H A R Y A N A

CM backtracks on free power, water issues
GURGAON, May 16 — The Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, has confused the farming community, claimed to be the fulcrum of his INLD support base, by denying that his party ever promised to provide power and water, free of cost.

Haryana transfers 26 officers
CHANDIGARH, May 16 — In yet another administrative reshuffle in Haryana, the Chautala-led government issued transfer orders to 26 officers — one IAS, 18 HCS, two non-HCS and five HSS officers — with immediate effect.

Major demands of KU teachers accepted
KARNAL, May 16 — To improve the working of colleges in Haryana and to create better co-ordination between the university and the colleges affiliated to it, the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University.

The Haryana Governor, Mr Mahavir Prasad, interacts with an artificial-limb maker during his visit to Saket Hospital in Chandimandir on Tuesday

More facilities at Saket hospital
PANCHKULA May 16 — In an effort to revamp the Saket Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped and Rehabilitation centre being run by the Haryana Saket Council, the state government will spend Rs 1 crore to provide modern methods of treatment and vocational, rehabilitation and educational facilities to the orthopaedically handicapped.

• Cash looted from petrol station

CM backtracks on free power, water issues
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, May 16 — The Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, has confused the farming community, claimed to be the fulcrum of his INLD support base, by denying that his party ever promised to provide power and water, free of cost.

Mr Chautala, who was in Ferozepur Jhirka in this district, a few days ago, to preside over his government’s “Aap ke sarkaar, aap ke dwar” programme told mediapersons suo motu that his party had not made any commitment for free supply of water and power. Significantly, Mr Chautala made out of context observation on the two issues after fielding a query on Supreme Court’s directive to Haryana and Punjab to release water for Delhi from the Bhakra Beas Management (BBMB) project.

Although the INLD had not made the promise in the last assembly elections, Mr Chautala had committed for the same in the last Lok Sabha elections. In fact, he had been promising free supply of water and power in his public meetings even before the run up to the last Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Chautala’s alleged somersault has come as bolt from the blue for the farming community, which was nursing hope from the ruling INLD.

Inquiries reveal that thousands of farmers in the state had not been paying the dues on the electricity front for many years just on the hope that these would be waived, should the Lok Dal come to power. Reports have it that the government has already launched move to disconnect power supply of those who bill were pending for a long time.

The change of stance, by the Chief Minister is attributed to the resource crunch of the state exchequer. There is also a feeling in large quarters that Mr Chautala wants his government to deliver the goods by implementing all promises he had made during the “Aap ke sarkaar, aap ke dwar” programme. The full implementation of the works would tot up to several hundred crores of rupees.

Haryana transfers 26 officers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — In yet another administrative reshuffle in Haryana, the Chautala-led government issued transfer orders to 26 officers — one IAS, 18 HCS, two non-HCS and five HSS officers — with immediate effect. Seventeen police officers, including six IPS and 11 HPS officers, were also given their posting orders by the state government today.

Mr D. Suresh, Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chief Executive Officer, District Rural Development Agency, Jind, has been given the additional charge of Managing Director, Sugar Mills, Jind, against a vacant post.

Mr Jaibir Singh Arya, Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Palwal, has been posted as Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Rohtak, against a vacant post. Mr Ashok Kumar Bishnoi, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as SDO (C), Loharu, in place of Mr Roop Singh who goes as Secretary, Housing Board, Haryana, against a vacant post.

Ms Anita Yadav, City Magistrate, Sonepat, has been posted as SDO (C), Hodal, in place of Mr Rakesh Gupta, Mr R.C. Verma, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as SDO (C), Siwani, relieving Mr M.K. Ahuja, who becomes SDO (C), Kalka, against a vacant post.

Mr S.B. Lohia, Joint Director, Panchayat, has been appointed as SDO (C), Jhajjar, against a vacant post. Mr V.S. Hooda, Secretary, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Panchkula, goes as Managing Director, Cooperative Sugar Mills, Panipat, against a vacant post.

Mr Narinder Singh, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as Executive Magistrate, Rewari, against a vacant post. Mr Krishan Kumar Gupta, City Magistrate, Hisar, goes as such to Gurgaon against a vacant post.

