 |
| Monday, May 29, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
|
Roll
back liberalisation: 4 ex-PMs Abhay doesn’t want
ministership Cong stir against new taxes Tax throws scare in industry NSC agents flout laws Survey to weed out bogus
pensioners Haryana to eradicate illiteracy by
2003 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Probe panel formed Petrol samples being checked Chautala urges PM to resolve Fiji
crisis New civic levies in Sonepat Cong to boycott Rori counting Safai karamcharis strike called
off
|
Roll back liberalisation: 4
ex-PMs BHONDSI (Gurgaon), May 28 — Four former Prime Ministers Messers Chandra Shekhar, V.P. Singh, Inder Kumar Gujral and H.D. Deve Gowda described the policy of economic liberalisation introduced in the country during Congress-led government headed by Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao and continued by the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led government at the Centre as detrimental to the country and advocated for a paradigm shift at the earliest. Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was also invited to speak on the occasion did not turn up. The four former premiers and intellectuals speaking at a seminar on the economic policy of the country, organised by Mr Chandra Shekhar at his Bharat Yatra Kendra, raised an alarm saying that in case the present face of liberalisation and the trend was not reversed forthwith, every section of the country would be hit hard. The foreign powers and the multinational companies will eat into the vitals of the domestic economy. The subject of the seminar was: "There was an alternative" to the present economic policy followed by the country since 1991 (When the new economic policy was introduced by P.V. Narasimha Rao government). Leading the charge was Mr Chandra Shekhar, who said that the policy of uncontrolled liberalisation has now threatened both the large and small scale domestic units. Indiscriminate entry of the foreign companies in the country has the potential to erode the country’s economic independence but also the sovereignty of the nation. Mr Gujral said that some of the countries which were hailed as "Asian Tigers" on account of the ephemeral success they had following unregulated policy of liberalisation had to finally come to a sorry pass. In the Indian context he said that in the past five years, about six lakh small-scale units were compelled to close shop as a result of deleterious impact of the faulty economic policy. He further said that a survey would reveal that the domestic units which used to produce goods like television and refrigerators have been forced to wind up business on account of the entry of the multinational companies. He further said that presently there were about more than seven crore youth registered with various employment exchanges in the country. The trend suggest exponential growth in the number in the past few years. The new policy has not helped and if the country does not wake up soon, there was every danger of it slipping to a position from where there would be difficulty for its redemption. He cautioned that the prescriptions of the international funding institutions and bodies like the IMF and the WTO should be taken with a pinch of salt, if the country’s economic independence was to be kept intact. Mr V.P. Singh lamented that he was against the licence and quota raj, but was opposed to indiscriminate opening of the economy to the foreign companies and powers. He strongly advocated continuance of subsidy on seed and fertiliser. He expressed concern that if the total waiver of dues on items like power in the country was calculated, the figure would come up to more than Rs 25,000 crore. But the present government at the Centre was against continuing the subsidies for the poor and needy. Mr H.D. Deve Gowda said that consensus should be built in the country against the policy of economic liberalisation. The wide-ranging feeling is that the present policy be reversed, but how to go about it was the moot point. Mr Gowda lamented that
in the era of economic liberalisation, laws were amended
and circumvented for the benefit of few business houses.
On the fillip side the tragic face of the liberalisation
policy was that subsidies with regard to the public
distribution system was being done away with, he added. |
Abhay doesn’t want
ministership CHANDIGARH, May 28 — Even as his victory from Rori by a big margin is a certainty, Abhay Singh Chautala today said he did not want to become a minister in the Cabinet headed by his father. While stating that expansion of the Cabinet is the prerogative of the Chief Minister, Mr Abhay Singh said he was not inclined to accept a ministerial office as it would confine him only to the portfolio assigned to him. However, Chautala junior said the most important reason why he did not want to accept a ministerial office was that it could lead to allegations of nepotism against Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. The INLD nominee from Rori said there were a lot of competent people among the party MLAs who could be inducted into the Cabinet in case of a Ministry expansion. He added that without being a minister also he would be able to get work done for his constituency through his personal rapport with the existing ministers. Mr Abhay Singh claimed he was not keen even to contest the Rori byelection. "I personally was in favour of putting up a backward caste candidate from Rori and same was the view of my father as well as other INLD leaders", he said, adding that it was the INLD supporters of Rori who had compelled him to seek election from the constituency left vacant by his father. The youngest son of the Haryana Chief Minister, however, said he would like to retain his office as Chairman of the Sirsa Zila Parishad unless there was a constitutional provision debarring an MLA from double up as chief of the Zila Parishad. "The money for many central schemes now-a-days comes directly to the Zila Parishad and a lot of work can be done through the ZPs", he said. Abhay Chautala said he had set up various committees like the public health committee, education committee, PWD committees and so on after becoming the Chairman