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| Sunday, April 30, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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Engg
students up in arms Punjab Wakf Board collects Rs
12.25 cr 11 primary schools without
teachers
Rail project hangs fire 5 BC candidates eye Mayor’s
post |
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Unkept promises irk
martyr’s kin 1 arrested for harbouring
terrorist Facility for urban power consumers Arrangements made for wheat
purchase
|
Engg students up in arms MULLANA (AMBALA), April 29 — Students of MM Engineering College are up in arms against the authorities over the alleged affiliation of their college to Guru Jambheshwar University instead of Kurukshetra University. The injuries sustained by some students of the engineering college in a lathi charge at Kurukshetra, where they had gone to submit a memorandum in this regard, has only further strengthened their resolve to resist the change in affiliation. The students on Thursday did not attend the classes and even the approaching examinations do not seem to have made much impression on the students who ignored the teaching faculties’ plea for continuing studies. Angered over the Kurukshetra incident, in which some girl students also sustained injuries, MM Engineering College students are chalking out a strategy to ensure that their college continues to be affiliated to Kurukshetra University, which the students claim is an established and better university compared to Guru Jambeshwar University. When this correspondent visited the engineering college, located about 20 km from here, students were huddled in groups and discussing the lathi charge incident. The correspondent was asked to produce his identity card as “they do not believe anyone outside the student community”. A few students who sustained injuries in the Kurukshetra incident said that the lathi charge was unprovoked and “we were beaten up without any warning. The police continued to beat us even when we pleaded that we are peaceful”. A girl student stated that they were beaten up by women constables inside a rest house. “The policewomen began to thrash us and our cries fell on deaf ears”. The students refused to be identified for fear of retribution from not only the police but also from the college management. “Some of the injured students have gone home after receiving the blows. Only a few of us are left,” a student who had received a lathi blow on his cheekbone said. The students claim that their chances of going abroad for further studies would receive a serious setback if the affiliation is changed. “In foreign universities, they only give weightage to well established universities with a proven track record. For no fault of ours, we will be forced to lose out on opportunity even if we do well in our examinations,” the students said. However, according to the Chairman of MM Engineering College, Mr Tarsem Garg, the students are needlessly worrying. “The students are agitating despite the fact that none of them has seen any order or any government decision showing the change in affiliation from Kurukshetra University to Guru Jambeshwar University,” he said. He stated that nobody had brought to his notice that students of his college sustained injuries in yesterday’s lathi charge. “I was with the students for two hours in the morning and nobody told me anything of this sort. If the students have any documentary evidence regarding change in affiliation, then they should submit it to me and I would forward it to the authorities concerned,” he said. Mr Garg said that
although students were asked to attend the classes, there
was a poor attendance. “The students must note that
a good student will do well in life anywhere and a
university is not as important as much as learning a
subject,” he added. |
Punjab Wakf Board collects Rs
12.25 cr AMBALA, April 29 — During the year 1999-2000, the Punjab Wakf Board has made a collection of Rs 12.25 crore. The Board has also spent a sum of Rs 4.20 crore on various social and welfare schemes for the benefit of members of the minority community and backward classes in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. This was stated by Dr F.U. Siddiqui, Administrator, Punjab Wakf Board, while addressing the Board’s annual general meeting at its head office in Ambala Cantonment today. The meeting was attended by all the Estate Officers, Rent Collectors posted in various field stations as well as staff members, senior officers of the Board, members of the Religious Affairs Committee, imams, and Islamic scholars. On the occasion, the Board announced various schemes for the benefit of the minorities and backward classes. The Board has planned future schemes worth Rs 13.27 crore for the construction of hospitals, schools, shopping complexes and