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| Sunday, August 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Paddy relief: Chautala draws flak Move to convert Dalits to
Buddhism Non-bailable warrant against HUDA
chief Electronic meters to detect line losses: CM Villagers manhandle HVPN
employees Legal literacy drive from August
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AIFUCTO to hold dharna in Delhi Yamunanagar, August 4 The All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations will organise a week-long dharna from August 6 to 10 at the University Grant Commission’s office in New Delhi.
Diarrhoea spreads to rural
areas Haryana to build brickline edge
platforms Lok adalat on Aug 11 26 villagers hurt in
clashes
Dictate terms to Pak: Bitta 8-yr-old raped Three arrested for
betting
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Paddy relief: Chautala draws flak Chandigarh, August 4 Due to inclement weather during the paddy harvesting season last year, a sizeable quantity of paddy that arrived in the mandis did not conform to the prescribed specifications and the farmers were forced to sell such paddy to private traders and millers at rates much below the MSP. When the Punjab Government took up the issue with the Centre, the Union Government announced a Rs 350 crore package for Punjab, including financial assistance of Rs 100 crore (to be shared by the state and central government on 50: 50 basis) to compensate the farmers who had sold their paddy at below the MSP. Two other major components of the package were, maximum limit of discoloured, sprouted and weeviled grains increased to 8 per cent and relaxation of out turn ratio of custom milling to 64 per cent for raw and 65 per cent for parboiled rice. The Punjab package led the Haryana Government also to seek similar relief. In the absence of Mr Chautala, who was abroad in an investment seeking tour, Town and Country Planning Minister of Haryana, Mr Dhirpal Singh and senior state government officials met the Union Minister of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Mr Shanta Kumar, and demanded a package for Haryana. Subsequently, in a letter dated October 25, 2000, Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplies, Haryana, requested the Union Government to sanction Rs 38 crore to be shared on 50 : 50 basis for giving cash compensation to the farmers of Haryana who sold their paddy below the MSP between September 21 and October 21. The central government had earlier relaxed the specifications of paddy to be purchased on MSP and out turn ratio of custom milled rice in Haryana on the pattern of Punjab with effect from October 22. However, the Union Food Ministry was evasive regarding the cash compensation of Rs 38 crore, and it advised the state government to take up the issue of cash compensation to farmers with the Union Finance Ministry. Mr Chautala made a written request to the Union Finance Ministry for the money but the fund was not sanctioned. The Union Government’s reluctance to sanction cash compensation for the Haryana farmers had been taken up innumerable times by Mr Chautala’s political opponents inside and outside the Assembly as an instance of the Chief Minister’s incapacity to secure relief for the farmers. The pet reply of the state government was that, though cash compensation was announced for Punjab, it was not sanctioned any fund by the Centre for this purpose. However, it is learnt that sometime back Rs 50 crore was released by the Centre for compensating the farmers of Punjab and the money was being distributed to the affected farmers through crossed cheques. “We received the money about two months back and the process of disbursement is almost complete. More than 99 per cent of the affected farmers have already got the compensation”, an officer attached to the Punjab Chief Minister, said. Astonishingly, two senior Haryana Government officials, contacted by this reporter, were not aware that the Punjab Government had already received the amount promised by the Centre. They claimed that like Punjab, in Haryana too records were kept in the mandis for ascertaining the extent of distress sale by the farmers and added that the compensation demanded by Haryana was worked out on the basis of the mandi records. Significantly, while seeking relief from the Centre, the Commissioner and Secretary, Food and Supplies, Haryana, wrote to the Union Government on October 13, 2000, that the farmers were “getting as low rates as Rs 400 per quintal from the millers and private traders”. “Since such (damaged) paddy cannot be purchased by the procuring agencies, farmers are at the mercy of private traders and millers which is leading to distress sale of paddy on a large scale”, he wrote. However, since then the issue of compensation was apparently given a burial by the state government. The last time it was heard was in January when a certain BJP parliamentarian alleged that the money released by the Centre for compensating the paddy farmers was misutilised by the state government. In reply, the Haryana Government wrote to the Centre that no sanction was received by it and therefore question of any irregularity did not arise. Now with Punjab having the cash compensation in its kitty, Mr Chautala will have to do some firefighting to answer the charges of his detractors. |