to streamline the activities of these departments. "Even if I have to resign from the Zila Parishad Chairman’s office, I will monitor its functioning as an ex officio member", he said. While Mr Om Prakash Chautala had stated at a press conference recently that he would ask his son to seek re-election in case his victory margin over the Congress nominee was not twice the margin of victory of the Chief Minister himself in the last February polls, Mr Abhay Chautala said he was expecting that his victory margin would be three times more than that of his father. Mr Abhay Chautala said he would attribute his popularity in Rori to the policies initiated by his grandfather Mr Devi Lal, which were later followed by his father, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. "Our family has a very old association with Sirsa district and this constituency. Mr Bansi Lal and Mr Bhajan Lal have always neglected this backward district", he said. Besides, fielding of a weak candidate by the Congress had also made it easy for him, said a beaming Abhay. Recently he had succeeded in settling the disputes between some families in Rori which also shot up his popularity, Abhay said. He, however, added that he had supervised so many election campaigns for INLD candidates in Sirsa district and in Rori that he already knew the people there quite well and vice versa. Abhay said that he was
instrumental in getting a sugar mill for Rori and also a
rice mill in that area, which would give employment to
local people and the mills would also benefit the local
farmers. He wants an engineering institute to come up at
Odhang village in that area. |
Cong stir against new taxes ROHTAK, May 28 — Charging the Chautala government of ‘utter failure’ on various issues, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has decided to launch a state-wide agitation from next week. Stating this HPCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda said at a press conference here today that "water had started flowing above the head and it was not possible to accept the "anti-people steps" taken by the government which include imposition of new taxes of several hundred crores. He said the state government could not justify the new taxes imposed after the withdrawal of octroi a few months ago. He said while octroi raised around 65 crore the state government had put an additional tax burden of more than 1000 crore in the name of entry tax (area development charge). He claimed the new tax would put a heavy financial burden and obstruct setting up of new industry in the state. He said small traders and shopkeepers had not been spared either. The present Chief Minister who asked farmers not to pay pending power bills a year ago promised free power and water to farmers had started harassing them to recover arrears. Claiming that all sections of the society were dissatisfied with the performance of the Chautala Government. He said a major ‘fraud’ was played on unemployed youth by the INLD government blanket ban on recruitments within a month of coming to power. He said while taxes imposed by the Bansi Lal government in lieu of prohibition had not been withdrawn, a new dose of taxes had been added. Mr Hooda said a state-level demonstration and dharna would be held at Jhajjar on July 3 after series of district-level protests at various district headquarters starting from June 5. A meeting of the general body of the HPCC had been convened at Chandigarh for June 1 to discuss preparation for the agitation. He criticised the
government for not ensuring release of pending payments
of sugarcane growers. |
NSC agents flout laws PANIPAT, May 28 — The connivance of officials of the local head post office with agents of small savings schemes i.e., National Savings Certificates (NSC) and Kisan Vikas Patras (KVP), may be costing the government lakhs in lost revenue. From the time the gates of the head post office open these ‘agents’ occupy seats near the counter meant for the depositors. Whoever comes to buy the certificates, is grabbed by agents in the name of assisting them fill up the forms. By this minimal exertion they become eligible for one per cent commission without any labour or canvassing for funds. Interestingly no agent is authorised to sit in the post office or approach depositors in the premises. But the agents openly flout these norms and with the active patronage of postal officials pocket the commission, which would otherwise accrue to the government. Even where depositors directly approach officials for deposits under the scheme the officials, after the departure of the depositors, allegedly stamp the deposit receipt in the name of their favoured agents short-changing the government. Ironically genuine agent who canvas deposits under the scheme face impediments from these officials as they do not stand to benefit from them. Enquiries show that in between April 1 to 30 not one deposit was shown to have been received directly from the depositors. When the ‘agents’ were questioned about their presence inside the premises they said it was to save themselves from the risk of carrying cash that they called depositors directly to the post office. The District Small Savings Officer (DSSO) when contacted confirmed that more than 90 per cent of business was procured by agents and 10 per cent through Haryana Government LTC payment to employees. He claimed counter sale of these certificate was nil. He said that in the month of April 2000 total deposits were Rs 4,64,54,000 procured by around 125 agents, of whom 100 are active. The DSSO said control of
agents in the post office premises was the job of the
post master. |
Haryana to eradicate illiteracy
