Aviation instructor indicted for fraud
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7—A departmental inquiry against a senior functionary of the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) at Pinjore has indicted him for fraud and financial misappropriation. 

According to the report, a copy of which was made available to The Tribune, nine allegations of fraud and financial misappropriation against the institute's Chief Gliding Instructor, Capt V.Ralhan "have been established/proved on the basis of the record presented by the prosecution". 

Captain Ralhan, who retires later this month, could not be contacted at Pinjore for his  comments. The inquiry was conducted by Mr R.M.Aggarwal, Administrative Officer in the Civil Aviation Department, Haryana. 

As per the findings, Capt Ralhan had intentionally changed his date of birth from November 12, 1942, to November 12,1944,in connivance with a clerk to take benefit of two more years of service. "This contention can be verified from his service book, private pilot licence, insurance policies and nominal rolls sent by him to the office of the Adviser, Civil Aviation". 

In his reply to the charge sheet filed earlier, he had, however, denied the charge and had contended that his date of birth was November 12, 1942. 

Further, the report states that the officer did not initiate the case for retaining him in service beyond the age of 55 ,as stipulated in the rules. He had maintained that no proposal was initiated for other officers and functionaries, which the inquiry report termed as "baseless". 

The inquiry has also established six charges of fraudulently drawing excess payments in violation of rules and regulations established by the state Finance Department or by submitting false claims, thereby causing "huge losses" to the aviation club. 

Dearness allowance was drawn by the chief instructor on special pay sanctioned to him for doing additional work as Assistant Secretary from January,1997. This, according to the report, was done in "utter violation" of rules and regulations. Further, he had "fraudulently, deliberately and intentionally" drawn house rent allowance and conveyance allowance, besides drawing special increments and excess payment deposited in the provident fund by claiming excessive basic pay.

The report states that payment for house rent was not admissible to functionaries of the Pinjore Aviation Club for the said period, while conveyance allowance was drawn despite his car remaining unservicable for 10 years, a fact which was admitted by him in writing. 

Capt Ralhan had, however, also maintained that his car was serviceable and that he had also been using his brother-in-law's car. 

According to the report, the official had drawn special increments and availed of "leave of all kinds" simultaneously despite an undertaking that he would not avail leave in future in lieu of these increments. 

The inquiry report also states that he had "deliberately and intentionally" misplaced the record and annual confidential reports (ACRs) of officers and other employees of the Pinjore Aviation Club. He had maintained that no ACRs were ever written,a contention termed as ''baseless'' by the inquiry report as he himself had written ACRs of some employees working under him.

1900 cops to be recruited
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Nov 7 — The Haryana Government will recruit 1900 more police constables during this month besides recruiting 2000 constables in March next year on merit basis. This was announced by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala while presiding over “sarkar aapke dwar” in the second phase of its programme at Bapoli village, about 15 km from here today. 

The Chief Minister listened to the problems of 68 panchayats of the Samalkha Assembly constituency and sanctioned a number of development projects costing crores of rupees.

Mr Chautala assured them that the recently recruited teachers would be posted in all schools this month. He said 10,000 teachers were being recruited in the state. Out of this, 6500 teachers had already been recruited and the remaining would be appointed soon. He clarified that all newly appointed teachers would be posted in the rural areas at least for five years. He said it would also be mandatory for those teachers who were already serving in the urban areas since long to serve in the villages for five years.

Mr Chautala said he was in the favour of decentralisation of power so that the people do not rush to Chandigarh for redressing their problems. He said now sarpanch would be able to undertake the development work upto Rs 25,000 as against Rs 10,000 earlier. Similarly the Deputy Commissioners had been empowered to sanction development projects upto Rs 3 lakh as against Rs 1 lakh earlier. 

The Chief Minister said now developmental works would be executed by the village panchayats and the meetings of Gram Sabhas would be held between November 15 to December 15 to constitute village- level committees. Members of Scheduled Castes, backward classes, ex-servicemen, women, sarpanchs and former-sarpanchs would be included in the committees comprising seven to nine members. He said the funds would be given directly to these committees so that the administrative process could be avoided. He said that the estimates prepared by PWD (B&R) Department were 1.37 lakh for one room while the same would be constructed at a cost of Rs 40,000 only by the panchayats and thus a lot of money would be saved.