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Move to convert Dalits to
Buddhism Chandigarh, August 4 Mr Karamveer Singh, a state government employee and President of the confederation’s Haryana unit, claims that thousands of Dalits from the state will have their heads shaved, don white robes and convert themselves to Buddhism at the ceremony in Delhi. Mr Ram Raj, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, who is National Chairman of the confederation, argues that as a religious system Buddhism is more scientific and rational compared to other major world-religions such as Christianity and Islam. Its preachings provide followers with a dynamism which is not the case with other Indian religions, says Mr Ram Raj in a pamphlet which has been supplied to local leaders for distribution. The pamphlet attacks “the brahmanical social order” and the status of Dalits as untouchables in the Hindu society and talks about making one million Dalits Buddhists at the ceremony. The “dhamma vahan,” a mini bus with a loudspeaker and pictures of Ambedkar, Mr Ram Raj and a Gandhara-style bust of Buddha mounted in front has been put into service by the confederation for going to various places and mobilising the Dalits for conversion. The decorated bus will be brought to Haryana on August 20. An itinerary for the tour will be finalised at a meeting being held by the confederation’s Haryana unit in Delhi on Sunday. Mr Karamveer Singh says like other parts of the country, the Dalits face the brunt of oppression in Haryana too. He alleges at many temples, Dalits are not allowed entry by the upper caste villagers. Instances of atrocities on the Dalit population are on the rise. Notice by a Bhiwani panchayat asking a Dalit family to leave the village within 48 hours, attempts by some persons in Jind district to set ablaze a house belonging to a Dalit, custodial killing of a Dalit boy in Rewari, disrobing of a Dalit woman and her daughter by villagers in Fatehabad district, severe beating of three Dalit children leading to the death of one of them in Jind are some of the recent instances of atrocities against the Dalits, he says. The confederation’s Haryana unit also feels that more Dalit officers should be sent to districts as Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police. Only two out of 19 DCs in Haryana are Dalits, while there is not a single Dalit district police chief (SP) in Haryana, says the state unit chief. Only those Dalits who are in the fold of Hinduism will be converted to Buddhism since religions such as Sikhism and Christianity do not have the reactionary caste system, he says. Mr Monahar Lal, a senior BJP leader and organisational secretary of the BJP’s Haryana unit, however, refuses to accept that Dalits are not allowed to enter in temples by villagers. “ There is no such thing in Haryana”, he says. He, however, says the BJP will not try to prevent Dalits from embracing Buddhism. According to the BJP leader, Buddhism is a sect of Hinduism and therefore by embracing Buddhism, the Dalits are not walking out of Hinduism. However, for Mr Karamveer Singh and his fellow-members, the step to convert themselves to Buddhism is a protest against the brahmanical social order. “ Many of us have already given up observing Hindu practices”, he says. The next step is to observe Buddhist rituals. |
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Non-bailable warrant against HUDA
chief Sirsa, August 4 According to information received today, cases for the remittance of excess advance amount deposited by people who had applied for plots in Sector 20, had been filed with the forum. In some cases HUDA had been instructed by the forum to return the advance amount deposited by the complainants along with interest of 12 per cent but HUDA had not complied with these orders. One such case was also filed by Sheel Kaushik, who had deposited an excess amount of Rs 21,000. The applicant had filed a case against HUDA in the consumer forum. In its decision on January 15, 1999, the forum had instructed the HUDA officials to return Rs 21,000 to the complainant within 45 days. When HUDA did not comply with the orders, the complainant moved the forum again. The forum summoned the HUDA officials and instructed them to comply with its earlier orders. But HUDA again ignored the directions. Taking serious view the forum instructed the local branch of the Bank of Baroda not to allow any withdrawal from the accounts of HUDA and fixed July 4 as the next date of hearing. When the HUDA officials failed to turn up even on that day, the forum fixed the hearing for July 31, but with no effect. Promising to concede to the demand of the complainant for a strict action against HUDA, the forum issued a non-bailable warrant against the Administrator, HUDA. |
