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Tuesday,
April 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Tau’s
dream project becomes casualty HC indicts
cops for undertrial’s death Helping
them turn over a new leaf Railway
station to have ATM soon CM wants
incentives for having less children |
Punjab page: Millers oppose FCI order
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9 BKU
leaders arrested Govt
urged to pay pensioners' medical bills SHO
suspended for taking bribe Registration
of colonies by month-end ASI
killed in mishap Trade
unions’ strike today Students
celebrate Baisakhi
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Tau’s
dream project becomes casualty Gurgaon, April 15 Rather, the dream project of Mr Devi Lal has become another casualty of the state’s policy of liberalisation and disinvestments. Mr Devi Lal had devised a scheme in 1978-79 during his tenure Chief Minister of Haryana with the avowed aim of generating employment as well as income in the rural areas of the
state. The scheme was devised by the “Tau” with a definitive poltico-socio-economic
philosophy: to foster a new environment in the hinterland of the state and increase the purchasing power of the denizens therein and the promotion of very small scale industries in rural areas. As per the scheme, district marketing centres (DMCs) were created by the Industries Department. The centres were incorporated in the Haryana State Small Industries and Export Corporation. According to authoritative sources, the ministers’ committee pertaining to disinvestment/privatisation of public sector undertakings and cooperative institutions in the state, held a few days ago under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, has decided to close down the
corporation and retrench all its employees forthwith. It was further decided that the Finance Department may examine the proposal regarding providing of funds for meeting liabilities on account of retrenchment compensation in the first instance. Thereafter, the assets might be disposed of and the sale proceeds should be deposited in the state exchequer immediately on realisation. The corporation has many components, including the DMCs. The function of these centres was to act a single window for purchase of various items by different departments and also act as centralised source for procurement of the payments for the tiny units with regard to the goods supplied by them. This unit/branch had become self sufficient after the government put a cut on the grant-in-aid and allowed the corporation to charge 5 per cent service charges from the rural industries. Goods worth about Rs 5 crore are annually purchased from these industries by the DMCs and supplied to departments/boards and corporation, etc all over the state. Several thousands of people in the rural areas are directly and indirectly beneficiaries of the scheme. The sources said with a view to effectively implementing the scheme, the then Devi Lal government had decided to introduce several incentives in the shape of interest subsidy, cash subsidy, margin money, etc for small industries set up in rural areas. According to sources, the DMOs heading all the DMCs in the districts of the state have made a representation to the Industry Department urging it to either keep them alive or to hand them over to other organisations like the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation
(HSIDC). |
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HC indicts cops for undertrial’s death Chandigarh, April 15 Taking a serious view of the “criminal negligence” on part of the state and the prison authorities two years after the incident, Mr Justice K.S. Garewal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has now ordered payment of Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the victim’s widow. The Judge has also come down heavily on senior police functionaries for their “casual and carefree attitude” while conducting the inquiry, besides holding that the delay of two years in the Chemical Examiner’s report “showed utter lack of interest”. Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by the undertrial’s widow, Bala Devi, Mr Justice Garewal ruled: “If it is a case of wrong or misdiagnosis where the medical officer treated a case of ischaemic heart disease as tuberculosis, it is also a case of utter carelessness and casual attitude, bordering on disregard of court orders. The inquiry officer continued to insist that Randhir Singh was suffering from tuberculosis and died due to that illness. The medical evidence, on the other hand, shows that it was not tuberculosis at all, but ischaemic heart disease and its related complications”. Randhir Singh, accused in a cheating case registered at a Panipat police station in September 1999, was remanded in judicial custody on October 25, 1999. The undertrial, aged between 35 and 