other income-generating schemes under its jurisdiction. The development work will be executed by taking funds from the Central Wakf Council, New Delhi, and other institutions by way of loan/donations. Dr Siddiqui said that the Board is in the process of modernising the working and some of the important sections of the Board have been computerised during 1999-2000. He said that the Himachal Pradesh Government had recently lifted a ban on the mutation of Wakf Board properties. “This will now lead to faster pace of development. Incidentally, the Solan circle has crossed the target revenue set for it,” he said. “Wakf tribunals are also likely to be set up soon for speedier disposal of cases,” he added. Earlier, Sahibzada Akhlaq Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Wakf Board, presented the annual report highlighting the achievements of the Board during 1999-2000 and informed that an amount of Rs 1.36 crore had been spent on schools and vocational centres, computer centres madrasas, maktabs and merit-cum-means scholarships granted to 251 students. Around 1600 widows, aged
and orphans were granted Rs 0.35 crore as monthly
pension. The Board during the year granted Rs 1.11 crore
on various developmental and income generating schemes
and repair and renovation of Wakf properties. |
11 primary schools without
teachers YAMUNANAGAR, April 29 — eleven primary schools in the district are running without teachers. Ironically, the district has now emerged as a centre of education, because two engineering colleges, one of the biggest dental colleges of northern India, a polytechnic institute, more than six colleges and some of the best public schools are established here. In spite of all this, 317 posts of JBT teachers and 59 posts of head teachers are lying vacant for the past many months in government public schools. According to the statistics collected, there are seven education blocks in the district comprising 492 primary schools. In these schools there are 1,348 sanctioned posts of JBT teachers and 428 sanctioned posts of head teachers. In Chhachhrouli block, 74 posts of JBT teachers and 13 posts of head teachers are lying vacant. In Bilaspur block 58 posts of JBT teachers and five posts of head teachers, in Jagadhri block number 1 and 2 46 posts of JBT and 14 posts of head teachers and 43 posts of JBT and four posts of head teachers respectively, in Radour block 29 posts of JBT and 10 posts of head teachers, in Sadoura 36 posts of JBT and six posts of head teachers and in Yamunanagar block 31 posts of JBT and seven posts of head teachers are lying vacant. Eleven schools in Yamunanagar district, where there are no teachers include Mazri in Bilaspur block, Balawala in Chhachhrouli block, Mohinodinpur, Tajewala in Jagadhri-1 block, Gandapur, Hangoli, Satari in Radour block, Palewala in Radour block, Chandhak, Kamowala and Toharpur in Sadoura block. The state government had
cancelled the deputation of all teachers. It is learnt
that the District Primary Education Officer has
instructed the Block Education Officers that some
temporary arrangements should be made in those schools
where there is no teacher. |
Rail project hangs fire ROHTAK, April 29 — The proposed project of linking Rohtak and Rewari towns via Jhajjar with a rail line has failed to materialise even after 12 years when it was first taken up. Lack of political will and unity among various political parties in the state is reported to be the cause of this unusual delay which has not only been causing problems to the people of the region but also ‘responsible’ for slow economic development of the area. According to certain persons actively associated with the proposal the scheme was first taken up in 1988 when the railway authorities conducted a survey. The second such survey was done in October 1991 and the third followed in 1997-98 but it is learnt that the report of the survey of proposal did not find the light of the day as the three surveys were ‘rejected’. The reason behind the rejection was stated that the ‘rate of return’ was adequate and hence it was put in the cold storage. But on the other hand it is claimed that the proposal could not materialise just because there was not ample political pressure on the Ministry of Railways. A former Lok Sabha member from Rohtak Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, claimed that it was due to his efforts that three surveys were done. About the delay in the implementation of the proposal, he said, perhaps his demand did not find adequate support of the political leaders and parties of the state. The Rohtak-Delhi Daily
Passengers Association, here is one of the organisations
which has been taking up the demand with the authorities
concerned at every possible occasion, claimed Mr Vijay
Kumar Saini, president of the association. He said the
