Chandigarh, April 13
Information commissioner of Haryana Ashok Mehta, in a landmark decision, has ordered the state government to pay compensation of Rs 20,000 to one of its own officers.

The decision has come in two separate cases filed before the commission by Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an officer of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) of the Haryana cadre, against the office of the financial commissioner, forest.

The commissioner has provided compensation of Rs 10,000 each in the two cases in view of the harassment suffered by the officer.

Chaturvedi had sought information regarding a charge sheet issued to him by the department from the financial commissioner, forest, under the Right to Information Act, 2005, in January 2008, and June 2008. However, in both cases, the state public information officer (SPIO) failed to provide necessary information within the mandatory period of 30 days. Even the first appellate authority did not decide the matter within the mandatory 30 days. The officer moved the state information commission. After the commission issued notice to the department, some of the questions of Chaturvedi were answered. But the applicant told the commission that the information was either incomplete or incorrect.

When the department failed to supply necessary information despite repeated directions of the commission, the latter ordered the payment of compensation to Chaturvedi under Section 19(8)(b) of the Act. Mehta has also issued notice to the SPIO under Section 20(1) of the Act asking him to explain why fine should not be imposed on him. He also directed the department to provide all information sought by the applicant, free of cost, within 20 days. The commissioner also severely criticised the role of the first appellate authority for its failure to decide the appeal within the stipulated period.

The information commission can impose a penalty up to Rs 25,000 on the SPIO or deemed SPIO in case of delay or denial of information . It can also recommend disciplinary proceeding against SPIO. Though the commission has the power to direct the public authority concerned to pay compensation to an applicant, it generally imposes penalty on the SPIOs. In this sense, the present case is a rare case.

The suspension of Chaturvedi was revoked by a presidential order in January 2008, when the state government failed to provide documentary evidence in support of the suspension order to the Central government.

Panipat, April 13
A steep rise in demand for cotton threads has rekindled hopes for yarn producers of the state of recovering from the slowdown, which, at one point of time, had put the industry in a tight spot.

According to market sources, the rates of cotton threads have been steadily rising for the past one month due to the rise in demand from the spinning industry. However, the arrival of cotton in the markets has been negligible which has pushed up the prices of threads.

Thread producers have already hiked the prices of polyester yarn by Rs 1 per kg while the prices of staple yarn have been increased by Rs 4 per kg. The sources say that the enhancement in prices has definitely brought cheers to the yarn industry. Reliance Industries, which is a major provider of polyester has also increased the rates by Rs 1 per kg. On the other hand, the imposition of anti-dumping duty on the polyester being imported has also contributed to the rise in the prices.

There has been an increase of Rs 10 to 12 per kg in the prices of acrylic which has delighted the local yarn industry.

The price hike has also pushed the cotton prices in the state and the neighbouring state of Punjab. There is a 13 per cent increase in the prices of the cotton as the local spinners have been asking for more raw materials so that they can capitalise on the rising tide of prices. The rise is helping the spinners protect their margins which have gone up by 13 to 15 per cent.

At present, the cotton prices stand at Rs 2,295 to 2,320 per maund (one maund is equal to 37.324 kg) as compared to Rs 2,035 to 2,080 per maund one month ago. The prices in Punjab are at Rs 2,330-2,380 per maund as against Rs 2,100-2,140 per maund in March, say local traders.

Hisar, April 13
All major parties in Haryana are entering the fray nursing wounds caused by disgruntled leaders. Although senior leaders argue that this is a normal phenomenon before every election, there is little doubt that the wounds this time are deeper and far more painful.

The Congress which appears to be on a strong wicket, is not yet a fighting fit team with senior ministers like Finance Minister Birender Singh and A. C. Chaudhary fuming and grumbling for different reasons though. While Birender Singh is peeved at being denied party ticket from the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency, Chaudhary has shot off his resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi alleging no Punjabi had been given a ticket this time.

Given the political culture of the Congress, both leaders are unlikely to do anything that affects the party prospects, but, the tear on the body will at best be sutured leaving a scar behind.

The Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) is only fielding its patron former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal from Hisar. However, the nascent organisation has suffered serious wounds in the pre-poll intra-party battles. The latest to rebel is senior leader Mani Ram Keharwala from Sirsa, who has quit in a huff after being denied the ticket. Keharwala is no pushover and if left wounded in the political jungle, he may well end up hurting many others.

Over the past few months, as the HJC failed to tie up with any other party, there have been mass scale desertions from the party. Among them leaders like Hari Singh Saini are likely to cause much damage to its poll prospects. The desertions which were spread across all district units will also prove detrimental.