Mr Chautala said his government was committed to provide all basic facilities to the people living in the rural areas at par with urban areas so that the migration of people from villages to cities could be checked. He expressed confidence that after the completion of third phase of “sarkar aapke dwar”, no basic problem of the people would arise. He said all encroachments on governments, panchayats, wakf land and municipal lands would be removed. Besides, this the electric wire passing over schools, houses and ponds would be removed to avoid any kind of incident. All the iron poles would be replaced by the cemented ones, besides the power connection would be given to new colonies. 

The Chief Minister assured people that 70 litres of potable water per capita a day would be provided to the people of the state as against 40 litres a capita per day. He said new waterworks would be constructed besides laying new pipelines and setting up of boosting stations. He said all water courses would be bricklined in the state and there was no need to submit a separate application for this purpose. He said only such schools would be upgraded who would fulfil the norms.

Mr Chautala while redressing the grievances of the village panchayats asked them whether the development works sanctioned by him during the first phase of “sarkar aapke dwar” programme had been completed or not. The representative of the panchayats replied loudly in affirmative adding that most of the development works had either been completed or were near completion. 

He also sanctioned a polytechnic for Bapoli village. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner to send a detailed proposal so that a sport stadium could be set up at Patti Kalyana village. 

He also accepted most of the demands of the people and sanctioned the upgradation of Government Primary School, Samalkha, to middle standard and upgradation of branch school of Chhajpur and Rana Majra villages to primary level. Besides this, he also sanctioned the construction of additional rooms at Budhanpur, Bilaspur, Golakalan, Hathwala, Sher Malpur and Pathargarh villages. He also announced the setting up of the old age homes at Dehra, Naraina, Rana Majra, Sanoli, Bhodwal Majri and Sher Malpur villages.

Mr Chautala also acceded to the demands of construction of roads from Haldana village to Bhodwal Majri, Khojpur to Bilaspur. He also directed the authorities of the Haryana Agricultural Marketing Board to complete the construction work on Bluejay Rest House road upto December 31. He also sanctioned the construction of scheduled castes chaupals in Chhajpur, Beholi, Dodhpur, Sanoli Kalan, Karhans, Jalalpur villages besides the construction of chaupals at Dhansoli, Tamsabad, Naraina, Budhanpur, Rajakheri, Rasalpur and Sanjoli villages belonging to the people of backward classes. He also sanctioned a sum of Rs 2 lakh each for Nanhera and Sanoli villages besides Rs 1 lakh for Behrampur village for the construction of pavements of streets.

A club that has modernised farming
From Satish Seth

KAITHAL: Though one of the most backward districts of the state in terms of education, farmers of this area have taken a lead over other districts by setting up a progressive farmers’ club. The first of its kind, the club aims to educate farmers’ about crop diversification, water management and the latest technology.

The club, started in February, when about a dozen young and zealous farmers joined hands, aims to improve farm economy, which has been dwindling year by year and has become a cause of concern for policy planners and agricultural economists. The club today has over 100 farmers on its rolls.

To meet its object, club organises monthly meetings, kisan ‘‘goshthis’’, visits of farmers and inter-action with experts in agriculture, horticulture, and pisciculture. After being set up, the club had been able to organise about a dozen get-togethers. Crop diversification, water management, and technological innovation are the favourite subjects. Through these meetings, farmers are shown how to sow new crops. The farmers were also taken to Jalgaon in Maharashtra to be taught papaya cultivation and water management techniques.

Through the club activities were being run by the farmers themselves, the district administration has provided a helping hand to them to make their efforts a success. The administration provides infrastructural support to the club, such as providing a venue (mini-secretariat) and arranging for visits of farmers to various places.

The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahavir Singh, the founder-patron of the club, takes active interest in club activities. His personal presence at the deliberation has given a boost to its activities. Officers of the departments of agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, besides commercial banks and other financial institutions including NABARD have also taken keen interest in the deliberations.

Dr Rajbir Singh, DPRO, has been organising club activities since its inception. He disclosed that club membership was open to any farmer interested in crop diversification, water management and the latest techniques.

As a result of these get-togethers, farmers of this district have recently adopted a new crop (baby corn) hitherto unheard of in this area. This crop has been sown on about 30 acres by about a dozen farmers.