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Electronic meters to detect line losses: CM Bhiwani, August 4 The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a government polytechnic to be completed at a cost of Rs 9.44 crore, sum of Rs 5.81 crore had already been spent on the building. Mr Chautala said the government was committed to provide job-oriented education. For this several technical institutions had been set up. He said 258 schools had been upgraded. The Chief Minister said the actual power generated was not reaching consumers due to power theft. He clarified that the purpose of installing electronic meters was to ascertain line losses and detect power theft. He made it clear that flat rate power system for agriculture sector would also continue. Sufficient power and water was made available to the agriculture sector, resulting in the contribution of 65 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrain to the central pool against 45 metric tonnes last year. He said more than 8000-km long water courses had been repaired and 5000 of water courses constructed. While referring to the demands of Loharu, the Chief Minister announced that work on sewerage would restart shortly. Besides Rs 1.18 crore had been sanctioned for drinking water, and Rs 10 lakh for the pavement of streets. |
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Villagers manhandle HVPN
employees Jind, August 4 According to reports received here yesterday, the villagers reportedly manhandled the employees after both exchanged hot words. The villagers alleged that they were not getting adequate power supply to run their tubewells. The employees of the HVPN demanded immediate arrest of those who had manhandled their colleagues. The police has registered a case under Sections 332 and 353 of the IPC and arrested seven persons in this connection. |
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Legal literacy drive from August
11 Karnal, August 4 A skit specially prepared for educating people about various provisions of the Legal Services Authority Act would also be enacted. The Deputy Commissioner, SP and District Attorney have been co-opted as official members and two other prominent social workers have been co-opted as non-official members. Mr C.R. Goel, District and Sessions Judge, Kurukshetra, who is also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, said a special Lok Adalat would also be held on that day on the courts compound. Apart from other cases, matrimonial dispute cases, cases for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, bank loan recovery cases and other matters would be taken up. It is for the first time that representatives of people at the grassroots-level are being approached to acquaint them with various facets of law. Mr Krishan Kumar Kaushik, general secretary of the Kurukshetra District Bar Association, said an effort was being made to spread legal literacy among people and save them from litigation in courts. |
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AIFUCTO to hold dharna in Delhi Yamunanagar, August 4 Prof Harbhajan Singh, zonal secretary, AIFUCTO, informed here today this dharna was in protest against the adamant attitude of the Minister of Human Resources Development and the UGC against long-pending issues like restoring the parity of directors of physical education and librarians with that of teachers career advancement scheme from January 1, 1996, and third promotion to selection grade, teachers’ extension from December 2000 to December 2002 for refresher courses and also not insisting on Ph.D as an essential qualification for appointment as Principal of colleges. He stated that different state units from all over country would take part in the dharna to highlight their genuine demands. The Haryana college teachers would take part in large numbers on August 8. The national executive committee would meet at Delhi on August 10 on the last day of the dharna to review and decide the future course of action. |
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IN FOCUS Pinjore The chaos on the road starts at Pinjore chowk where the Nalagarh-Baddi road joins the highway. Taxis, vans and auto-rickshaws parked haphazardly add to the problem. The situation becomes worse during the peak hours in the morning and evening with added rush of commuters from Chandigarh, Panchkula, Kalka and Parwanoo. The residents of this town have been demanding a by-pass for the long-distance traffic. Successive governments have announced time and again the sanction of this by-pass but work has not started so far and does not seem likely to start in the near future. Traffic is not the only problem of this town. Unplanned colonies have grown in and around it over the past few years. This rapid expansion has put a heavy strain on the civic facilities. Unplanned construction of houses and shops has accentuated the problem. The hospital, which is situated on the highway, has not received any attention from the state authorities. It often receives accident casualties but it is not equipped to cope with such emergencies. The residents say that the formation of a municipal committee has done no good to the town. The condition of streetlights and general cleanliness have shown no improvement. Heaps of garbage lie all over the town and along the streets, and act as a breeding ground for insects, pests and mosquitoes. The absence of a girls’ school is a long-standing grievance of the residents. They say that the girls have to go to Kalka, about 6 km away, to attend school. This ancient town is famous for its Mughal Garden which lends colour to the town and attracts visitors from all over the country but the town greets the tourists with heaps of garbage and a foul-smelling environment. |
