TOP STORIES

HC seeks explanation from Directorate of Education
Why do most govt school students flunk in board exams?
New Delhi, March 7
The Delhi High Court has sought an explanation for the poor performance of the students who are enrolled in the government-run schools in the city. Following reports that out of 100 students who enrol in government schools, only 14 reach class X and of these only four pass the board exams, the court has ordered the authorities concerned to file their responses.

1984 riot victims to send PM a letter a day
New Delhi, March 7
The All India Riot Victim Relief Committee today alleged that political parties were interested only in “encashing” Sikh votes on the 1984 riots issue and were not “committed” to build a memorial in honour of the victims in the Capital.

Model babes strike a saucy pose at the first flagship store of Titan at Connaught Place in the Capital. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

MISSING SAPLINGS
Probe into ‘fudged’ MCD payment
New Delhi, March 7
Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta today ordered a vigilance inquiry into an alleged fake payment of Rs 40-50 lakh made by the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for planting of saplings in the Civil Lines Zone in 2000-2001.

Privatisation has few takers: Kapoor
New Delhi, March 7
Expressing remorse, Lt Governor Vijay Kapoor today pointed out that private players are not positioning themselves to fill the vacuum in the economy created by the diminishing government role.

Six kids among 11 killed
Rohtak/Faridabad
Six children and five other persons were killed in separate road accidents in Faridabad and Rohtak yesterday.

SECURITY BREACH
PU alumnus a Pak spy?
New Delhi, March 7
A Panjab University alumnus was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell outside the Pakistan High Commission with some sensitive defence documents. The accused, Omkar Nath Kalia, (63), who has been charged with spying for Pakistan, was arrested by a team of Special Cell sleuths headed by ACP L. N. Rao.

• Youth detained at IGI airport during Karzai’s arrival

WOMEN'S DAY EVE
For some women it was just another day out
New Delhi, March 7
Dignity, education, health and welfare of women will form the core of this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8.

The world is ours: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at a function on the eve of International Women’s Day organised by the Delhi Mahila Commission at Talkatora Stadium in the Capital on Friday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

COMMUNITY

Mushroom production target of 5,000 tonnes to be met 
Sonepat, March 7
The Haryana Government has fixed a target of 5,000 tonnes for mushroom production during 2003-2004. It is likely to touch 4,950 tonnes by the end of the current financial year.

PROPERTY TAX MESS
Troubled residents receive nothing but ‘sympathy’ 
Gurgaon, March 7
A section of the government officials have an easy way to cope with their ‘inefficiency’. They ‘botch’ up their assignments, even when their half-baked approach will burden the public with financial losses.

Buddhists welcome excavation
Faridabad, March 7
The Haryana unit of the Buddhist Society of India has welcomed the order of the Allahabad High Court for excavation of the disputed Ram janmabhumi-Babri Masjid site at Ayodhya in UP.

Privatisation of sanitation will deprive 42,000 of livelihood
New Delhi, March 7
The privatisation of sanitation work of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will deny livelihood to 42,000 workers and hence must be stopped.

SONEPAT
MC launches drive to collect house tax from govt depts
Sonepat, March 7
The Sonepat Municipal Council has launched a vigorous campaign for the recovery of house tax from the government departments in this city against whom a sum of Rs 26.50 lakh is outstanding for the past few years.

• School timings changed
• Phones out of order
• Farmers honoured

AGENT PROVOCATEURS
Ambedkar statue damaged in Kavi Nagar
Ghaziabad, March 7
While the Mayawati government is going ahead with installing statues of Dr Ambedkar in the state, some mischief-makers have taken upon themselves to damage and disfigure them. Anti-social elements damaged Dr Ambedkar’s statue here at Mehrauli village under the Kavinagar police station.

Bahadurgarh MC adopts budget proposals
Jhajjar, March 7
The Municipal Council of Bahadurgarh adopted the budget proposals for the financial year 2003-04 in a meeting of the general body held here recently.

Dr B. C. Roy awardees announced
New Delhi, March 7
The Medical Council of India today announced names of the Dr B. C. Roy national awardees for years 2001 and 2002.

Seminar on gurdwara management tomorrow
New Delhi, March 7
All prominent Sikh institutions of Delhi for the first time will hold a ‘Seminar on Management of Gurdwaras- An Analysis’ on March 9 at Hindi Bhawan (near Bal Bhawan) at 5 pm.

BIS men lift samples of mineral water
Faridabad, March 7
The authorities of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have lifted samples of at least 14 bottling plants of mineral water in five districts, including Faridabad. The action assumes importance amid reports that several brands of bottled mineral water supplied in the National Capital Region had been unsafe.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON JHAJJAR/BAHADURGARH
College continues to ‘function’ without basic facilities
Jhajjar, March 7
The Government College, Dubaldhan, has many similarities with other colleges situated in the rural areas of the country. The college continues to ‘function’, even though basic facilities for academic activities, such as adequate number of classrooms and teachers are lacking.

DELHI IN PARLIAMENT
Five hospitals served notices by pollution board 
New Delhi, March 7
Five hospitals in the NCT of Delhi, including the prestigious Army Research and Referral Hospital, were served notices by the Central Pollution Control Board for violating rules regarding disposal of biomedical waste, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

SPEAKING OUT
Railway budget: High on heels, low on wheels
The Railway budget 2003-4 has not come as a surprise. Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar has explained that it is a budget, which puts people before profit.

• What the learned say about happiness
• When banks turn their back on customers
• Where is Kelkar Committee report?
• Rallies as traffic bottlenecks
• Clarification
  

HEALTH

60 selected for cataract operation at eye camp
New Delhi, March 7
A free eye camp was organised yesterday at Basti Vikas Kendra, Kalyanpuri, by Tarun Mitra Parishad, a well-known social service organisation of Delhi. Amreesh Gautam, Chairman, East Delhi District Development Samiti and MLA, inaugurated this camp by lighting the lamp.

A physically challenged person being given a wheelchair at a function organised by Tarun Mitra Parishad on Thursday.

SPORTS

Sanjay Verma stars for Delhi Police 
New Delhi, March 7
A debonair all-round performance by Sanjay Verma, who scored 32 runs and then claimed three wickets for 27 runs, enabled Delhi Police beat Malviya Club by 68 runs in a Super A Division DDCA League match at Kotla I ground.

• Rajdhani Cup Cricket

Gagan helps ONGC win in Roshanara tourney
New Delhi, March 7
India player Gagan Khoda smashed 60 runs off 67 balls with eight fours to star in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) 18 runs victory against Collage Sports Management XI in the fourth Roshanara Cricket Tournament at the Roshanara Club ground.

Percept annex Media Trophy
New Delhi, March 7
Percept beat J Walter Thompson to annex the 12th Media Transasia Trophy at the Teri Oval ground.

Formula One action on Star
New Delhi, March 7
Star Sports will telecast live the Formula One action, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne on Sunday, March 9, at 8.15 am.

Sethi, Usha Chatrath win golf titles
New Delhi, March 7
R. C. Sethi won the men’s 60 plus category title while Usha Chatrath emerged the winner in the women’s section in the same age group in the HelpAge India Silver Swingers Golf Tournament held at the Delhi Golf Club course.

Pepsi beat Business India
New Delhi, March 7
Pepsi defeated Business India by 57 runs in the Reebok Cricket Tournament.

• Suresh hits half century