The Indian National Lok Dal and the Bhartiya Janata Party are not unaffected by the trend. The wounds caused by the two parties’ last poll alliance which had an ignominious ending five years ago, had not yet healed when an alliance was forced on their grassroots workers again.

The result is that the fresh alliance has only served to reopen old wounds. Thus far, there has been little evidence of grassroots workers of the two parties bonding enough to compliment their respective efforts to ensure that the alliance candidates win.

As a result, the physical health of political parties has resulted in an uncharacteristically tardy beginning to their campaigns. The delay in finalisation of lists of party nominees has also contributed to the slow start.

The senior party leaders are currently busy dressing wounds and offering comfort and solace. But as with physical wounds, the medicament is causing burning sensations in political wounds.

Sonepat, April 13
RHUCHI, a school run by a non-profit voluntary organisation, Red Cross Hindu Institute for the Education and Rehabilitation of Mentally Retarded Children, has made a difference to the lives of special children.

The school started with eight children in February 1994, in two rooms of the District Red Cross Society. The number of children has increased to 53 now.

The main aim behind establishing this institute was early diagnosis and evaluation of mental retardation and to provide individual educational programmes for each child tailored especially for his needs and abilities. “It is our desire that each mentally challenged child should reach his full potential and become integrated into society,” said Man Mohan Goyal, director of RHUCHI.

Now, its campus comprises 16 rooms, an open playground with swings and other entertainment and playing facilities. It is spread over one acre , which was donated by the society. Besides parental counselling, home training and early intervention programmes, facilities like psychological testing, special education, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, socio-cultural and domestic skill training, pre-vocational and vocational training are made available in the institute.

Trained teachers,a clinical psychologist,a speech therapist,a physiotherapist,an occupational therapist and a vocational instructor, all are backed by a panel of experienced doctors from Hindu Charitable Hospital.

Besides a music room,a play room, an art room,a physiotherapy room, a speech therapy room, there is a vocational training room where the children are trained in various activities like candle-making on the eve of festivals. “The children are being trained in screen printing and file making since 2007, and such training will certainly help the children in their life,” remarked Sonia Arora, in charge, RHUCHI,

Pallavi (14), a student of RUCHHI, suffered from night blindness by birth and about five years ago she became a victim of brain hemorrhage resulting in total paralysis. After her care and guidance in RHUCHI for the past five years, she has started walking again with the help old calipers and there is also an improvement in coordinating her body actions.

Secretary of the District Red Cross Society informed that the society provided every possible assistance, including arranging tours, providing helping aids and other material for the children of this institute.

Chandigarh, April 13
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has expressed its concern over what it described as “increasing incidents of ransom demands” being made by the criminals in the state.

In a statement issued here today, secretary-general of the INLD Ajay Singh Chautala alleged that due to lackadaisical approach of the Hooda government towards the law and order situation, criminals were having a free hand. They had been emboldened enough to openly demand ransom from businessmen, professionals and other rich persons in society, spreading panic in the state.

He said the criminals made ransom calls to a financer and a doctor in Pehowa in Kurukshetra district. Similarly, two traders were shot dead in Gurgaon and Narnaul, when they refused to pay money to the criminals.

Alleging that in the past four years the crime graph in the state had gone up tremendously, Chautala said widespread corruption in the police was responsible for it. He alleged that the police stations were being put on auction for posting of SHOs, who had to pay to their bosses every month.

Realising that the police was incapable of protecting them, Chautala said the businessmen and other persons had started paying “protection money” to the criminals to save their lives and property. The INLD leader said the law and order situation in the state was now worse than that in UP and Bihar.

Yamunanagar, April 13
With a view to reducing the crime rate in the state and putting habitual offenders involved in serious crimes behind bar, DGP RS Dalal has directed all SPs to move court seeking the cancellation of their bail.

The decision of the DGP came after finding that accused in many cases, after getting bail, are caught again in similar crimes. So, it has been considered viable to prevent the criminals from getting involved in serious crimes after getting bail.

Confirming the directions issued by the DGP, SP Vikas Arora said, “We have identified 16 cases of habitual offenders in different cases and moved a plea for the cancellation of their bail.”

“A resident of Jagadhari was first caught in a rape case and after getting bail, he was again caught in an abduction case. So, following the police plea, the bail of the accused was cancelled and he was put behind bars,” he added.

“If any criminal is caught second time in crime, then we should move for the cancellation of his bail in the old case so that he could be put behind bars and could not move out easily,” the SP said.

