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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Thursday, September 16, 1999 |
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GJU, MDU working to be streamlined ROHTAK, Sept 15 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala has reportedly decided to streamline the functioning of Guru Jambheshwar University and Maharshi Dayanand University in the wake of intelligence reports that administrative chaos prevails in both universities. Plan to manage disasters ROHTAK, Sept 15 — The Union Ministry of Agriculture has formulated an ambitious project to involve school children in the management of natural disasters. |
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Haryana ADOs seek better
pay, status FATEHABAD, Sept 15 — Plight of Agriculture Development Officers in Haryana, economy of which depends on the agriculture primarily, is so bad that the state is going to face an acute shortage of agriculture graduate in future as very few youths are coming forward to join agriculture course in Haryana. Charged 56,600 but not given
facilities College
teachers not paid salaries Martyr’s
ashes received Addiction
among jail inmates on the rise No trauma ward at Civil Hospital 3
youths rob doctor Chautala
to visit HAU farm mela DC's
direction on Oct 2 meeting |
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GJU, MDU working to be
streamlined ROHTAK, Sept 15 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala has reportedly decided to streamline the functioning of Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) and Maharshi Dayanand University in the wake of intelligence reports that administrative chaos prevails in both universities. During the past four days the Chief Minister had held consultations with his advisers and senior government officials to discuss the situation in these two universities and devise measures to stem the rot. He had also met the Government-cum-Chancellor of these universities, Mr Mahabir Prasad, on Monday to seek his guidance and approval of the action proposed by the government. The GJU, Hisar, is without a Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor. Its founder Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.L. Johar, retired on October 20, 1998, following completion of his three- year term and Prof Aggarwal retired on November 10 last year. Since then both these posts are lying vacant and the affairs of the university are being looked after by the Commissioner, Hisar Division, who given the additional charge of Vice-Chancellor by the Bansi Lal government. The government, however is in a fix over the appointment of a vice-chancellor in the GJU. The amendment in the GJU Act, which provides constitution of a search committee, is still awaiting the President's assent. But there is no problem in appointing a Pro Vice-Chancellor and this post is likely to be filled in the next few days. Although various names are under consideration for this post, Dr K.C. Bangar, Associate Professor in CCS Haryana Agricultural University is likely to make the grade. Dr Bangar, who specialises in Mice-Biology, has been appointed Technical Adviser to the Chief Minister on Science and Technology. He joined the HAU in 1982 and had remained on study leave from September 1988 to October 1991 in London, during which period he came in close contact with the Chief Minister. As regards the functioning of Maharshi Dayanand University the less said the better. Serious allegations have been levelled against the Vice-Chancellor by no less a person than the Registrar of the university. The Governor-cum-Chancellor of the university suspended the Vice-Chancellor on the basis of these allegations. The Vice-Chancellor then approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to stall the inquiry into the allegations and his reinstatement. The government is now in a fix in view of the stay granted by the high court. The case is still pending and the term of the Vice-Chancellor expires on February 26 next year. That administrative chaos prevails in the university is evident from the fact that even the orders of the Governor-cum-Chancellor are not being implemented. For example, the Vice-Chancellor appointed a Deputy Registrar as Dean, Colleges Development Council, on March 26 but the Chancellor, exercising his powers under Section 9 (11) of the MDU Act, cancelled the appointment on May 11. The Vice-Chancellor reportedly refused to implement the Chancellor's orders. The Secretary to the Chancellor then faxed the orders to the Registrar for implementation on May 18. The Registrar implemented the orders the same day but the Vice-Chancellor cancelled the Registrar's orders on May 25. Missiles in the shape of
letter are being fired by the Vice-Chancellor and the
Registrar and each has been accusing the other of
functioning in violation of university status and rules.
