 |
| Wednesday,
November 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Resentment among panches Rail project was planned 84 yrs
ago Confed to decide on abolition of
posts Police deployed along
canals Kargil martyrs’ kin await
possession Haryana
Govt ‘anti-farmer’ |
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Congress MLAs address strikers’
rally IGP Saini’s bail
confirmed Tehsildar gets bail in land-mutation
case Denial of job quota to Jats
decried Asthma cases on rise
in Haryana 960 water users’ bodies set
up Residents resent police
inaction
Disability to be a census question Plea to reconsider sack of Paroda Consumer’s plea to
Paswan SHO, SI held in suicide case
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Resentment among panches CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Putting the constitutionally approved three-tier system for the rural set-up on the back burner, the decision of the Haryana government to set up gram vikas samitis has not gone down well with the members of these elected bodies. While resentment is brewing among panches and sarpanches who have clandestinely held meetings in some districts to devise an action plan to counter the move, they contend that they cannot openly come out against the "unreasonable" decision of the government. “In fact, with the samitis coming into effect, there will be very little we can do. Our powers have been scuttled and a private body has been put at the helm of affairs,’’ a panch informs. They feel the provision of providing more grants to the bodies which have the nod of the constitution would ensure more development than the creation of a via-media for the implementation of the demands. Scepticism is rife in political circles as well over the authenticity of such bodies being entrusted with finances. The ally of the INLD, the BJP also does not think too much of the ``experiment’’ which has caught the fancy of the government . “The idea of handing over finances to a private body which has no constitutional standing when the Panchayati Raj institutions are capable of handling these is not a welcome move,” Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, President of the state unit of the BJP, comments. A former president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, scoffed at the idea of incorporating “unconstitutional” bodies in the system. “There is no justification in installing people who are not elected representatives of the people. This is a convenient way devised to by-pass the constitution and its provisions,” he added. The leaders allege that the decision is aimed at diluting the authority and power of the bodies and is in violation of the constitutional provisions. The Deputy leader of the CLP, Capt Ajay Yadav (retd), says: “The constitution of these committees spells doom for the Panchayati Raj institutions. Bound to create confusion, this has created two centres of power, one at the level of the sarpanch and the other at the level of the committee, which will increase infighting. Besides, this will lead to misappropriation of funds.’’ “It is another ploy of the ruling party to hoodwink the constitutionally approved bodies and oblige their own men by nominating them to these posts. Whatever this private body can do, the government agencies can do better. Also, the move is likely to breed more corruption,” Mr K.P. Singh, president of the local unit of the Haryana Vikas Party, said. The government defends the formation of the body saying the quality and quantity of work will receive an impetus and will be representative of all sections and classes, involving members of the panchayat as well. The Director, Panchayat, Mr Hardeep Kumar, explains that there will be no interference in the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions and the seven-member committee. “The work looked after by the Block development and panchayat officers will be looked after by the committee thereby relieving government agencies of the task while finances allotted to the panchayats will continue,” he said. Besides the committee overseeing development works in the villages, a “multi-purpose’’ worker, appointed at Rs 2500, will be in charge. “Earlier, a gram sachiv was made in charge of about five villages. His work has been assigned to this man who will have only one panchayat to look after, reducing the actual workload and ensuring quality service. He will be appointed in consultation with the sarpanch and two panches,” Mr Kumar added. Meanwhile, the panchayat offices in various districts have been notified of the formation of these committees in villages and formalities involved are being taken up by the department concerned. |
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Rail project was planned 84 yrs
ago AMBALA, Nov 21 — The wheels of government machinery turn slowly. This is evident from the project of Ludhiana and Kalka envisaged more than 80 years ago which eventually took off as the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link recently. Documents at the Regional Repository, Archives Department show that the Ludhiana-Kalka rail link was in the pipeline way back in 1916, nearly 84 years from now. On December 1, 1916, the Engineer-in-Chief, Construction, North Western Railway, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, said “I have the honour to inform you that a detailed survey for a line of railway from Ludhiana to Kalka will shortly be undertaken....”As the gazette notification for the survey cannot appear for some time, might I request you to please intimate your Tehsildars, Zaildars and Lambardars to assist the survey parties in procuring transport