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| Tuesday, August 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Major recruitment drive by
police FATEHABAD: The tractor industry is slowly losing its market in Haryana, one of the most prosperous agricultural states. The sales of almost leading tractor companies in the state has been dwindling for the past one decade.
3 calves born by embryo
transfer HVP men threaten
indefinite fast Non-teaching staff
to stage dharna |
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Dalal continues crusade against CM 3 new rail lines for Haryana Ex-minister’s kin gets police remand 
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Major recruitment drive by
police CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — The Haryana police is all set to launch a major recruitment programme from August 19 to induct 2,000 constables against nearly 4,600 vacancies in the state constabulary. At present, the state has nearly 6,000 vacancies in the Police Department, including more than 100 sub-inspectors and 300 assistant sub-inspectors. Besides, the police has to fill 700 posts of head Constable. Talking to The Tribune here today, the Director-General of police, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, said that “recruitment will be made free from any pressures or favours and will be strictly on merit”, though the state has been notoriously known to recruit only those who have political heavyweights behind them. A sub-inspector posted at Rewari, who was reportedly trying some hanky-panky in the recruitment of constables, had been placed under suspension, Mr Rathore said. “We cannot recruit more persons as we do not have the facilities to take more than 2,000 fresh recruits at Police Training College at Madhuban. The recruitment will be made at all district headquarters where registration will begin on August 19. “Between August 20 and 24, there will be physical measurement followed by the physical efficiency test for applicants. By September 3, we will be ready to shortlist candidates. Interviews of the shortlisted candidates will start by September 7 and by September 20, the entire process of recruitment will be completed. We hope to start the training of the fresh recruits from October 1,” the DGP said. He said that vacancies had occurred during the past 18 months. All recruitment was being done to the state police and not to any India Reserve Battalion. It would be the first major recruitment drive during the past more than a decade. The District Selection Boards would comprise an SP and two DSPs. To ensure transparency and fair play, Mr Rathore said that the entire recruitment process would be videographed. The state Intelligence unit, too, had been alerted against any malpractices. Mr Rathore said that Haryana had drawn up a two-phase programme to meet the information technology challenge. A five-member committee comprising the Directors of Madhuban Police Training College and the State Crime Record Bureau, besides the DIG, CID, and SPs of Ambala and Sonepat, had been set up to monitor information technology upgradation. In the first phase all district headquarters would be connected to the state headquarters. Once the districts were connected to the state headquarters — the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB) — connection with the National Crime Research Bureau (NCRB) would be established. This entire process would take about two months. The second phase of computerisation of the state police would be completed during the current financial year when all police stations would be inter-connected. Mr Rathore maintained that some of the computers received by the state from the NCRB were outdated. Besides, the state police had to upgrade its telecommunication network, including the provision of telephone lines for the interconnectivity of computers at all police stations in the State. Resources, both financial and trained manpower, was another important hurdle coming in the way of computerisation. Though the recruitment notice this time did not provide for any reservation for computer-trained youngsters, Mr Rathore said that those with some training and expertise in computers would be given preference at the time of the interview provided they cleared the physical efficiency test. Talking about crime, Mr Rathore said a new class of criminals, a fallout of the prohibition policy, had emerged. Most members of this group had been gainfully employed in the illicit liquor trade during the prohibition period. After prohibition ended, some of them took to the liquor trade and resorted to various illegal means, including adulteration. Others took to heinous crime, including robbery. After some time wherever they had entered into partnerships, they started falling apart. The murder of two brothers and subsequently of a third person after the breaking up of a partnership concern was reported from Gurgaon. Mr Rathore felt that cyber-crime was going to pose a major problem in the near future. The police would have to go in for an attitudinal change. |
