Yamunanagar, March 29
Despite a ban, mining continues in the Yamuna, seasonal rivulets and many other places in the district. The mining activities can easily be seen on both sides of the national highway-73A passing through the Khijrabad area.

The plying of tractor-trailers, heavy trucks carrying sand and stones are a common sight on this stretch of the highway.

Many places of the district, including Khijrabad and Chhachhrauli, are a major source of sand and stones for northern states. The six-month mining contracts worth Rs 44 crore for all mining sites of the district were expired on February 28.

In Khijrabad, people involved in the mining work can easily be seen throughout the day while much of the mining activities are performed during night in the Yamuna and seasonal rivulets.

Environmentalists and bird lovers have demanded a complete ban on mining in the district as the wetland area, which is an ideal place for migratory birds and the forest areas for rare species of animals, has suffered intensive damage. The mining in the area has already destroyed much of the natural habitant of birds and also reduced the forest cover.

Meanwhile, the district administration has formed a special task force, headed by the deputy commissioner, to check the menace.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Aggarwal said, “After forming the task force, we have registered seven FIRs against persons involved in illegal mining in Khijrabad. Besides, the task force has been raiding different places during night and has stopped mining activities at several places”.

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administration policies are dedicated to enterprise-friendly administrative procedures, especially for small and medium enterprises, and provide attractive employment conditions and reliability in partnership with business to ensure Bavaria’s global competitiveness,” he maintained.

Kottayil claimed that Bavaria’s geographical location afforded quick and easy access to all European markets while its advanced infrastructure offered investors good mobility and flexibility.

Peter Englert, senior manager, Media and Entertainment Industries Invest in Bavaria, pointed out that Bavaria was one of the Indian strongholds in Germany. “Nearly 70 Indian companies have set up facilities in Bavaria. These include Wipro, Infosys, HCL, Nest and Reddy Laboratories,” he said and added that there were around 6,500 
Indians living in Bavaria.

Quintus Bartscherer, managing director, KoBa-Treuhand GmbH, Munich, said educational, economic and political cooperation between the State of Bavaria and India was bound to strengthen because of their zest to mutually benefit from the globalised economy.

Hisar, March 29
A father-son team hailing from Hisar has bagged the National Film Award for an educational short film on polio prevention awareness.

Gulshan Sachdeva and his son, Aman Sachdeva, received the award from President Pratibha Patil at the recent National Film Awards ceremony in Delhi. The award comprises a silver Lotus memento and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.

Sachdeva, who has directed several popular television serials graduated from the local Government College. He then joined the National School of Drama for a course in acting. Thereafter, he joined Doordarshan as a producer at Jalandhar. After 17 years of producing programmes for Doordarshan, he shifted to Mumbai 
in 1991.

He was patronised by none other than Subhash Chandra of Zee Television, who also hails from Hisar. He directed the popular Aap Ki Adalat programme for Zee TV. He also produced popular TV serials Zanjeeren, Lakeeren and Ravana.

The award-winning short film he produced along with son Aman depicts physically challenged persons motivating parents to give polio drops to their children lest their future generation should meet the same fate.

Sachdeva said Aman was invited for media coverage of a polio campaign in Mumbai. However, when they watched the video clippings, they hit upon the idea of converting it into a short film to create awareness about the polio drops campaign. He said the clippings were dubbed with voice-over and the end result was very encouraging.

Sachdeva's friends who watched the short film were highly impressed and suggested that they enter it for the National Film Award. They sent the entry and forgot all about it till one fine night Aman learnt from the Internet that their entry had been selected for a national award.

Sachdeva, however, feels that the standard of soap operas and reality shows has been going down sharply as TV channels struggle to get higher TRPs. He is particularly critical of reality shows like the controversial Sach Ka Saamana and Swayambar, which served no social purpose as these had no message. Such shows are best avoided.

The father-son duo is of the view that the pursuit of excellence is a long-drawn process which requires any individual to strive for quality and perfection over a lifetime. They say they wish to produce a Haryanavi movie provided the state government extends them a helping hand.

Chandigarh, March 29
Haryana will introduce a number of schemes for its senior citizens during the next financial year. Some of these schemes are Varishth Nagrik Samman Clubs, senior citizens voluntary service association or network and bus fare concession to women senior citizens.

According to Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Geeta Bhukkal, over Rs 1.60 crore has been earmarked to set up the Varishth Nagrik Samman Clubs, to be set up in collaboration with panchayats. A one-time grant will be provided for the purchase of furniture and fixtures.