issue had been taken up at various occasions during the
past seven years but no proper response had been received
in this connection. |
Ghalib’s wife was from Haryana CHANDIGARH, April 29 — How can Mirza Ghalib, the famous Urdu poet of the 19th century, help transform Haryana’s image from an agriculture dominated state to one with a rich intellectual lineage? This is precisely what the researchers of the Haryana Urdu Academy at Panchkula have set out to do. The researchers have due out details of the poet’s links with Haryana which, according to Kashmiri Lal Zakir, Secretary of the Academy, will also help in changing the popular perception about Haryana. Mirza Ghalib, researches done by the Academy has shown, was related to the royal family of Ferozepur Jhirka by marriage. The wedding ceremony also took place at Ferozepur Jhirka, which is now a tehsil in Gurgaon district of Haryana. The poet was 13 years old and the bride Umrao Begum was 11 years at the time of wedding. Mirza Ghalib also used to receive pension from his wife’s family. Once the pension was stopped and the poet had to go all the way to Calcutta and meet the British authorities there to sort out the problem. The Urdu Academy had also decided to publish a book which is being named ‘Mirza Ghalib and Haryana’. The poet apparently enjoyed friendly relation with the Nawab of Loharu and was a frequent visitor there. The poet also had at least two dozen prominent disciples (‘shagirds’) in Haryana, Altaf Hussain (better known as Hali from Panipat) being one of the most famous of his disciples. The book, slated to be published by the academy, will throw light on all these aspects. While Mirza Ghalib was related to Haryana by marriage, there were a number of true ‘sons of the soil’ from Haryana who made rich contributions to Urdu literature. Hali’s work ‘Yaadgare Ghalib’ for instance is a must read for all Ghalib researchers. The credit for publishing the first Urdu novel in India also goes to Haryana, Munsi Gumani Lal of Rohtak is said to be the first Urdu novelist. His fiction ‘Riaz-E-Dilruba’, a typical love story with tragic ending, was published by Jail Press, Rohtak, in 1863. By bringing this fact to light, the academy has shed new light on the history of Urdu literature, Mr Zakir said. Earlier, it was believed that Nasir Ahmed, whose debut novel was published in 1869, was the first Urdu novelist. Housed in a tiny accommodation in a residential locality of Panchkula, the academy, nevertheless, has the typical air one normally associates with Urdu literature and poetry. Mr Zakir himself is extremely affable and so are the other staff. There is also a library in the academy with a few thousand books. The library is frequented by elderly people since the latter generations do not know how to read Urdu. The heartening aspect, according to Mr Zakir, it that some youngmen are still interested in Urdu. The academy’s own objective is to promote Urdu, which it does by publishing books, giving grants to Urdu writers and by organising seminars and mushairas. The mushairas are still big crowd pullers, Mr Zakir said. The academy, however,
keeps going back to Ghalib for its intellectual
sustenance. As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of
Independence, a Ghalib seminar and an Indo-Pak mushaira
was organised to pay tribute to the poet. One more such
mushaira, with participation of poets from Pakistan, will
be soon held at Chandigarh, Mr Zakir said. |
5 BC candidates eye
Mayor’s post FARIDABAD, April 29 — The next Mayor of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, will be elected from among the Councillors belonging to the Backward Class. This was decided through a draw of lots conducted last week. The election of the new Mayor will be held by May 7. The first Mayor of the Corporation, Subedar Suman, was from SC category. Only two wards — 2 and 24 — were reserved for the Backward Class candidates in the election held on April 2. They returned Mr Daya Shanker Giri and Mr Bhagwat Nagar, respectively. Both originally hail from UP. After the draw of lots not only the candidate who won from the wards reserved for the Backward Classes but three others — Mr Mahesh Mani, Mr Atar Singh and Mr Devinder Bhadana — also belonging to the Backward Classes are eyeing the coveted post. The three Mr Bhadana is learnt to be having the backing of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal. He is also an office-bearer of the party. This development has led to a controversy whether the Councillors of Backward Classes, elected from general wards, are eligible for the Mayor’s post or not. The authorities have also sought a clarification from the government in this connection. A reply from Chandigarh is still awaited. On the other hand a
senior official said according to an amendment in the
Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, only those
