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Thursday,
May 1, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Centre magnanimous, Haryana stingy Wheat worth crores damaged Campaigning gathers pace in
Fatehabad
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HARSOLA INCIDENT
Doctors seek 24-hour
ambulance service Welfare schemes for workers
announced
Illegal units
demolished Haryana NCP reconstituted Pesticide firm officer shot at
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Centre magnanimous, Haryana stingy Chandigarh, April 30 Till 1998, an anganwari worker and a helper used to get about Rs 500 and Rs 260 a month, respectively. That year the Haryana Government decided to pay additional Rs 200 per month to the anganwari worker and Rs 100 to the helper. This year in January, the Central Government almost doubled their honorarium with effect from April 1, 2002. However, the Haryana Government decided on March 31, 2003, that the monthly increased salary of Rs 1,000 (for anganwari workers) and Rs 500 (for the helpers) was “reasonable”. Hence, it decided to withdraw Rs 200 and Rs 100 it had been paying to these two categories of workers. Not only this, the state government also ordered that the amount paid to these workers in the past should be recovered with effect from April 1, 2002, the day the Centre had increased their meagre wages. The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the labour wing of the RSS, which has organised the anganwari workers and helpers, organised a function to thank Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Delhi a few months ago. In another goodwill gesture, Mr Vajpayee had announced that these workers and helpers would be entitled to avail maternity leave. He also announced that while recruiting teachers for primary classes, priority would be given to those anganwari workers who were at least matriculates. Incidentally, one of the jobs of the anganwari workers is to provide pre-school education to children coming to the anganwaris. Mr Pawan Kumar organising secretary of the Haryana BMS, told TNS that the State Government had not so far implemented the assurances given by the Prime Minister though the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, projected himself to be a greate admirer of Mr Vajpayee. The anganwari workers, he said, felt cheated by the action of the Haryana Government. He said Mr Chautala had claimed that his party had nominated a woman candidate in the Fatehabad Assembly byelection in view of the Women Empowerment Year. On the other hand, in the same year the Chautala Government had snatched away whatever little had been given to the anganwari workers by the Bansi Lal government in which the BJP was a partner. A large number of anganwari workers and helpers staged a day-long dharna outside the office of the Director, Women and Child Development, Haryana, here today in protest against the state government’s decision. Mr Pawan Kumar said if the government did not withdraw its decision, demonstrations would be organised at the district headquarters on May 15. He said even the minimum wages in the state were Rs 2197.84 per month. |
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Wheat worth crores damaged Kaithal, April 30 After getting reports from various centres about the damage to the wheat, the DFSC, Kaithal, informed senior officers at Chandigarh. Correspondence started between them more than a year ago but the condition of stocks continued to deteriorate. A team from the FCI, which inspected some stocks of wheat in July last year, reported that the wheat had been badly damaged and could not be lifted. Later, the chief analyst also brought the matter to the notice of the authorities but to no avail. Some persons employed on contract for security and maintenance of plinths have left the plinths unattended as they have not been paid their salaries for the past over two months. Dut to high velocity winds, polythene covers of many plinths have been damaged, leaving the stocks exposed. Some of the officials posted in the district for the proper care of the stocks allegedly got themselves transferred to save their skin. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Agarwal, wrote a letter in January, 2003, to the Director, Food and Supplies, Haryana, along with a report received from district officials, stating that the wheat lying at a number of open plinths had been badly damaged. A team of officials inspected the stocks and asked inspectors and other officials holding charge of plinths to prepare estimates of cleaning and reconditioning of damaged wheat. The estimates were prepared but no action has been taken. An inspector of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, entrusted with the proper maintenance of stocks at Kaithal, has not reported for duty since April 9. He did not even make payment of salaries to contract labourers. He was also accused of committing irregularities in the purchase of levy rice and not submitting fortnightly statements with the DFSC office. The matter was brought to the notice of the Director, Food and Supplies, Haryana, Chandigarh but no action has been taken against the erring official. The precaution of spraying insecticides on plinths has not been taken and stocks of the fresh wheat have been stored adjoining the pest-infested wheat. |
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Campaigning gathers pace in
Fatehabad Fatehabad, April 30 The INLD has reportedly deputed all these persons to various villages to take in to consideration people’s castes, relations in a particular area and related factors. The INLD government has divided 84 villages of the Fatehabad assembly constituency into 16 zones. The zones have been made taking into account factors like continuity, cultural and caste affinity and other related factors. Though officially, Finance Minister Mr Sampat Singh has been appointed in charge of the poll campaign of the INLD candidate, Ms Swatantra Chowdhary, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, a son of the chief minister and MLA from the Rori assembly constituency has been looking after the campaign. The party has divided Fatehabad town 19 zones in accordance with the 19 wards for the purpose of campaigning. Mr Ashok Arora, Transport Minister, Haryana, is in charge of the party campaign in Fatehabad. Besides, the Minister of State for Urban Development, Mr