Chandigarh, July 7
The Technical Education Department of Haryana has stepped in to plug some of the loopholes in the post-matric scholarship (PMS) scheme for Scheduled Caste students of diploma or degree level technical institutions.

There had been widespread complaints that certain private institutions were misusing the scheme. Since the reimbursement of fee is ensured, under the scheme, in the absence of general category students, these institutions would go overdrive in admitting SC students. Once the students were admitted, no attention was paid to their regularity in attending the classes or their performance.

Under the new rules, though the benefits of the PMS scheme would be admissible to all SC students admitted through centralised counselling or at the institute level, these would be limited to 40 per cent of the total students admitted in the institutes. The selection of the beneficiaries would be based on the merit of the prescribed entrance exam and then on the basis of the merit of the qualifying exam.

As the condition of passing the math and science examinations in matriculation has been waived off by the Haryana State Board of Technical Education, the students admitted provisionally and now declared eligible with this relaxation would also be entitled for the PMS scholarship. These directions would be applicable only for those students who were admitted during 2010-11.

The scholarship would be paid directly in the saving accounts of the beneficiaries. The scholarship would be paid semester-wise in two instalments after verification of the relevant documents. The students seeking scholarships under the scheme must ensure a minimum of 70 per cent attendance in the semester concerned. If any malpractice was observed or reported, biometric attendance would be made compulsory in the institute.

From 2011-12 onwards, scholarship of subsequent semesters, except in the first semester, would be released only to those SC students

who pass at least 50 per cent of the theory exams of the previous semester in the first attempt, failing which the scholarship for that semester would stand forfeited. In the final year of diploma engineering courses, the scholarship for the SC students may not be entertained until he or she cleared the first semester or second semester to avail the scholarship for the fifth and sixth semesters, respectively.

According to Minister for Technical Education Mahendra Pratap Singh, the department would conduct intensive checking and inspections during the session. The scholarship would be released only after verification of the records of the admitted students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the minimum attendance and physical presence of the SC students in the examination. Income certificate would be taken only once at the time of the admission.

Sirsa, July 7
A multi-pronged strategy adopted by the Agriculture Department in Haryana is behind the improvement in the production of wheat in the state.

Haryana has been selected for the Best Performing State Award under wheat for 2010-11 and the award would be presented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the ICAR foundation day on July 16 in New Delhi.

“Wheat is the main foodgrain crop of Haryana and very important for the food security of the country. Food security in India is synonymous with wheat production. Hence, consistent efforts were made to increase wheat production to meet our ever increasing demand despite numerous challenges such as factor productivity decline, high cost of inputs, poor soil health, low quantity and quality of water and adverse impacts of climate change,” said Ashok Kumar Yadav, director general, Agriculture Department, Haryana, while talking to The Tribune.

He said an area of 24 lakh to 25 lakh hectares was generally cultivated under wheat crop in the state.

During 2008-09, wheat production reached 113.60 meteric tonnes (MT) with productivity of 4,614 kg per hectare, which was the highest in the country. Resultantly, the state could contribute 69.2 lakh MT of wheat to the Central foodgrain pool, which is the second highest after Punjab, Yadav said.

Timely sowing, seed treatment, increased seed replacement rate with focus on location-specific varieties, balanced use of fertilisers, efficient use of water, weed management and effective and timely management of insect and pest were pursued as a campaign to improve the production and the productivity of the crop.

Location-specific varieties were promoted.

Certified seed of varieties like DBW-17, WH-542 and PBW-550 were promoted in the eastern part of the state to minimise the impact of yellow rust and terminal heat. WH-147, PBW-343, UP-2338 and Raj-3765 were promoted in the southwestern part of the state, said the director general.

Haryana is the first and the only state in the country to ensure 100 per cent treatment of certified seed of wheat produced by the government as well as private seed producers during Rabi 2010-11. About nine lakh quintals of certified seed of wheat was treated on which Rs.10 crore were provided as subsidy.

It is because of these initiatives that 2010-11 witnessed record production of 116.30 lakh MT of wheat and registered highest productivity of 4,624 kg per hectare, which is ever highest in the history of the state.

