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Governance
Jhajjar, June 26 Voicing their concern, the state chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), had sent a communiqué to the Jhajjar deputy commissioner in this regard. The INTACH had maintained in the letter that such construction in the vicinity of the medieval monuments was not desirable or should not have been carried out in the manner in which it was being done. Taking a strong exception to the ongoing “beautification” drive, Ranbir Singh, co-convener of the state chapter of INTACH, had urged the deputy commissioner to take suitable action by preventing such restoration work, which did not conform to the standards laid down by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Ranbir Singh had pointed out in the letter that the Buwa Wala tank had earlier been repaired using new material in a reckless manner without consulting the subject experts. “Grey-coloured sedimentary stone was used for the lining of its inner walls that enclosed the water body. Even the cladding work was done in a substandard manner, altering the visual and material character of this fine tank. The work could have been done with the traditional material using lime mortar,” he asserted. The letter further stated that the shape and design of the Nagayasti Stambha or the pillar for measuring the level of water in the tank (located in the centre of the water body) had also been transformed. “It seems that the importance and purpose of the Nagayasti Stambha is not at all known to the persons who planned and executed this work,” the letter said, adding that with the above two interventions, the aesthetical character of the Buwa Wala Talaab had been destroyed.
Moreover, the masonry well, as much a part and parcel of the tank and located on its north western corner, has also been eliminated. This important landmark needed preservation. The communiqué maintained that certain other absurd-looking constructions, that do not blend with the character of the surroundings and the landscape, had been added on the
site. “In fact, the monuments should have been integrated with the Shahidi Park and landscaping done keeping in view the character of the place,” observed the INTACH activist. Ranbir has urged the DC to urgently re-consider the plan of making new construction in the vicinity of the mausoleums and defer the construction of the fountain.
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BJP at crossroads, debates restructuring state unit
Chandigarh, June 26 All this is in the backdrop of the fast-approaching Lok Sabha elections and at a time when the other national party, as also the party in power in the state, the Congress, is already in the process of “getting its act together”. The recent poor performance in the byelections, where the BJP managed to garner 10,000 votes only in all the three assembly seats put together, is unlikely to augur well for the much-professed “go-alone” stance of the state party leaders. However, party in charge, Vijay Goel, maintains that they would go in for an alliance only if circumstances necessitated such a move. “We want to fight alone since the mood is anti-Congress due to inflation and terrorism. Locally, power, water and law and order are the biggest issues. We are the only alternative to the Congress. However, we will weigh the need for an alliance when the time comes,” he said. In case of an alliance, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), BJP’s former alliance partner, is one option before the party. The party will have to eat a humble pie if it decides to forge an alliance with Om Prakash Chautala’s INLD. Also, the INLD’s biggest votary, Madan Lal Khurana back in the BJP folds, the results of previous election substantiate that the BJP has gained from its alliance with the INLD. In the 1999 Lok Sabha election, when the tie-up was worked out, the ten seats were equally divided between the two parties. This was continued in the Vidhan Sabha elections as well. However, the 2004 and 2005 elections to the LS and the state assembly, this alliance was done away with and the BJP ended up with just one and two seats respectively. Though there was no alternative for the BJP in Haryana previously, this time the leaders have yet another option in the Haryana Janhit Congress headed by Kuldeep Bishnoi as well. Both parties, however, share a similar vote bank, which is heavily urbansied, evident from the fact that the HJC did “well” in Indri but put up a poor show in rural area-dominated Gohana. The BJP, too, draws its strength essentially from the urban vote bank, meaning thereby that an alliance is unlikely to bring in great benefits. The possibility of tying up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), too, is limited in scope since it would mean a tie-up at the national level as also in Uttar Pradesh would have to be worked out. With uncertainty about alliance, leadership and the action plan, the party seems ill-prepared to even face an election, let alone put up stiff resistance or win it.
