 |
|
Farm insurance scheme to be introduced
Chautala to remain INLD president Chautala rules out emergence of third front Another DA instalment for Haryana employees Death during abortion Doctor couple |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Education officer, 3
teachers suspended Maan group sweeps Kuntea poll MLA remanded in police custody LIC told to pay full insurance benefit Leopard creates panic Residents allege laxity
by bijli nigam Tension in Mahesh Nagar over religious building Three killed in car mishap Gymnastics championship begins State-level
youth festival opens Eurokids school opens branch Pistol seized from Ambala resident
|
|
Farm insurance scheme to be introduced Chandigarh, October 29 The scheme would help farmers in case their crop fails due to natural calamities, pests and diseases. The State Government would contribute about Rs 8 crore per annum towards premium subsidy, bank service charges, publicity and training, corpus fund and claim of crops. The premium liability of the farmers would tentatively be Rs 254 per hectare for mustard, Rs 77 per hectare for bajra, Rs 76 per hectare for gram and Rs 160 per hectare for cotton. The scheme is already being
implemented in 21 states and two union territories. All crops like cereals, millet and pulses, oilseeds and commercial crops of cotton, sugarcane and
potato would be covered under the scheme. All other annual commercial and horticultural crops, for which the yield data is available for sufficient number of years, would be covered under the scheme within three years. The Cabinet also decided to amend the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General) Rules, 1962, to let out “Sabji Mandis”on contract basis so as to change the method of collection of market fee on the sale and purchase of fruits and vegetables. After the rules come into force, the market committees would be entitled to lease out or auction the collection of market fee to an agency for not more than one year. It also decided to include the relatively new sectors of bio-informatics and telemedicine in the list of information technology enabled services in view of their potential for investment and employment. The Cabinet approved an amendment in the Punjab Passenger and Goods Taxation Rules, 1952, in order to ban overloading in trucks, which would hence forth be penalised at the tax collection points, which are manned round-the-clock by tax inspectors. The state has banned the overloaded vehicles because the Union Government had withheld a grant of Rs 34 crore to it. The Cabinet also decided to lower the minimum age from 24 years to 21 years for applicants to the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial Branch) in view of a Supreme Court judgement, which directed the States to amend their rules so as to enable fresh law graduates to become eligible for sitting competitive examinations held by the Public Service Commissions for recruitment to the judicial service. The Cabinet also increased the limit of house rent allowance of the Chairman of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission from Rs 8,000 per month to Rs 10,000 per month with effect from August 7, 2000. |
|
Chautala to remain INLD president Chandigarh, October 29 According to a press release issued by the party, Mr Chautala was elected as national president by presidents of various state units and national delegates here today. Mr R.S. Chaudhary, Returning Officer of the organisational elections, said that only one nomination paper was received for the post of national president and it was found in order. The press release said that Mr Chautala expressed his gratitude to the party members for reposing faith in him and assured them that he would work vigorously to strengthen the party. The assembled party members also passed a resolution authorising Mr Chautala to nominate members of the national executive of the INLD. He was also authorised to select candidates for the ensuing assembly elections of Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. |
|
|
Chautala rules out emergence of third front Chandigarh, October 29 Mr Chautala said while there was no harm in like-minded leaders meeting each other, the chances of the emergence of a third front in the country were remote. Referring to the Rajasthan Assembly elections, which the INLD planned to contest, Mr Chautala said the victory or defeat was immaterial to his party, which had entered the desert arena only to provide an alternative to those who did not want to vote either for the Congress or for the BJP. He ridiculed the results of a survey made by an English weekly that the Congress was poised for form a government in Rajasthan by saying that the same magazine had given only 17 seats to the Akali Dal in Punjab. However, he added that if after the elections, the INLD had to choose between the Congress and the BJP, its choice would be obvious because