It was through the efforts of this club that the marketing of this crop have been ensured by tying up with Delhi purchasers. Besides corn, rose and papaya cultivation is also being taken up by farmers after getting basic knowledge about the crops through club meetings. The club has provided an impetus to pisciculture and dairy farming.

This month the club organised a seminar on water management, where farmers were advised to adopt the drip and sprinkle system of irrigation to conserve water resources and increase production. As a result farmers have planned to cultivate sugarcane on about 30 acres through drip irrigation. On the suggestion of the Deputy Commissioner, the local cooperative sugar mill is likely to adopt the drip system on its demonstration farm.

The club has also taken lead by introducing some innovative concepts like bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides. The club with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendra organised a workshop on wormy-compost to popularise the concept of bio-fertilizer. The KVK imparted mushroom cultivation training to women.

Keeping in view the paddy glut, mainly due to farmers adopting only paddy-wheat rotation, there is a dire need of more clubs at least one at each district headquarters.

Dr Rajbir Singh disclosed that the club was going to organise a state-level seminar on the subject ‘‘Prospects and problems of horticulture in Haryana” later this month.

Schooling village children
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GHASERA (Nuh), Nov 7 — Abdul Gani, a local resident, finds it difficult to recall the name of one of his six children. The name comes to his mind after several promptings by other villagefolk.

He is happy that his son, Alam (6) and his daughter Sakunat (5) are being provided with an “atmosphere” for their formal education by staff of the Delhi Public School which manages Mewat Model School in Nuh under the aegis of the Mewat Development Agency.

Ismail (70), another resident of the village, is elated that his granddaughter, Nazma (11), is being initiated into formal education. The two as well as more than a 100 odd parents are happy that their children have been adopted by the MDA-DPS Society for formal education.

The parents and villagers seemed apparently surprised at the skills their wards had picked up which were displayed at a function here today in the presence of MDA chairman S.A. Khan and senior functionaries of the DPS Society, including the Vice-Chairman, Mr Narender Kumar.

The exercise today was part of the MDA’s “Child Development Programme” under which children in the age group of 4-11 from villages in all six blocks of Mewat will be adopted for free education and training.

As per the programme, the children will be sent to make-shift schools where the MDA will organise classes for teaching basics. The children and their parents will be given feel of modern education. The children will later demonstrate their newly acquired skills at functions in their villages to encourage the villagefolk of Mewat to understand the virtue of modern education. The exercise is aimed at motivating parents to send their wards to schools for formal education.

The MDA is simultaneously organising health camps for children who will be adopted for training programmes.

Speaking at today’s function here, Mr Narender Kumar, said the DPS Society would continue to work towards revolutioning society by providing “quality” education in remote places in the country.

He said he was joyed at seeing children of the village and other areas of Mewat displaying etiquettes which came with education. This was the result of only a few days of training, he added.

The Mewati society, dominated by Meo Muslims, is considered the most backward. In a large number of cases, parents do not send their children to schools. The rate of school dropout is high.

A project officer of the MDA, Mr Attar Sharma said the philosophy behind the entire exercise was to bring about an awakening in the Mewati society on the importance of education. Education would gradually take care of many ills in society, including population, he added.

Social welfare board’s appeal dismissed
From Jatinder Sharma

ROHTAK, Nov 7 — Dismissing the appeal filed by the chairman as well as secretary, Haryana State Social Welfare Advisory Board, against the judgement passed by the Additional Civil Judge (Sr divn), the Additional District Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, has observed that had the then chairman of the board, Mrs Parasanni Devi, acted a little sensibly and responsibly, the loss caused to the board and the government could have been avoided.

Mrs Parsanni Devi, the judge said, should not have disregarded the directive of the Minister of her Department. Therefore, the government/board would do well to recover the entire loss from Mrs Parsanni Devi, he ordered. 

The facts of the case as set up by the respondent, Mohan Bahadur, peon in the Family and Child Welfare project, Rohtak are that he was a regular employee of the Haryana Social Welfare Advisory Board, Chandigarh, and was posted for the first time on regular basis on October 10, 1975 in the Nilokheri office of the Family and Child Welfare Project, and later transferred to Rohtak.