Mr Inder Singh-I, awaiting posting orders, has been appointed as City Magistrate, Hisar. Mr Dalip Singh, awaiting posting orders, goes as Secretary, RTA, Yamunanagar, against a vacant post.

Mr Dharamvir Singh Dhankar, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as Under Secretary, Industrial Training and Vocational Education Department, relieving Mr B.B. Kaushik of the charge. Mr Subh Ram Vashistta, SDO (C), Panchkula, goes as General Manager (Project), Irrigation, against a vacant post.

Mr Amarjit Singh Mann, City Magistrate, Panchkula, has been appointed as Secretary, HUDA, Panchkula. Mr H.C. Sharma, Under Secretary, Cooperation Department, has been posted as City Magistrate, Panchkula. Mr N.K. Singla, Officer on Special Duty, CADA, Panchkula, has been given the additional charge of SDO (C), Panchkula.

Mr Virender Singh Malik, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Fatehabad, and R.C. Gupta, DDPO, Gurgaon, will swap their places of posting. Mr B.R. Chawla, awaiting posting orders, has been posted as Under Secretary, Cooperation, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.

Mr A.C. Kapil, awaiting posting orders, has been appointed as Under Secretary, Finance Department, against a vacant post. Mr Dharampal, Administrative Officer, Office of Director and Agriculture, has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Jail and Judicial and Home (Press) Departments vice Mr Manohar Lal, Under Secretary, who will look after the charge of Mr Dharampal. Mr Birbal Parshad, Vigilance Officer, Hafed, has been posted as Under Secretary, Industries Department, against a vacant post.

Mr Ved Parkash, Mr S.K. Jain and Mr Bhim Singh, all IPS, awaiting posting orders, have been posted as SP CID, Delhi, OSD Police Hqrs, and Commandant, 2nd Bn, HAP, Madhuban, respectively. Mr Jagroop Singh, Commandant, 2nd Bn, HAP, has been posted as Addl SP, Sonepat, against a vacant post. Mr O.P. Kadian and Mr Sat Parkash Ranga, awaiting posting orders, have been posted as Deputy Commandant 4th Bn, HAP, Madhuban, and Additional SP, Kurukshetra, respectively.

Mr Kartar Singh has been given the assignment of DSP Detective, Rohtak, Mr Shingara Singh, has been posted as DSP, Narnaul, and Mr Partap Singh, DSP, Gohana, goes as DSP Firozepur Jhirka, vice Mr Lal Chand.

Mr Kuldip Singh, DSP, CID, will be the new DSP, Faridabad. Mr Randhir Singh, DSP, Rohtak, would be DSP, Police Training College, Madhuban, and Mr Ashok Kumar, has been posted as DSP Hqrs, Bhiwani, on promotion. Mr Tikka Ram, DSP, has been appointed as DSP, Loharu, Mr Devi Dayal as DSP, Jhajjar, and Mr Mewa Singh, has been appointed as DSP, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, Mr Ram Kishan has been appointed as DSP, 2nd Bn, Haryana Armed Police, Madhuban, and Mr Avtar Singh has been posted as DSP, 1st Bn, HAP, Ambala City.

Major demands of KU teachers accepted
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, May 16 — To improve the working of colleges in Haryana and to create better co-ordination between the university and the colleges affiliated to it, the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University. Dr Hoshiar Singh, has decided to concede almost all major demands of the Haryana College Teachers Union.

Mr Shamsher Singh, president of the union, which is affiliated to AIFUCTO told TNS yesterday that the teaching community was beholden to the Vice-Chancellor for acceding to their demands. Mr Shamsher Singh maintained that the conceding of demands by the Vice-Chancellor would lead to a better academic atmosphere in the colleges. Amongst the major demands conceded by the Vice-Chancellor are the constitution of a examination reforms committee with greater representation to teachers and the revision of remuneration for practical, contingency etc on the pattern of Panjab University rates.