The Registrar is presently without any work as all
branches have been withdrawn from his control. The
Vice-Chancellor, now directly deals with all the
departments. |
Plan to manage disasters ROHTAK, Sept 15 — The Union Ministry of Agriculture has formulated an ambitious project to involve school children in the management of natural disasters. According to data collected by the ministry, nearly 84 per cent of the total geographical area of the country is vulnerable to natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, avalanches and pest attacks. On an average, these disasters claim over 5,000 lives every year besides causing a loss of approximately Rs 10,000 million. Although the responsibility to formulate the government response to a natural calamity is essentially that of the state government concerned, the educational institutions and non-government organisations (NGOs) can play a vital role in developing communication between the disaster management agencies and the affected community, the ministry feels. The project has been assigned to the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE) for institutionalisation of community awareness and training for meeting the disaster hazards. The former Vice-Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University, Dr S. Arya, has been appointed the project director. Dr Arya told TNS here yesterday that with its network of thousands of schools, lakhs of teachers and millions of students spread all over the country, the COBSE would produce a trained task force of volunteers from the state to village level in the disaster-prone areas of the country. The action plan, he said, would aim at providing training to the students and the community in areas of life saving measures, public health and shelter which would be part of the confidence building measures in the vulnerable community. The participants in the training programmes would be the students from secondary and higher secondary schools, teachers and members of the parents teacher association and volunteers from disaster prone areas. The student task force would launch awareness and information campaigns to develop individual as well as group skills in disaster management. These student task forces would also develop the community to fight a battle against the environmental degradation which would help in the prevention of certain hazards like floods, landslides and droughts. The COBSE, Dr Arya said, had proposed to hold 30 training camps with 30 participants each in the disaster prone states of Haryana, Punjab, UP, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, north-eastern states and Rajasthan. The first of such camps
was organised here from September 8 to September 14 in
which 30 students of DAV Public School were imparted
training in management of floods. The second camp started
yesterday at Gurgaon, Dr Arya said. |
Haryana ADOs seek better pay,
status FATEHABAD, Sept 15 — Plight of Agriculture Development Officers in Haryana, economy of which depends on the agriculture primarily, is so bad that the state is going to face an acute shortage of agriculture graduate in future as very few youths are coming forward to join agriculture course in Haryana. Dr Subhash Bhambhu, state general secretary of the Haryana Agriculture Development Officers Association — an association which has been taking up the cause of the agriculture development officers in the state told The Tribune that the ADOs are faced with a lot of problems in the state but the government after government has been overlooking these problems despite repeated representations. The ADOs, he said get Rs 49 per month as an allowance for setting up of their office, but practically it was no possible to get a room for this what to speak of other amenities like furniture of the office. Further, the ADOs get only Rs eight per day as stipend when they are sent to training in the Agriculture Training Institute, Jind. Interestingly they have been getting the same stipend since 1979. In contrast, he said the nurses, the employees of the state co-operative department and the government doctors get Rs 50, 75 and 100 respectively when they are sent on their departmental trainings. The Agriculture
Development Officers are sore over the fact that though
they have to complete a four-year degree course after X
plus two like the MBBS or the BVSc. but their posts are
still non-gazetted while those of the doctors and the
veterinarians are class one posts. ADOs the status of
class one gazetted officers those in Haryana were still
being treated as class III employees. They feel that the
government must set up an Agriculture Council in the
state on a par with the medical council, the Pharmacy
council or the dental council and prescribe a minimum
qualification of B.Sc. (Agri) for the dealers of
pesticide. This, the ADOs feel will not only help in
fighting unemployment among the agriculture graduates but
would also improve the quality of pesticides being sold
in the market. |
Devi Lal's birthday to be "Jan