Other initiatives the department has taken included promotion of underground pipeline and sprinkler sets; promotion of summer moong in 40,000 hectares in 2011-12; summer moong targeted to be promoted in one lakh hectare in 2012-13 and promotion of green manuring (dhaincha) in one lakh hectare, he said.

Yadav claimed that the Haryana model had acquired acceptance in other states for mapping fertility maps for each village, preparation of soil and water health cards with pertinent recommendation about the kind and dosage of fertilisers to be used.

Gurgaon, July 7
With the intervention of Haryana Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, the three-month standoff between the workers and management of Omaxe Auto Ltd, Dharuhera, has been resolved.

The minister listened to the versions of both sides at a marathon meeting which went on here for more than 20 hours and concluded on Wednesday.

SN Kaushik, Gaurav and DP Yadav signed the settlement agreement on behalf of the company management while Satyapal Singh, Subhash Singh, Kunwarpal Singh, Surender Singh Bhati, Akhilesh Kumar and Manmohan Dubey signed on behalf of the workers.

The terms and conditions of the agreement will be applicable on all permanent employees of the company till March 31, 2014. Under section 12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, the company would increase the salary of every permanent worker by about Rs 6,350 in a phased manner during the settlement period.

The management has also agreed to enhance the number of permanent employees in the company. Under this, 79 temporary employees would be adjusted as company casuals in three years. Company casuals would be converted into permanent after one year.

Both parties agreed on the issues of the constitution of a welfare society and providing general incentive. The society will comprise four members elected by the workers’ union and three from the management side.

As per the agreement, on the sale of Rs 39 crore, an incentive of Rs 500 would be given to each worker and thereafter, on the sale of Rs 1 crore, an additional incentive of Rs 100 per worker would be paid. Also, Rs 100 per labourer would be deducted on the reduction of sale by Rs 1 crore.

The night allowance of the workers would be increased and the labourers would get an annual increase at a fixed rate of 8.5 per cent. The staffers would be entitled to an additional increment of 2 per cent in case of promotion. The workers assured the management that during the period of agreement, they would not resort to strike, tool-down or slow work. 

Kurukshetra, July 7
To ban manufacture, sale, distribution and use of polythene carry bags and to enforce the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the state government has notified various officers as the prescribed authority in the areas of their respective jurisdiction.

Deputy Commissioner CG Rajinikanthan said the prescribed authorities comprised District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, DDPO, SDM, City Magistrate, XEN (Public Health), DFSC, DTP, estate officer (HUDA), tehsildar and naib tehsildars, executive officer/ secretary, Municipal Committee/Council, BDPOs and officers of the Haryana Pollution Control Board.

Rajinikanthan said the government, through the Environment Department, had published a notification dated January 3, 2011 under the provisions of the Act giving directions for ban on manufacture, sale, distribution and use of plastic carry bags, plates, cups, tumblers and spoons made of plastic in religious places, public parks, wildlife and national parks as well as for ban on the manufacturing of containers made of recycled plastic for storage, carriage or packing of food stuffs.

However, the containers made of virgin plastic of natural shade or white can only be used for storage and packing of food stuff, while for the purposes other than storing and packing of food stuffs, the containers made of recycled plastic shall be manufactured as per the ISI standards, he added.

Rajinikanthan said under Section 4 of the notification, penalties would be levied to manufacturers of plastic carry bags from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, to retailers, wholesalers, vendors Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 and to individuals found littering plastic carry bags/ plastic articles Rs 250 to Rs 500.

He said, “Polythene carry bags are not biodegradable and are known to have serious environmental problems. Such waste causes blockage of gutters, sewerage system and drains. They are serious health hazards if eaten by cattle. Polythene has also adverse effects on the fertility of soil, while burning of plastic or polythene emits undesirable gases which may be carcinogenic in nature and cause air pollution.”

Yamunanagar, July 7
The Rotary Club of Yamunanagar has donated a funeral van to the Shri Yamuna Ji Ghat Cremation Ground Trust at a function organised here recently.

Gita Bharti, additional deputy commissioner, Yamunanagar, handed over the vehicle to the members of the trust. Speaking on the occasion, she said: “Death is a bitter truth of life and we do not realise that this day will come in everyone's life. Due to the lack of time, people do not participate in funeral procession and straightaway reach to graveyard”.