Subhash Goyal, is assisting him in this. Chairmen of improvement trusts of various towns have been deputed in different wards of the town. Ministers of state government and chairmen of various boards and corporations like the Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Dhir Pal Singh, Agriculture Minister Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Health Minister, Dr M.L. Ranga, Deputy Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Mr Gopi Chand Gahlot, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Ram Pal Majra, Mr Ram Pal Kundu, chairman of the Apex Cooperative Bank, Mr Balwant Singh Maina, chairman of the Agriculture Marketing Board, Mr Inder Singh Dhull, chairman of the Haryana Agro Industries Corporation and several other chairmen, MPs and MLAs have been deputed to look after a specific zone during the election. The party has made a number of teams for women workers. Ms Kailasho Saini, MP, is the in charge of the women’s campaign and several women leaders of the party like Ms Sheela Bhayan, chairperson of the Women Commission, Haryana, Ms Bimla Sangwan, Ms Krishana Poonia, president of the district unit of the women wing of the party, have been looking after various zones. The Congress has also divided the constituency into seven zones. The party would divide these zones in to sub-zones. The party has called a meeting of Congressmen from all over the state on May 9. Former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal will begin his tour of all 84 villages of the constituency from May 2. Before that he will address media persons on May 1 in the evening. The HVP candidate, Mr Prahlad Singh Gillankhera today resumed his campaign after filing his nominations yesterday. Mr Gillankera along with the party secretary general Mr Surender Singh, campaigned in Gorakhpur, Dhani Chhatrian and Dhani Dhaka villages. The CPM nominee, Mr Krishan Swaroop, addressed meetings at Gorakhpur, Ayalki, Chanchak and Chando Kalan villages. Meanwhile, Mr Atma Ram, an unemployed youth filed his nomination papers today as an independent. Mr Leela Krishan, a representative of the property dealers of the town, also filed his nominations papers yesterday. |
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HARSOLA INCIDENT Gurgaon, April 30 Also, the sangathan is demanding action against the Deputy Commissioner and police officials of the distirct in addition to action against the members of the upper caste relating to the incident. According to a local member of the sangathan, the decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of office-bearers of the organisation. The National Commission for SC/ST, to which a petition was made by the sangathan along with a joint memorandum of the victims,has initiated a probe into the case. The sangathan has also made representations to the President, the Prime Minister, the National Commission for Human Rights, the Governor and the Chief Minister of Haryana and the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) urging their intervention for justice to the victims. The memorandum alleged that some upper caste youths tried to disrupt a meeting of members of the Scheduled Castes at Harsola, organised in Harijan “chaupal” on February 6 in connection with preparation of Guru Ravidas birth anniversary, which falls on February 16. After the youths were “driven” away from the ‘Chaupal’ the members of the upper castes returned and attacked the families of the Dalits. The Dalits were beaten up, their houses vandalised,shops looted and standing crops taken away. The representation alleged that the accused were associates of Mr Majra. According to them, members of all 250 families of the SCs fled to Kaithal. A large number of persons hospitalised and two succumbed to their injuries. The victims alleged that a committee was constituted by local Dalits to take up the issue with the authorities and also to effect a rapprochement between the two sides.On the representation of the committee, the Deputy Commissioner, Kaithal assured compensation to the victims and ensuring of communal harmony in the village. Thereafter, the Dalits camping at Kaithal returned to their houses on February 20. Consequently, Mr Majra made out a case of patch up between the two sides and prevailed on the district administration and the police to delete the sections of dacoity and prevention of atrocities on SC/ST from the FIR against the accused, thus diluting the charges against the accused and allowing them to procure bail. They alleged that at the behest of Mr Majra a welcome function was organised in honour of the accused on March 20. Later, a procession was taken out. As the procession reached the “basti” of Harijans they got violent and again attacked them. The Dalits again fled to Kaithal and have been staying there since then. |
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Doctors seek 24-hour ambulance service Kurukshetra, April 30 In the memorandum, the doctors alleged that some patients’ attendants had shouted and threatened to set the doctors and the hospital on fire. The doctors also alleged that the patients’ attendants had also manhandled and beat up Dr N.P. Singh due to the non-availability of ambulance for no fault of the latter. Narrating the incident, the doctors said that on the night of April 28, Dr N.P. Singh was on emergency duty when three patients arrived in the hospital after suffering injuries in a road accident. They said that two patients arrived at 8.05 pm and were taken care of. The third reached the hospital at 8.40 pm. He was also attended immediately. The doctors claimed that on the advice of the General Surgeon, the patients were advised to be shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, for further treatment, while the doctors tried to arrange an ambulance for the patients. However, the ambulance driver failed to reach the place. On this, the patients’ attendants started shouting and threatened to set the doctors and the hospital on fire. |
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Welfare schemes for workers
