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Thursday,
May 2, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Chautala’s bid to please INLD constituency
Verdict on octroi may have impact in Haryana Centre to gather data on hepatitis B & C Implement reforms, schools told |
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Woman found dead, 2 kids missing Marketing panel chairpersons Dharna against privatisation move Rs 70 lakh for
SCs, Vimukt Jatis Panel meeting on transfer of villages
FCI Chairman visits grain market Sinha’s effigy burnt ‘Anti-employee’ policy
evokes protest Dance,
music mark KV’s annual day
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Chautala’s bid to please INLD constituency Chandigarh Whether the industrialists would respond to Mr Chautala’s appeal in the manner he would like them to or they would merely send him back with lots of garlands (of all hues) and memorable hospitality, is a moot point. Despite Mr Chautala’s best efforts to convince the industrialists of his good intentions, some may say that the alleged high-handedness of a part of the state machinery with certain industrial groups in Haryana, including a leading shoe manufacturer and a ghee manufacturer, has definitely sent a negative message about the conduciveness of the environment for setting up industry in the state. However, notwithstanding the attitude of the state machinery towards the industrialists, Mr Chautala has ensured that the just interests of the INLD constituency of farmers are not affected adversely by the bureaucracy. Despite reservations expressed by the Opposition before the beginning of the procurement season, wheat procurement this year has been without hassles. No incident of road blockage or dharna by growers as a measure of protest against the non-procurement of their produce has been reported so far when over 80 per cent of the wheat has been purchased by the official agencies. The visits of senior officers to the mandis has kept malpractices by inspectors and other junior officials of the procurement agencies to the minimum. The payment to the farmers has been prompt. However, the government has not been so considerate towards traders as it has been towards farmers. With the procurement season reaching its fag-end, the mandis are choked with unlifted wheat stocks. The commission agents (arhtiyas) have been virtually left holding the baby by the procurement agencies. With the weather uncertain, the arhtiyas are a worried lot. If the stocks in their custody are damaged by inclement weather, they fear, the agencies will penalise them. Informed sources say the glut in the mandis has been caused by political-appointee contractors, whose responsibility it is to sew bags and take them to godowns. But they have failed to discharge their contractual obligations, despite having got the contracts on their own terms. At many places, the sources say, the arhtiyas are paying extra(up to Rs 400 per truck) for taking stocks to the godowns so that the platforms in front of their shops are cleared to accommodate more stocks as well as to escape penalties by the agencies in case the produce is damaged. Of course, the contractors stand to benefit in such a situation. They will claim the credit for what has been done by the arhtiyas and claim the payment from the agencies. The sources say the rates allowed to the contractors are directly proportionate to the “political weight” of the district concerned. In the Kurukshetra mandi, where the contractor is believed to have no link with the ruling party, the rates are 98 per cent above the base rates, which were approved by the authorities a few years ago. In Sirsa, the native district of the Chief Minister, and its neighbouring district of Fatehabad, the rates are as high as over 1,300 per cent above the base rates. In Pehowa, the constituency represented by the Agriculture Minister, Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, the rates are about 500 per cent above the base rates. Similarly, in Pipli, where the contractor is said to be close to the INLD, the rates are 165 per cent above the base
rates (against 98 per cent in Kurukshetra which is just 8 km away). Of course, the Chief Minister is not supposed to be concerned with such aberrations as these do not affect the farmers. The arhtiyas can take care of themselves. Before embarking on his countrywide tour, Mr Chautala announced a major concession to the defaulters of the power department in the rural areas. Realising that these days the farmers have spare money, Mr Chautala offered the defaulters a sop which has never been offered to them by any government. Their dues will be frozen as on April 30, 2002. By paying 25 per cent of the amount due before May 15, they can get the 75 per cent amount written off. If the diehard defaulters take the bait, the BKU, which the INLD leaders see as a major threat to their constituency, will be considerably weakened. In case a defaulter finds even 25 per cent of the outstanding amount hard to pay, he has been extended the facility of paying 50 per cent of the dues in monthly instalments of just Rs 100 along with the current charges. Even dues of six months in those areas which were hit by floods in 1995 have been written off. However, it is not clear whether the power utilities will refund six-month charges on account of the 1995 floods to those who had been regular in paying their dues. Or will the honest people suffer as
usual this time also? |
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CAG report ‘exposed’ HFC scam Chandigarh, May 1 Sources here said the issue was also taken up by the Assembly’s Committee of Public Undertakings following which a vigilance probe was ordered into the scam. The sources said the swindling of money of the