The scheme has been conceptualised because senior citizens, who constitute 8 per cent of the state’s total population, have been increasingly facing the problem of social isolation. Therefore, a strategy has been adopted to strengthen the additional care system and create new services for social and emotional support to the aged.

Bhukkal says the percentage of persons above 60 years of age is increasing. With the breaking down of the joint family system, there is a trend of withdrawal of family support to elderly persons. Therefore, it is high time to create awareness about their problems in society.

To encourage and motivate senior citizens, the government has a plan to give awards to senior citizens for which Rs 11 lakh has been earmarked in the next annual plan.

The government is also planning to institute senior citizens’ voluntary service association or network for which Rs 18 lakh has been earmarked. The scheme has been formulated to encourage senior citizens to put their talents to use by forming a network or association for offering voluntary services in each district. This network will provide a platform to senior citizens to offer their services in an organised manner and on a regular basis to the district administration and the local authorities for socio-economic development of the district. It will assist in implementation of various government programmes and serve as a channel for communicating with the people on social issues like female foeticide and literacy.

This organisation will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner with ADCs, SDMs and district social welfare officers as its official members. It will include five representatives of senior citizens. Senior women citizens of Haryana domicile will get 50 per cent concession in bus fares in ordinary buses of Haryana Roadways on production of their senior citizen identity cards.

Sirsa/Fatehabad, March 29
Punjabis, particularly those who migrated from parts of erstwhile Punjab (now in Pakistan) during the Partition, constitute a significant population of Haryana.

They are settled in almost all major towns and cities of the state and have been able to carve a niche for itself, although many of the community started from a scratch after the Independence. Meanwhile, political aspirations of the Punjabi community have also risen.

Efforts have been made on several occasions to raise various organisations of the community. Though the ostensible motive behind every such move has been to provide better bargain to the Punjabi community, the hidden forces behind these moves, more often than not, have been luring the vote bank of the community.

All three famous “Lals” of Haryana politics have made such moves in the past and on occasions, have been successful in garnering Punjabi vote bank too.

Former Minister Harpal Singh and AC Chaudhary had been prominent leaders of the Punjabi community from the Congress while INLD state president Ashok Arora has been a prominent Punjabi leader for Om Parkash Chautala.

Several other Punjabi Sabhas led by leaders like Sant Kumar, Subhash Malhotra and Vijay Chaudhary have also been floated from time to time.

Presently, the Panchnad Samiti floated by Swami Dharamdev has also been striving to raise a memorial for those from the community who lost their lives during the Partition.

Rajya Sabha MP Shadi Lal Batra and Hansi MLA Vinod Bhayana are the latest entrants to Punjabi politics and have been campaigning in 10 districts these days for the success of “Punjabi Mahasammelan” to be held in Hisar on April 4.

“We have invited Punjabi community people from Sirsa, Fatehabad, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Mahendragarh, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rohtak and Jhajjar for the April 4 mahasammelan. We will organise another convention for the rest of the districts later on,” said Shadi Lal Batra.

“The event is aimed at exhibiting the strength of the Punjabi community in Haryana so that our interests are not ignored by those in power,” Batra added.

Bhayana said Punjabis were considered a weak community and were sometimes taken for granted.

“Through this event, the Punjabi community will tell others that their aspirations have to be taken care of, if their support is to be sought,” Bhayana said.

Interestingly, like in the past, the chief guest of the mahasammelan is a non-Punjabi leader that is Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Punjabi community will felicitate him for sending a Punjabi (Shadi Lal Batra) to the Rajya Sabha and granting Punjabi language the status of second language in the state.

Kaithal, March 29
On a call given by Bar Council of India (BCI), the advocates here observed “protest day” by wearing red ribbon on left arm recently.

President of the District Bar Association, Kaithal, PL Bhardwaj said the BCI had given a call for this protest to oppose the passing of “The National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill-2010” and “Foreign Education Provider Bill-2010” in their present forms.

The BCI had resolved that legal education must be excluded from the purview of “The National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill-2010” as is done in case of medical education and let the responsibility and duty be allowed to remain with the BCI under the provisions of the Advocates Act.

The BCI is of the opinion that if these Bills were passed in the present form, the foreign firms and foreign advocates may come to India in large numbers and settle down here, thus depriving the legal profession in India for its legitimate claims without sanction of the BCI, as contemplated under the Advocates Act and thereby causing harm to legal profession in India.

Sonepat, March 29
Curtains were brought down on three-day youth festival “expressions” in BPS Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan, on March 25.