She said it was very difficult to carry dead bodies on shoulders. Bharti said: “We should not forget our etiquettes and traditions while sharing our feelings with the bereaved families”.

She clarified that the vehicle should not be misused at any cost and it should be provided free of cost to the needy and poor communities of the city.

She said the administration could not do everything alone and it was the demand of the time that people through NGOs and clubs should join hands with the local administration for such noble causes.

She appreciated the working system of the club for serving the community. Amandeep Singh, president of the Rotary Club, said bereaved families could avail the services of the van by dialling 98960-11077 and 98962-76257. Dr KN Kapoor, Vijay Babbar, Mukesh Agarwal, Hemant Jain, Madan Lal Jain, Dharmpal Gupta, Parbodh Puri, Sanjeev Goyal, Sandeep Goylat, Bhushan Arya and Purshotam Paruti were also present on the occasion.

Ambala, July 7
Union Minister for Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has directed the Ambala Municipal Corporation officials to take steps to ensure that the solid waste management plant of the corporation is put to use soon.

The Union Minister visited the corporation office yesterday and was surprised to see that the solid waste management plant was not being used.

The minister directed the district administration to take prompt steps to complete flood-control measures. She said this was important as some reports had pointed out that there was panic in the minds of the residents of the twin towns that they could face the fury of floods as preventive measures to check these had not been completed so far.

Selja directed the Municipal Corporation officials to pull down unauthorised structures in the main markets and in the residential colonies, both in Amabla City and Ambala Cantt. She asked the law- enforcing agencies to provide a suitable back-up and protection to the anti-encroachment squads.

The Union Minister asked the Civil Hospital authorities to complete the trauma centre in the Ambala City hospital. She said the trauma centre needed to be completed so that the special grant of Rs 6 crore could be sought from the Central Government for further upgradation of the trauma centre.

The minister also directed the Health Department particularly the Civil Surgeon to ensure that the expecting mothers and those who delivered babies were not put to any inconvenience. She said the department should also ensure that birth certificates in the case of newborns were issued without the parents making rounds of the hospital or the Municipal Corporation.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Pal Srow apprised the Union Minister of the progress of development works now under way in the district.

Ambala, July 7
The New York State Senate recently felicitated spiritual guru Kumar Swami during his visit to the US. He is the first person to receive such an honour in the US. He delivered an invocation at the opening of the session of the Senate on April 27.

The Senate, for the first time, passed a resolution, welcoming and commending Kumar Swami on his continuous contribution to the mankind, making the world a better place.

He was also felicitated at a special ceremony at the Nassau County Legislature for members of the Indian-American community. This ceremony was attended by Senator Jack M Martins, who presented a special Senate Proclamation in honour of Brahmrishi Kumar Swami and proclaimed April 29,2011 as "Brahmrishi Shri Kumar Swami Day" in New York.

According to Sushil Verma, a spokesperson for the Dham, incurable diseases have been cured by Shri Kumar Swami through the secrets of ancient traditional science. Those who had lost all hope in life have regained their hope to live.

Rewari, July 7
Violent land disputes are on the rise in the district. Two such clashes, in which seven persons were injured, have been reported from two different villages in the district in the past 24 hours.

In a dispute, that arose between the families of Ram Singh Prajapat and his elder brother Hari Ram Prajapat over the division of residential property at Nangal Teju village near Bawal recently, six members of the Ram Singh faction were injured after they were attacked by members of the Hari Ram faction, who were armed with lethal weapons.

Meanwhile, the Bawal police has registered a case of rioting, causing hurt, criminal trespass and criminal intimidation against Hari Ram, his wife Krishna Devi and eight others.

In a second incident, when Rajesh Gujjar opposed the unlawful occupation of a disputed plot, he was attacked by Dharam Pal Gujjar and other members of his family at Salhawas village, near Kasaula, recently. On a complaint filed by the injured Rajesh, the Kasaula police, which registered a case of rioting, causing hurt, wrongful restraint, disobedience to lawful order and criminal intimidation, against Dharam Pal and seven others, has arrested Dharam Pal.

He was recently produced in the court of JMIC Ishwar Dutt Sharma who remanded him in judicial custody.