Dr Hoshiar Singh told TNS that he had agreed to the constitution of a screening committee for granting senior and selection grade to teachers who had fulfilled the conditions after the implementation of the new grades. He was considering the restoration of election of one member from amongst the college teachers from the Academic Council to the Executive Council. Dr Hoshiar Singh stated that he was also envisaging the grant of 50 per cent fee concession to the wards of teachers of affiliated colleges in all affiliated institutions and in the university departments as was applicable to the wards of the university employees. He had further conceded the grant of concession to college teachers pursuing postgraduate courses in the Department of Distance Education. Further, more refresher and orientation courses would be conducted in all subjects to enable the teachers to quality themselves for senior and selection grades.

The Vice-Chancellor had also decided to streamline the constitution of various boards of studies and committees for the benefit of the teachers. Besides, more teachers would be nominated to the inspection committees. The Vice-Chancellor also agreed to provide more accommodation to college teachers in the Holiday Home at Shimla.

In a major concession to the teachers, the Vice-Chancellor had agreed to the incorporation of a clause in the university calendar to pay gratuity to the college teachers on the pattern of government employees.

Not ‘samman’ but ‘harassment pension’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 — The ruling INLD in Haryana and the main Opposition party, the Congress, had an exchange of allegations and counter-allegations today. While the latter accused the former of taking the voters for a ride on the issue of old-age pension, the INLD said the Congress was making “irresponsible statements” to cover up its infighting.

The Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, alleged that the Chautala government had converted the “sammaan” pension to “harassment” pension by subjecting old persons to a humiliating age verification process at the tehsil level. He said old persons were finding it very hard to travel long distances in this scorching heat. Many old persons were not even able to travel to the tehsil office and were being deprived of their pension.

Mr Hooda, who was talking to newsmen after submitting a memorandum to the Governor demanding the rollback in the prices of various essential commodities, said earlier official teams used to visit villages to identify the beneficiaries. With the introduction of the new system of age verification, many beneficiaries who had been getting pension for the past several years would now be deprived of it.

During the elections, he alleged, the ruling party pressurised the official machinery to give pension even to ineligible persons. Once the elections were over, the government directed the officials to prune the list of beneficiaries drastically. On an average, he said, one-third of the beneficiaries in each village would be excluded from the scheme.

Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), referring to the opening of liquor vends in residential areas said Mr Chautala’s programme of “Sarkar aap ke dwar” had now been converted into “sharaab aap ke dwar”. He said there was an acute shortage of drinking water in the state. Ponds in southern Haryana had not been filled.

The delegation which called upon the Governor included Mr V. Narayanaswami, Secretary of the AICC, Mr Bhajan Lal, Leader of the CLP, Mr Harpal Singh, former HPCC President, and various party MLAs and office-bearers.

Describing Mr Hooda’s allegations as baseless and concocted the Additional Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Dharambir Singh, said Mr Chautala was the first to react to the hike made by the Central Government in the prices of diesel, urea and other commodities, but had felt that this was essential in the larger interest of the nation.

Denying that pension was not being given to eligible beneficiaries, Mr Dharambir Singh said since the government was spending Rs 325 crore on the scheme, it was its foremost duty to ensure that the benefits of the scheme must percolate to those for whom it had been formulated.

Kanyadaan scheme benefits whom?
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, May 16 — Several Dalit girls have been denied the benefits of the ‘Kanyadaan Scheme’ because of lack of documentary evidence in support of age and income group. The scheme had been launched by the Chautala government with great fanfare in September last year.

As per the requirements only Dalit girls belonging to families living below poverty line and over the age of 18 years would be eligible to get a grant of Rs 5,100 under the scheme.

But as a majority of such girls and their parents are illiterate they are unable to produce documentary evidence in support of age and have to depend upon the Chief Medical Officers for getting the proof of age.

The hospital authorities, however, have no clear-cut, specified procedure of determining the age of these girls. Mr Ram Mehar, President of the Haryana Guru Ravidas Samaj Mahasabha, alleged that the girls and their parents were being harassed by hospital authorities. The parents, he alleged, “have to spend more than Rs 500 on X-rays to help the hospital authorities in determining the correct age of the girls.”

In spite of this the medical reports are misleading and ambiguous. Citing the case of Geeta, daughter of Mr Ram Sarup of Quilla Mohalla, here, he said she was reported to be aged between 17 to 25 years as per dental status and above 17 years as per radiology report and thus was found not eligible to receive the grant.