his party was ideologically opposed to the Congress. But Mr Chautala was evasive about his party’s future ties with the BJP in Haryana. Asserting that there was no alternative to Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Chautala said the country would not accept any foreigner as its Prime Minister. Referring to the arrest of the Congress MLA from Barwala, Mr Jai Prakash, he said the police had received a complaint against him and registered a case. It was for the courts to decide the guilt or innocence of the Congress leader. He said it was surprising that the Congress leaders were protesting against the arrest of Mr Jai Prakash in Haryana when their own party Chief Minister in neighbouring Punjab was treating his political rivals in the same manner. “The Congress men should allow the law to take its own course,” he said, adding that he firmly believed in the rule of law. Mr Chautala said the government had not decided to close the Bhuna sugar mill so far. Admitting that a review of the mill’s working was undertaken recently, he said the final decision would be taken at a meeting of the State Cane Control Board. |
|
|
Another DA instalment for Haryana employees Chandigarh, October 29 Announcing this here today, Mr Chautala told newsmen that it had been decided to set up residential sectors to meet the growing rural housing demand on an experimental basis in at least one village in each block of the state. A minimum of 15 acres would be developed in the first phase. The proposed sizes of plots would be 250 sq yrd, 350 sq yrd, 500 sq yrd and more as per the local demand. No scrutiny charges, conversion charges, external development charges and service charges would be levied. While an applicant would have to pay 25 per cent of the cost along with the application, the balance amount would be paid in 10 equal half-yearly
installments. Mr Chautala also announced another DA instalment for the government employees and pensioners which would put an annual burden of Rs 55 crore on the public exchequer. The DA instalment would be paid from November 1. From the same day a special year-long programme, “Swasthya Sewa Aapke Dwar”, would be launched to provide free health check-up to 2.10 crore residents of the state. Senior citizens above 60 would be provided spectacles free of cost. Under another scheme, to be launched from November 1, focus would be put on improving the health of the livestock. The buildings of all veterinary institutions would be repaired. Vacant posts in the Animal Husbandry Department would be filled on a priority. Mr Chautala said financial assistance of Rs 1 crore would be released to “gaushalas” in the state. He said other projects to be launched on Haryana Day included the Rs 319-crore Bhakra Canal Command Project. A state-level “Jal Samiti Sammelan” would be organised near the Jhandwala distributary, crossing the Asa Khera road in Sirsa district on November 1. It would be addressed by the Union Minister for Water Resources, Mr Arjun Charan Sethi. The Bhakra Canal Command Project, the biggest ever project taken up by the Command Area Development Authority of Haryana, had been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Water Resources. The project, which would cover 2.39 lakh hectares, aimed at lining 1233 water courses in eight districts of Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Hisar, Ambala and Jind. |
|
|
Death during abortion Doctor couple granted bail Ambala, October 29 The magistrate while granting bail to the doctor couple, ordered them to furnish a bail bond of Rs 20,000 and a surety of equal amount each. Today morning, after a one-hour long argument, the magistrate reserved the order for 3 p.m. According to report, Amarjit Kaur was undergoing abortion as her foetus was malformed. Relatives of the deceased alleged that Amarjit Kaur had died due to the negligence of doctors and that they did not disclose her death for four hours. The police had registered a case under Section 304 and 201 of the IPC and the PNDT Act against the doctor couple. During the argument on the bail application, the counsel for the prosecution, Mr Satish Jain, while opposing the bail application, said the doctor couple was aware that their centre was not authorised for an MTP. The licence of the ultrasound in the centre has also been temporarily suspended by the health authorities. Mr Jain said the doctor couple was also aware that it would be risky to perform an abortion. Despite this, they performed the abortion for the sake of money. He said that according to the post-mortem examination report, the uterus of the deceased was found empty, which showed that the doctor couple had thrown the foetus somewhere. On the other hand, the counsel for the doctor couple, Mr Chander Mohan Sehgal, said his clients were qualified doctors. Even if their centre was not authorised for an MTP, they could perform an abortion if they found that it