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| Sunday, September 10, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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CAG indicts Education Department Farmers take to cash crops Unscheduled power cuts make life
miserable Rs 158 crore sanctioned for rural
welfare 3 killed in road accident Members of Haj panel named
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| Eve-teasers assault father, booked KURUKSHETRA, Sept 9 — The Kurukshetra police has registered a case against Vicky and his two accomplices under Sections 294. 323. 34 and 506 of the IPC for allegedly teasing three minor girls, intimidating them and hurting their father at the Birla Mandir chowk here yesterday. Civic
body meeting cancelled New course for Sirsa centre Computerisation plan okayed Tributes paid to Majithia Village ravaged by cloud burst
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CAG
indicts Education Department CHANDIGARH, Sept 9 — No other school will like to rival one feat by 16 government schools of Haryana. In these schools, seven in Hisar, four in Ambala, four in Panchkula and one in Jind, the pass percentage of students at the plus two level in the science stream was zero for as many as four years. This astonishing fact has figured in the latest CAG report which was tabled in the recently concluded session of the Haryana Assembly. During 1994-98, 50 students had appeared in plus two examinations from these schools without anyone being successful. Poor performance by students is women, just one of the aspects of criminal negligence shown by successive state governments in following the guidelines of Action Plan on National Education Policy for introduction of the plus two system of education in the schools. While reviewing the implementation of the scheme in Haryana, the CAG found that schools were upgraded indiscriminately without taking into account prescribed criteria or norms in regard to infrastructure like land, number of classrooms, laboratory facilities. In August 1997, when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister and Mr Rambilas Sharma of the BJP was the Education Minister, 143 schools were upgraded on the orders of the Chief Minister or the Education Minister. “Of these 28 schools did not fulfil the prescribed conditions”, the CAG report said. Injudicious posting of lecturers in science and commerce streams in a large number of schools without any science or commerce student on roll had led to huge unfruitful expenditure, the report observed. According to it, while 143 science and 23 commerce teachers did not have to take any class as there was no student in these streams in their schools, the Education Department failed to transfer teachers to the schools where science and commerce students were on roll and vacancies in these cadres existed. “During 1996-97 and 1997-98, 1114 and 1211 posts of lecturers were vacant in various schools in the state. The state government did not monitor the infructious deployment of teaching staff in relation to the enrolment of students in various streams with the result that the teachers were paid salaries without any work”, the report said. The CAG report concluded
its review of introduction of plus two pattern of
education in Haryana saying, “even though various
norms were prescribed for upgradation of high schools to
senior secondary schools, these were not followed due to
political interference and inaction at the level of
Director/Secretary, Education Department”. The
failure of the state government to identify areas for
extending the plus two system and absence of school
mapping programme for assessing actual requirement of
senior secondary schools in the state to its annual
targets for upgradation, also drew flak from the CAG. |
Farmers
take to cash crops KAITHAL, Sept 9 — Farmers in Kaithal district seem to have taken a fancy to the formation of farmers’ clubs at the village level. The formation of such clubs in some villages has not only led to crop diversification but also more income to farmers. Farmers in this once agriculturally backward district have started sowing cash crops. Some of them have sown crops which were earlier unknown in the area. For instance, about three months back, farmers were not aware of “baby corn”. But now it is being cultivated in 25 to 30 acres in the district. “Baby corn” is used in five star hotels for preparing soup. The crop matures within two months and farmers can easily harvest four crops in a year, thus earning a handsome amount. The man behind the formation of these clubs, which have led to awakening among farmers, is Dr Rajbir Singh, Public Relations Officer, Kaithal. Dr Rajbir Singh is also a social scientist. Having an agriculture background, he is aware of the difficulties faced by the farming community. He realised that by adopting new crop patterns, farmers could be free from debts. For this, interaction among farmers at the village, block and district level was needed. Dr Rajbir Singh took the initiative and went out to spread education among the farmers. He formed a team of literacy workers to carry his message to the farmers. “Kisan goshtis”, seminars and get-togethers were also organised. The Progressive Farmers Club was formed at the district level where farmers from different parts of Kaithal meet to exchange ideas and experience in agriculture and discuss their problems. So far, the response to farmers’ clubs is encouraging and such clubs have been set up in 10 villages in the district. These include Teontha, Mohna, Titram, Siwan, Landerkeena, Kharkan. Such clubs are also being set up in the Guhla-Cheeka area. Farmers have benefited from the methods of diversification and interaction with other farmers. A deputation of a farmers club visited Jalgaon in Maharashtra to know about papaya cultivation. The visit was sponsored by a company, Jain Irrigation. The farmers were surprised to know that Jalgaon farmers earned about Rs 50,000 from one acre through papaya cultivation. Farmers in Kaithal are