HFC, during the period (1993-96) under probe by the Vigilance Bureau, had been highlighted in successive CAG reports for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001. In the FIR filed at Ambala on April 25, the bureau mentioned that money was swindled from the HFC under the Merchant Banking Scheme, sub-leasing schemes and
sanctioning and payment of loans. The CAG reports had already covered all these aspects. For instance, the CAG reports mentioned undeserved benefit being extended to K M Capital Ltd of Gurgaon under the sub-leasing scheme. Similarly, adverse observations were made to the HFC in connection with loan given to Vardhman Solvex Ltd and Vardhman Overseas Limited, both at Panipat, under the Working Capital Scheme. |
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Verdict on octroi may have impact in Haryana Chandigarh, May 1 The demand to reintroduce octroi first arose last year when the government increased house tax manifold. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, convened a meeting of municipal councillors to discuss the issue. Many councillors, including Mr Sanjay Bhatia of Panipat, who belongs to the BJP, urged Mr Chautala to reimpose octroi. The Chief Minister responded by saying that any civic body which wanted to reintroduce octroi should adopt a resolution in this regard. Since then about 15 civic bodies are believed to have forwarded the resolutions favouring the reintroduction of octroi to the Directorate of Urban Development. It is not known what action the directorate has taken on these resolutions. The bureaucracy has no idea what is to be done in the light of the high court judgement. Privately, many officers feel that the state government should take a cue from the judgement and reintroduce octroi, the abolition of which has not benefited the common man in any manner. Traders did not pass on the benefits to the consumers. The common man had to rather face enhanced levies or even new levies to offset the financial loss caused to the civic bodies by the abolition of octroi. In Haryana, which was the first state in the region to abolish octroi, the circumstances under which the levy was abolished were identical to that in Punjab. “It is human to grab gifts. As the elections approach, the expectations of the people arise. Demands are made. These are readily conceded... The impugned Acts are an example of the politics of staying in power at all costs...” This observation of Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohanta, though made in regard to Punjab, fits Haryana like a glove. The Judges said: “The state could have made a law to ‘endow’ the local bodies ‘with power and authority... to enable them to function as institutions of self-government.’ Endow means to ‘enrich’. To ‘enhance’. Not to deprive. Not to abolish. The state had to give. Not to take away what the municipalities were already getting.” The announcement to abolish octroi was made by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, on September 25, 1999, at a rally organised to celebrate the birthday of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal at Hisar. The announcement, according to informed sources, was made by Mr Chautala at the instance of Mr Devi Lal without any prior consultations within the government. Within less than three months of the announcement, Mr Chautala called for fresh Assembly elections. Like Punjab, the abolition was also in the election manifesto of the BJP, a partner in the Akali and INLD governments. When octroi was abolished, the government said no significant loss would be caused to the civic bodies which earned about Rs 65 crore from this levy and spent about Rs 40 crore on the establishment. The government also gave an assurance that no other tax or levy would be imposed to make up for the loss caused by the abolition of octroi (just as Mr Bansi Lal of the HVP had assured the electorate before the 1996 elections that no new taxes would be imposed to make up for the revenue loss caused by prohibition). But at the first Cabinet meeting held after the 2000 Assembly elections, the INLD government either introduced new levies or increased the existing ones in order to increase the income of the municipal committees, sending the wrong signals to residents of urban areas in the state. |
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Centre to gather data on hepatitis B & C Chandigarh, May 1 Sources in the health sector said that last year’s data (July-December period) from the 28 blood banks in the state, including 17 government-run blood banks, showed that incidence of hepatitis-B (H-B) and hepatitis-C (H-C) was more than HIV positive cases. They said that of 43780 units of blood collected by these banks, 824 samples tested positive for HB while 230 units tested positive for H-C. In the same period, 225 blood units had tested HIV positive. Later in January-March period in current year, 301, of the total 19022 blood units collected, tested positive for H-B. Corresponding figure for HIV was 98 and H-C was 93. Significantly till May last year, H-C test was not among the compulsory tests required for accepting blood in the blood banks. There used to be conducted four tests for this purpose which were HIV test, H-B test, test for the detection of venereal diseases and test for malarial parasite. The test for the detection of H-C was made a fifth compulsory test only from June 1, 2001. The sources added that alarmed at the incidence of H-B and H-C, considered fatal ailments, the Government of India has decided to collect countrywide data on these two forms of hepatitis. They said, that every year, in the three months of August, September and October, data on the prevalence of HIV were collected by testing blood samples obtained from patients visiting ante-natal clinics and the clinics offering treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). In the current year, blood samples thus obtained will also be subjected to tests for H-B and H-C, which also spreads through sexual contact or blood transfusion as does the HIV. There were seven centres in Haryana (3 ANCs and 4 STD clinics) for this purpose. However, from the current year the number will be nine with the increase of one centre each of every category to give the data a more representative character. The sources added that the blood samples found to be positive for HIV (and now H-B and H-C) were used only for the compilation of data and effort was not made to find out the sufferer. |