was necessary to save the life of a patient and this was clearly mentioned in the sub section 2 of the Section 3 of the MTP Act. He said Section 304 could not be imposed on the doctor couple as there were no evidence to prove that they had any intention to kill Amarjit Kaur. Meanwhile, this incident has created panic among doctors of various nursing homes. A gynaecologist, on the condition of anonymity, said if the police started booking the doctors merely on the complaint of a patient, it would be difficult for them to treat serious patients. On the other hand, some people differ with this view. They say that relatives of a patient will not blame a doctor unnecessarily. If a patient had any grievance a doctor, should be registered by the police. |
|
|
Education officer, 3
teachers suspended Kurukshetra, October 29 The suspended persons comprised Mr Shiv Kumar, Sub-Divisional Education Officer, Pehowa, Mr Sultan Singh, Mr Ram Swaroop and Mrs Paramjeet Kaur from schools Gadiroran, Saarsa and Arnecha villages, respectively. The villages inspected by Mr Likhi included Gadiroran, Lohar Majra, Khizarpura, Singhpura, Nikatpura, Bhorsaidan, Mukimpur, Saarsa, Rooaan, Rampura, Arnecha, Asmaanpur and Batedi. Mr Likhi was accompanied by the SDM, Pehowa, Mr Prem Chand, District Primary Education Officer, Mr M.L. Kalra and district officers from the Revenue and Panchayat Development Department. He directed the District Primary Education Officer to ensure provision of drinking water in all primary schools. He organised teams at the district level to check whether the facilities being provided to students were reaching them. The teams would submit reports to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. He said 40 schools falling under the Ladwa block would be inspected by the inspection team headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, while 37 schools of the Thanesar block one would be inspected by a team headed by the SDM. Schools falling under Thanesar block (two) would be inspected by a team headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Kurukshetra Development Board, while the schools falling under Shahabad block (one) would be inspected by a team headed by the Managing Director, Shahabad Sugar Mills. |
|
Maan group sweeps Kuntea poll Kurukshetra, October 29 Mr Maan Singh was declared elected as president of KUNTEA by defeating Mr Karan Singh by 155 votes. Mr Jagdish (Maan group) was declared elected senior vice-president. He defeated Mr Ram Prakash (Karan group). Mr Chander Singh (Maan group) was declared elected vice-president by defeating Mr Vishnu Nath (Karan group). Mr Raghubir Singh Issar (Mann group) bagged the general secretary’s post. He defeated Mr Madan Gopal Sharma (Karan group). Mr Ram Lal (Maan group) won the joint secretary’s post against Mr Suraj Bhan while Mr Purushotam Sharma (Maan group) secured the secretary’s post by defeating Mr Mukesh Sharma (Karan group). Mr Sunil Kakkar (Maan group) was declared elected as treasurer against Mr M.P. Sikri (Karan group). So far as the election results to the KUNTEA Executive Committee are concerned, four out of 16 members to this committee had already been declared elected unopposed while out of the remaining 12 posts, six seats had been occupied by Maan group while the Karan group had succeeded in occupying five seats. The twelfth Executive Member post remained drawn because both Mr Rania Ram (Maan group) and Mr Isham Singh (Karan group) secured 53 votes each. |
|
MLA remanded in police custody Hisar, October 29 He had been arrested on October 21 in connection with a criminal case registered against him on the complaint of an INLD supporter of Barwala, near here. The court had earlier remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days, turning down the police plea for a remand. The police then filed an appeal in the Sessions Court which today referred the application to the court which had denied the police remand for reconsideration of the police plea. Mr Ashu Sanjiv Tinjan, Judicial Magistrate, heard the prosecution and the defence extensively before granting the police remand. The prosecution pleaded that Mr Jai Parkash should be remanded in police custody for five days as it wanted to recover the revolver he was alleged to have pointed at the complainant. When the defence counsel countered this by producing a document proving that Mr Jai Parkash had deposited his licensed revolver with an arms dealer a day before the incident, the police took the plea that the revolver could be some other illicit weapon which needed to be recovered. The magistrate then ordered that Mr Jai Parkash be remanded in police custody for a day. |
|