He had complained that as directed by the then chairperson, Mrs Parsanni Devi, he had been doing duty at her residence at Faridabad and sometimes at Rohtak and that he had fallen ill and had asked for leave. The complaint further spoke that Mohan Bahadur was turned out of her residence by the Madam Chairman’ and that he had reported for duty at Rohtak office on November 5, 1992.

Though he was rendering duty, his presence was not being noted, Mohan Bahadur had complained to the Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak on November 17, 1992. That offended by his complaint, the Department had called for his explanation on the ground of his absence from November 2 to November 13,1992.

Meanwhile, the Director, Women and Child Development, Haryana conveyed to the chairperson. Mrs Parsanni Devi on December 30, 1993 that the Minister for Social Welfare, after consideration and perusal of application of Mohan Bahadur, had desired that the employee be immediately taken back in service so that his writ became infructuous. 

The Director had requested the chairperson to comply with the orders of the Minister and send her report to the department.

Mrs Parsanni Devi, however, slept over the matter for more than 18 months. Then another letter was sent to her on June 13, 1995, in response to which Mrs Parsanni Devi informed the Director on July 13, 1995 that Mohan Bahadur, peon, had resigned from the service and had filed a case in the court which had not been decided and the appropriate action would be taken after decision of the case. 

The judgement said that the letter written by the chairperson on July 13, 1995 contained illogical reasoning altogether divorced from sensible and responsible behaviour of a senior public functionary. Not only has this strange decision of the chairperson wrought injustice to the Mohan Bahadur, a ministerial employee, but also caused avoidable loss to the board/government.

" The chairperson, it is evident from the circumstances discussed earlier, was considering the board as her personal fiefdom and not government department of a welfare state created for the welfare of women and children”, the judge said. Inaction of Parsanni Devi for about 18/19 months speaks volumes about the sluggish working of the board. Inefficiency is writ large, he said. 

The chairperson did not bother to comply with the directive issued by the minister of her department. In terms of Rule 7.5 of Punjab Civil Services rules, vol I, an employee was entitled to withdraw his resignation within a period of two months from the date of resignation becoming effective. The peon, the order said, had written to the chairperson for rejection of his forged and manipulated letter of resignation and for treating him as continuing on service. 

Cong chief's poll mug's game: Surjewala
By Geetanjali Gayatri 
Tribune News Service 

PANCHKULA, Nov 7—"It is a mug's game,'' says Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, President of the Indian Youth Congress, while referring to the contest between Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mr Jitender Prasada for post of Congress President.

Meanwhile, reflecting the upbeat mood of Congress workers , Mr Surjewala said that preparations are already afoot to celebrate the outcome of the ``mere symbolic contest within the Congress family''.

Distillery polluting irrigation water
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Nov 7 — Residents of several villages of the Hathin sub-division in the district have become victims of pollution and foul smell emitted by a distillery located near Hathin town. 

It is reported that while the Irrigation Department has issued notices to the factory on the pollution of a nearby drain which supplies irrigation water to nearby fields, the failure of action in this connection has irritated the villagers. 

According to sources, a team of the Pollution Control Department visited the distillery to collect samples but the agitated villagers have yet to receive any satisfactory response from the authorities concerned. 

The villages which have taken up the issue before the officials concerned are Gahlab, Kondal, Ferojpur Garhi Vinoda, Manpur, Sevli, Buraka, Mohdamka and Androla. 

It is learnt that the foul smell emitted by the distillery envelops the entire area, especially during the winter season. Residents of these villages have written to the Pollution Control Department at least three times in the recent past. Although officials have been visiting the factory off and on, the problem persists. 

The distillery is located on the Hathin-Gahlab link road. It is reported that affluents of the distillery get mixed with the nearby Gonchi drain which carries irrigation water to several villages and thus causes pollution of water. 

It is claimed that while the crop is being adversely affected by such water, fertile agricultural land has been turning into a wasteland due to the affluents. It may be recalled that underground water of several villages in this belt is brackish and the farmers have to depend on the canal waters for irrigation. 

It is reported that the disputed unit was served notices by the irrigation officials on January 24, March 31 and July 25 last. The distillery was asked not to dispose its pollutants in the Gonchi drain and served a warning. Some officials of the Pollution Department visited the unit a few days ago but what action has been taken is not known to local residents.

Power crisis in Sonepat
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 7 — The city and its suburbs are in the grip of a severe power crisis for the past two weeks following the switching off the power supply by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in the name of low frequency. 