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Few takers for tractors in Haryana FATEHABAD: The tractor industry is slowly losing its market in Haryana, one of the most prosperous agricultural states. The sales of almost leading tractor companies in the state has been dwindling for the past one decade. Although some new companies have entered the market in recent years, the sale of tractors in the state has shown a declining trend. During the past three years, the tractor industry has witnessed an average decline of 10 per cent per annum in sales. This has led to a lot of problems for tractor dealers throughout the state. Many have already changed their business and many more are expected to follow suit. According to knowledgeable sources, the tractor industry witnessed a boom in Haryana and Punjab between 1976 to 1978 due to the green revolution. Tractor dealers throughout the state made huge profits as the sales spiralled. Nationalised banks issued tractor loans very liberally on the flow of funds for the agriculture sector from the World Bank. As tractors were a rarity with farmers, the industry had a very wide and open field to exploit. With the sudden increase in the sales, the industry failed to cope with demand. Most of the tractors sold during that period were imported. Some prominent makes of tractors sold during that period included Eicher (Germany), Escorts (Rumania), Zetor (Czechosalvakia), and Ford (USA). Seeing the brisk sale of their products, companies started manufacturing tractors in this country in collaboration with Indian companies, and production increased manifold. Despite that the sale of tractors in Haryana during the eighties was much more than supply and it was considered basically a seller’s market. But in a span of 10 years, the sales have dwindled considerably and the tractor market has now become a buyer’s market, where the customer dictates terms. Mr C.P. Ahuja, an agriculture engineer who is also the local dealer for HMT tractors, says he used to sell more that 100 tractors per annum till the early nineties, but sales have now fallen to just half. Mr Ahuja cites many reasons for this declining trend — fragmentation of land holdings and division of families, being the most important. For a tractor to be economically viable, it has to work for at least 1,000 hours a year. So farmers with small land holdings cannot afford to have a tractor. They would prefer to get their job done by hiring it. The second reason, he cites, is that during the initial years of the green revolution, agriculture production doubled due to use of hybrid seeds, fertilisers and machinisation, but during the past decade production has not increased up to the experts’ expectations specialists. Overall sales of tractors in Haryana remain the same as in 1992-1993. According to sources, 21,000 tractors were sold in Haryana in that year. But the figure dipped to 16,500 next year and rose to 22,800 in 1997-98. Since then it has been showing a declining trend with 21,500 tractors sold in 1999-2000. But these figures do not reflect the real picture. Furthermore, these figures are much less than the sales figures of the eighties. The tractor companies have been doing a lot of things to woo their customers. Off-season discount on tractors has become a permanent feature. Gift schemes are announced almost daily. Loans on tractors are easily available. But even then there are very few takers. Tractor dealers have to spend a lot of money on the salaries and travelling expenses of their agents, who go to the villages to find customers but returns are not satisfactory. The only redeeming factor is the multiple use of the tractor like earth work, excavation, for running harvesters, mills and tubewells that tractors are being sold these days. A new trend is that the dealer has to purchase the old tractor of the farmer before selling the new one. The main reason for this trend is that there is hardly any buyer of tractors left. Most of the farmers who purchase tractors these days are those who already have a tractor and want to replace it with a new one. Taking advantage of competition, farmers like to purchase a new tractor only from the dealer who buys his old one. Not only this, he has the choice of going to the tractor dealers of all makes to know which one can fetch him the best price for his old one. Selling a new tractor has become a tactful job. Dealers then sell the old ones through ‘‘tractor bazaars’’ being organised in the town and surrounding areas. It is surprising that despite all odds, new tractor companies like Sonalika, New Holland and Bajaj Tempo have entered the market in recent years making competition all the more tough. If things continue like this, farmers are likely to dictate terms and there is also a scope for improvement of quality of tractors. The tractor industry is in for tougher times.