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Medicinal mushrooms in Sonepat
Sonepat, June 26 Most of the researches on Genoderma lucidum have centered round its pharmacological effects and chemical constituents. Most important medicinal attributes found in Genoderma are anti-tumour, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The mushroom has been reported to demonstrate strong anti-HIV activity. Besides anti-tumour trait, the other important pharmacological properties which are good for treating heart diseases like hypocholesterolemic, angiogenic, cardio-active and platelet aggregation. The primary objective of the project is to undertake studies and develop the technology of Genoderma production with the aim of providing genuine raw material to the industry for production of medicinal products (powder and capsules). Besides science, mushroom production is also an art. Basically there are two systems of the cultivation of G. lucidum, log cultivation and synthetic log cultivation (saw dust bags). While the technology of its cultivation on wood logs is very similar to the one used in the production of shitake (lentinus edodes), in view of the low productivity, outdoor cultivation and use of forest logs, this technique is outdated and is used only by poor farmers in the poor countries. It is the cultivation on saw dust blocks, euphemistically called synthetic logs, which is in vogue for cultivation of many types of mushrooms including reishi. The coordinator of the Research and Development Centre at Murthal, Dr Ajay Singh Yadav, said HAIC had successfully cultivated the mushroom at its centre and the seeds as well as sterilised compost would be supplied to the farmers.
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ADULT LITERACY
Sirsa, June 26 She’s learnt to read the writing on the wall. Literally. Slogans promoting literacy, propagating sanitation and those announcing special drives in the village, just about everything. Till sometime back she was dependent on school-going village boys for all the reading and writing. Literacy has brought with it a taste of new-found independence for her and 30 other villagers, who have taken time off their daily chores to study. “I don’t know how I was managing till date. Now, I sit with my grandchildren to go over my lessons once in a while, lest I forget what I learnt. Education has made my life much easier,” says Hari Ram (72), of Maina Khera village. While the village is basking in the status of celebrity villagers learning to read and write, inmates of the Sirsa district jail are not ones to be left out. Behind bars for offences ranging from alleged murders to petty thefts, these inmates have made their “stay” at the jail worthwhile by learning to read and write, something that will stand them in good stead long after their sentences are over. A resource person from among the convicts, Bhajan Singh, is at ease in his new role of teacher. “Most of my boys can read and write. Though reluctant to study initially, newcomers become comfortable as they get the hang of the lessons,” he maintains. Most of them in fact, are ready to get their certificate on the successful completion of the three-month capsule. In another corner of the district, where men and women toiling hard to earn their Rs 135 a day under the Union government’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) programme, the news of a literacy programme has just drifted in and there are a few excited faces. A handful only at least for the time being. The district administration has chalked out a plan to impart the basics of education during their two-hour rest. Gradually, the campaign is moving from strength to strength, taking more and more people in its folds. Spearheading the movement staunchly supported by deputy commissioner V Umashakar, Sukhwinder Singh, chief project co-ordinator, says, “Our idea is to create a study environment in the village, take up social issues like sanitation and female foeticide and focus on skill development by delivering lectures on issues touching people’s lives like agriculture, cooking nutritious food, child care and the like. We are targeting the age group of 15-35 years.” With a total of 1,997 classes in 238 of the 333 villages, the literacy programme is likely to reach all villages by the end of this month. “We have formulated our own teaching aids and have a kitty of 7,000 trained volunteers from among the village youth. We can only move forward from here,” he says, sure that the curse of illiteracy will be wiped away with time.
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Inside Babudom
Chandigarh, June 26 While he may have “managed” to move out, there are other officers in the state wanting to go to the Centre despite holding important positions. At least two officers, the additional principal secretary to the Chief Minister, Chattar Singh, and secretary, power, Ashok Lavasa, are said to be keen on They cited family reasons for strengthening their case before the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. However, the CM resolved their problem by giving them an additional charge in Delhi. While Chattar Singh is also the resident financial commissioner, a charge, which was previously held by Lavasa, the latter has now been made the Industries Liason Commissioner. In this way, both officers have been “accommodated” to be able to secure a house in Delhi for their family. However, it’s not for Delhi alone that the “additional-charge-tactics” are resorted to. Officials posted in the district, keen on retaining houses in Chandigarh, too, are given additional charge. Recently, commissioner, Gurgaon, Rajiv Sharma was posted as commissioner of the municipal corporation of Gurgaon. He was also given the additional charge of director, Archives, so that he is able to hold on to his official residence. Deputy commissioner Rohtak, RS Doon, has also been given additional charge from time to time. This practice of giving additional charge to officials to facilitate retention of the house is not new. Interestingly, additional charge is given to officers only for a few days but for long enough that their official residence in Chandigarh continues in their name. Since every official is entitled to retain a house for six months after he is posted out, he is again given another charge before the six-month period lapses.