Nuh (Mewat), April 13
It's a place where devotion towards the almighty merges with the scenic beauty of a hilly countryside. The Nalheshwar Shiv Mandir is located just 3 km from Nuh amidst the magnificent Aravali hills.

One has the feeling of travelling to a hill station as soon as one leaves Nuh and moves towards the temple surrounded by the picturesque peaks.

As far as the religious significance of the place is concerned, there is a Kadam tree on the hill overseeing the temple. As per the Hindu mythology, these trees are found only at those sites that have been visited by Lord Krishna. It is also believed that the Pandavas had also stayed here for some time.

A mystical small water source (kund) situated at the base of the Kadam tree here is filled with fresh natural mineral water, which is also a big source of attraction for the devotees 
as well as other curious visitors.

The kund appears to contain a small quantity of water, but as soon as one takes out a full vessel out of it, the water stock is replenished within no time. The temple has a unique natural shivling that bears images of Om, Lord Ganesha, the Ganga, a snake and a janeu. As of now, the temple is being managed by the Shri Shiv Rudra Jan Kalyan Sanstha, Mojowal, Nangal Dam, Punjab.

"The place was in ruins when it was discovered by Swami Gyan Giri, who, with the help of local villagers, got the temple made and shivling installed therein," said head of the managing body of the temple Gurcharan Singh Malik.

The temple is thronged by a large number of devotees especially at the time of Shivratri, said Malik. “This time, as many as 376 married women brought kalashes to the temple barefoot from Nuh. Community meals are also arranged for thousands of devotees on such auspicious occasions,” he added.

People from far and wide come here to pay obeisance and get their wishes fulfilled. Interestingly, a number of local residents use the temple hall to settle the matrimonial alliances of their children, as they believe that the matches sought here always mature and succeed. The temple management now plans to build a hospital on its premises for the benefit of the people of the nearby areas. 

Rewari, April 13
Lord Bhairon’s annual fair concluded at Bas Dooda village in Rewari district recently. The district police , the Bhairon Sewa Samiti, the Mela Samiti and village elders had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the fair.

While a makeshift police post with a number of women constables had been set up to keep surveillance on anti-social elements, adequate drinking water and lighting arrangements were also made for the convenience of the devotees. Several lakh devotees, including women and children, from various parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other states participated. — OC

Ambala, April 13
Nothing has had the Indian public more excited in recent times than the much-awaited Tata Nano car. The small and cute car has finally made its debut. The excitement has now increased with the opening of bookings for Nano, which will continue till April 25.

In Ambala, however, the response is muted. More dominated by the rural population, Tata Motors’ dealer here has received over 2,000 inquiries, while only 90 have booked the car so far.

According to figures available from Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal, over 250 bookings have been done till April 11. The figures are expected to increase to at least double by the closing of the bookings.

The sale of the application forms began from April 1. The Tata Nano website has recorded over 50 million hits, including over 20 million hits in the fortnight since its launch on March 23. Booking forms are available at a price of Rs 300, but for online booking they are available for Rs 200.

The forms can be bought at over 30,000 locations in about 1,000 cities through Tata Motors passenger car dealerships, State Bank of India and its branches, its subsidiaries and associates, other preferred financiers and outlets of Westside Croma, World of Titan and Tata Indicom exclusive stores.

Customers can pay the entire booking amount of Rs 95,000 for Tata Nano Std, Rs 1,20,000 for Tata Nano Cx, and Rs 1,40,000 for Tata Nano Lx.

Tata Motors has also entered into an agreement with five insurance companies to offer comprehensive insurance under the Tata Motors insurance banner for Nano at the rate of 2.76 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the car. The empanelled insurance companies are National Insurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Royal Sundaram Alliance General Insurance, United India Insurance and HDFC Ergo General Insurance. 

Chandigarh, April 13
To provide easy justice to villagers at the doorstep, the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HSLSA) has started holding rural lok adalats at different places in the state.

A spokesman of the authority said lok adalats would be held at Girwar (Rohtak) on April 18 and at Nai (Firozpur Jhirka), Mehlanwali (Yamunanagar), Balalpur (Hisar), Nimriwali (Bhiwani), Jajwan (Jind), Sacha Khera (Narwana), Nakloi (Sonepat), Bawania (Mahendragarh), Bound Kalan (Bhiwani), Gugodh (Rewari), Sher (Bhiwani), Chudani (Bahadurgarh), Malikpur (Safidon), Kanthala (Pehowa), Shikhpur (Ganaur), Rajound (Kaithal), Mahra (Gohana), Jyotisar (Kurukshetra) and Dharamkheri (Hansi) on April 19.