40, died under “suspicious circumstances” at Ambala Central Jail on November 14, 1999. The Chemical Examiner’s report was received after two years “that too only after a direction was issued by the court”. Seeking registration of a case against the jail officials, his widow had sought an impartial inquiry into the incident. After going through arguments and documents, Mr Justice Garewal further ruled: “One fails to understand how the Inspector General of Prisons came to the conclusion that Randhir Singh had died due to tuberculosis even though he states that he had gone through the medical and chemical reports and discussed these with the jail doctor at Ambala. It seems that the inquiry officer did not put his heart and soul in the inquiry, did not read the reports carefully and did not bother to consult any independent medical officer or examine the medical officer who had conducted the post-mortem examination giving the cause of death. He simply relied upon what he was told by the jail authorities. Can there be a clumsier attempt at cover up? It is equally sad to note that Haryana’s Director-General of Prisons stated in his covering letter that the inquiry had been conducted on a day-to-day basis and that he fully agreed with the report. “This casual and carefree attitude not only shows complete lack of interest but also a deliberate attempt to cover up the carelessness and the negligence of the jail authorities who did not get Randhir Singh’s medical condition properly diagnosed and treated. But for their negligence, Randhir Singh may still have been alive as ischaemic heart disease, if treated on time, is not at all a life-threatening illness”. In his detailed order, the Judge concluded: “Randhir Singh was probably not suffering from lung abscess or tubercular cavity…. The medical officer treating Randhir Singh continued to treat him for tuberculosis, took no steps to rule out this disease and look for some other illness. The inquiry ordered by the court was conducted in a lackadaisical manner, which was not expected from senior prison officers who are important functionaries of the criminal justice system. The inquest report in the case was finalised only on August 13, 2001, whereas it should have been presented within a few days of Randhir Singh’s unnatural death on November 14, 1999. Lastly, the report of Haryana’s Chemical Examiner at Karnal was given on November 15, 2001, whereas the samples were received two years back on November 16, 1999. The delay in the inquest report and the Chemical Examiner’s report shows utter lack of interest on the part of these officials and possibly indicates that they were party to the cover up operation launched by the jail authorities. “As a result it is held that Randhir Singh died due to criminal negligence of the state of Haryana and its prison officials, particularly the Superintendent of Central Jail at Ambala and his subordinate staff. His widow deserves to be suitably compensated in monetary terms…. Fixing compensation of Rs 2 lakh seems fair and reasonable. This amount shall be paid by the state of Haryana for being vicariously liable for the negligent acts of its officials. The amount shall be paid within two months from today, failing which it shall carry interest at the rate of 9 per cent. A third of the compensation shall be paid to the petitioner in cash while her minor children shall share the balance equally. The petitioner shall also be entitled to costs of Rs 10,000”. |
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Helping
them turn over a new leaf Fatehabad But now, at the age of 35, he says that various drugs he used to have earlier reduced him to a mere skeleton. During this period he got married and had three sons. He does not own agricultural land; nor does he possess the strength he used to have earlier to work in the fields of others. Life was getting worse for him and the dose of drugs was increasing day by day. Then someone told him that Paryaas, an organisation in the district, was holding a rehabilitation camp at Rattia town, near his native village, Babanpur. He went to the eight-day camp that started on March 31 and took no drugs for six days. He is now convalescing and has made up his mind never to take drugs. Paryaas is a non-government organisation with the district police chief as its ex-officio
president. It was floated by a former police chief, Mr Shrikant Jadhav. The present incumbent, Mr Hanif Qureshi, has, through his pro-active approach, revitalised the organisation with the aim of eliminating the use of harmful drugs and helping addicts. The body has been holding public functions in villages where the number of drug addicts is high. Till now hundreds of addicts have attended these functions and declared publicly on oath that they will not touch drugs again. Once an addict resolves to shun drugs, Paryaas takes the responsibility of reforming that person.