also trying to start papaya cultivation. They also have
the know-how of flower cultivation. Encouraged by the
income from flower cultivation, a rose farm has been
raised on three acres by a farmer. He told TNS that he
had received an offer from a party that it would buy
roses from the site. Such alluring prospects has
encouraged farmers not to stick to the paddy-wheat crop
rotation alone. |
Unscheduled
power cuts make life miserable KARNAL, Sept 9 — Unscheduled power cuts by the HVPN have made life miserable for the consumers in Karnal. The unscheduled cuts are average between four to six hours everyday. Sometimes, the cuts are imposed when it is very hot and humid outside. It adds to the misery of consumers. Besides power trips very frequently in almost all parts of the city consumers in elegant colonies allege that frequent tripping have affected their electric gadgets like refrigerators, ovens, microwares and even televisions. HVPN authorities do not have satisfactory reply why these unscheduled cuts have been imposed. In Roop Nagar Colony and Sadar Bazar areas, power cuts have affected water supply to the area. Mr Manohar Lal, a resident of the area complained that power cuts range between five to eight hours per day, if the frequent tripping were also taken into account. Similarly, in elegant colonies, majority of the people have installed generator sets, convertors to save themselves from power cuts. Consumers complain that despite routine power cuts, the bills sent by the HVPN are always on the high side. The system in every area of the city is over-loaded and the electric wires have also outlived their life. As a result, power system trips frequently and often collapses for hours together. The complaint office of the HVPN are in name only. It has been found that whenever the cut is longer, the local-telephone lines of the enquiry office remain busy. This is the peak irrigation season for the paddy crop. Farmers in the villages complain that although, the HVPN swears that regular supply of eight hours is ensured in the countryside for irrigation purposes yet the situation is different. Farmers alleged that supply was available to them after intervals. As far as domestic supply in the villages is concerned, it is too erratic. There are villages where the supply is available only on alternate days or the night the supply is switched off frequently at regular intervals. The power shortage situation exposes the hollow claims made by both the government and the HVPN officials. Theft of power is rampant both in villages and in some unauthorised colonies in the cities. The HVPN officers even don’t dare to visit the villages and touch those stealing power openly and unabashedly. Many of the consumers who indulged in such power theft enjoy political patronage either at the block level or the district and the State level. The officers therefore are afraid to touch them. The theft consequently leads to overloading of the system and ultimate collapse in some areas. The need of the hour is strict vigilance both by the HVPN and the politicians in power. It has been observed
that thefts of power always take place in league with the
officials of the HVPN at the lower level. The lineman and
the meter reader know the consumers who indulge in power
theft but in majority of cases, their palm is greased and
ultimately they turn a blind eye to such incidents. |
Rs 158
crore sanctioned for rural welfare CHANDIGARH, Sept 9 — The Haryana Rural Development Fund Board today sanctioned a sum of Rs 158 crore to implement various schemes announced by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, during his “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme launched in November last year. A spokesman for the Board said out of the sanctioned amount, nearly Rs 148 crore had already been released by the Board to carry out various development works. Never before had the Board spent so much amount on development works in a single year, he added. He said a sum of Rs
54.71 crore was released for laying streets and
construction of drains, whereas Rs 15.51 crore was
released for the construction of additional school rooms,
waterworks and a sum of Rs 19.25 crore was given for
rural roads and sanitation. Similarly, for the
construction of Ayurvedic dispensaries, stockmen centres
and veterinary dispensaries, a sum of Rs 2.61 crore was
released. For the construction of chaupals for the
members of Harijan and Backward Classes, retaining walls
of village tanks and carrying out other development works
Rs 56.16 crore was released. |
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HISAR, Sept 9 (PTI) — Two persons were killed and five others injured, when an autorickshaw carrying them collided with a matador near Kuleri village, about 30 km from here, last night, the police said today. The deceased had been identified as Abhey Singh and his son-in-law, Karambir Singh, they said. According to the police, Abhey along with his family members was proceeding to Bhuna village where his son Suresh Singh allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison, when they met with the accident. The injured Ashok, Sanjay, Ishwar, Ramesh and Chanan were admitted to the local civil hospital. In another accident, one person was killed and another injured when their scooter collided with a truck in Bhattu 50 km from here. The deceased had been
identified as Mohan Lal (27), a resident of Churu in
Rajasthan. The injured had been admitted to the hospital. |
Members of
Haj panel named CHANDIGARH, Sept 9 — The Haryana Government today nominated Mr Haji Mohammad Ramzan and Mr Tahir Hussain as members of the Haryana State Haj Committee. The committee was constituted on July 12 with Mr Hamid Hussain, MLA from Nuh, as its Chairman. The committee is an advisory and consultative body and acts as a link between the Port Haj Committee, Mumbai and Haj’s Friend. Its purpose is to collect and disseminate information on pilgrimage to Hazaz. It also appoints Haji
friends and sub-committees in districts, negotiates with