The festival witnessed performances by students from all colleges and institutions of the university. In the closing ceremony, political advisor to the Chief Minister Virender Singh was the chief guest. The function was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor Pankaj Mittal. The registrar, deans, heads, principals and faculty members, besides the students, were present in large numbers to motivate the participants.

“Women were so versatile and talented naturally that a little guidance could take them to unsurpassable heights and this university is certainly providing that guidance and refinement to girls ensuring their flight was higher than ever before,” said Virender Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, the VC said extra-curricular activities were a vital part of the overall growth of an individual and helps them to become more disciplined, committed and single minded in their lives. “The university sees such activities as an integral part of the growth process of the girls and hence, such activities are a regular feature in the university contributing to its vision of women empowerment,” she said.

The winners in the poetry recitation were (English) Farhana, (Hindi) Reenu, (Haryanvi) Sonia and (Punjabi) Heena.

Swati took away award for speech in English and Reenu in Hindi. Sonia and Reenu took the award in debate.

Awards in quiz were taken by Anju, Deepika and Suman, collage making by Farhana, poster making by Rafia, mehendi by Gargi, cartoon making by Jyoti, rangoli making by Sushma, skit by Sonia, mime by Deepika and group, best of the waste by Tina and group dance (general) BPSM Girls’ College, (Haryanvi) BPSM Girls’ College.

Rewari, March 29
With the addition of numerous English medium public schools, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, in the past one decade, Rewari district, like most other districts of the state, has virtually witnessed an unstinting growth of such schools.

While the Rewari city as well as the Bawal, Rewari, Khol, Jatusana and the Nahar blocks of the district are now dotted with such co-educational English medium schools, these schools are being run by NGOs and other individuals.

Confronted with fierce competitiveness from rivals, the directors of most of the schools are always on the look out for innovations to gain lucrative approbation from guardians and their wards while endeavouring to carve out a niche for their respective schools in the Ahirwal region.

Sunglow International School, which was established at Gangoli-Saharanwas village, near here, in 2006, is one such school which needs specific mention here.

The school, which lies in sylvan surroundings, is equipped with lodging and boarding facilities and has a staff of 40 teachers. Besides, there are over 1,000 students (from Nursery to class XII), 30 per cent of which are girls.

VP Yadav, founder chairman of the school and a prominent educationist of the region, said with a hike in scholarships, they aspired to boost the number of girl students.

He claimed that they were the pioneer in the region, comprising Rewari and Mahendergrah districts, who had introduced the Smart Class Programme of Educomp Solutions Limited, in their school.

Stating that the programme also enables teachers to use digital resources such as graphics, animations, 3D images and video clips, while delivering lessons in classrooms.

Asserting that it was a forceful educational technology, he said its audio-visual aspect lent efficacy as well as stimulation to the teaching-learning process. He further said teachers had already been imparted training for the conduct of the programme.

Yadav said the school had a rare distinction that its under-17 cricket team would leave for South Africa for 12 days in April, where it would play international cricket matches at Durban and Johannesburg.

Chandigarh, March 29
Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal has protested against the proposed move of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to move out its state training centre for hockey from Kurukshetra to Sonepat district.

In a letter written to SAI Director-General Sayan Chatterjee, Jindal said that Kurukshetra district had over the years acquired an excellent reputation of being the nurturing ground for upcoming hockey players, many of whom have made it to the national level and represented the country at the international level.

He pointed out to Chatterjee that recently he (Jindal) had requested Sindhushree Khullar, Secretary in the Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports, to provide an astro-turf to the Kurukshetra center so that it could be upgraded.

Jindal said he was deeply disturbed that instead of upgrading the centre, the SAI was contemplating to scrap the Kurukshetra training centre and shift it to Sonepat.

Urging Chatterjee to reconsider the decision, Jindal said the district had churned out many match-winning players, especially in hockey, who “are now on the verge of breaking into the big league.” He said recently special motivational campaigns were organised to mobilise the youth to take part in games and sports in the Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency. The response to these campaigns, he said, had been encouraging.

Under the circumstances, he said, if the centre was “abruptly dismantled”, it would be detrimental to the cause of sports and would send out a wrong signal to the young generation. The district might also lose out promising and talented sportspersons.

Kurukshetra, March 29
The state government has expressed confidence that its massive afforestation-cum-tree plantation drive, launched since 2005-06, will make up for the loss of land under forest and tree cover.

The government is also hopeful that the drive would also reverse the decline in the percentage of the covered area recorded by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) Report, 2009.