elected from wards reserved for backward class candidate
could stake their claim of the Mayor’s post. |
Unkept promises irk
martyr’s kin FATEHABAD, April 29 — The whole nation stood with the families of the martyrs, when the bodies of those who laid down their lives during the Kargil conflict started arriving at their native places last year. Announcements were made by the state as well as the Central governments to grant compensation to the families of those killed. However, a visit to the family of Sepoy Narinder Singh Jakhar, at Mehuwala village in this district today revealed that many of the promises made by various agencies had not been fulfilled. Narinder, (21), had laid down his life in the Mashkoh valley on July 9, 1999. Nicknamed ‘Bhagat Singh’ by his friends the brave soldier had killed 14 intruders before falling to the enemy’s bullets. The mother of the soldier told this correspondent that many of the promises made last year had not been fulfilled till date. While the father of Narinder Singh, Mr Jai Singh seemed reticent unwilling to annoy anyone, mother Ms Reshma was bitter at the delay tactics being adopted by certain authorities. The family had got the compensation of Rs 10 lakh and Mr Ravinder, a younger brother of the martyr had been given the job of a clerk in the Employment Exchange. But renaming of the road linking Mehuwala with Bhattu Kalan after Shaheed Narinder Singh was still pending. Former Deputy Prime Minister, Chowdhary Devi Lal had announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for setting up a memorial in the village, but no progress had been made so far in that direction. The family alleged that they had met the authorities many times in this regard but without any result. They alleged that they were yet to get telephone connection, in spite of having deposited the required security amount six months ago. They alleged that while the Telecommunication Department officials offer an excuse that there was no spare capacity in the exchange, many other telephone connections had been installed in the area. The Hindustan Petroleum had offered an LPG agency to Mrs Reshma at Bhattu Kalan, near the village. According to the terms of the contract, the HP was to provide finance for the development of the infrastructure, but the family said a senior officer of the HP advised them to develop the infrastructure from their own resources, as HP might take a long time in completely the formalities. The Deputy Commissioner,
Mr Anil Malik, when contacted said the proposal for
setting up memorial and a library in the village, out of
the MPs fund of Chowdhary Devi Lal has already been sent
for approval and hoped the same would be done soon. The
naming of the road too, would be done soon, he added. |
1 arrested for harbouring
terrorist GURGAON, April 29 — The District police has arrested one person for giving shelter to a person having close lines with terrorist Masood Khan, one of the terrorists released against the passengers hijacked in Indian Airlines plane in December last year. Addressing mediapersons, the Inspector-General of Police (Gurgaon Range), Mr Ranjiv Singh Dalal, said a Pakistan-based terrorist Riyaju Khan used to come and stay in the Mewat area of the district. Rayaju is an active member of Masood Khan’s outfit— "Jaisse Mohammed". Riyaju Khan stayed for four to five months at Nuh in Mewat . Riyaju Khan stayed at his maternal uncle Usman Khan’s place in January. He also made a number of calls to Pakistan from there. The police has arrested
more than five persons for providing shelter to
anti-national elements in the Mewat area in the last six
months. |
Facility for urban power
consumers CHANDIGARH, April 29 — The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has extended the facility for payment of arrears of electricity bills in one instalment without surcharge, to the agriculture power consumers of urban areas also. A spokesman for the
nigam said henceforth if the agriculture power consumers
of urban areas wanted to make the payment of their
arrears of electricity bills in three instalments then 50
per cent of surcharge would be waived in the last
instalment. |
Arrangements made for wheat purchase AMBALA, April 29 — Elaborate arrangements have been made for the purchase of wheat. Deputy Commissioner Mr Ram Niwas said that 12 centres had been set up for the purchase of wheat. The wheat purchase centres include Ambala City, Ambala Cantonment, Barara, Kesari, Mullana, Naneola, Naraingarh, Shazadpur, Saha, Ugala, Talhedi and Bharedikalan, a release said. He said that till April
28, in the various mandis of the district, about 77,701
tonne of wheat had arrived, which was bought by various
government agencies and traders at minimum or more than
minimum price set by the government. |
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