by 2003 PANIPAT, May 28 — The Haryana Government has decided to remove illiteracy among children between the age group of six to 14 years by the end of 2003. This information was disclosed by the Financial Commissioner and Secretary Education, Mr Prem Prashant while addressing a public gathering of Jeevan Shala group at Samalkha, 20 km from Panipat yesterday. Mr Prashant also disclosed that the Central Government contemplates making an amendment in the Constitution to bring education among children of age group of six to 14 years a basic right and Section 51 is also to be amended to make parents responsible to educate their children of the same age group, both these amendments are expected to be made by the Central Government shortly. He called upon people to support institutions active towards the uplift of society. Mr Prashant was impressed by the cultural programmes staged by the students of Jeevan Shala. Director of middle education in Haryana Mr P.K. Mahapatra told that these Jeevan Shalas in Samalkha block in Panipat district were started in February, 1997 and it was the first movement in the province to provide knowledge of art and science. He further told that in the beginning literacy workers surveyed 28 villages of Samalkha block and found 1808 children between the age group of six to 14 out of schools due to various reasons. Out of them 67 per cent children who belong to backward families never got admission in schools. He appealed to people to
support the institutions which were active for the
removal of illiteracy from Panipat district. |
Survey to weed out bogus
pensioners SONEPAT, May 28 — The district administration has decided to conduct a fresh survey of ineligible persons who are receiving old-age pension. The survey will be launched from June 1. This was stated by Mr Ashok Yadav, Additional Deputy Commissioner, while addressing a meeting of the district officials here yesterday. He said the state government had received a number of complaints that ineligible persons were getting old-age pension and some genuine cases were being ignored by the previous government. The survey would be completed within a month he added. Mr Yadav directed the officials to identify all eligible persons entitled for old-age pension. The aged, he said would be required to produce ration cards, photo-identity cards issued by the Election Commission, driving licences, water and power bills as proof of residence. All those who failed to produce these documents would be declared ineligible for receiving the pension. As proof of age the
beneficiaries would be required to produce a certificate
from the Civil Surgeon. Four senior officials along with
the Civil Surgeon and the officials of the Social Welfare
Department would monitor the survey. As many as 7,597
aged persons were getting pension in the district, he
said. |
Probe panel formed SONEPAT, May 28 — The Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) of Rohtak on the directives of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Director Higher Education, Haryana, has constituted an inquiry committee headed by the Deputy Registrar and the Finance Officer for probing financial irregularities by the principal of GVM Girls College, Sonepat. According to official sources, the outgoing President of the managing committee of the college, Mr Behari Lal Jhamb, had made a complaint to the UGC and the Haryana Government alleging mass scale financial irregularities and squandering of the college funds by the principal of the college. The UGC, it may be
recalled, has already blacklisted the college and
debarred it from receiving grant-in-aid in future. |
Petrol samples being checked FATEHABAD, May 28 — To ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the district, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Malik has directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates to conduct surprise checks on petrol filling stations to check the fuel samples. He directed the officers concerned to ensure school vehicles drivers conform to the guidelines issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Secretaries of the
Tohana, Fatehabad and Rattia municipal committees have
been asked to make sure that no illegal encroachment was
made within and area of 15 feet of the road passing
through the towns. He also asked them to make proper
arrangements for the street lights on these roads. The DC
asked the Executive Engineer of the PWD (B&R) to
ensure that zebra marks were made on all crossings. |
Tax throws scare in industry HISAR, May 28 — Taxation and legal experts have added another dimension to the controversial local area development tax imposed by the Haryana Government through an ordinance on May 5. They maintain that the ordinance issued in his respect is bad in law and violates several articles of the Constitution. The tax, which in effect is octroi in a new avatar, is likely to put an additional burden of Rs 300 crore annually on the public as against Rs 65 crore earned through octroi till it was abolished a few months ago. Government sources, however, say the new tax will help realise Rs 100 crore a year. Legal opinion sought by leading industrialists of the state points out that the ordinance violates Article 286 of the Constitution which deals with restrictions on imposition of tax on the sale or purchase of goods. They maintain that under this article the state cannot enact a law to "impose or authorise the imposition of a tax on the sale or purchase of goods where this sale takes place outside the state or in the course of import of goods into or export of goods out of the territory of India". They also say that the LADT will restrict freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse among states which is guaranteed under Article 301 of the Constitution which says that "trade, commerce and intercourse throughout the territory of India shall be free". By imposing the new lavy, they maintain, the Haryana Government has restricted free trade because if will discourage import of raw materials into the state from other states. Taxation experts point out that branch transfers and sale on consignment basis outside the state can be taxed only by the Parliament under entry 92B of List 1 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. However, the LADT is in effect a tax on branch transfer as it taxes good sold outside the state. Another major lacuna in the ordinance, is that it will mean double taxation. Industries pay 4 per cent Central Sales Tax on goods purchased from outside the state. They will now have to pay an additional 4 per cent by way of LADT on goods sold outside the state. Double taxation is illegal in law. They point out that even the Centre does not levy any taxes on export of goods outside