A forest department spokesman said the intensive campaign had brought more than 1,03,960 hectares under plantation and inched the state closer to the target of 10 per cent of area under forest cover by 2010, set under the Haryana Forest Policy, 2006. Out of its total geographical area of 44.21 lakh hectares, Haryana has forest and tree cover of 3,00,300 hectares.

The FSI Report, published last year, had put the forest and tree cover in Haryana at 6.8 per cent against 7.13 per cent in the last assessment, and said that the forests had lost about 1,000 hectares. The FSI attributed this mainly to the felling of agro-forests on farm lands in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Yamunanagar. However, the report noticed increase in the forest and tree cover in the districts of Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak and Sirsa.

Explaining the rationale behind the optimism of achieving the target of 10 per cent under cover, the spokesman said the FSI Report was based on satellite data for the period October 2006 to March 2007. “Since the satellite data captures images of plants which are more than two-year-old, the report factored in plantations done only up to 2004-05. The effect of the massive plantation drive since 2005-06 would bring Haryana nearer the goal of having 10 per cent of covered area, fixed up to 2010”, he added.

“Between 2005-06 and January-end 2010, more than 1,03,960 hectares of land has been brought under cover and 2397.12 lakh plants have been distributed and planted”, the spokesman disclosed. The results of these efforts will find reflection in the next FSI Report. The forest department is committed to doing everything to achieve the target”, the spokesman added.

“Besides, an agro-forestry scheme has been started this year. Clonal plants of improved varieties will be planted on farmlands free of cost to inculcate the habit of agro-forestry among farmers. They will be given incentives if they protect the plants on their lands”, the spokesman added.

Sonepat, March 29
Marriages of 12 girls were solemnised on March 22 at Divank garden in the town by Shiv Sewa Samiti.

The newly wedded couples were given blessings by SP Mahender Singh Sheoran, BJP MLA Savita Jain, state media in charge of BJP Rajiv Jain and other prominent citizens of the town. Gannaur unit of the Lions Club also arranged marriages of two girls on the same day.

On March 24, Shriram Sharnam Ashram also solemnised the marriage of six girls at a community centre here in Sector-15. According to ashram’s spokesman, the ashram had been organising such marriages for the last 10 years and around 75 marriages were being solemnised every year.

On the same day, Samaj Sewa Samiti also arranged marriages of five girls from different villages at Vinayak Garden. The joint marriage parties reached at the marriage venue from Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan.

All the expenses of these marriages were borne by the organisations and the newly wedded couples were given every necessary articles of domestic and daily use, so that they could make a happy beginning of their married life.

Kurukshetra, March 29
The scope of contract farming has fast expanded during the last four years. Hafed started with 795 acres of land in 2006 and by 2009, it contracted 5,970 acres of 816 farmers in three districts of Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal.

Stating this at a press conference here recently, Hafed spokesperson said the organisation had also implemented a weather-based insurance scheme for the contractual basmati paddy growers.

He added to encourage the farmers, who have entered into a contract, and to motivate others, the Hafed distributed motorcycles to five farmers under contract farming of basmati paddy recently. The scheme has been implemented to appreciate the farmers for their loyalty towards Hafed with respect to the contract farming, he added.

Out of 816 farmers contracted in 2009, as many as 30 farmers were selected who sold their entire basmati paddy to Hafed during 2007-08 and 2008-09. Out of these 30 farmers, five of them were handed over the keys of motorcycles.

Congratulating the farmers, Managing Director of Hafed Anil Malik said Hafed had been doing contract farming for the past four. During the last season, when the rate of 1,121 paddy was very low in the market that was Rs 1600 per quintal, Hafed entered the market to help the farmers and purchased the 1,121 paddy around 10,000 MT due to which the prevailing market rate jumped to Rs 2,200-2,300 per quintal. The farmers should adopt organic farming to get better quality and quantity, he stressed.

Hafed has also made an agreement with the Agriculture Insurance Co of India Ltd to provide weather-based insurance scheme to the contracted basmati paddy growers. This year, 188 acres of land of 42 farmers in the three districts was insured and all of them got insurance claims. Cheques were distributed during the function to the farmers. 

Kurukshetra, March 29
Kurukshetra University recently organised its first-ever workshop on photography, which was attended by participants from all age groups.

Winner of the Lalit Kala National Award and director of Shoots and Shoots Photography Academy, New Delhi, Shayam Prasad informed the participants about the techniques involved in photography and visual aesthetic. Prasad also gave a presentation on the types of camera, framing, sensitivity of sensor/film (ISO, ASA) shutter speed, aperture, etc.