LIC told to pay full insurance benefit Kaithal, October 29 The president of the forum, Mr I.S. Punia, and members, Mr Asha Bindlish and Joginder Singh, respectively passed the orders on a complaint filed in May, 1997, by Balkar Singh of Malkheri village. In his complaint, Balkar alleged that his father Avtar Singh had insured himself for Rs 50,000 with LIC with double accident benefit. As a result of the clauses of the insurance police, his father was to get Rs 1 lakh in case due to accident and Rs 50,000 in case of a natural death. However, Avtar Singh died in road accident in June, 2000, and his legal heir claimed Rs 1 lakh from the LIC and filed all relevant documents along with the claim case. But the LIC made a payment of Rs 50,000 only and refused to entertain the claim of the legal heirs for the balance amount inspite of repeated requests. Following this, a complaint was filed before the forum which directed the LIC to give the double accident benefit to the complainant and pay him the balance amount with interest. |
|
Leopard creates panic Naraingarh (Panchkula), October 29 The animal was noticed by some drivers of the roadways at about 5.30 am. A driver while starting his bus, noticed the big cat who called his colleague. Hearing the noise and the sound of the vehicles, the animal slipped to the nearby forest area. Panicky villagers and Haryana Roadways employees informed the wildlife authorities and subsequently teams from Panchkula and Ambala reached the spot. Armed with nets, tranquilising guns and other equipment, the wildlife teams first cordoned off the workshop and a hunt for the cat was launched. After two hours it was found that the leopard had left the workshop. It was then the forest area, spread over about four acres adjoining the workshop was searched. However, the team failed to spot any pug-mark because of thickets and straw cover on the land. Since there was no signs of the animal on the spot, the Haryana Wildlife authorities also sought help from the Chhat Bir Zoo authorities. While talking to The Tribune, Mr Sada Ram, a Wildlife Inspector at Panchkula, revealed that the teams then went to Hussaini village after getting information about the presence of the leopard there. During its search operation, the wildlife teams noticed pug-marks on the fields where farmers were collecting paddy grains. Senior Haryana Wildlife Officers, the SDM, Naraingarh, the Manager of the Haryana Roadways workshop and many other residents of the vicinity were present during the search operation. Mr M.P. Sharma, SDM, Naraingarh was not available for comments, However, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Director, Chhat Bir Zoo, confirmed that a team of zoo employees was sent to Naraingarh for netting the leopard on the request of the Haryana Wildlife authorities. |
|
|
Residents allege laxity
by bijli nigam Panchkula, October 29 The members have complained that officers concerned of the nigam were not paying them the interest on the security deposits at a rate of 10 per cent per annum (on meter security deposit amounting more than Rs 100) in spite of the instructions issued by the UHBVN. In a joint statement, Mr J.S. Parmar, general secretary of the House Owners-cum-Plot Holders, and Mr S.K. Nayar, president of the Indian Citizen Forum said the HERC had viewed the lapses and directed the nigam to make the payments. The nigam had also said that the interest amount be depicted in electricity bills separately. But interestingly, no action had been taken to comply with this directions, they added. They also urged the officers concerned to depict the amount of interest in the forthcoming electricity bills. |
|
Tension in Mahesh Nagar over religious building Ambala, October 29 One of the communities wanted to construct a religious building in New Lucky Nagar, close to the Tangri river. The building was to be constructed on a plot measuring about 200 sq yards. The construction process was initiated a few days back. At that time the local women had objected to it. They had opined that this would vitiate the atmosphere in the area. Today, a group of people led by a right-wing leader strongly protested against the construction. The group said they would not allow its foundation to be laid and added that it would be a “disturbing development”. The other group of an-other community said they could not be stopped from constructing the religious building. They stated that their papers were in order and the land belonged to them so they could carry out the construction. This led to tension between the two communities over the matter. Looking at the situation police personnel were rushed to the spot and they tried to placate both groups. The women, however, pointed out that only a few families of the other community were living in the area. |
|
|
Three killed in car mishap Karnal, October 29 The deceased and the injured all, occupants of the car, were returning to their residence in Friends Colony in Kaithal after paying obeisance at a gurdwara in Panipat. The deceased have been identified as Nirmaljeet Singh Gill (44), his brother-in-law Charanjeet Singh and father-in-law Avtar Singh.