Frequent power breakdowns and trippings have become a routine causing resentment among people in all sectors — domestic, agricultural and industries. The power cuts start from early morning till late at night. 

The industrial activity has virtually come to a standstill. The business activity, besides the drinking water supply and hospital services, has also been affected. 

A major fault in the 1000 mva transformer of the 220 kv grid power sub-station, Fazilpur, is another reason for the power crisis in the region. This transformer was installed a few months ago by the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) at a cost of several lakhs.

Meanwhile, the UHBVN has started work on replacing the 100 mva transformer in a bid to check the frequent power failures and trippings.

Mr Prem Sagar, Superintending Engineer, told mediapersons here today that the work would be completed within 10 days. 

He said the UHBVN had started enforcing power cuts by rotation in different parts of the city to check the power crisis. This, he said, was being done in the wake of switching off the power supply by the BBMB in the name of low frequency. However, regular supply of power was being maintained to the agricultural sector to enable farmers to sow rabi crops, he said.

Good diet for milch cattle stressed
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Nov 7 — Animal production will continue to play a major role in the Indian economy in the new millennium since it is supplementary to crop production and the mainstay for subsistence in the countryside, stated Mr Vinay Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University in his inaugural address to the third biennial conference on “livestock feeding strategies in the new millennium” here today. 

He said the demand for animal products like milk, meat and eggs was increasing with the increase in population. Although India was the biggest producer of milk in the world, yet the per capita availability of milk per day was only 178 grams against the recommended 250 grams. Similar was the scenario in respect of egg and meat consumption, he added. 

Urging scientists to exploit the production potential of an animal to its maximum he stressed the need for nutritive diet for milch cattle. He pointed out that the shortage of feed and fodder was the major constraint in livestock production.

Presiding over the function, Dr Kiran Singh, Deputy Director-General (Animal Sciences), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said besides milk and other products, animal husbandry was a source of employment for over 60 per cent of the country’s population. He said in the aftermath of the WTO agreement there was a possibility that foreign companies would change our animal husbandry practices. Thus, there was an urgent need for experts to equip themselves to meet the challenges of the new millennium, he said.

Gaur Brahman college to be computer nodal centre
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Nov 7 — Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, has approved Gaur Brahman Degree College here as a nodal centre to start post-graduate diploma in Computer Application (PGDCA) and master in Computer Science (MCS) courses through distance education. At a press conference here last evening, Dr R.K. Bharadwaj, Principal of the college, claimed that the two courses were gaining popularity among graduates. 

He said the college would provide 40-hour theory classes along with 20-hour experimental teaching to the students in a semester as per the conditions laid by GJU. He said a candidate was eligible for the post of a computer teacher in a school after one-year PGDCA. He informed that a candidate could complete the course of PGDCA in one year (two semesters) and could get the degree of MCS after the completion of second year. 

Dr Bharadwaj said the graduates in mathematics or science only were eligible to apply for this course in other universities while the GJJ had opened it for all availing at least 40 per cent marks in graduation. He said the last date for submitting the application forms had been extended up to November 15.

Defeat parliamentary politics: SUCI

ROHTAK, Nov 7 (UNI) — The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) today called upon the people to launch a movement to defeat the “politics of deception resorted to by the so-called’’ parliamentary political parties’’ in the country.

The rally was addressed by among others, SUCI state secretary Satyavan and state committee member Ramphal.

Book eight Haryana employees: bureau
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has recommended registration of criminal cases for committing criminal breach of trust, frauds, cheating, forgery and misuse of official powers against six gazetted officers, two officials and seven others.

Stating this here today, a spokesman of the bureau said that during the Vigilance Awareness Week, observed from October 31 to November 4, the Bureau had also recommended departmental action (under Rule 7 of the Punishment and Appeals Rules, 1987) against 19 gazetted officers and 38 officials. The bureau had recommended registration of cases and initiation of departmental action besides recovery of about Rs 1.09 lakh from the erring officials.

The spokesman said that the bureau had also caught Anand Kishore, salesman, Cooperative Society, Darpur, while accepting a bribe of Rs 1000 from Mr Liyakat Ali of Jattowala village for sanction of a loan.

The bureau had also caught Jitender Kumar, clerk, office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ambala, while accepting a bribe of Rs 200 from Gurdial Singh of Dhumli village for renewal of his arms licence.