He briefed the participants about camera handling, light, composition and aesthetic sense of photography. He held some outdoor assignments and photography sessions with the students. During the workshop, Pradeep Tewari, photojournalist of the Tribune explained the art of photojournalism. According to him, it is reporting through visuals and a full-fledged skilled work. It is not just clicking but covering more news in a single frame. Visuals enhance the value of news as it is significant for better placement and attractive page make-up.

Tewari emphasised on maintaining a library of photographs with proper cataloging so that recognition of photographs become easier and convenient. The Public Relations Officer of the Government of Haryana, Subash Sapru, also put forth his views on angle of subject, center of interest, lighting, which contribute significantly to the mood of a photograph, sharp focus and overall impact of image. He also defined various types of photography in media like travel and nature photographies. He said nature’s images and travel photography must be story telling and should have a human element. Photographer should depict the unaltered reality.

Students also seized the opportunity by interacting with the guests with regards to queries on photography.

Panipat, March 29
Bringing this industrial town on a par with some of the most advanced cities of the world as far as medical treatment is concerned, a local doctor here has introduced a modified double channel flexible ureterorenoscope for removal of kidney stones for the first time in India.

Minister for Transport and Tourism Om Prakash Jain inaugurated the latest facility, a new state-of-the-art and an ultra-modern operation theatre complex for no hole surgery of kidney stones and advanced laparoscopic cancer surgery at RP Stone Clinic here recently.

The minister lauded the efforts put in by Dr Pawan Kumar Gupta and said the state government would be recommending his name for Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of medical science.

Dr SK Singh, professor in urology at PGIMS, Chandigarh, said Dr Gupta had earned accolades at international level, too, and therefore deserved to be decorated with suitable awards for his relentless efforts in bringing new research and experiments in the field of urology.

In 2006, Dr Pawan was invited by the Urological Society of India to demonstrate his experience on flexible ureterorenoscopy at its 39th Annual Conference held at Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi.

He was also invited to demonstrate the procedure of the ureterorenoscopy at PGI, Chandigarh, and XV Annual Conference of Northern Chapter of Urological Society of India in 2005.

Dr Gupta also holds the distinction of being the first urologist in the world to conduct clinical trials on the smallest Semirigid ureteroscope manufactured by Richard Wolf Gmbh, Germany.

He also has the credit of organising the India’s first workshop on Flexible Ureterorenoscopy at his clinic in 1998 under the aegis of North Zone Chapter of Urological Society of India which was graced by International luminaries like Dr AJ Gross (Germany), Dr David Albala (USA), Dr Mahesh Desai and Prof NP Gupta.

He even revolutionised the treatment of kidney stones in the state by introducing of extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy, PCNL and ureterorenoscopy with holmium laser in the 1990s.

Rewari, March 29
The annual function “Expression-2010” of Somany Institute of Technology and Management (SITM) was held on the college campus here recently.

MP V Hanumant Rao, secretary of the All-India Congress Committee; Kuldeep Singh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Delhi; Dr Ranjit Singh, former Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa; and noted comedian Khiali Ram were among the distinguished guests.

The institute, which was established by the RD Somany Shikshan Sansthan in 2001, has a strength of over 1,800 students coming from different states. SITM offers B Tech, M Tech as well as MBA courses in various disciplines.

V Hanumant Rao said late RD Somany, a freedom fighter of the Rewari region, had made a humble beginning in the domain of education by establishing a high school here in 1945. It was creditable that his legacy had been catapulted on a lofty pedestal through the engineering college here.

Former Vice-Chancellors KC Bhardwaj and Sarvadanand Arya exhorted the students to achieve brilliance in their respective disciplines.

Dr Vijay Somany, founder chairman of the SITM, announced that the management had decided to provide education free of cost to one ward each of the families of its permanent employees.

While students of the college presented a colourful cultural programme comprising Qawwali, Bhangra, Rajasthani dance and instrumental music. Students who had achieved distinction in academics, sports and other extra-curricular activities were honoured as well.

Panipat, March 29
Students of the Samalkha Group of Institutes (SGI) did their institute proud by bagging the top slot at 'Radiance', a technical competition organised by the Mechanical Engineers' Society of the IIT, Bombay, from March 12 to 14.

Winners from 15 zones of the country participated in the event. Four students, Neeraj, Vaibhav, Nirban and Rahul, of the SGI, Samalkha, participated in "Robotryst" and won the first prize.

Dr Rajesh Goel, director of the institute, said the institute had set up a special research lab to help students work on various projects using knowledge attained through academics. — TNS