In another case Geeta and Kavita, daughters of Mr Mahabir of Behlamba village who were to be married on April 27 had to sit the whole day on April 26 in the office of the Chief Medical Officer here to convince him that they had attained the age of 18 years. Their father even spent more than Rs 800 on X-rays and other medical tests to support his claim. But the doctors certified that the girls were aged between 17 to 18 and 15½ to 17 years, respectively. Thus both the girls were deprived of the benefit of the Kanyadaan Scheme.

These are not isolated cases, says Mr Ram Mehar as there are hundreds other cases of similar nature in the state where “deserving” girls were denied the benefit of the scheme because of ambiguous medical report.

Mr Ram Mehar said if the scheme was to be implemented in the true spirit then the age of the girls should be accepted as per the report of the village sarpanch and the affidavit given by girls’ father.

He also said the government should direct the District Social Welfare Officers (DSWOs) to ensure that money was paid in cash on the day of the marriage itself as payment through cheque or demand draft causes a lot of inconvenience to such families.

Stressing for the payment of the “kanyadaan” amount on the day of marriage, Mr Ram Mehar said Mr Ishwar, father of Meena of Akalgarh (Jind) village had applied for the grant on January 15 and the marriage of his daughter had been fixed on February 12. However, got the money on April 18 and that too after making repeated visits to the office of the DSWO at Jind.

Mr Ram Mehar also advised the government to adopt realistic standards to determine the financial status of the applicants. As per the guidelines, families, consisting of seven persons in average, having a monthly income of Rs 289.31 per person, on “pucca” room, not more than 5 acres of land, no TV refrigerator or motor cycle/scooter or 3-wheeler or tractor, no power tiller and combine thresher are eligible for obtaining BPL cards.

Whereas in reality very few families would qualify these conditions, he said. The Scheduled Caste families in villages, he said, were living from hand to mouth because of unemployment. But many such families did not qualify as PBL families as they own ancestral houses having more than one pucca room.

20,000 looted from petrol station
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, May 16 — Some unidentified persons looted Rs 20,000 and injured one employee at a petrol station on the Sirsa-Dabwali road. This is the second incident of robbery in the past 10 hours.

According to the information received today, the incident took place at a petrol station opposite the Air Force Station here. At around 9.15 pm a Maruti carrying four persons from Dabwali stopped at the filling station. Two of them came out and asked an employee Ramu to fill petrol for Rs 200. When Ramu asked one of them to pay the bill, he tried to snatch the cash bag around Ramu’s neck and then struck him on the head with the butt of a gun. Ramu fell unconscious and the gang drove away with the cash. Ramu was admitted to the Civil Hospital in a serious condition. The police cordoned off the area but no breakthrough had so far been made.

In another incident, the police arrested one man and his mother for ousting his wife and marrying another.

According to police sources today, Balkar Singh of Nezadela village in the district and his mother Kishan Kaur were arrested under Section 498-A, 494, 506, 120B and 133, IPC, on the complaint of Kanchan who alleged that her husband and her in-laws were harassing her for dowry. They forced her to undergo an abortion and her husband married another woman Bakar Kaur.

Three cops booked for beating man
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, May 16 — Three policemen, including an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), have been booked on charges of attempt to murder and beating a person at Jhajjar town, about 35 km from here.

According to police sources, the victim, identified as Mihir Singh, a resident of Jhajjar town, had alleged that the policemen beat him up and threatened to kill him after a dispute. The victim was also allegedly shot at, but he escaped with injuries.

The policemen, identified as ASI Jai Bhagwan and Constable Pravin and Shyam Singh, have been booked under Section 307, 323 and 506 of the IPC.

Meanwhile, in another incident three policemen, identified as Jagdish Chander (ASI) and two Constables Rajvir and Ranvir were allegedly beaten by some lottery ticket vendors at Gandhi Lottery Bazar last night. A case against seven persons has been registered under Sections 332, 553 and 186. But the lottery ticket sellers have alleged that the policemen had attacked them after they failed to give “bribe” to them.

Haryana to start 3 ayurvedic courses
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 16 —The Haryana Government will start three diploma courses in ayurvedic pharmacy in ayurvedic colleges of the state from the current academic session.

