from a factory in Kundli Industrial Complex on March 4 in the stolen canter and boring pipes from Piao Maniari. A team of special staff of the police was on patrolling near the local irrigation office complex last night when it received information that two motorcyclists were trying to loot the passers-by near village Jagdishpur. The team reached on the spot and took them into custody and recovered tow knives and the motorcycles, which was stolen from Nangloi in Delhi. They were identified as Manoj of Gohana and Amit of Noorgarh (Panipat).

‘PSEs poised to play major role in economic growth’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
A sustained empowerment of public enterprises will definitely result in higher return on investment, higher contribution to the exchequer, stronger support to overall economic growth and ultimately better products and services at competitive prices for the end consumer,” said Mr C. P. Jain, Chairman, Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE). He was addressing the 30th Annual General Meeting of SCOPE held today evening.

Mr Jain said that PSEs are poised to play a major role in accelerating economic growth of India so that there is a doubling of per capita income by the year 2012.

Talking about improving performance of CPSEs, SCOPE Chairman said between 1992-93 and 2001-02, CPSEs have posted extremely impressive commercial performance. Their return on investment has gone up from 11.4 percent to 16.2 percent. He said that their internal resource generation has been Rs 30,3000 crore, which is close to the total investment made in them over the last 50 years.

Mr Jain said that SCOPE has finalised its vision, which is to enable its member enterprises to be globally competitive in the market driven environment.

Accordingly, it has taken initiative which include efforts for further empowerment of PSEs and other policy advocacy efforts, highlighting the concern and perspectives of PSEs in labour and human resources matters, specific measures to promote efficiency and recognise excellence and celebrating the contribution of public enterprises.

CII presents pre-budget memorandum to Delhi Finance Minister
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 12
The CII Delhi State Council, led by Mr Vikram Bakshi, Chairman, CII, Delhi State Office, presented the pre-budget memorandum for the Delhi Budget 2004-05 to Dr A. K. Walia, Minister for Finance, Government of NCT of Delhi, here today.

In his presentation, Mr Bakshi said that the budget for Delhi should resolve to impart an impetus for growth through a reforms-based agenda. According to the statistics showing contribution to the state GDP, there seems a clear shift towards the tertiary (services) sector. It contributes approximately 75 per cent to the state GDP. With the changing economic profile of Delhi, an economic policy should be announced to give a boost to services, like healthcare, tourism and retail, added Mr Bakshi.

The growing level of the debt in the state is a pointer for urgent corrective steps to be taken by the government. The CII feels that along with re-prioritisation and reduction in expenditure, the Delhi Government should also take serious steps to improve revenue collection, which will help in allocating the resources towards creation of capital assets to enhance social and economic infrastructure.

Alternative ways of resource mobilisation should include debt swap programme with the Central Government to swap as much of Delhi’s high cost debt for lower cost paper. It will reduce the interest burden.

Another suggestion in the pre-budget memorandum was the levying of user charges on all new infrastructure facilities. This would greatly affect the revenues in the state.