and in accurately locating village boundaries. Inaccuracies in locating village boundaries cause considerable trouble at the time of construction and very frequently revised gazette notifications have to be issued”. The then Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr T Millar, ICS, in reply to the letter stated “I have the honour to say that I consider the proposed alignment is most cleverly contrived to make the cost of construction minimum. For that reason, I cannot suggest that the line should go nearer Kharar, although it is quite a large centre.” The letter further states “The only thing lacking is the connecting link between Kurali, Morinda and the main line. Most of the goods traffic from Ropar and Kharar Tehsils would go south and not north and there would much unnecessary expense if such traffic had go round by either Ludhiana or Kalka. As a matter of fact, it would not become the present carting system would be maintained. I look on railway between Kurali and Sirhind or any other convenient point on the main line as an essential part of the scheme if it is to be a financial success.” The notification number 537 P/16, on January 16, 1917 clearly states “It is hereby notified for general information that the Railway Board have sanctioned a reconnaissance survey being carried out by the North Western Railway in the area to the North of the North Western Railway between Delhi-Ambala-Kalka railway, the Sutlej river and the foothills, for a line of railway from Ludhiana to Kalka, a distance of about 72 miles. The survey will be known as the Ludhiana-Kalka reconnaissance survey.” Monetary matters were an important consideration in those days too. A letter dated December 1916 addressed to the Secretary, Railway Board, Shimla said “I beg to forward herewith, an estimate amounting to Rs 42,691 of the cost of carrying out a detailed survey for a railway on the 5’-6” gauge from Ludhiana to Kalka, chargeable to head “41-miscellaneous-railway expenditure”, and to request that you will obtain and communicate the sanction of the Railway Board thereto as soon as possible to enable all the field work to be completed during the present cold weather.” The letter adds “An allotment of Rs 23,000 will be required for expenditure during the current year, and the balance viz. Rs 19,691 during 1917-18. This estimate is based on a 72 miles length of line, which avoids Ropar. It would appear from the map that if the line were to be taken through Ropar, it would land us in a very difficult country and increase the cost of construction considerably. It therefore, seems advisable to construct the line direct to Kalka, skirting Macchiwara, and constructing a branch on the same gauge from about 37 miles to Ropar. Ropar would eventually be connected with the Phagwara-Rahon line.” Yet another letter seeks a statement showing probable goods and passenger traffic for both up and down direction. “The information is required to base the probable traffic earnings and should show average monthly figures for each direction and for each station with maundage for each class of goods, as well as separate figures for the passengers by foot, and separate for the passengers riding and driving.” The Ludhiana-Kalka section included Ludhiana, Sabahana, Panjita (Bhainiala), Samrala Macchiwara road, Behlolpur, Chamkor, Kurali, Mullanpur, Basaulan and Kalka. The first alignment of the Sirhind-Ropar-Nalagarh section included Sirhind, Bassi, Morinda, Chamkor, Ropar and Nalagarh. The second alignment or alternative route included Sirhind, Bassi, Morinda, Kurali, Ropar and Nalagarh. The letter sought classification of the goods, among others, wheat, grains except wheat, oil and oil seeds, piece goods, cotton and
yarn, tobacco, salt, hardware, groceries, ghee, jaggery, mowra, coconut, timber and bamboos, fire wood, grass, gum and dyes, raw hides and sundries. |
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Confed to decide on abolition of
posts CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — A meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD) of Confed, scheduled for tomorrow, is expected to take a decision on the issue of the abolition of 165 posts of salesman. There are 11 items on the agenda for the meeting. Item no. 5 on the list is related to consideration and approval of the abolition of 165 posts of salesman declared surplus due to the closure of 165 retail outlets. If the proposal is approved, it will pave the way for the retrenchment of 311 employees declared surplus by Confed. According to the agenda note circulated by the General Manager of Confed, along with the intimation letter (ref. no. Confed/ P & D/14258-14267) dated November 17, 2000, the BOD had decided at a meeting held on May 29, 1998, to close down the retail outlets and utilise the services of the staff deployed at these outlets elsewhere. The employees were assigned watch and ward duties in wheat procurement operations following which they approached the high court. It was observed by the court that the proper course would be to retrench the surplus employees in accordance with the law rather than to make them perform the duties of Class IV employees. The agenda note said that following the court order, these salesmen were withdrawn from watch and ward duties. But since Confed had no other business where the services of these salesmen could be utilised, the case was again placed before the BOD meeting held on November 24, 1999. The meeting declared the 165 salesmen surplus and their names were sent to the government for absorption. The agenda note said their names were sent to the Director, Food and Supplies, Haryana, vide