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Teaching English, Haryana way CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — A for apple, B for banana... and so on. That’s how most of us have learnt English at school. The Haryana Government, however, has turned the concept upside down as the alphabet will figure only in the last part of its English textbook for children studying in class I. Some five lakh copies of the textbook are currently being printed at the Government Press.These are expected to come out in September and will be distributed among the students of 8,000 primary schools in the state. Meanwhile, according to official sources, nearly 15,000 teachers have already been given training at state government institutes on how to teach English to children who do not have any exposure to the language. The teachers have also been provided with guide books on the basis of which, according to officials here, the teaching of English to primary students in Haryana has already started. The move to introduce English from the class I level (earlier it was started from class VI) faced considerable resistance from the ruling INLD’s ally, the BJP, which argued that most of the students in Haryana who failed in the examinations did so because they did badly in English. However, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in view of starting computer education in high and higher secondary schools, insisted on retaining this policy and finally the BJP had to relent. The textbook devised by the SCERT for teaching English to the students of class I is an ingenious attempt which is expected to silence the critics of the new policy. In English-medium institutions, English is considered a language with which students are familiar and, therefore, its teaching begins with the alphabet. However, the methodology adopted for teaching English in state government-run primary schools of Haryana is based on the premise that students are not familiar with the language. For familiarising the students with the English language, 100-odd English words have been given in the textbook —which is, of course, multicoloured and full of illustrations — that are very much part of the student’s language. “Bus,” “chair,” “table,” “school” “telephone,” etc fall in this category of words in the first part of the book. There are also illustrations of things one sees in everyday life with their names in English. Then comes rhymes which, incidentally, have been subtly changed to suit the local scene. For instance, the well-known nursery rhyme “Rain, rain, go away...” has been changed into a rhyme welcoming the rain. Similarly, it is not “One, two, buckle my shoe...” Students are familar with shoe laces, and notbuckles, and so this one too, has been slightly changed. The rhymes are followed by numbers and in the last part of the book comes the alphabet. According to the tentative proposal, in class I students will only be familarised with the alphabet and they will be taught to write it from class II. Once the textbooks arrive in the schools, the Education Department will get feedback on how the teachers and pupils are responding to the English teaching method and carry out changes, if necessary, according to sources
here.
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3 calves born by embryo
transfer CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — The Haryana Livestock Development Board today claimed to have succeeded in producing three calves by using Embryo Transfer Technology. A sum of Rs 442 lakh had been earmarked for the promotion of the technology in the state. A spokesman of the Board said cash incentives to encourage and promote breeders of Murrah buffaloes which yield more than 15 litres of milk per day had been extended to the entire state. Earlier this incentive was available to farmers of seven districts only. Recently, 900 farmers of these districts had been given Rs 32 lakh as incentive money. He said Haryana would be the first state to make available insurance policy for farmers to insure valuable “Murrah” cattle yielding more than 15 litres per day with 50 per cent of the premium paid by the Board. The spokesman said the Board had allocated Rs 3.50 crore for upgrading technology for the collection, processing and freezing of semen. New equipment for this purpose had been purchased at a cost of Rs two crore and Rs 60 lakh had been advanced to Haryana Agricultural University for the construction of 50 bull sheds. A sum of Rs 20 lakh had been sanctioned to provide quality fodder seeds to farmers. He said the Board had purchased 14 out of the proposed total of 50 bulls of high genetic value. Murrah male calves of high pedigree were purchased from farmers which besides providing income to the farmers, also encouraged them not to neglect male calves, leading to morbidity and mortality. This would also ensure availability of quality geneplasm in the near future. The spokesman said to create public awareness about the latest techniques of breeding and health care, short training camps in poultry, piggery, sheep and dairying were organised and a farmers advisory committee constituted for suggesting measure to strengthen infrastructure. |
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HVP men threaten
indefinite fast REWARI, Aug 14 — Mr Vijay Saini, general secretary of the youth wing of the Haryana Vikas Party, announced at a press conference here today that he along with three other persons would start an indefinite fast at the Moti Chowk here from tomorrow. He reiterated his demand of a CBI or a judicial inquiry into the disproportionate assets allegedly amassed by Mr D.R. Sharma, secretary of the district Red Cross Society as well as into the ‘malfunctioning’ of the society. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Sumita Mishra, has deputed the city Magistrate, Mr Narendra Singh, to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. It (the inquiry) has, however, been rejected by Mr Saini. Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, a leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, has also demanded a high-level inquiry into the ill- functioning of the district Red Cross Society, saying that he would also raise this issue in the ensuing session of the Haryana Vidhan
Sabha. |
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Non-teaching staff
to stage dharna HISAR, Aug 14 — The All-Haryana Universities Non-Teaching Employees Federation has decided to stage a dharna on August 17 at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, if the government fails to accept its demands by August 16. Mr Joginder Singh
Patar, chairman of the federation said here yesterday that employees from all four universities of the state would take part in the dharna. The federation had already sent a notice to the government, he said. He said the government had not accepted their demands inspite of various reminders. The demands included the removal of anomalies in pay scales and the, release of the arrears of the Fifth Pay
Commission.