On April 20, rural lok adalats would be held at Kalod village (Siwani) and at Ayalki (Fatehabad), Akanwali (Tohana), Alawalwas (Raita), Chandouli (Panipat) and Chautala (Dabwali) on April 25. The adalats would be held at Devli (Palwal), Rewasan (Nuh), Deroli Ahir (Narnaul), Rasoi (Sonepat) and Kamherhi (Guhla) on April 26.

The spokesman said the adalats would be held at Faridpur (Faridabad), Rathdhana (Sonepat) and Baba Ladana (Kaithal) on May 3; at Sambhli (Karnal) on May 9; at Badram (Palwal), Mohammad Dass (Firozpur Jhirka), Bilaspur (Yamunanagar), Prem Nagar (Bhiwani), Sahajpur (Sonepat), Jahazgarh (Jhajjar), Paintawas Kalan (Charkhi Dadri), Ajrawar (Pehowa), Malai (Hathin) and Sisai (Hansi) on May 10; at Ajaib (Meham) on May 16; at Sikarpur (Nuh), Chikanwas (Hisar), Bishanpura (Jind), Loan (Narwana), Tikali (Gurgaon), Halalpur (Sonepat), Sarsehri (Ambala), Buchawas (Mahendragarh), Riwar (Guhla), Misri (Charkhi Dadri), Karsindhu (Safidon), Larsuli (Ganaur), Bandrala (Assandh) and Garhi Ujale Khana (Gohana) on May 17.

On May 23, the adalats would be held at Pasina Khurd (Panipat), Ahlisadar (Fatehabad), Baliawala (Tohana), Alipur Barota (Ratia) and Masitan (Dabwali) while these would be held at Amroli (Palwal), Bihali (Narnaul), Murthal (Sonepat), Chamaria (Rohtak), Tumna (Kosli), Budhera (Loharu), Parnala (Bahadurgarh) and Khain (Kurukshetra) on May 24; at Kalod (Siwani) and Pali (Faridabad) on May 25; and at Raipur Rani (Panhckula) and Kanwali (Sonepat) on May 31.

The adalats would be held at Nidana (Meham) on June 6; and at Puhwari (Palwal), Hamidpur (Narnaul), Tejli (Yamunanagar), Muklan (Hisar), Duleri (Bhiwani), Rai (Sonepat), Maraut (Jhajjar), Pathera (Mahendragarh), Duserpur (Guhla), Badhra (Bhiwani), Badsa (Jhajjar), Kalsa (Pehowa), Ghasauli (Sonepat), Khilluka (Hathin), Kheri Damkan (Gohana), Ram Saran Majra (Kurukshetra) and Milakpur (Hansi) on June 7.

The Lok Adalats would be held at Beholi (Panipat) on June 13 and at Malab (Nuh), Agon (Gurgaon), Buroli (Rewari), Manoharpur (Jind), Kharal (Jind), Pinjore (Panchkula), Karewari (Sonepat), Ranila (Bhiwani) Juddi (Rewari), Barwas (Loharu), Budha Khera (Safidon), Taragarh (Kaithal) and Navada (Faridabad) on June 14.

Gurgaon, April 13
The people of the cyber city seem to have woken up to save their children from polio as the district surpassed its target in administering the vaccine to children below five years of age during the pulse polio round which concluded here.

According to the health department, during this round, polio drops were administered to 3,14,916 children as against the target of 3,12,484, which comes out to be 100.78 per cent of the target.

The joint efforts of the district administration and health authorities bore fruit with the active support of the parents, although the force behind this achievement is Dr Vishesh, who has been pinpointing shortcomings in every round. He is a WHO representative in the city, looking after the progress of polio campaigns in six districts, including Gurgaon.

The support and motivation provided by deputy commissioner Deepti Umashankar in achieving this distinction also cannot be denied as she has been taking a keen interest in social issues.

Umashankar has thanked the parents for their cooperation. She said, “Though administering polio drops to children is in their interest, people used to take it callously. But this time, it seems that the people of Gurgaon have waged a war against polio, which helped the district in achieving the target.” She has also congratulated the health authorities for putting in concerted efforts to make the district polio-free because it is a challenge before the authorities in the wake of a large number of migratory population here.

As per the report of the health department, the Gurgaon village primary health centre areas have recorded the highest number of 73,180 children who were given polio drops against the target of 65,532 children, which comes out to be 111.67 per cent of the target. Similarly, in the Farrukhnagar community health centre areas, polio drops were administered to 10,387 kids against the target of 10,026.