the Railway authorities for the purpose of travelling
facilities for pilgrims and advice in matters, including
inoculation, vaccination, medical inspection, issue of
pilgrim passes and depositing advance. |
Eve-teasers
assault father, booked KURUKSHETRA, Sept 9 — The Kurukshetra police has registered a case against Vicky and his two accomplices under Sections 294. 323. 34 and 506 of the IPC for allegedly teasing three minor girls, intimidating them and hurting their father at the Birla Mandir chowk here yesterday. The girls’ father, Mr Vinod Mehta, who was assaulted by the eve-teasers, sustained head injuries and was admitted to the local LNJP Hospital here. According to the FIR lodged with the police, Mr Mehta told the police his three daughters who were 11, 13 and 16 years of age, respectively, used to go to their school by a three-wheeler auto-rickshaw and Vicky had been teasing them for the past about one and a half month. He said that when they boarded the three-wheeler, Vicky used to get in forcibly. Earlier, he tried to hand over a card to one of his daughters but failed in his “mission”. He also threatened his daughter with throwing acid on her face. Although the eve-teasers of their accord had stopped teasing his daughters for quite some time, yet for the past couple of days, they had started teasing his daughters again. The previous day they repeated the threat of acid on his daughter’s face. Mr Mehta further told the police that yesterday he and his wife went with his daughters to make them see reason. When he was trying to make them understand the eve-teasers attacked him and manhandled his wife. Vicky’s father, Mohan Lal, is working as a section officer in the Education Department and is residing near Birla Mandir. Mr Mehta further told the police that Mohan Lal too joined the eve-teasers in assaulting him and his wife. Meanwhile, shopkeepers
have alleged the Birla Mandir chowk has virtually become
a den of eve-teasers who keep hanging around there. |
Civic body
meeting cancelled FARIDABAD, Sept 9 — The proposed meeting of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, scheduled to be held on September 11, has been cancelled for the second time in view of the Haryana Chief Minister’s visit here on that day. According to the agenda
of the corporation, certain proposals for development
works were to be finalised at the meeting. According to a
spokesman of the corporation, no date for the next
meeting has been fixed yet. |
New course
for Sirsa centre CHANDIGARH, Sept 9 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has approved the proposal of Kurukshetra University for starting the certificate in physical education course at the Postgraduate Regional Centre, Sirsa. This decision has been taken in view of the popularity of this course in that area. Stating this here yesterday, an official spokesman said there would be 120 seats (60 free and 60 paid). He said LLB, MCA and MA
(public administration) classes had also been started at
the regional centre from this academic session. |
Computerisation
plan okayed CHANDIGARH, Sept 9 — The Haryana Local Bodies Department today chalked out a Rs 6 crore pilot project for computerising all the activities undertaken by the municipalities in the state. Mr Subhash Goyal, the
Minister of State for Local Government, claimed that the
project had been framed under the information technology
policy with a view to replacing traditional delivery
system of governance. |
Tributes
paid to Majithia KARNAL, Sept 9 — Tributes were paid to Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia on his death anniversary by the staff and students of the local Dayal Singh College and Dayal Singh Public School. The General Manager of the Dayal Singh College Trust Society and the principal of the college garlanded a portrait of Sardar Majithia. A sapling was planted on the occasion. Fiftyfive students, including NCC cadets and volunteers, donated blood. A painting competition was held. A function was organised
at Dayal Singh Public School. |
Village
ravaged by cloud burst KALKA, Sept 9 — The fields were lush with maize and ginger crops and the villagers of Khoi Bhagrani were looking forward to a good harvest. Everything seemed set for a bumper season and the villagers confident of repaying their crop loans, and also having an easy time during the year. Then suddenly one day, the heavens turned angry and a cloud-burst dashed all their hopes. The crops were washed away, a number of houses were destroyed, long stretches of the road connecting the village with Pinjore vanished, and the pipeline that brought potable water broke to pieces. At the end of the deluge, the village presented a scene of complete desolation. A bus of Haryana Roadways that was caught in the deluge, lay stranded in the village even five days after the cloud-burst, waiting for the road to open. Nearly 50 children of the village who go daily to schools in Pinjore and Kalka, have not been able to move out of the village. According to the sarpanch of Khoi Bhagrani, the village has lost several domestic animals. Carcasses of goats and other animals are lying in the nullah of the village. If these are not removed immediately, they might cause an epidemic in the area. With the break-down of the water supply system, the villagers are forced to drink contaminated water from the nullah. This also exposes them to the danger of water-borne diseases. The population of the
village consists mainly of people living below the
poverty line. They had taken loans from cooperative banks
and other financial institutions. With the crop now
destroyed, they face the double problem of keeping hunger
away and repaying the loans. They now look forward to the
Government to come to their rescue. But so far no
Government functionary has visited the village to assess
the damage. The villagers have sent an appeal to the
Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala,
seeking relief and early restoration of the road link. |
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