letter no. Estt/EA-1/3508 dated August 8, 2000, with a request to send these to the state government for absorption. But no response had been received so far and nor could any of the salesmen be adjusted in a government department. The agenda note added that the matter of surplus staff of Confed also came up for discussions before the Cabinet Subcommittee on Disinvestment/Privatisation in Public Sector and Cooperative Sector Undertakings at its meeting held on October 4, 2000. The Managing Director of Confed stated at the meeting that there were 311 surplus employees in Confed. As many as 146 of them were working without sanctioned strength and 165 employees had been rendered surplus due to the closure of the outlets. The MD said an annual loss of Rs 5.04 crore was being incurred by Confed on the salaries of the surplus employees working at these outlets. According to the agenda note, the Cabinet Subcommittee recommended that the 311 surplus employees should be retrenched after following the prescribed procedure. It was also decided by the committee that a detailed analysis in regard to the working of the remaining 315 retail outlets should be done and a report put up at the next meeting of the committee. The note said it was pertinent to mention that the 165 salesmen declared surplus due to the closure of the retail outlets were still working within the sanctioned posts and their posts had not been abolished so far. Confed had no work where the services of these surplus salesmen could be utilised. “It is, therefore, proposed that 165 posts of salesman may be abolished”, said the note. Confed had retrenched 257 surplus employees in January, 1994. While about 80 among them were absorbed in other cooperative organisations, 171 retrenched salesmen were retaken in Confed after the retrenchment benefits were returned. |
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Police deployed along
canals ROHTAK, Nov 21 — The district administration has deployed the police along canals running through the Kiloi and Hassangarh Assembly constituencies to check water theft. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, told The Tribune that these measures had been taken to enable water to reach the tailend so that poor farmers were not deprived of their due share of canal water. He said heavy vigilance had been ordered even before water was released in the canals and their distributaries. Almost all canals and their distributaries in this district are running to their capacity. Water is also flowing in the Rohtak distributary which had been virtually dry for the past five years. Mr Khullar said the canals and their distributaries were desilted before releasing the water. The non-availability of canal water at the tail end had been creating lawlessness in the area. The farmers in the upper reaches of some canals distributaries had reportedly been stealing canal water by using hosepipes as syphons. Mr Ram Mehar, President, Guru Ravi Dass Samaj, Haryana, said some farmers had been damaged outlets of made breaches to steal water. Some others had installed diesel engines for lifting the water from the canals, he alleged in a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. He said the Department of Irrigation had failed to check the theft of canal water. In certain cases, even field staff of the department was beaten up or roughed up by erring farmers when they objected to the water theft. Citing examples, he said a junior engineer of the Canal Department was beaten up last year by unauthorised beneficiaries of the Kahnor distributary when he objected to the stealing of water. The blows on his face were so severe that he suffered from a loss of hearing. A subdivisional engineer and another junior engineer were made to stand in the cold water near Sonepat during winter when they went to check the stealing of canal water. He said lawlessness and disorder prevailed along the canals in the state. The problem, he suggested, could be solved if adequate legal powers were vested with canal officers along with the deployment of sufficient police force at the command of these officers. Most of the outlets were not as per the sanctioned parameters. This was not possible without the connivance of the field staff of the department, Mr Ram Mehar said, adding that the field staff, should not be posted to their home divisions and circles to control this menace. |
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Kargil martyrs’ kin await
possession FARIDABAD, Nov 21 — Dependants and widows of the Kargil war heroes are still awaiting allotment of petrol stations, the announcement for which was made a year ago. It is reported that none of the kin or dependants of the 104 Kargil martyrs from Haryana has been able to get possession of petrol stations. Bureaucratic hurdles, official formalities and active involvement of the petrol station mafia have been held responsible for the delay. This district had three martyrs in the Kargil operation. They include Lance Naik Rajbir Singh of Garhi Patti, jawan Virender Singh of Mohna village and jawan Zakir Hussain of Softa village in the district. It is learnt that Mrs Ruby, widow of Lance Naik Rajbir Singh, was contacted by a representative of the mafia who offered her an amount of Rs 30 lakh for handing over the petrol station to them. She was told she would have to hand over the operation of station to them as soon as she got the down payment. They reportedly told the widow that they would themselves get all formalities completed to get the petrol station functioning and she would not have to go anywhere. An attempt to brainwash the family was made regarding