EDUCATION

Minister vows to look into teachers’ demands
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, April 13
Haryana Education Minister Bahadur Singh has assured the Haryana Government College Teachers’ Association that the government would consider their long-pending demands sympathetically.

Mr Desh Deepak, general secretary of the association, said all the major issues concerning the problems of college teachers were discussed at a high-level meeting of a delegation of the association with the state Education Minister held in Chandigarh on Thursday. He said the Financial Commissioner-cum- Education Secretary, Mr P. K. Chaudhary and Director, Higher Education, Mr Dhanpat Singh, also participated in the meeting. Mr Desh Deepak said the authorities assured the delegation that the demand of the Ph.D. teachers for two increments would soon be forwarded to the Finance Department for a sympathetic consideration. He said the authorities apprised the delegation that the benefit of ad hoc service for senior/selection grade was being considered by the government. The government representatives reportedly said that the approval from the Finance Department would be sought at the earliest.

The teacher leader said that regarding the condition of refresher courses for placement of teachers in the senior/selection grade, the minister assured that after collecting data concerning the affected teachers, the cases would be considered favourably.

The minister also told the delegation that the demand to give class I status to college teachers would be pursued favourably after collecting necessary information.

COURTS

EDC recovery stayed
Our Correspondent

Gurgaon, April 13
Providing an interim relief to more than 1600 aggrieved industrialists of Udyog Vihar and Sector 18 over the issue of External Development Charges (EDC), the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the recovery of EDC.

On the petition filed by the Chamber of Industries of Udyog Vihar, the court has directed that if the petitioner deposits the first installment within two weeks from April 10 (date of announcement), the recovery of balance (EDC) shall remain stayed till further orders. The next date for notice of motion has been fixed for September 9, 2002.

The general secretary of the Chamber of Industries of Udyog Vihar (CIUV), Mr Raj Singla, mentioned in the High Court that Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) had arbitrarily and without furnishing the basis, raised the demand of EDC at the rate of Rs 402 per square metre from allottees/owners of free-hold industrial plots. These plots were sold and delivered, in some cases, 20-25 years ago.

The chamber along with forty-six co-petitioners said that HSIDC, while determining the original prices of plots, had broadly taken into consideration the pro rata cost of external development. They questioned the HSIDC whether the sale consideration can be kept open-ended and periodic money demands can be made which far exceed the original allotment price of plots.

The entrepreneurs have made the government of Haryana, HSIDC and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) as respondents. They said that the state government is bound to disclose the basis of the EDC demand, especially as to the precise nature of work done and the amount spent on them.

The affected entrepreneurs prayed the High Court to pass ex-parte ad-interim orders directing the respondents to forthwith furnish the complete particulars of the cost of works allegedly executed, on the basis of which the EDC have been demanded from the plot holders. 

Arts and Crafts Festival opened 
Our Corespondent

New Delhi, April 13
An enormous and fabulous treasure trove of Indian art and craft culled from the interiors of their cradle has been put on display at the Crafts Museum in the Capital’s Pragati Maidan. The event, “Arts and Crafts Festival 2002” was inaugurated by the Lt-Governor, Vijay Kapoor today. The event will showcase the dexterous workmanship at a time when festive spirit has added to the moods of the people.

Organised by the Central Cottage Industries, the event will begin from the 13th and end on the 21st of April.

Adding character to the festival that celebrates the existence of art, will be the specially created ambience of the Indian villages. From heart warming songs and dances, which are sure to strike a nostalgia chord, to the palate tickling savories, the festival will be a journey into the mesmerising fountainhead of creativity.

The ingenuity of the craftsmen will meet the patron, for whom art is not just procurement, but a statement of time. The classic and the consummate will catch the eye and impel it to behold. A painting competition will also be held on April 14th at the venue. For those who love dancing, a variety of programmes awaits them. From the lively Giddha and Bhangra to the serene Odissi, the Purulia Chhau and the Mahastrian pride, the Lavani, will be performed at the venue.

For the connoisseurs and those who are waiting to get initiated into the enrapturing and enriching world of art and craft, its time to head to the Crafts Museum.