Stating this here today, the Minister of State for Health and Ayurveda, Dr M.L. Ranga, said the courses would be started at Shri Krishana Government Ayurvedic College, Kurukshetra, Gaur Brahman Ayurvedic College, Rohtak, and Maru Singh Memorial Mahila Ayurvedic Degree College, Khanpur Kalan in Sonepat district.

More facilities at Saket hospital
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA May 16 — In an effort to revamp the Saket Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped and Rehabilitation centre being run by the Haryana Saket Council, the state government will spend Rs 1 crore to provide modern methods of treatment and vocational, rehabilitation and educational facilities to the orthopaedically handicapped.

This was disclosed by Dr Rakesh Jhalani, Director of the institute, during the visit of the Governor, Mr Mahavir Prasad, to the hospitals in Panchkula as well as Chandi mandir here today.

Giving details of the project, Dr Jhalani informed the Governor that Rs 45 lakh out of the said amount would be contributed by the various districts of Haryana and that they had already received Rs 13.85 lakh which was being spent on the institute.

Also, it was added that to equip the institute with the latest in technology, the matter would be taken up with the committee consisting of members from the PWD, architecture, education, electrical and health departments of the state government.

Going through the various wards of the hospital, Mr Prasad suggested that the institute should prepare welfare projects which could be funded by the government of India under various welfare schemes, while directing the district administration to extend the maximum help to the institute so as to equip it with modern and scientific medical facilities.

Catering to handicapped persons from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh, besides Haryana, the Governor said that the rehabilitation centre should be renovated according to the norms prescribed by the government and the motto of providing timely relief to patients should be a priority, keeping in the objectives laid down for its functioning.

The Governor visited the vocational centre for sewing and embroidery, the printing press, the artificial appliance workshop, the prosthetic and orthopaedic workshop and other private wards of both hospitals. He distributed fruits among patients.

Also present on the occasion were the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Monga, and the Superintendent of Police, Mr Sudhir Chowdhary.

Election of Zila Parishad Chairperson postponed
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA May 16 — The election to the post of Chairperson to the Zila Parishad ended inconclusively at the mini secretariat in Sector 1, here today, with only one member of the 10-member body making it to the office.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr MP Bansal, said that the election had been postponed to another date since the quorum of seven members could not be met. ‘‘Next time we cannot postpone it to another day even if the quorum is not complete. We will go ahead with the election irrespective of the number of members turning up,’’ he said.

Further, he added that though there was no provision in the rules about the mode of voting, it could be done by raising of hands or by secret ballot. ‘‘This is yet to be decided. However, we have kept ballot papers ready in case their need arises,’’ he informed.

This seat of the Zila Parishad is reserved for a woman candidate and the contest is primarily between two of the four elected woman candidates. Mrs Shimla Devi from Barwala is pitted against Mrs Upinder Kaur of Surajpur. The other two members, Ms Harjit Kaur of Saketri and Ms Vijaylakshmi from Raipur Rani, for the time being have not come to the forefront.

Sources inform that the 10-member house is evenly divided between the two candidate members and that hectic efforts were made by both of them to fulfil the required quorum prior to the announced election date. However, since none could secure a clear majority, the members of both groups did not turn up at the venue which ultimately led to the postponement of election today. Meanwhile, the new date of election is yet to be announced and the matter has been kept in abeyance till tomorrow.

At the election for the post of president and vice-president for the Pinjore panchayat samiti, Ms Kuldip Kaur of ward number 3 from Basola village defeated her rival, Ms Krishna Devi from Bhagwanpur village, by a margin of 10 votes. While the former got 14 votes, the latter secured only four votes for post of president.

Mr Ashok Kumar of Balkhedawali village was declared elected against the post of vice-president after he got 12 of the 18 votes to defeat his rival, Mr Balbir Singh from Maheshpur village. The election was held under the supervision of Mr Amarjit Singh Mann, Sub-Divisional Officer.

Cash looted from petrol station
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, May 16 — Three armed persons looted Rs 13,000 from a petrol station yesterday night and two gold rings, a wrist-watch, a gold chain. They escaped in a Maruti car (DL 2C 0118) parked outside the filling station. Mr Sheel Kumar, an accountant working at the filling station, had lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.