the problems and hurdles they could face in getting such work done. The widow got the conversation with the person taped and played it before some mediapersons. It is reported that Mrs Ruby and her family got a shock when the plot of land allotted to them by to HUDA authorities got “cancelled” after she turned down the “offer”. The plot was restored to her only after the intervention of the HUDA Administrator here. It is learnt the mafia based in the national capital has got links and connections with senior officials of the oil companies and have been able to put pressure from all quarters. Reportedly, the involvement of this mafia has resulted in inordinate delay. It may be recalled that the widow of one Kargil martyr based at Noida has already been allotted a petrol station. It was inaugurated by the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, a few months ago. It is learnt the mafia has also established contact with some officers in the state in order to take over such filling stations. The affected widows or their families have virtually nobody to advise them and help them at this stage. |
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Haryana
Govt ‘anti-farmer’ FATEHABAD, Nov 21 —
Addressing farmers at a meeting organised jointly by the Kisan Sabha
and the Akhil Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union in Gorakhpur village today,
Mr Phool Singh Sheokand, chief convener of the union, criticised the
Haryana Government for the plight of the farmers. He said the Chief Minister, Mr Om Parakash Chautala, who earlier promised to provide free power and water to the farmers, had now backed out from his promise and had been speaking the language of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government. He said the state government had taken many steps which reflected the anti-farmer and anti-people attitude of the government. He cited the example of the state power board which, he alleged, had been sold to foreign powers. He said the rates of kerosene and diesel which were used by the farmers and the poor had skyrocketed during the past few years. Mr Ram Kumar Bahbalpuria, president of the Haryana Unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union, regretted that there were no separate laws to safeguard the interests of agricultural labourers even after 53 years of Independence. Mr Krishan Swaroop, general secretary of the Haryana Kisan Sabha, and Mr Chhatra Paul Singh, a senior kisan leader, also spoke on the occasion. |
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Congress MLAs address strikers’
rally CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The pen-down strike by members of the Haryana General Category and Backward Classes Employees Welfare Organisation demanding the reversion of seven Under-Secretaries belonging to reserved categories was given a new twist today with the arrival of two Congress legislators in their midst who also addressed a rally of the staff. A Congress spokesman, however, clarified that Mr J.P. Sharma, MLA from Yamunanagar, and Mr Sher Singh, MLA from Jullana in Jind district, had gone to the rally on their own to express sympathy with the employees on an indefinite fast. “The Congress is yet to take a stand regarding the strike”, the spokesman said. On the other hand, the employees also clarified that the legislators were not invited by them and had come to the rally on their own. The strike, restarted on Thurdsay, entered its fourth day today crippling the functioning of various Haryana Government offices, including the directorates. Ms Promilla Sharma, an employee of the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, started an indefinite fast after Mr Prithwi Singh Loyal was picked up by the Panchkula police last night. Mr Prithwi Singh, who was earlier picked up by the Chandigarh police and lodged in the Sector 16 hospital here, had escaped from there and resumed his fast last evening. Mr Loyal was refused bail today by the court and sent to Ambala jail after being charged under Sections 341, 323, 353 and 506 of the IPC and Section 7 of ESMA. A press release issued here by Mr P.S. Sangwan, on behalf of the Haryana General and Backward Classes Employees Association, claimed that Mr Loyal was tortured by the police and force was applied in an attempt to make him break the fast. The press note also claimed that following an appeal made by Mr Sangwan, district employees had assured him that they would join the strike. Meanwhile, the government, in a bid to contain the strike suspended six more employees. They include Kiran Swami, Promilla Sharma (who is on fast), Mahavir Sharma of the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and Man Mohan and Sat Narayan from the PWD office. The government would take stern action against those employees who were indulging in indiscipline , an official spokesman said. He also claimed that only a small section of the employees was participating in the strike. In a
related development, the Haryana Government asked all heads of departments to check attendance in the branches of their offices at 2 p.m. every day. The decision was taken following reports received from various offices that some employees were absent yesterday after lunch and did not report for duty till 5 p.m., an official press note stated. |
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IGP Saini’s bail
confirmed