Vidhan Sabha session CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — The Haryana Vidhan Sabha session will begin from September 5, according to a press note issued by the government. The first session will be at 2 p.m. |
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Dalal continues crusade against CM CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — Continuing his crusade against the Chautala government, the lone RPI member of the Haryana Assembly, Mr Karan Singh Dalal, today accused it of committing a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution by employing certain persons against the express provisions of Article 319. Talking to newsmen here Mr Dalal said first the Chautala government appointed Mr Sher Singh Barsami, a former member of the Haryana Public Service Commission, Political Adviser to the Chief Minister even though the Supreme Court had passed strictures on him. Now, he said, the state government had appointed a former Chairman of the commission, Mr L.D. Mehta, Additional Advocate-General of Haryana, in violation of Article 319 which expressly barred any employment either under the Union Government or the state government for a former Chairman or a former member of the state public service commission. Asserting that the apex court had authoritatively decided in the U.D. Dwivedi case in 1996 that there was a constitutional bar on giving any employment to such categories of persons, Mr Dalal urged the President and the Prime Minister to check such flagrant violation of the Constitution as had been committed by a government headed by a party which was a member of the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Mr Dalal also demanded either a CBI inquiry or a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court into what he described as the “illegal collection” of money or property by certain members of the family of the Chief Minister by extending favours to or putting pressure on people and by relaxing or violating the rules and norms. The RPI MLA also showe documents purportedly relating to the release of two pieces of land acquired by HUDA several years ago in Panchkula. The land, he said, belonged to Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, Chairman of Confed and close confidant of Mr Chautala. Mr Dalal said the land had been released in violation of the law and a Supreme Court judgement. He also alleged that the land was released for “extraneous considerations”. Terming the allegations levelled by Mr Dalal as “mischievous, concocted and a travesty of truth,” an official spokesman said the land had been released as per the laid down rules and procedures. Asserting that the public exchequer had suffered no loss on account of the release of the land, the spokesman said the land had been released because it was used purely for religious purposes. Challenging the contention of the spokesman, Mr Dalal told TNS on the telephone in the evening that even if Mr Chaudhary’s land had been released because it was being used for religious purposes, how come that the land belonging to a well-established Gurukul, which was a well-known religious and charitable organisation, had been acquired by HUDA. The official spokesman said there was no violation of Article 319 in retaining the services of Mr Mehta for pleading the cases of the government in the high court. “The relationship between the government and Mr Mehta was not that of master and servant since it was only a contractual engagement,” he added. Asserting that the government “knows its law as well as anyone else,” the spokesman said it had been clarified in the “engagement order” itself that it was purely a provisional arrangement which could be terminated without any notice. He also clarified that the terms and conditions of engagement of Mr Mehta would further clarify the purely contractual arrangement to ensure that there was no contradiction to Article 319. The spokesman, however, did not say anything about the appointment of Mr Barsami as Political Adviser to the Chief Minister. |