— UNI |
|
|
Gymnastics championship begins Ambala, October 29 The championship was inaugurated by Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vij said sports should be made compulsory in schools. He said world over, gymnasts start early in life and they compete in national and international meets. He stated that young gymnasts must be imparted rigorous training so that they can excel. Mr Vij said the energy of young persons can be channelised and trained gymnasts would prove to be disciplined citizens. He said the new sports policy of the Haryana Government had shown good results in national as well as international competitions. Mr Vij said parents should encourage children in sports. The SDM, Mr N.S. Dhull, said 450 gymnasts were participating in the three-day event. He said equipment worth Rs 50 lakh had been set up at the stadium and added that Ambala had emerged as a major centre for sports. The District Sports Officer, Ms Anita Sehgal, said gymnasts from Ambala had excelled in different gymnastic championships. During the three-day championship, the competitions will be for under-8, under-10, under-12, under-13, under-14 and under-15 age groups. On the first day, Bhiwani won the team championship in boys under-15 years category Ambala gymnasts won second position while Faridabad gymnasts were third. In apparatus championship: Floor exercises Vijay from Jind was first, Manveer from Ambala was second and Harish also from Ambala was third. In side horse, Sonu from Gurgaon was first, Manish from Bhiwani was second while third position was shared by Manveer, Surinder and Krishan. In rings, Manish from Bhiwani was first, Sonu from Gurgaon was second while Akash from Jind was third. In vaulting, Sonu from Gurgaon was first, Vijay from Jind was second and Anveer Panchkula was third. In parallel bars, Naveen of Bhiwani was first, Manish from Bhiwani was second while Manveer from Ambala was third. In horizontal bar, Naveen from Bhiwani was first, Manveer from Ambala was second and Ramesh from Faridabad was
third. |
|
|
State-level youth festival opens
Kurukshetra, October 29 He said youth festivals inculcated the spirit of brotherhood and discipline. The Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr A.K. Chawla, said Haryana had excelled in education, industry, information technology, science, agriculture and sports. He said Kurukshetra University had played a pioneering role in strengthening the cultural heritage of Haryana by organising cultural programmes. He landed the efforts of artistes who had brought laurels to the university at the state, national and international levels.
Earlier, the Director of the Youth and Cultural Affairs, Kurukshetra University, Mr Anoop Lather, said this year Haryanvi pop songs had also been introduced in the festival. He said this year about 2000 artistes from different colleges of the state were taking part in the festival. |
|
|
Eurokids school opens branch Ambala, October 29 The Eurokids branch offers quality education for children between the age group of 2 to 4 years. The classes are theme-based, air-conditioned and have bright colourful interiors. The children will be taught by using various teaching aids. Mrs Manisha Minocha, Director, Eurokids Ambala, Col V.K. Malik, Principal, Mr Rajesh Sharma, master franchisee, and Mr Rubal Datta, regional manager, Eurokids, were present on the occasion. Mrs Minocha said the school had two sections each of playschool and nursery classes. The school would be for three hours. There were activities like sand play and water play which prepare the child with pre-writing skills. “Children sit on the floor as a child feels most comfortable on the ground when he or she can make the best use of the five senses,” she said. She said all furniture designed was low and easily reachable by a child. Buddy tables have been specially designed. All equipment were safe, non-toxic and child friendly. “Eurokids classrooms are called fun rooms because in the three hours that they are in school, they learn a lot without any pressure,” she stated. |
|
|
Pistol seized from Ambala resident Ambala, October 29 The police said a police patrolling party searched Bhanu on suspicion. The police recovered a pistol and a cartridge from his possession. The police registered a case under the Arms Act in this regard. Cash snatched
The Ambala Cantonment police has arrested a person for snatching cash and a mobile phone at sword point in the cantonment area near the Kharga Army Training Centre from a Charnjit Singh. According to information, two persons, Dharmender and Gurmej, stopped Charnjit and forcibly took away Rs 14,900 and a mobile phone from him. Dharmender was nabbed on the spot, while Gurmej managed to escape, the police said. Parole jumper held
The police arrested a parole jumper here on Wednesday. According to jail sources, a prisoner Naresh Kumar, resident of Kaithal district, had gone on parole for four weeks, but did not return. On a complaint of the Superintendent, Ambala Central Jail, the police had registered a case against him. The prisoner was arrested by the police on Wednesday. House burgled
Some unidentified thieves have stolen cash and jewellery worth Rs 28,000 from a house in Sector 9 of Urban Estate Ambala City on Tuesday night. According to the police, the thieves entered the house by breaking a window. They took away Rs 9,000 and 60 gm gold jewellery from there. On a complaint of the house owner Naresh Kumar, the police has registered a case in this regard. |
|
|
Centre flayed on Sehajdhari issue Kaithal, October 29 Demanding a review of the decision, he stated that the Sehajdharis followed all conventions and traditions of the Sikh religion. They have faith in Guru Granth Sahib and go to gurdwaras.
— OC |
|
|
Signature drive by roadways staff Fatehabad, October 29 Addressing the employees, Mr Poonam Ratti, the state president of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, said the anti-worker policies of the Central and the state governments had forced the employees to launch
agitation. — OC |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, October 29