Kalyan Divas" CHANDIGARH, Sept 15 — The 86th birthday of Mr Devi Lal will be celebrated as "Jan Kalyan Divas" at Hisar on September 25. A public meeting will be organised at old Government College to mark the occasion in a befitting manner. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held under the chairmanship of the INLD President and the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here today. Mr Chautala said a committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of Mr Sampat Singh to work out modalities to celebrate the birthday of Mr Devi Lal. The members of the committee would include all MLAs of both the INLD and the BJP, Independent MLAs extending support to the government and candidates of both these parties who had contested the recent Lok Sabha poll. The presidents of the Hisar district units of both parties would also be its members. Mr Chautala said that some unprecedented decisions would be taken on that day to usher in a new era of prosperity in the state. Describing Mr Devi Lal as a "great leader of the farming community", Mr Chautala said he, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Haryana and also as Deputy Prime Minister, had implemented a number of programmes for the welfare of the people, especially the weaker and backward sections. It was also decided that keeping in view the convenience of the people, especially the farming community, both the INLD and the BJP would request the state government as well as the State Election Commission to hold panchayat elections in the middle of November and municipal elections by mid-December. Mr Chautala appreciated the role played by the workers of both the INLD and the BJP in the smooth conduct of Lok Sabha elections. Mr Chautala announced that the government was not in favour of large-scale transfers. However, only those would be transferred who were found indulging in corruption, causing public harassment for their vested interests or had played political role during elections as it was against the conduct of service rules. He made it clear that such complaints, if any, would be thoroughly investigated. He said free hand had
been given to the Power department. He urged the workers
to cooperate with the staff of the Power department. |
Charged 56,600 but not given
facilities PANIPAT, Sept 15 — Resentment prevails among the newly enrolled students of Nemi Chand Engineering College, Israna, against the college authorities for not providing adequate facilities although they have already taken all dues for one year in advance from the students. At the time of admissions, the students were forced to pay Rs 56,600 in lumpsum as one year fees, including Rs 26,600 as admission fee and Rs 30000 as registration fee, whereas in other colleges the fees is reportedly charged on a quarterly basis. As the college building, which is under construction, is without proper electricity, the college authorities have charged Rs 1200 from each student for providing a generator set and Rs 750 each for a library bank, but no receipts have allegedly been issued for these amounts. The students who have opted for hostel accommodation are reportedly the worst hit. As the college in without its own hostel building, the authorities have taken some residential buildings in the local Model Town, about 16 km from the college, on rent for boys and girls' hostels. Though the size of each room is just enough for two students, four to five students have been lodged in each room. Facilities like bathrooms, toilets, etc are also insufficient in these hostels. Further, though the college authorities have already taken Rs 7200 as one year rent and Rs 1500 as security deposit from every hostel student, they have been asked to pay the water, electricity and other hostel charges. The college authorities have also taken Rs 7200 from each student in advance as annual transport charges to carry them from their hostel to the college and back. These charges are considerably higher as compared to roadways fares. The hustlers also allege
that in the absence of a proper mess for them, they are
being served substandard food. This, despite the fact
that the college authorities have already taken Rs 9000
from each hustler as mess charges for six months. |
College teachers not paid
salaries HISAR, Sept 15 — Thousands of employees of the government aided private colleges in the state have not been paid their salaries for the last five months. The teachers have decided to observe strike on September 30. There are 114 government aided private colleges in the state. Teachers and the non-teaching staff are angry over the apathy of the government towards their plight. However, some institutions like those run by the DAV management have somehow managed to pay salaries to their employees. But the govern aid is not coming since May last. Mr Subash Sharma, Principal of the Dayanand College here said, bureaucracy had to be squarely blamed for the problem. He pointed out that while the budget was passed for one year for the private colleges grant was sanctioned on bi-monthly basis. Earlier it was done on quarterly basis. Mr Sharma was angry for the step-motherly treatment with the employees of the private colleges. "We are literally being made to beg for our salaries" another teacher said. He said most of the load of students was being borne by the private colleges. He pointed out that while there were only 50 government colleges, the number of private colleges is 114. In big cities like Panipat and Yamunanagar, there were no government colleges. Another teacher of CMK College, Sirsa, Ms Deepti Dharmani claimed, that the results of the private colleges were better than those of government colleges. The employees said, while the salaries were delayed to them for the past several years, the problem became acute since 1996 after Mr Bansi Lal's government took over. They said they were pinning their hopes on the new government. Meanwhile, sources in
the Directorate of Higher Education at Chandigarh said
the salary for May and June had already been released and
the drafts were being dispatched. About the delay in
grants, the sources blamed it on the Finance Department
and said, the directorate was responsible for only
distributing the grants. |