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SARITA EPISODE
Fatehabad, June 26 It is alleged that the commission could not rise to the occasion, when one expected it to exercise its powers to get justice to the hapless woman and to her family after her tragic death. Most of the women rights activists feel that Sarita’s was the fittest case where the commission should have shown a proactive attitude and helped the woman and her family get justice by taking a suo motu cognizance of the matter. Most of the women activists feel that the chairpersons and the members of the commission are appointed on political considerations and hence this is reflected in their working. However, Sushila Sharma, chairperson of the commission, defends the organisation and says the Sarita issue is being politicised by the opposition parties. Jagmati Sangwan, state president of the All India Women Democratic Association (AIDWA), says the role of the women commission in Haryana has never been what it ought to be. “AIDWA fought long battles for the setting up of a women commission in Haryana. But unfortunately, the respective governments appointed their own favourites in the key positions,” she says. Sangwan says the chairperson appointed by the former Chief Minister was a political activist of his party, who did not refrain from political activities even after her appointment. So is the case of the present incumbent, who has been a functionary of the Congress. The AIDWA activist says that they had demanded a constitutional status for the women commission in Haryana, but it has still not been accorded that status. She alleged that the role of the commission in Haryana had been relegated to functions like distributing sarees to widows and holding some functions. Dr Richa Tanwar, director, Women Studies Centre, Kurukshetra University, said the Sarita incident warranted a proactive approach from the commission. But she is not harsh in her criticism of the commission. Dr Tanwar says the new commission has been constituted only recently and its members and the chairperson will need some time to settle down. The commission chairperson Sushila Sharma rubbishes the allegations of Sangwan and says the Chief Minister had already taken actions that were needed in the case. “Had Sarita come to us, we would not have allowed her to take the extreme step. But no one can allege that the government did not take action against the accused after her death. The Chief Minister did not wait for a second to refer the case to the CBI once the demand was raised,” said Sushila, while talking to The Tribune.
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Police to launch NGO for women in distress
Gurgaon, June 26 Even as the Gurgaon Police Commissionerate has started a “Helpline” for the women facing various forms of distress like eve-teasing, molestation, matrimonial disputes and many more, the move to start the NGO is aimed at empowering women to lead a wholesome life, said DCP (West) Rakesh Arya, an IPS officer, who has played an instrumental role in drafting its constitution. The idea, however, is the brainchild of Gurgaon commissioner of police Mahender Lal. The voluntary response to be a part of the NGO in terms of becoming its founder members is really encouraging. “Even as its registration is in process, we are getting queries by e-mail, telephone and in person from people of different walks of life, age groups and gender. Those wanting to become members include educationists, lawyers, social workers and professionals,” said Arya. Though the NGO will mainly address issues related to women in Gurgaon district, it will also be active in the national capital region. For the funds, the NGO will depend on membership fee and voluntary donations from individuals, institutions and corporate sector as per rules, he added. A team of 21 persons will constitute the governing body, which will work in accordance with the objectives of the society formed for the purpose and look after its administration. Its hierarchical structure will comprise commissioner of police, Gurgaon as its chief patron and his wife as the ex-officio chairperson. In all, it will have nine ex-officio members, including wives of the DCPs of three police districts as well as of DCP headquarters, crime and traffic. All of them will work as advisors. Besides, twelve elected members belonging to different spheres of life, will be part of it. As for its aims and objectives, the NGO will strive to promote safety and security of women as well as take up the issues of vulnerable individuals and groups, besides arranging shelter and food for homeless, widows and other destitute women. Educational campaigns will be organised to sensitise women about various provisions of law and facilities made available by the Central and state governments and other organisations. Other broader tasks include, providing counselling, consultancy and rehabilitation services, legal services, promoting sports and recreational activities, awareness campaigns against foeticide, dowry, domestic violence and other women-related social stigmas.