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Implement reforms, schools told Yamunanagar, May 1 Mrs Rajan lamented that in spite of adequate staff and other infrastructure, the standard of education provided in government schools was going down. The Chautala government has formed a new education policy to reform the prevailing set-up. Under this policy, special attention was being paid to implement the new education calendar. It has been decided to maintain a diary for students, containing the syllabi of the year, class work and home work given by the teacher and the progress of the student. Special attention would be paid to increase the enrollment of students in Class VI and only the textbooks prescribed by the state government would be allowed to be used by them. Concerted efforts would be made to implement computer education in the government schools. Mrs Rajan warned the principals and headmasters that strict action would be taken against them if they failed to implement the above mentioned reforms. They should see that no guides or cheap notebooks are used by the students. The teachers must perform their duty with utmost deligence and dedication so that they could play the role of nation builders. Mrs Rajan revealed that the new school calendar for Classes VI to XII would be strictly adhered to, according to which admission to Class VI would start on May 1. The summer vacation would be from May 20 to June 30. Festival holidays would be from October 2 to 7 and winter break from December 23 to January 1 in the schools of the state. She also gave details of other activities to be organised in schools during the year. Mrs Rajan said the recruitment of headmasters, principals and teachers was under progress. Also rationalisation of posts in the state-run schools was being undertaken, according to which no school would face shortage of teaching staff in the current academic session. Likewise, the workload of teachers has been decided: a principal is required to teach 12 periods, a lecturer 30 periods, masters 36 periods and craft teachers 39 periods per week. Mrs Rajan also said that to make the new education policy a success, the teachers have to do their duty with honesty and strict action would be taken against the defaulters. The headmasters of secondary schools have been empowered to check schools in a radius of 8 km and they would send their report to the district headquarters. Every school would be inspected at least once a year. For this purpose, district education officers and other officials had been instructed to do inspection work and suggest punitive action against the defaulters. Welcoming the Director, Secondary Education, Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, emphasised the need of implementing new education policy, particularly the computer education in schools. |
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Woman found dead, 2 kids missing Hisar, May 1 According to Mr Wajir Chand, a resident of Hansi, his daughter Ashu (26) along with her two children three-year-old Pankaj and two-year-old Gudia had been missing since last Sunday. Last evening, he was informed that a body was lying trapped under a bridge of Petwad minor on the Hisar-Delhi National Highway. He identified the body and informed the police. He said that his daughter was married to Parveen Kumar of Hansi, five years ago. Just after the marriage Ashu’s in-laws had allegedly started harassing her for not bringing sufficient dowry. He said Ashu had been residing with him for the past many days following a dispute. Her in-laws had taken her back after a compromise was reached on last Saturday. The police has registered a case against her husband Parveen, father-in-law Ram Sawroop Singh and mother-in-law Kaushlya Devi on the complaint of Mr Wajir Chand. All three accused have absconded. |
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Marketing panel chairpersons Chandigarh, May 1 Mr Budh Ram of Narar village has been nominated Chairman of the Market Committee, Kaithal, and Mr Sat Narain of Kaithal, its Vice-Chairman. Mr Rajinder Kumar Malik and Mr Ram Rattan, both of Siwan, have been nominated as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Market Committee, Siwan. Mr Telu Ram and Mr Satpal, both of Pai, have been nominated Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Market Committee, Pai. Mr Bachan Singh of Sarola and Mr Suraj Bhan of Cheeka have been nominated Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Market Committee, Cheeka. For the Market Committee, Pundri, Mr Satpal Taya has been nominated its Chairman and Mr Ram Parkash Gogi its Vice-Chairman. Mr Ram Singh of Umaicha has been nominated as Chairman of the Market Committee, Dhand, and Mr Ram Sarup its Vice-Chairman. Mr Narender Singh of Naggal has been nominated Chairman of the District Market Committee, Yamunanagar, and Mr Sarwan Kumar of Yamunanagar its Vice-Chairman. For the Market Committee, Jagadhari, Mr Hans Raj of Rulha Kheri village has been nominated its Chairman and Mr Chanan Dass of Jagadhari its Vice-Chairman. Mr Bharat Singh of Saidu Pur village has been nominated as Chairman of the Market Committee, Sadhaura, and Mr Raj Kumar of Sadhaura its Vice-Chairman. Mr Subhash Chander of Khurd Ban village has been nominated Chairman of the Market Committee, Radaur, Mr Ram Kumar Mehta of Radaur its Vice-Chairman. Mr Chander Pal of Maro village and Mr Sanjay Gandhi of Khizrabad have been nominated Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Market Committee, Chhachhrauli. Mr Sheo Ram of Talakaur and Mr Mange Ram of Mustafabad have been nominated Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Market Committee, Mustafabad. Mr Ayub Khan of Sawabari village has been nominated Chairman of the Market Committee, Bilaspur, while Mr Bhupinder Singh of Bilaspur village its Vice-Chairman. |