No trauma ward at Civil Hospital AMBALA: Ambala cantonment a strategically important town situated on the Grand Trunk Road, which links Delhi, Punjab, Himachal and J&K. The heavy volume of traffic on the road has increased the rate of accidents as well as casualties. But the Civil Hospital at Ambala is not equipped to cope with trauma cases coming here. The then Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, had agreed in principle to the demand of establishing a trauma centre here because a large number of road accident cases and had discussed the plan with the Director, Rohtak Medical College, informs Dr Vinod Gupta, a surgeon. He says that he had visited Rohtak Medical College along with a team of doctors in this regard. The hospital is supposed to meet medical needs of the people of Ambala cantonment and the adjoining villages up to Mullana. Patients from Naraingarh, Raipur Rani and neighbouring villages also come here for treatment. Around 300 patients are examined in the out-patient department every day. According to sources, a proposal to increase the present 75-bed capacity to 100 is at present awaiting the Chief Minister's approval. The man behind the move is the local legislator. However, with the change of guard in the state one may not be sure of immediate action in the matter. "Although we have a complete team of doctors and staff required, says Dr Vinay Gupta, Senior Medical Officer, sources at the hospital give another story. They say that neither is there a child specialist nor an E.N.T. specialist. Dr Mona Chaudhry, ad hoc dental surgeon, on being regularised, was transferred to Ismailabad on the pretext that a newcomer had to be posted in the rural area initially. After some persuasion, the authorities allowed her to visit Ambala, thrice a week. Dr Gupta explains that there is a "hospital welfare society", the only if its kind in Haryana, comprising officials and non-officials as its members. The society manages and looks after the affairs of hospitals at Ambala cantonment, Ambala city, and Naraingarh in Ambala district. The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, is its chairperson, the CMO, the SMO and medical officers are ex-officio members besides, there are 15 non-official members also, which include industrialists, businessmen and social workers. The Health Commissioner, Mrs Veena Eagleton, visited the hospital early this year and praised the idea. The members meet every month. The ultrasound machine, installed at a cost of Rs 8 lakh a year ago, has not been put to work in the absence of a radiologist and an air-conditioner. A new emergency block and a general ward was constructed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh given by Mrs Sushma Swaraj, MP, out of his discretionary quota. But the state of 26-bed surgical ward is pathetic. The patients are housed in a very old building constructed during the British Raj, needs immediate attention. Toilets attached to the ward stink and are without lights. Mr Shyam Lal, a visitor, complained that there are no toilets for the public and the patients who visit the OPD. A toilet near the entrance gate is in an abandoned state. The generator for emergency block and wards has been gathering dust for the past one and a half years. The sources say that it could not be operated with measly amount of Rs 30,000 required for constructing a room and a platform to install the generator. In the hospital's laboratory only routine tests like HB, TLC, DLC and pregnancy are done. It is not equipped to conduct special tests. Dr (Mrs) Vandana Jain, a pathologist, proceeded on long leave immediately after joining duty. The Senior Medical Officer says that the government has released funds for constructing the blood bank building and the money is lying with the local Municipal Corporation. He hopes that work on the project would start soon.
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Martyr’s ashes received REWARI, Sept 15 — The urn containing ashes of Havildar Sadhu Ram of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, who laid down his life in Turtuk on September 5, reached his native Mandola village, 35 km from here yesterday. The urn was received by Mr Roop Singh SDM, Rewari, Mr Lachhman Das, DSP, Kosli and hundreds of villagers including members of the martyr’s family. Floral tributes were paid to the martyr after the urn was placed on a cemented square around a pipal tree in front of the village school, where a memorial would be erected shortly. Later, all those present observed a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the hero. According to information given by Major R.K. Sharma, secretary of the Rewari District Soldiers Board, the body of Havildar Sadhu Ram was so mutilated by a splinter during heavy shelling by the Pakistani army in Turtuk on September 5 that it could not be sent from Turtuk to Mandola and it was, therefore, cremated in the unit area there on September 9. However, the grief-stricken family as well as the villagers, who very much wanted the body of Hav. Sadhu Ram to be cremated at Mandola before them, were feeling touchy over it. Hav. Sadhu Ram is survived by wife Laxmi Devi, three daughters — Sunita alias Bunty (15), Prabha (13), Vikky (11) and a son Sanjeev (8). His younger brother Babu Lal is a Naik in the Signal corps of the Army. His aged mother Mrs Umraoli Devi, who is proud as her son’s sacrifice, said that she would send her grandson Sanjeev also in the Army. It may be mentioned that Mandola has been a nursery of brave soldiers since decades. Subedar Major Prabhu Singh, Subedar Major Ram Kanwar and Hav, Shri Ram; all residents of Mandola, were awarded Mention-in-despatches for their valour during the armed invasion by the tribesmen on Kashmir in 1947-48. Later during Chinese invasion in 1962, Sepoy Mahandra Singh of this village laid down his life while Capt (Hony) Ram Chander was awarded the Vir Chakra. Even at present numerous other jawans of this village were in military service. Earlier on September 13,
Mrs Rajni Sekhri Sibal, Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman
of the District Soldiers Board,visited Mandola and
consoled the bereaved family saying that by his supreme
sacrifice Hav. Sadhu Ram had brought glory to the region.