Gandhi’s statue amidst filth
By Suman Bhatnagar

AMBALA, Nov 7 — About a decade ago, a life-size statue of Gandhiji was installed in Police Post No 3 in Ambala city. Today the police post has been shifted to another building, about 500 yards away with all its furniture, records, etc, but no one has cared to take the statue to the new site where the police post has been moved temporarily.

The shifting was necessitated during the last rainy season when a wall of the building collapsed and the PWD declared the entire structure unsafe. The policemen found shelter in the old Civil Hospital building nearby but the statue remained at the old site which has now become a dump of filth and garbage. Stray cattle finds the place ideal for rest and fill the compound with dung. Some cattle owners even tether their cows to the statue. The vacant compound is considered ideal for the cattle.

The statues of national leaders and martyrs are supposed to be looked after and maintained properly by the appropriate authorities. Functions are held annually on the birth and death anniversaries of the national heroes and tributes are paid to them. Gandhiji’s birth anniversary came, but no one even cared to clean the place or offer a garland to the Father of the Nation who continued to stand forlorn amidst all the filth. Even the statue has been vandalised. Gandhiji’s spectacles are missing and the face has also been disfigured.

Residents who notice the deplorable condition of the statue lament that if the administration is unable to show proper respect to the Father of the Nation, they should remove the statue to a place where at least Bapu could stand with dignity.

Ex-Saikapians reunion meet
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Nov 7 — To revive old memories and chalk out future plans, ex-Saikapians (former students of Sainik School, Kapurthala) organised a reunion meet here.

Maj K.K. Sharma said the meet was attended both by the service officers and civilians accompanied by their wives and children. “Regardless of their present status and profession, they shared their school-day memories, the pranks they played and the nicknames given to one another in the school housed in Maharaja Jagatjeet Singh Palace,” a release said.

He stated the school had bagged the Defence Minister Trophy several times for sending the maximum cadets to the National Defence Academy as compared to any other sainik school in the country. “Brig M.P.S. Bajwa, the first student to enter the school with roll No 001, and Brig Lakhwinder Singh, Cdr, Bofors Arty, did the school proud by capturing Tiger Hill during Kargil operations,” Major Sharma said.

On the occasion, Dr A.K. Sharma offered to administer hepatitis-B injections to the kin of all Saikapians free of cost.

Among others, the Advocate- General of Punjab, Mr H.S. Mattewal, Brig Amarjeet Singh Sekhon, Brig Sushil Bhasin and the SDM, Mohali, Mr J.P. Singh, attended the reunion.

World Bank to extend project
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7 — The Haryana Government today claimed that it had persuaded the World Bank to extend the water resources consolidation project up to December 31 next year. The project was earlier due to end in December this year.

An official spokesman said a sum of Rs 177 crore had been spend on this scheme of rehabilitation of existing canals and drains, modernisation of canal system and construction of new drains.

He said the government had sanctioned Rs 7.44 crore for the Darba-Ghaggar drain to protect Sirsa district from floods and waterlogging.

Orientation course for teachers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7 — The Haryana Urdu Academy and the Primary Education Project will organise an orientation course for teachers of the Mewat area from November 13 to 20 for apprising them of the latest advancement taking place in the education system.

An official spokesman said an educational symposium of Urdu, Mewat and Devnagari languages would be organised in the Mewat area on November 24. The academy had also chalked out an ambitious programme in collaboration with the Primary Education Project for the promotion of education in the Mewat area.

Cane crushing from Nov 14
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7 — The crushing of sugarcane by the cooperative sugar mills in Haryana will commence from November 14, an official press note said. The mills are expected to crush 39 lakh quintals of cane during this session, it added.

Farmers would benefit to the tune of Rs 85 crore this year from the state government’s policy of giving the Haryana farmers a better price that what their counterparts in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were given, it was claimed.

Boy run over by train
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Nov 7 — A student of Class XII of a local school was run over and killed by the Ambala-bound Shatabdi Express while he was crossing the track near here today. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the victim belonged to Kakroi village in the district.

Bhim Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 7 — The Haryana Government has placed the services of Mr Bhim Singh, IPS, at the disposal of the Government of India for appointment as Commandant in the Special Security Board on deputation for four years.