M A I N   N E W S

Haryana gives two villages high hopes, then dashes their dreams
Sunit Dhawan/TNS

Mahendergarh, July 23
As Rewari finds itself engulfed in the rage and rancour over Haryana government's land acquisition policy, the farmers in the two villages of neighbouring Mahendergarh appear ready to fight yet another battle to "avenge betrayal".

Three years after the panchayats of villages Jant and Pali were promised a Central University on their land, and a job each to the affected farmer in lieu of the land, nothing has been done for them.

The state government had assured the Centre that it would "arrange" 500 acres free-of-cost for setting up the university.

Local leaders allegedly convinced the panchayats of these villages in Mahendergarh district to give 405 acres of their land for setting up the varsity. The unsuspecting villagers were promised that seats would be reserved for their children in the academic courses and residents of the two villages would get preference in employment at the university. The promise, however, was never kept. Documents in possession of The Tribune establish how the villagers were allegedly "duped" by the government.

In July, 2009, the panchayats of Jant and Pali passed resolutions offering 405 acres, 2 kanals and 2 marlas of their shamlat land on lease for 99 years for setting up of Central University for a token amount of Re 1 per acre per year.

According to a state government notification - dated August 21, 2009 and issued by then Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary (Development and Panchayats) Urvashi Gulati - the lease was approved subject to the conditions that seats in all courses would be reserved for the inhabitants of Jant and Pali and also the villagers would get priority in employment at the university. However, at its first meeting held on November 11, 2009, the Executive Council of the Central University made it clear that the condition in the aforesaid notification of the state government to reserve seats for Jant and Pali villagers could not be acceded to as it contravened the provisions of the Central Universities Act and policies of the Government of India.

The university's executive council also requested the Haryana Government not to insist on the condition of according priority to the inhabitants of Jant and Pali villages in employment at the university.

On December 29, 2009, the state government issued another notification, stating that the matter had been reconsidered in the wake of the resolution made by the Executive Council of the Central University and some disputed land falling within the proposed boundary of the university.

The notification stated that the panchayats of Jant and Pali had now resolved to lease out their lands subject to the condition that preference be given to the residents of these villages in providing employment in Class-IV (Group-D) services at the university in place of earlier conditions. Feeling cheated by the authorities, the villagers claim that they approached various government functionaries but no one paid heed to their requests. The villagers even resorted to demonstrations in a bid to claim what was originally promised to them, but the issue continues to hang in balance.

The perfect plan

The Haryana Government got land at Rs 1 per acre for its ambitious Central University project from villagers of Jant and Pali by making “lofty” promises but then did a U-turn