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Dharna against privatisation move Hisar, May 1 He alleged that the government would retrench 4,000 employees after winding up the MITC and export corporations. These employees had no source of income, he added. He said the government was also planning to privatise Health, Education and Public Health services which would badly affect the employees as well as the common man. Later, the employees’ leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Rs 70 lakh for
SCs, Vimukt Jatis Chandigarh, May 1 Stating this here today, the Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr Risai Singh, said the state government had doubled the grant given to the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Vimukt Jatis under this scheme. The grant has been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. As many as 700 persons would be benefited under this scheme during the current financial year. |
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Panel meeting on transfer of villages Chandigarh, May 1 The committee met here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Revenue Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh. Various proposals already submitted by Deputy Commissioners and Divisional Commissioners for the transfer of villages from one block, sub-tehsil, police station, tehsil, subdivision or district to another were discussed and considered at the meeting. It was decided that gram panchayats may submit their proposals by May 31 to the Deputy Commissioners, who would make their comments and recommendations to the Divisional Commissioners for further submission to the Revenue Department for the consideration of the committee. |
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FCI Chairman visits grain market Ambala, May 1 Mr Bhurey Lal was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam, the Additional DC, Mr Mahinder Kumar and other senior FCI officials during his visit. He spoke to farmers, commission agents and procurement agency officials to take stock of the procurement situation. He inspected the wheat lying in heaps and undertook the weighing of some of the already weighed wheat bags. He told farmers to clean wheat so that there were no problems when grain was stocked. Mr Bhurey Lal directed the procurement agency officials to ensure that the wheat was clean before being put into bags and the commission agents must have adequate tarpaulin to save the wheat from inclement weather. Mr Bhurey Lal directed that Karnal Brent Free wheat should be stocked separately. He observed that as compared to previous years, wheat arriving in the grain markets was comparatively clean but still steps need to be taken towards cleanliness. Mr
Gautam, said that till April 30, 6,17,575 quintal wheat had arrived in Ambala City grain market, while last year in the whole season 6,73,000 quintal had arrived. He said that the harvesting process had not been hindered due to comparatively better weather this year, which has led to more arrivals in various grain markets in Ambala district. |
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Sinha’s effigy burnt Ambala, May 1 The union members carried an effigy of the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, as a mark of protest. Among others, mandal president V.K. Chopra and secretary S.N. Bharti were present. The speakers at the gate meeting said the government was following an ‘anti-employee’ policy. They condemned the recommendation of the Geeta Krishan Committee for ending the pass system and protested the decision to add the pass cost to the pay for purpose of income tax. They said it had been planned to convert the residential cost to market value so that it could be cut from the pay and they also opposed the decision to cut water tax from Group C and D. |
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‘Anti-employee’ policy
evokes protest Ambala, May 1 A number of members from Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Kaithal participated in the dharna. Among those present included Mr Bharat Singh, Mr Amrik Singh, Mr Hawa Singh, Mr Ashwini Sharma, Mr Sudesh Sharma, Mr S.N. Sharma, Mr Som Nath and Mr Tek Chand. The speakers said similar dharnas were being held at different commissionerates in the state. They said the employees would protest the “anti-employee policies of the government. They criticised the decision to close down MITC and said it would have an adverse impact on the families of the employees. The speakers observed that the privatisation of roadways would lead to retrenchment of employees. They observed that the officials had failed to take steps to ensure that different organisation did not face losses. |
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Dance,
music mark KV’s annual day Ambala, May 1 The function was organised at Kharga auditorium. The vidyalaya management committee chairman, Lt Col Sanjeev Pandit, was the chief guest. The programme started with a colourful welcome song performed by tiny tots. The kathak and unique Sanskrit group song went down well with the audience. Utopia, a dance drama performed by the students of primary wing, Haryanvi dance and ‘Sur Sangam’, a rythmic symphony of sound and music stressing on unity in diversity were the other highlights of the function. The school Principal, Mrs Pramila
Dehra, read out the annual report of the school highlighting various achievements of the school students during the session 2001-2002. The prizes were given away by Mrs
V.Pandit. |
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