AMBALA, Nov 21 (PTI) — J.S. Dhanjal, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ambala, confirmed the bail of Sumedh Singh Saini, IGP, Punjab police, in the disappearance case of three persons from Ludhiana here today. He was granted anticipatory bail. The judge also exempted Saini from personal appearance in the court. The next hearing is scheduled for January 13. Counsel of Saini had moved an application to the court to exempt him from the personal appearance in the court for reasons of security. Saini, who was led several anti-militant operations in Punjab, has been provided with ‘Z’ level security. Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the role of some police officials, including Saini, in the alleged elimination of two Ludhiana-based businessmen and their driver by the Punjab police. The petitioner had requested the High Court to transfer the case out of Punjab as he feared that the Punjab police might influence the witness in the case. The court had then directed that the trial of the case would be conducted at Ambala. |
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Tehsildar gets bail in land-mutation
case ROHTAK Nov 21 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, has granted pre-arrest bail to tehsildar Ajit Singh, against whom the state vigilance bureau had registered a case under Sections 217/218/418 and 120-B — IPC, and Section 13(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Co-suspect in the case, Harcharan Singh Bawa and Ram Mehar, a retired patwari, have also been granted pre-arrest bail subject to their furnishing of personal bonds of Rs 20,000 each. According to the prosecution, the Chief Settlement Commissioner, Haryana, had on March 17, 1994, held that 7.1 acres of excess land had been muted in favour of Ms Mitter Kaur and directed revenue officers concerned to cancel the mutation. The patwari halqa had entered the mutation and put up the papers before the then kanungo, Rishi Parkash, on April 30, 1994. Rishi Parkash, now naib-tehsildar, is also a suspect in the case. He was arrested by the vigilance bureau and has been released on bail by the Additional Sessions Judge. Ajit Singh was the then naib-tehsildar and related to former Chief Minister Bansi Lal. The prosecution alleged that Ram Mehar had made an incorrect entry in connivance with Harcharan Singh Bawa, attorney of Ms Mitter Kaur. Taking advantage of not entering the mutation in favour of the state government, Harcharan Singh had sold the property. Ajit Singh was alleged to have not taken any interest in sanctioning the mutation though he had made a visit on May 30, 1994. The suspects had caused a loss running into crores of rupees to the state, the prosecution said. Ajit Singh had sought bail on the ground that the order of the Chief Settlement Commissioner was sent to the tehsildar (sales) and the decree was never drawn by the tehsildar mentioning therein the “khasra” numbers in respect of which the mutation was to be attested. |
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Denial of job quota to Jats
decried SONEPAT, Nov 21 — Mr Tara Chand Mor convener and spokesman of the Haryana Jat Aarkshan Sangharsh Samiti today criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala for not accepting the demands of the samiti relating to the grant of reservation to Jats in government jobs. In a signed press statement, he also accused Mr Chautala of adopting the delaying tactics on the issue and alleged that Mr Chautala had done a great harm to the Jat
community. He also blamed the Chief Minister for depriving Jat students and youth of jobs and admissions to vocational training institutes. He also lashed out at the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and accused him of removing Jat officers from the key positions. The samiti leader also alleged that both Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister Haryana and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab, had remained silent spectators and this had caused widespread resentment among people. Referring to the affairs of the Gurukul Khanpur Kalan, Mr Mor charged the Chief Minister, Mr Chautala with spreading a reign of terror in a bid to capture the premier educational institute in the state. He also alleged that Mr Chautala’s henchmen and police officials in civil clothes had tried to disturb the peaceful meeting of the Gurukul Mahasabha on November 19 organised by Padamshri Subhashni Devi after a week-long dharna at the samadhi of Bhagat Phool Singh her father and the founder of the Kanya Gurukul Khanpur. |
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Asthma cases on rise
in Haryana ROHTAK, Nov 21 — The number of patients suffering from respiratory disorders is on the rise in the state due to the increasing level of pollution. A close perusal of the figures available with the local PGI revealed that 583 patients suffering from respiratory ailments approached the institute in 1964, the first year after the Chest Department was set up at the institute. The number rose to approximately 30,000 last year. Dr K.B. Gupta, head of the Chest Department at the PGI here, said there had been an alarming increase especially in the number of asthmatic patients in the recent years. He said a survey was yet to be conducted in this regard in the state. However, he said, a survey recently conducted by the Patel chest institute, New Delhi, suggested that 10 to 12 per cent residents in the Capital were suffering from respiratory disorders. The most alarming aspect was that nearly 75 per cent of such patients were below 15 years of age. Dr Gupta attributed environmental pollution to the spread of such diseases. He said people in the rural areas were also largely in the grip of asthma because of the widespread use of machines for