A large number of addicts have been helped at dozens of such camps organised by Paryaas. The addicts are provided with free medical treatment and nutritious meals. Mr Qureshi has been visiting camps, delivering discourses on yoga and a drug-free life. He says that as a police officer his basic aim is to stop drug trafficking, which is common in this part of the state. He says the large number of addicts in this area has given an impetus to drug trafficking. He thinks it will be in the fitness of things to reform drug addicts to curb trafficking. Further, addicts, being in direct contact with traffickers, can provide valuable information regarding the latter. The police has been able to arrest many traffickers with the assistance of addicts. He says he does not consider addicts as criminals and treats them as victims who need love and proper treatment. Mr Qureshi never claims that Paryaas will able to reform each and every addict, but the organisation has been definitely making efforts to help as many addicts as possible. |
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Railway
station to have ATM soon Ambala, April 15 Talking to mediapersons here today to mark 150 years of Indian Railways, Divisional Railway Manager, Mr Deepak Krishan, said the ATM facility will also be introduced at Ambala and Saharanpur railway stations. He said the ATM facility is going to be a new service for the railway passengers. “We have already invited tenders and it is in the process of finalisation,” he said. “Incidentally, although rail users of Chandigarh are affluent, the waiting at the railway station is the lowest. Also there is no change of train at Chandigarh,” he added. Regarding new trains from Chandigarh, Mr Deepak Krishan said a long pending demand for a train from Chandigarh to Lucknow is going to be fulfilled soon. “Sadbhavna Express which runs from Lucknow to Saharanpur is going to be extended upto Chandigarh from July 1. Also, Jan Shatabadi is going to run between Chandigarh and New Delhi from July 1,” he said. Mr Deepak Krishan said it was a matter of satisfaction and happiness Indian Railways had completed 150 years. “April 6 is observed as Railway Day and the main function is held in New Delhi but this year it is being held in Mumbai to mark the first train run between Boree Bunder and Thane,” he said. He said stations could be decked up. Among others, the railway stations at Ambala Cantt, Kalka, Shimla,
Saharanpur, Chandigarh and Bathinda were being beautified. Mr Deepak Krishan said the new logo and mascot of the Railways had been released. The Railway Week is going to be celebrated by the Ambala Division and of different functions would be held. “A function is going to be held at the Railway Auditorium where the meritorious employees will be honoured,” he said. He stated that the 70-year-old steam engine, which was kept at the Divisional Headquarter in Ambala Cantt, was rehabilitated on the Kalka-Shimla section. “Tomorrow, the steam engine is going to run between Shimla and
Kaithilighat. Also the 100th year of the Kalka-Shimla section is going to start this year which is also going to be celebrated,” he said. Mr Deepak Krishan said booking tickets through the Internet was likely to become possible soon. |
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CM wants incentives for
having less children Chandigarh, April 15 The Chief Minister pointed out that while we should learn from China and introduce stringent measures to check population , the need for giving incentives to those who had fewer children should be emphasised. He said it was high time to educate the people not to discriminate against the girl child. Mr Chautala also expressed concern over the large number of migrants coming to the state and settling as labour. He directed his Principal Secretary to take effective steps to check the problem of such migrants. The Chief Minister said he would take up with the Union Government the issue of filling vacancies of anganwadi workers. The Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Satbir Singh Kadian, appreciated the manner in which disincentives had been introduced in the case of panchayati raj institutions and local bodies debarring candidates from contesting elections to these institutions unless they adhered to the two-child norm. The Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Mr
R. S. Chaudhary, suggested that certain subsidies could be withdrawn as a disincentive to those having more than two children. |
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CM directs
administration to procure mustard Sirsa, April 15 Mr Chautala, after hearing the grievances of farmers, instructed the procurement agencies to ensure that the foodgrains arriving in mandis were lifted the same day so that farmers should not face any difficulty. He assured the farmers that the entire crop meeting the standards fixed by the government would be purchased. The Chief Minister was accompanied by the local MP, Dr Sushil Indora, the Haryana Minister for Health, Dr
M.L. Ranga, and the MLAs from Sirsa, Hasanpur and Ghulachika. He was greeted by various local leaders. Later, he paid floral tributes to Dr Ambedkar at the local Ambedkar Chowk. While addressing a gathering at the local PWD Rest House he said his government had decided to name educational institutions in future after the name of great men who had contributed to the cause of nation or society so that the coming generation should take inspiration from their life. |
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Chautala
visits grain markets Karnal, April 15 During his visit, Mr Chautala talked to farmers and arhtiyas. He directed the district police chief to deploy sufficient number of policemen in each grain market during the procurement season. The Chief Minister also directed the Deputy Commissioner to regularly visit the mandis. He also sanctioned a water cooler for the grain market at Nilokheri as the farmers there had complained of inadequate supply of drinking water. Mr Chautala assured the farmers that the agencies would buy their entire wheat stocks. Meanwhile, the state government had directed the procurement agencies to buy wheat which was likely to be brought to the grain markets by the farmers of Uttar Pradesh. This was announced by the Chief Minister at a rally in Muzaffar Nagar two days ago. In the meantime, wheat arrivals have picked up in the grain markets. |
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CM promises
more incentives
to cow breeders Kurukshetra, April 15 The Chief Minister said this at the annual function of Gopal Krishan Gaushala Gurukul here. He also distributed a grant-in-aid of Rs 1 crore among 154 “gaushalas” of Haryana. Addressing the gathering Mr Chautala lauded the efforts of the Chairman, National Animal Welfare Board, Justice Guman Mal
Lodha, whose efforts had resulted in the procurement of this grant-in-aid from the board. He said that the state government had also given Rs 51,000 each to 94 registered ‘gaushalas” in memory of Devi Lal. Justice Guman Mal Lodha exhorted the state government to prepare breeding projects for all districts and assured that he would make efforts to provide grants for all projects. He also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh for the Kurukshetra Gurukul.