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Punjabis have their own dharamshala now
Kurukshetra, June 26 In fact, Kurukshetra has many dharamshalas constructed by various communities such as Brahmins, Aggarwals, Jats, Rors, Bairagis, Nais, Bishnois, Gujjars and Paal-Gadaria, Jogi Samaj and others. However, the Punjabis, majority of whom had migrated from West Pakistan in 1947, did not have a dharamshala of their own. It was in 1990 when Ashok Arora was elected as the INLD MLA from Thanesar (Kurukshetra) assembly constituency that the idea of constructing a Punjabi dharmshala started gaining momentum. It is with his efforts that he got allotted a piece of land measuring about 600 sq. yards from Om Prakash Chautala, the then Haryana Chief Minister. But because of the orders of the Supreme Court, the work had to be stopped midway. The Punjabi Samaj Sabha got another piece of land near the Animal Husbandry Hospital in 1995 during the tenure of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who during his regime, also donated a sum of Rs 5 lakh for its construction. Again, the construction could not be completed due to litigation started by a group of local residents. . With the tireless efforts of Arora, the work resumed and Chautala inaugurated the dharamshala on April 13, 2008. According to an estimate, Rs 3 crore, contributed mostly by the Punjabi community, was spent on the project.
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NDRI wants more funds for research
Karnal, June 26 At the review meeting of scientific advisory committee of krishi vigyan kendra (KVK) held here recently, director Dr A.K. Srivastava said that Indian agriculture contributes 18.7 per cent to the national GDP, however only 0.8 per cent was spent on the research in the farm
sector. He said nearly 42 per cent of oilseeds and 12 per cent pulses were being imported in India that further necessitates for undertaking research projects for developing high yielding varieties of these crops and their propagation through the nation wide network of the KVKs. He lauded the role of various KVKs running across the country for organising various programmes to accelerate agricultural production and improving economic status of the farmers.
The director emphasised that integrated and sustainable agriculture, with judicious use of available water resources, is need of the hour and experts of the KVKs in the country should work on developing such sustainable models for bringing prosperity in the rural areas.
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Best is yet to come for this maestro
Chandigarh, June 26 Basking in the glory of two platinum disc awards for his playback in blockbusters ‘Mirza Ghalib’ and film ‘Macchis’, he has not turned complacent but resolved to promote ghazal, folk, classical music and guide music aspirants for filmy-music based reality shows. The Haryana maestro also finds a place in HMV’s ‘ Ghazal ka safar’ album featuring the all-time great
ghazal maestros of India and Pakistan, from KL Saighal to the singer himself. Reciprocating his accomplishments, the state government rightfully conferred the ‘Haryana Gaurav Samman’ on him along with Pandit Jasraj and Sanjay
Dutt. Now, the Haryana Punjabi Sahit Akademy too had honoured Vinod Sehgal with Lokgayak award-2007, which was presented by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister, Haryana.
Sharing his views on music and his achievements with The Tribune, Sehgal reiterates, “music, both classical or folk, is the universal language of mankind “. In fact, the folk music springs from the creative impulse of an individual or a group like the mother singing lullabies, submerged in the affection for her child. It is emotional and passionate while the classical music is sublime which is the result of a long process of collection and assimilation of folk music. Almost all folk music has close affinity with ragas but the singer is blissfully ignorant of that. For instance, ‘Heer’, the slumbering love legend of Punjab, is based on raga bhairavi. “Incidentally, the rendition of Heer , chidiyan da chamba, which I imbibed from Ustad Tuffail Niazi of Pakistan, got me a break in films under music director Hans Raj Behal. However I owe my success as a ghazal or playback singer to the blessed guidance of
my guru Jagjit Singh ji, the ghazal king. Under his direction my dormant abilities and potential blossomed and many hits followed. Films like Laung Da Lishkara, Train To Pakistan, Ravan, Yarana naal baharan, Shaheed Udham Singh, Dildara and many others followed,” says the unassuming singer. My songs in over 30 films in Punjabi and Hindi gave me immense popularity in my region which still rejuvenates me, adds
Sehgal.