harvesting the crops. Commenting on the characteristics of a common respiratory disorder, asthma, he said was hereditary and such patients were prone to asthma attacks especially during the night. He said allergy in the respiratory system of a person could develop from external as well as domestic pollution. The dust on the curtains and the greenery in the lawns were the domestic TTYS which could cause allergy. Describing the allergy developed from greenery, especially from the pollen of different flowers as “green pollution”, he said medical experts attributed it to the rising incidence of respiratory disorders in the “city of gardens”
Bangalore. Dr Gupta admitted that asthma could not be cured completely. However, he said such patients could lead a normal life by taking certain precautions. |
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960 water users’ bodies set
up HISAR, Nov 21 — The setting up of 960 Water Users Associations in the Hisar Circle has led to a better maintenance of water channels and considerable saving of irrigation water. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi, in a
press note here today. He said the saved water had been used to bring more cultivable area under irrigation. Members of these organisations had evinced keen interest in keeping the channels free from obstructions. Repairs had been carried out in time, thereby saving maintenance costs. Dispute among farmers over their turn to draw were had been eliminated since the members adhered to the “varabandi” schedule fixed by irrigation officials, he said. These associations had been registered with the State Cooperative Department and every member had to pay a one-time membership fee of Rs 20. A World Bank team, which visited Kanoh village of this district, recently, appreciated the work done by these associations. Efforts were afoot to float such associations in other villages too, he said. |
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Residents resent police
inaction BHIWANI, Nov 21 — Resentment prevails among residents of the city against the police for its inability to arrest persons who had threatened a local surgeon, Dr S.S. Bhardwaj, with dire consequences if he did not pay the ransom demanded by them. The doctor had reported the matter to the police within minutes after the miscreants fled from the scene. The doctor had also named one of the miscreants. Though the police has been deployed for his safeguard but the police inaction in arresting the culprits is causing resentment among the residents. There has also been a spurt in the incidents of eve-teasing and cases of harassments in recent days. In Dr Bhardwaj case, two miscreants, one of whom is an undertrial in the murder case of Dr Raman Bhandari of Bhiwani, went to Dr Bhardwaj and demanded a ransom of Rs 50,000. The doctor later tried to catch hold of them but they fled away in a Maruti car. The matter was reported to the police and the doctor, also named one of the miscreants. Meanwhile, no police or no women police, either in uniform or in plain clothes, has been deployed around girls schools and girls colleges despite several reports of eve-teasing cases here. |
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Disability to be a census question AMBALA Talking to newspersons here yesterday, Director, Census, Haryana, Mr Sunil Gulati, said the population enumeration was scheduled from February 6 to 8, 2001, moving around enumeration block and identification of its boundaries and other landmarks by enumerator and preparation of layout map, February 9 to 28, 2001 was for filling up schedules and March 1 to 5, 2001 was for the revisional round. The reference date for the census of India 2001 will be midnight of March 1, 2001. He said population census is a national task which was conducted after every ten years in India. 1872 marked the beginning of modern Census taking, the coming Census will be 14th since 1872 and sixth after Independence. Since the formation of Haryana, it was the 4th census. “Census is not merely a head count but it is a main source of the population data in the country. It provides data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics of population at micro level such as village in case of rural and ward in case of urban area. It provides trends in the population and its various characteristics which are an essential input for future planning for the development of a country/state/town/village. The data collected through census is valuable for scholars, businessmen, industrialists, planners and electoral authorities,” Mr Gulati said. It has been ordered that except for extraordinary/emergency reasons of unavoidable nature, no changes/exemption should be granted to any enumerator/supervisor once the person has been trained. Under no circumstances any person should be appointed as enumerator and supervisor unless he/she has attended all the three rounds of training of full day each. Mr Gulati said the enumeration of homeless population would be carried out on the night of February 28, 2001. The enumerators will keep a record of homeless population in their blocks. In case a large number of homeless persons have been identified in any block, the charge officer would be required to make available the services of additional enumerators to cover that population on that single night. Special steps have been taken for the complete coverage of the homeless population including rickshaw pullers and those sleeping on railway platforms footpaths, religious places, under bridges, in bus stands and inside
pipes. |