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3 new rail lines for Haryana ROHTAK, Aug 14 - The Centre has sanctioned new rail lines between Sirsa and Hisar via Fathehabad and Agroha and between Jakhal and Fathehabad via Ratia and Bhuna. Disclosing this here today, the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, said that the rail link between Sonepat and Jind via Gohana has also been sanctioned. The state government, he said, had also taken up the issue of a rail link between Rewari and Rohtak via Jhajjar. The Chief Minister said that his government had introduced the ‘compulsory insurance for animal’ scheme under which the premium amount would be shared equally by the cattle owner and the government. His government had also constituted the Live Stock Development Board for improved breed of milch cattle to supplement the income of the farmer. At the intervention of the Haryana Government, the Centre had imposed import duty at the rate of 60 per cent on milk and its products. Earlier, it was zero per cent duty, he said and added that the state government would strive hard to protect the interests of the farmers and the poor. His government had successfully overcome the drought-like situation by providing more power and water to the farming sector. As a result, Haryana produced 13 per cent more wheat as compared to last year. The new agriculture policy of the state would be announced shortly. The stress in the new policy would be to encourage cultivation of horticulture, flowers and vegetables in view of continuous decline in land holdings. The Ministry of Defence has approved setting up of a sainik school at Matanhail Village in Jhajjar district. The cost of setting up the school would be shared equally by the Centre and the state government. Mr Chautala severely criticised the Opposition parties for misleading the people, including traders in desperate efforts to recover their lost ground. The tactics of these parties would not succeed as his government was alive to the problems and aspirations of the people. While the Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal governments had in the past resorted to firing on farmers to recover the outstanding hills on electricity, his government has realised over Rs 273 crore without resorting to coercive measures. The Local Area Development Tax (LADT) would affect only a handful of big industries and would not put any burden on the common man and the traders. It had been levied to generate funds for the development of the areas where industrial units were set up. Mr Chautala claimed that the multinational companies have shown more interest in setting up units in Haryana after it announced its new industrial policy. He justified that introduction of English from Class I and said that it had become necessary following introduction of information technology as a subject. |
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Ex-minister’s kin gets police remand FATEHABAD, Aug 14 — The Judicial Magistrate, Ms Alka
Malik, here today remanded Gop Mariya, a brother of a former Haryana minister, Mr Vinod
Mariya, in police custody till August 16 in the Rs 4 crore excise scam. He was produced before the court today. The counsel for Mr Mariya contended that the prosecution had falsely implicated his client in the case as his name neither figured in the list of partners nor workers of the firm that is alleged to have committed the scam. He contended that as the CIA staff had already quizzed his client on November 15, 1999, there was no need for police remand. The prosecution on the otehr hand said the video cassette of the auction of the liquor vend clearly showed Mr Mariya giving bids for the firm. Further Dev
Sharan, alias Paul, the parnter in the alleged firm, had also mentioned this fact in his diary before he committed suicide holding Mr Mariya responsible for it. |
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Red Cross camp
at Tara Devi CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — The Haryana branch of the Indian Red Cross Society will organise a 10-day inter-state Junior Red Cross training camp at Tara Devi (Shimla) from August 17 to 26. A spokesman for the society said nearly 250 boys and girls in the age group 12 to 16 years from all states and union territories would participate in it. The Governor of Haryana, Babu Pramanand, will preside over the valedictory function on August 26. |
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Congress to organise
conventions CHANDIGARH, Aug 14 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress will celebrate the 56th birth anniversary of the late Rajiv Gandhi on August 20. Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, president, said on that day the Haryana Kisan Congress would organise a convention at Hisar. The District Committees of Karnal, Jind and Faridabad would hold conventions at their respective headquarters. The party would also highlight the failures of the state government on different fronts, with emphasis on the “anti-poor” policies of the Chautala government. |
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