UNI |
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Chautala
for NCC as compulsory subject Chandigarh, April 15 The Chief Minister was talking to the Deputy Director-General, NCC Directorate, Brig D.S. Dhillon, who called on him here today. Mr Chautala urged Brigadier Dhillon to get the existing number of 28,800 cadets increased to 35,000 with focus on increasing the number of girls. |
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9 BKU leaders arrested Jind, April 15 The SP said despite a ban under Section 144 of the Cr P.C., the BKU organised a rally at Kandela village in the district on December 20, 2001, and blocked traffic on the Jind-Kaithal road next day. He said when the police reached the spot to lift the blockade, a mob set on fire three government vehicles and clashed with the police injuring a number of police officials. |
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Govt urged to pay pensioners' medical bills Chandigarh, April 15 A press note issued by the association said the high court had passed the orders earlier also but the Haryana Government had not allowed full reimbursement of bills for the treatment of chronic diseases. The association also urged the Haryana Government to accept the other pending demands. These include allowing 5 per cent and 10 per cent increase in the old age pension after 65 years and 75 years, respectively, granting one month salary in two years as a travel concession to pensioners on the Punjab pattern, finalisation of the blue print of the state health policy and grant of family pension to physically or mentally disabled children of pensioners who are dependent on parents. |
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SHO suspended for taking bribe Sirsa, April
15 According to information Raj Kumar of Nathusari Kalan in an affidavit submitted to the Chief Minister and police high officials accused Dharamvir
Punia, in charge, Nathusari Chopta police station of threatening and taking Rs 20,000 from him. An inquiry into the matter was conducted on January 4, 2002, but was repeated by the DSP on April 13, 2002, on the instructions of SP, Sirsa, when the complainant alleged that his version was not recorded. On the basis of the inquiry Dharamvir Punia was suspended and an FIR was lodged against him. The DSP, Mr Jagat Singh
Huda, when contacted confirmed the suspension. |
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Registration
of colonies by month-end Ambala, April 15 Mr Vij inaugurated two rooms of a government school and a dharamshala at Rangiya Mandi. The function was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Mahinder Kumar. Mr Vij said that although these 13 colonies were considered to be illegal, poor people had been residing in these for the past 150 years. He said the State Government had decided to charge Rs 200 per yard for the registration and 50 per cent of the revenue from the registration would be spent on the development of the colonies. He said that due to the lackadaisical attitude of former MLAs, Ambala Cantonment did not develop, and the present government was carrying out several development works here. The development works include Government College, bus stand, power sub-stations and a sum of Rs 20 crore for the drinking water plan. Mr Vij said that dharamshalas had recently been constructed through the Shivalik Vikas Board at Valmiki Basti, B.C. Bazar, Church Compound, Dhobi Ghat, Railway Colony, Dudhla Mandi and Kumhar Mandi. He said work would start on the construction of an underway near Sewa Samiti School and a pipeline for draining of excess
water.
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ASI killed in mishap Fatehabad, April 15 A case has been registered against the trailer’s driver, who has absconded.
PTI |
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Trade unions’ strike today Bhiwani, April 15 In a press note issued here today the sangh said the steps of privatising the Roadways and hospitals had disclosed the anti-employee intention of the state government. It said the sangh was all set for one-day token strike in protest against the anti-people policies of the Central Government, privatisation of departments, anti-labour rules and anti-people Budget to be observed by all trade unions, including LIC and other insurance companies employees, tomorrow. |
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Students
celebrate Baisakhi Ambala, April 15 The students sang in praise of nature and there was a butterfly dance. The tinytots sang and danced to their favourite nursery rhymes. The highlight of the programme was a unique fashion show in which the students were dressed in the traditional attire of different states to depict unity in diversity. “Bhalu and Banderwala’ was well received by the audience. The students set the feet of the audience tapping with their bhangra and gidda performance. The president of the management committee, Mr Subhash Jain, gave prizes to the winners of the sports competition. The vice-president, Mr Rajinder Jain, gave away prizes to the winners of a “talk show” for parents. |
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