Rewari, July 7
INLD supremo and former CM Om Prakash Chautala has asserted that there was no government worth the name in Haryana, while alleging that most functionaries of the ruling clan, whose prime duty was to provide protection and security to the masses, had virtually turned into raiders.

Addressing a press conference here recently, he said while the nefarious designs of these ruling mandarins were on the increase, there seemed to be no respite for the law-abiding citizens.

Describing the murder of Karam Singh, sarpanch of Kambopura village in Karnal district, on June 7, as a blot on the state government , Chautala said it was all the more shameful that the shady dealings of the then Transport Minister Om Prakash Jain and the then chief parliamentary secretary Zile Ram Sharma led to its commission.

Demanding their direct implication in the above case of murder, the INLD chief sought immediate arrest of the duo as well.

Highlighting the murder of Rakesh, sarpanch of Hayatpur village in Gurgaon district, who was shot dead by motor cycle-borne armed miscreants on June 23, Chautala asked when it had already come to light that Rs 1 lakh had been paid to the alleged killers at the residence of Congress legislator Rao Dharampal, why the police was dilly-dallying the registration of a criminal case and why was the “guilty” MLA not being sent behind the bars without any further delay.

Narrating a third incident which took place at Sighda village in Mahendergarh segment recently, he said the Mahendergarh police, acting at the behest of chief parliamentary secretary Rao Dan Singh, falsely booked Ravinder Sharma, principal of Paramount School, Sighda, for allegedly raping a 5-year old girl student of the above school, had virtually crossed all limits.

Relating the circumstances of the above case, Chautala pointed out when Sharma politely disallowed his school ground to be used as a helipad for the landing of CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s helicopter, who was on a visit of the above area at that time, infuriated Rao Dan Singh directed the Mahendergarh police to teach Sharma a lesson for a lifetime.

The trials and tribulations which Sharma was made to go through owing to his false implication in the above case of rape, could better be imagined than described, he added.

Seeking immediate ouster of Rao Dan Singh, he demanded registration of a criminal case and his arrest as well.

He went on to say that if the "misrule" of the Hooda regime persisted, many more such heinous acts of the ruling functionaries would continue to tumble out of the cupboard.

Fatehabad, July 7
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prahlad Singh Gillankhera inspected various flood-prone sites on the Rangoi kharif channel (RKC) in the district recently. The channel originates from the Rangoi nullah near Ghaswa village and after traversing a distance of 47km in the district, it enters Sirsa, where the channel merges into the Hisar Ghaggar multipurpose channel (HGMC) near Randhawa village after covering a distance of 43 km in that district.

The HGMC finally merges into the Ghaggar downstream of the Ottu lake in Sirsa district after traversing a distance of 22 km.

After the construction of the Rangoi diversion from Ghaswa the nullah falls back into the Ghaggar near Kanwalgarh in this district.

While the Rangoi nullah has been a “channel of sorrows” for the district over the years, the RKC has proved to be saviour for the people.

However, owing to its lesser capacity and heavy vegetation growth, the RKC had breached at several places last year, leading to floods in several villages.

Chain-mounted excavators were seen working on the RKC to remove vegetation to increase the capacity of the channel today.

Gillankhera directed engineers of the Irrigation Department to speed up work.

Ambala, July 7
The E-Max Group of Institutions and Rotary Club, Ambala Cantt, paid tributes to Kalpana Chawla on the occasion of her birth anniversary.

Chairman of the E-Max Group Omparkash Aggarwal, finance secretary Rajiv Bansal, T&P Officer Sunil Arya, media manager Praveen Sharma, OSD Rajesh Kumar and SK Pundir, president Rotary Club, Ambala City, and others present on the occasion. Clothes were distributed among poor children in the labour colony.

Omparkash summed up her achievements. He said Kalpana was born in Karnal on July 1, 1961. She graduated in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982. Moving to the US, she turned to aerospace engineering and received masters from the University of Texas and PhD from the University of Colorado.

Chawla joined NASA in 1995 and was assigned as mission specialist on the space shuttle STS-87 in 1997, becoming the first Indian-American woman to go into space. She was a crew member on the Shuttle Columbia when it exploded upon reentry to the Earth's atmosphere in February 2003. Her first space mission began on November 19, 1997. She was the first Indian-born woman and the second Indian to fly in space. — OC