India to encourage foreign exchange earnings. However, the LADT ordinance does not distinguish between export of goods to other states and export to foreign countries. The additional 4 per cent tax on exports from Haryana will hit export earnings. The iron and steel industry is likely to be hit most severely by the new tax. Steel is included in the list of goods which invites low taxes. However, the new ordinance does not spare this segment either. Mr Kuldeep Bhargava, president, Hisar Industries Association, says Hisar is the biggest producer of steel goods in the state. Imposition of the new tax will make all local steel units unvaible as its produce will be costlier than similar goods produced in other states. He says that while steel will be hardest hit no segment of the industry will be immune. With the entry of multinationals and increasing competition, most industrial units were operating on profit margin of just two to three per cent. The additional 4 per cent tax will force industries to shift from Haryana. Mr Bhargava said most members of his association were already looking for suitable locations in an around Delhi to shift their units to be able to compete. Legal experts say that a tax meant for the development of an area from which it is collected should be legally realised by local bodies. However, the LADT as per the ordinance is to be collected by the Excise and Taxation Department and credited to the consolidated fund of the state. This was contrary to the aims and objectives of the LADT ordinance, they maintain. However, senior taxation officials say the ordinance is perfectly legal and did not violate the Constitution. They claim that a similar entry tax has been in existence in Madhya Pradesh and some other states for the past many years even though the levy was one per cent of the value of goods as compared to 4 per cent in Haryana. They deny that industry
had been discriminated against as traders were exempt
from payment of LADT. |
Chautala urges PM to resolve Fiji
crisis CHANDIGARH, May 28 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has urged the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to impress upon the United Nations for its direct intervention to resolve the crisis in Fiji at the earliest. Mr Chautala also requested Mr Vajpayee to take effective steps at the Government level for the restoration of democracy in the island and for ensuring safety of the deposed Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr Mahendra Chaudhary. In a letter addressed to Mr Vajpayee, Mr Chautala expressed concern at the manner in which the Indian community was being treated in Fiji. The Haryana Chief Minister wrote that the Indian community must be protected. Otherwise, it would convey wrong signals to the Indians settled in other countries. The Chief Minister added that the deposed Prime Minister of Fiji hailed from Haryana and people here were anxious at his being held hostage. Mr Chautala has also
wrote a letter to the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi
Annan, which was forwarded to Mr Vajpayee for its onward
transmission to Mr Annan. |
New civic levies in Sonepat SONEPAT, May 28 — In pursuance of the state government’s orders, the Sonepat Municipal Council has decided to impose new levies on the traders, private nursing homes, schools and colleges, cinema houses and property dealers in this city. According to official sources, the main aim for imposing new levies is to improve the financial structure of the municipal council which had dwindled after abolishing octroi duty. This has caused a great panic among the people belonging to business and trading community in this city. Official sources also revealed that the municipal council will charge 1 per cent fire tax, Rs 100 on driving licence and 5 paise per unit on power consumption. Similarly, Rs 2,500 per year will be charged from owners of hotels and restaurants, banquet halls, petrol pumps, nursing homes, gas agencies, private schools and colleges, furniture showrooms, dairies and industrial units. A lump sum tax of Rs 1,500 per year will also be charged from private laboratories, commercial colleges, computer centres and showrooms of big companies; Rs 1,000 per year from workshops, services stations, ice factories, flour mills, tent houses, cable operators, printing presses, medical and general stores. A new tax of Rs 50 will be levied on registration of new moped, Rs 100 on scooters and motor cycles, Rs 500 on cars. A token tax at the rate of 5 per cent would be charged from buses, STV, taxis, maxi cabs, auto-rickshaws and trucks. The municipal council has also decided to fine the defaulters who will also be prosecuted under the law. The municipal council
also plans to intensify the campaign for the recovery of
house tax arrears outstanding against the owners of
houses and shops in the city. The amount of new levies
will be spent on the development works. |
Cong to boycott Rori counting SIRSA, May 28 — The Congress party has decided to boycott the counting of votes for the Rori byelection scheduled to be held at Government National College, Sirsa, tomorrow. The Congress candidate
for the election, Mahant Baldev Das said here today that
the decision had been taken in view of the administration
turning a deaf ear to their complaints. |
Safai karamcharis strike
called off PANIPAT, May 28 — The three-day old indefinite strike by safai karamcharis has been called off after an assurance from the deputy commissioner, Mr M.R. Anand, that their pending salaries would be paid on June 1 and other demands would be settled by June 15. The decision was taken last evening. The karamcharis were earlier told by the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Mr K.K. Jain that the council had received a grant of Rs 20 lakh from the government and the karamcharis would be paid their salaries by June 15. But they did not agree to this and refused to call off their strike. After discussing the
matter with the Deputy Commissioner the MC authorities
agreed to pay the salary on June 1, their other demands
will be settled by June 15. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | In Spotlight | 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