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Plea to reconsider sack of Paroda HISAR, Nov 21 — Dr Dalel Singh, a former President of the All India Agricultural University Teachers Associations Federation (AIAUTAF) and the Haryana Agricultural University Teachers Association (HAUTA) has appealed to the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision to remove Dr R. S. Paroda, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research from his post. In a statement issued here today, Dr Dalel Singh said Dr Paroda was one of the most outstanding agricultural scientists of the country who had won several top national and international awards for his research work and contribution to Indian and international agriculture. He was recently decorated with the Padma Bhushan for his extraordinary achievements. He said the manner in which Dr Paroda was removed had shocked the entire scientific community, in general and agricultural scientists in particular. He said the ICAR chief’s removal would prove to be a setback for agricultural development of the country. While appealing to the Prime Minister to reinstate Dr Paroda, he said the government had erred in removing him from this important post. |
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Consumer’s plea to
Paswan ROHTAK, Nov 21 — Alleging rampant corruption in the local Telecom Department an aggrieved woman has sought justice from the Communication Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. Kaushalya of ward no 29 here, in a letter written to Mr Paswan, said she had applied for a telephone connection in January, 1999, and deposited Rs 3,000 as security in March, 1999. But, she alleged she was not given a satisfactory answer by the authorities despite her repeated visits to the department for nearly two years. Finally, she was told by the department that orders for her connection had already been released in April 1999 under number 147312, she added. |
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SHO, SI held in suicide case REWARI, Nov 21 — Following a young girl Sarika’s dying declaration to the SDM, Mr Suraj Bhan, at the civil hospital here last night that the fear of torture during interrogation compelled her and her mother Sita Devi to consume poison in the Dharuhera police station, the SHO, Mr Shri Ram Yadav, and Sub-Inspector Lekh Ram have been arrested. Mr Sat Prakash Ranga, SP, said both police officials had been suspended and a case of murder and wrongful confinement had been registered against them. It is reported that Sita Devi and Sarika were brought from their residence in Azad Nagar Colony to the police station at about 3.30 p.m. yesterday for interrogation in connection with the alleged murder of Ashok Agarwal, Sita Devi’s husband whose naked body with injury marks had been recovered by the police on November 16. |
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BSF jawan cremated ROHTAK, Nov 21 — The body of Nand Kishore (30), a jawan in the BSF, was cremated at his native village, Sundana, with military honours today. He died of brain haemorrhage in Shillong on November 19. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. He joined the BSF in 1989 and was posted in Assam. Ms Sarita Narayanan, MLA from Kalanaur, and Mr J.N. Gahlaut, Secretary, District Red Cross Society, were among close who paid tributes to the deceased. |
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Pensionary benefits
extended CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Haryana Government today revised its policy on the grant of special pensionary benefits to the families of those police officials who died during the performance of their duty. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, approved the extension of special pensionary benefits to the families of those police officers and other ranks who died while dealing with dacoits, performing VIP duty or in mob violence. |
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Anticipatory bail for MLA CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — Mr Justice V.M. Jain today granted anticipatory bail to Haryana Congress MLA from Barwala, Mr Jai Parkash, who has been booked by the Gurgaon police under Sections 420, 120-B, 109 and 34 of the IPC on the complaint of Samarjit Singh. Mr Jai Parkash alleged that Haryana Chief Minister was vindictive and he wanted to harass him and the petitioner was his arch political rival and a frivolous FIR has been registered against him by the Gurgaon police, he alleged. Mr Justice Jain had earlier granted him interim bail in September last after he did not appear before a Magistrate in the complaint case. |
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Closed-circuit
TV cameras for prisons CHANDIGARH, Nov 21 — The Haryana Government today decided to install closed circuit TV cameras in Jind, Sonepat and Rohtak jails with a view to keeping vigil on the activities of prisoners. This decision was taken at a meeting convened here to strengthen security in the jails. It was presided over by the Chief Minister. It was also decided at the meeting that wires with low-voltage current would be fixed on the outer walls of the prisons to check jail-break attempts. The Chief Minister also ordered the filling of all essential posts in the Jail Department. The meeting also decided that middle and senior-level officers of the Jail Department would attend refresher courses at the Institute of Correctional Administration. |
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Painting competition AMBALA The painting competition was held under the supervision of Mr N.K. Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Ambala Division. More than 100 students of different schools in the district participated in the contest. |
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