announced Chandigarh, April 30 Under a new scheme, Rs 5100 each will be given on the wedding of daughters of labourers. This scheme will be different from the “Kanya Daan” scheme under which Rs 5,100 is given at the time of the marriage of a girl belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes. Mr Chautala said under another scheme, “Mukhya Mantri Shram Puraskar”, annual awards like “Shram Ratan”, “Shram Bhushan”, “Shram Veer”, “Shram Devi” and “Shram Shri” would be given on the basis of efficiency, exemplary contribution to productivity, discipline and discharge of social responsibilities. These awards would comprise a certificate, a memento and Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively. It had been decided to enhance the scholarship being granted to meritorious students of the ninth and 10th classes to Rs 4,000, 10 plus two to BA classes to Rs 5000 and10 plus two vocational courses and ITI courses to Rs 3000. The scholarships are admissible to students securing 60 per cent marks. Those students who would secure 60 per cent marks in the diploma in engineering, graduation, medical,
veterinary and personal management would get Rs 10,000 each and those who secured 60 per cent marks in degree in the medical, engineering, law, agriculture and MBA would be given Rs 15,000 each. In addition, those students who secured 75 per cent marks from the ninth to 10 plus two classes, vocational courses, pre-medical and pre-engineering classes would be given a cash prize of Rs 1000 each. Those who secured 75 per cent marks in BA (Part I) to BA (Part III) would get Rs 2000 each. The incentive money being paid to labourers undergoing sterilisation after two children would be increased from Rs 300 to Rs 500. The limit of annual income had been waived now. The motivators would also get Rs 200 for each sterilisation case. Meanwhile, the Haryana Congress has greeted the working class of the state on the eve of May Day. In a statement issued here today, party spokesman Krishan Murti Hooda said the Congress had always identified itself with the struggles launched by the working class. |
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Cinema a sick industry: Poonam “THE film industry is a sick industry. The two primary causes of the sickness are piracy by CD companies and high entertainment tax. With cheap pirated CDs available in the market, people watch the latest releases in the comfort of their homes instead of spending hundreds in a cinema hall.” These were the words of Poonam Dhillon, film and TV actress, while talking to The Tribune during the inauguration of E-Campus, a school of acting and allied arts, in Yamunanagar on Wednesday. Asked why she was giving preference to the small screen, she said working for TV was very convenient as one did not have to travel to locations in different towns for outdoor shooting. Her journey into the world of glamour began in 1977, when as a teenager from Chandigarh she bagged the Miss India crown and soon became a cover girl of Eve’s Weekly. Without any struggle in the film industry, director Yash Chopra turned her into a sensational new discovery of Hindi cinema by launching her in “Trishul”. She came back to Chandigarh to join Government College. After graduation, she was offered the lead role in “Noorie” on a platter for which she came to Mumbai. The rest is history. She said graduates who passed out from E-Campus would be accommodated by the film industry as talented people were needed in the field of acting, dancing, editing, modelling, etc. At present, she is playing one of the lead roles in the tele-serial “Kitty Party.” She is married to film producer Ashok Thakeria. They have two lovely children — son Anmol and daughter Paloma. Her sister, Rishma, is a leading gynaecologist of Mumbai and her brother, Dr Baljinder Singh, is a famous paediatrician. Poonam was born in Kanpur to Amrik Singh, an aeronautical engineer in the armed forces. Mrs Seema Kathuria, director of E-Campus, and Mr Sharad Kamra, Managing Director of E-Campus head office, said in just one year, E-Campus had established itself as a premier institute in the field of acting, dancing, voice modulation and allied arts. Mrs Kathuria said E-Campus had already entered into event management.
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Illegal units
demolished Yamunanagar, April 30 In protest against the demolitions, the Peeling Association has decided to go on strike tomorrow. This morning, senior officers accompanied by a police contingent reached Badhi Majra and Rattanpuri villages and ordered demolition of factories with the help of bulldozers. The factory owners said they had set up their units after taking loans from banks and had completed all formalities, but the District Town and Country Planning Department had ruined them. Plywood Association president Devinder Chawla and Peeling Association president Balinder Singh met the Deputy Commissioner and alleged that the factories were demolished without prior notices. The Deputy Commissioner told them that had these factories abided by the Town and Country Planning Department instructions, the government could have earned Rs one crore in revenue. He made it clear to the deputationists that the drive against the violators would continue. A press note said 13 unauthorised factory sheds and allied constructions were demolished in Pansra, Tajakpur, Gadhauli and Badhimazra. These had been constructed without getting the land conversion certificate and were causing inconvenience to the general public. The note said the owners of these unauthorised constructions were sent legal notices to remove encroachments time and again, but to no avail. |
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Haryana NCP reconstituted Chandigarh, April 30 In a communication sent by Mr Tariq Anwar, General Secretary of the NCP, Mr Ved Pal, Chairman of the kisan cell of the NCP, has been appointed President of the Haryana unit of the party in place of Mr Jagjit Singh Sangwan. Incidentally, Mr Sangwan is the only NCP MLA in Haryana. Mr Ved Pal is a former Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly. Mr Anwar said the new state executive committee of the party would be constituted soon. |
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Pesticide firm officer shot at Kurukshetra, April 30 Mr Verma, who sustained an injury on his chest, has been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Mr Verma was returning home from Mohan Nagar on a motor cycle around 9.15 p.m. when three persons with muffled faces fired two rounds, one in the air and another at Mr Verma. The assailants escaped under cover of darkness. The GRP, Thana, Kurukshetra, has registered a case. |
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