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Where CD piracy is a big business
Panipat, June 26 Piracy had been posing a threat to the music industry since its inception and had almost killed the local music industry in the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Hawkers can be spotted at every nook and corner with loads of pirated CDs, ranging from music, films and even computer software, if you wish to buy these at reduced prices. The advances in the technology have made it exceedingly easy for pirates to earn huge profits from the creative efforts of musicians, songwriters and singers and the companies who invest in nurturing and promoting their talents. The pirates, apart from not having to bear any royalty or marketing costs, are depriving the exchequer of crores of rupees. Interestingly, the hawkers selling the pirated stuff, appear to be unperturbed by the law. One of the hawkers said not every one could buy the expensive CDs and thus come to them for cheap alternatives. They have a huge stock of films and music, many being sold as low as Rs 25 per CD. One can even bargain and bring the prices down by offering to buy two or three CDs at a time. According to those in the music industry, piracy has created a big problem for them, as fake CDs are easily available. With no royalties or license fee to pay to film producers or musicians, pirated versions can be sold much cheaper and still handsome margins could be earned. Though piracy calls for the registration of a criminal case, from the number of persons selling pirated CDs here, it is simple to conclude that the law had the least deterring effect. The police, on the other hand, maintain that if the public cooperates with them in identifying sources of pirated CDs, they would not hesitate in taking action, even as these are being sold openly. The proximity of the city to Delhi, where pirated CDs are easily available, makes it more convenient for the hawkers to procure these. According to some, it is the reluctance on the part of the authorities to act which is helping the `business’ to bloom.
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Hookah losing its sheen
Sirsa, June 26 However, with the passage of time, needs and priorities have changed. Youngsters feel hookah is only meant for the old and thus the sale has come down considerably, rued Manhoman, a young hookah maker. He inherited the art of hookahmaking from his father. His is the fourth generation in the vocation. Youngest of the three brothers, he is the only one to have followed the profession.
The diminishing volume of trade forced his brothers to look for other avenues for earning their living. Manmohan makes a living by repairing brass utensils and repairing old hookahs besides selling them. Apart from his shop, four more shops are engaged in making hookahs in the city. They prepare a kind of hookah which is not more than one and a half feet long. In local parlance, it is called kali. Meanwhile, hookahs in large sizes are procured from Moradabad. Its sale is normally confined to rural areas.
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Citizens’ Grievances
Daily passengers demand that more bogies should be attached to the PL train. This local train runs between Panipat and Ludhiana, which are the two big industrial cities of Punjab and Haryana. It is popularly known as ‘dabba’. A large number of people travel daily by it. Commuters complain that this train always remains overcrowded and suggest if two more bogies were attached to it, the problem would be solved.
Surinder Pal Singh Wadhawan,
Shahabad Markanda Need for more CBI courts
The designated court for all CBI cases is situated in Ambala City. All the cases referred to and taken up by the CBI in Haryana, are put up for prosecution in the Special Court. Although there were only few high profile cases investigated and prosecuted by the CBI, in recent years, there has been a spurt in such cases. The Baba Bhaniarawala case, Dera Sacha Sauda Case, Kidney Racket Case and the most recent Delhi ACP Rajbir murder case, are some of them. Whenever the accused or witnesses in such cases are brought here, in view of large security arrangements, the citizens of the city have to feel the heat. It causes a lot of convenience to the daily commuters, who get entrapped in traffic chaos. It is high time that more courts for CBI cases should also be established at other divisional headquarters in addition to Ambala. Hemant Kumar,
Ambala City
Readers, write in
Send in write-ups, not exceeding 200 words, to Haryana Plus, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh. E-mail:
adalat@tribunemail. com
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Movie of the week
Kunal Kohli's latest film under the Yash Raj banner will see a release on Friday at Suraj-Panchkula, Shubham, PVR, SRS 12, SRS 31, INOX (All Faridabad), PVR MGF, PVR Ambi Mall, DTCC, DTMM, PVR Sahara (All Gurgaon), Sun City-Hissar, Minerva-Ambala Cantt, Fun-Panipat, Everest-Rewari, Ashoka-Karnal, Liberty-Rohtak, Fun-Ambala City, Cinemax- Panipat, Lakshmi- Yamunanagar. The story: 'Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic' is a film about love, relationship and family. Reportedly to be a rehash of 'Mary Poppins", it tells the story of four orphans, a businessman and an angel from heaven. Special attraction: Lead stars performance, Kunal Kohli's direction, good compositions from the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics by Prasoon
Joshi. — Dharam Pal
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Producers: Aditya Chopra, Kunal Kohli