In response to the villagers' demand she also announced
that soon after the receipt of the village
panchayat’s resolution, the village girls school as
well as the village approach roads would be named after
Hav. Sadhu Ram. |
Addiction among jail inmates on AMBALA, Sept 15 — Use of narcotic drugs and number of drug addict inmates has increased in the jails of Haryana. During past several months thousands of tablets of narcotic drugs, charas and opium have been seized from prisons in the different jails in the state. According to sources the government had asked the jail authorities to check the smuggling of narcotics into jails. Last month about 5,000 narcotic drug tablets were seized from two prisoners of the Ambala Central Jail. A former jail officer said though authorities had taken steps to curb the smuggling of the drugs into the jails but the whole exercise had remained ineffective. The narcotics are reported smuggled into the jails allegedly by the relatives and friends of the prisoners. Some jail officials are also allegedly involved in this. According to sources the narcotic drugs, opium and charas were usually supplied after concealing them in packed items or in eatables handed over to the prisoners by the outsiders. However, according to jail rules no item can be supplied to any prisoner by outsiders until it is properly checked. A senior jail officer said efforts should be made to take action against the persons responsible for this. Some jail officials dealing with hardcore criminals have been facing problems as these drug addicts create indiscipline in the jail. It has also been noticed
that a number of prisoners, who were not drug addicts, at
the time of their confinement developed this habit later
on in the jail. |
3 youths rob doctor AMBALA, Sept 15 — Three youths reportedly robbed a pistol and Rs 15,000 from a doctor on gunpoint at Barara, 20 km from here, this morning. According to information, three youths on a two-wheeler came to the residence of Dr Harish Modgil. They told the doctor that one of them was seriously sick and wanted to consult him. As soon as the doctor opened the door, the youths overpowered him. The youths forced him to hand over whatever cash he had in his house. The doctor gave them Rs 15,000. The youths then observed that a pistol was kept in the room of the doctor and took it away before fleeing. Meanwhile, the SP, Mr
M.S. Malik, said that police posts of the surrounding
area had been alerted. No clue had, however, been found
so far. A case has been registered against the youths. |
Chautala to visit HAU farm mela HISAR, Sept 15 — Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala will visit Hisar on September 17. He is scheduled to inaugurate Farm Darshan Mela, being organised by the HAU. The Vice-Chancellor, Vinay Kumar said, besides inaugurating the mela the Chief Minister will also inaugurate the newly constructed building of the AAREN. The Chief Minister will also address the faculty besides having a round of the research farm. The farm darshan is the
annual feature of the university. Hundreds of farmers
from different parts of the state visit the university
and seek expert guidance from the farm scientists. |
DC's direction on Oct 2
meeting ROHTAK, Sept 15 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, has urged office-bearers of gram panchayats to attend the gram sabha meetings scheduled for October 2. Expressing concern over
the low attendance of the members at the meetings held in
the past the Deputy Commissioner called upon all panches
and sarpanches to give a wider publicity to the proposed
meeting. He said the development works carried out by the
gram sabhas so far would be reviewed and budget proposal
for the works to be carried out in future would be
submitted at the meeting. |
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