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Diarrhoea spreads to rural
areas Hisar, August 4 According to information, diarrhoea has now spread to the Narnaund block of the district. More than 12 persons from Narnaund, Petwad and Bass villages have been admitted to the civil and other private hospitals at Narnaund and Hansi. Most of them complained of high fever, vomitting and loose motion. They alleged that though hundreds of residents of these villages had been ailing for the past two weeks but health workers were misguiding the district authorities by hiding the facts. They complained that the drinking water, supplied to these villages, was not pure and mosquitoes breeding was on the increase. Diarrhoea has also affected villages in Uklana block. A youth, Dharmpal (28), of Faridpur village died because of it yesterday. According to information, several residents of the village have been suffering from viral fever. |
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Haryana to build brickline edge
platforms Chandigarh, August 4 The Chief Minister asked this while reviewing the arrangement made for procurement of paddy at a meeting of officers of Agriculture, Food and Supplies, the Haryana State warehousing Corporation and HSAMB. HSAMB was asked to construct platforms in the mandis of Ambala, Chachhrauli, Sadhaura, Radaur, Thanesar, Sohna, Palwal, Hodel, Nuh, Karnal, Gharunda, Assandh and Panipat at a total cost of Rs 2.75 crore. The CM said the construction of the platforms should be completed by September 30. |
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Lok adalat on Aug 11 Kurukshetra, August 4 He will also launch a ‘legal literacy campaign’ on the same day. This was stated by the District and Sessions Judge, Mr C.R. Goel, on Thursday. |
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26 villagers hurt in
clashes Sonepat, August 4 According to sources, at least nine persons were injured at Mahmoodpur village and eight at Kasandi village. All were immediately hospitalised and they were stated to be out of danger. According to another report, a youth, Sanjay of Sonepat, who was travelling in a Panipat-bound passenger train, was assaulted by unidentified persons. Four persons, two each at Kheri Dahiya and Roht villages, were injured in clashes following long-standing enmity. All four were immediately hospitalised. The police are investigating into the cases. No arrest has been made. |
Dictate terms to Pak: Bitta Ambala, August 4 |
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8-yr-old raped Yamunanagar, August 4 He threatened her with dire consequences if she informed about the incident to her parents. He also gave her Rs 5 to purchase eatables. However, when she got back, she narrated the incident to her mother who lodged a complaint at Farak pur police station. The police has registered a case under Sections 376 and 363, IPC, and the girl has been sent to the Civil Hospital, Jagadhri, for medical examination. |
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Three arrested for betting Hisar, August 4 The SSP said here today that following information, raids were conducted on New Rishi Nagar and other areas. Deepak, alias Bittu, of Mohalla Rampura, and Vinod Kumar alias Jagminder Lal and Bhagwat Prasad of Professor Colony, were arrested. They were produced in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate from where they were released on bail yesterday. He said four mobile phones, Rs 6,300, three television sets, three PNT sets and some documents were seized from them. |
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Woman jumps into well with kids Rohtak, August 4 The woman’s third child, an eight-year-old girl, was however saved by the villagers, while the woman and her two sons died of drowning, the police here said. The victims were identified as Sushila (35) and her two sons aged two and four. The girl was rushed to PGIMS Hospital here in a critical condition.
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5 remanded in police custody Kaithal, August 4 The victim, Dayanand of Kuran, was attacked and murdered outside the college, when he was sitting at a tea shop. According to police, Kuldip of Deoban, Randhir alias Dheera, Rajesh of Patti Aggom, Amar Singh of Jakholli and Jaiparkash of Kutabpur have been arrested. The three others named in the FIR, Naresh, Bhoop Singh, Gulab Singh, were still at large. |
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One held
for graft Chandigarh, August 4 The accused has been arrested and investigation is in progress. |
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