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DPEO pays through nose to douse flames
Birender for
vigilance probe against Chautalas
Women’s self-help groups doing well, says Selja Kumari
One held for murder of two Head Constables
Chemist shops at govt hospitals in Haryana
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Schools hold joint function
Govt to pay in lakhs
Bank function held
2,297 students found cheating
in board exams
Bajia is Bar association chief
3 Sessions Judges soon
HAU scientist honoured
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DPEO pays through nose to douse flames
Yamunanagar, April 23 As per information available, over 450 primary schools of the district each have been “sent” 2 kg multi-purpose dry powder cylinders (fire extinguishers) of Omax make and two buckets with orders to make payments of Rs 2,000 in the form of bank demand drafts to the Ambala-based dealer (Super Bazaar Ambala Central Cooperative Consumer Limited) from where the items were purchased. The head teachers of the schools have been asked to adjust the money against the amount which was earlier allotted to the schools under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan (SSA). Under the SSA, the schools were given Rs 2,000 each for beautification purposes. Sources said the cylinders bought by the DPEO are costing Rs 1,700 each, two buckets for Rs 240 (Rs 120 each) and Rs 60 towards taxes. However, inquiries in the market reveal that such cylinders cost between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000. When this correspondent approached a Yamunanagar-based dealer to purchase 10 or 15 such cylinders, he quoted a price of Rs 900 each. The buckets were available in market for Rs 80 each. The DPEO, Mr Zile Singh, when contacted said the cylinders and buckets were purchased on the orders of the Central Government and the Haryana Directorate of Primary Education on government-approved rates from an approved dealer. When informed the cylinders were available for almost half the prices in the markets, he said that he would inquire into the matter. No tenders were floated and the local office had made the purchase on its own. Sources in the District Fire Brigade said the prices quoted by the DPEO are too high as the Fire Department purchases a 5-kg cylinder for Rs 2,000. He said last week only, the Fire Department had purchased large quantities of buckets for Rs 70 each. When this correspondent approached the Delhi-based manufacturer of the cylinders (on his mobile phone), Mr O.P. Chawla, to purchase cylinders in bulk, he said the MRP of the cylinders was Rs 1,800 but agreed to sell those at a 40 per cent discount. He said the company sells the cylinders on 50 per cent rates to dealers. Mr Umesh Sharma, District President, Haryana Government Teachers Association, said as the head teachers have been asked to directly make the payments to the dealer, on papers it would mean that the head teachers had purchased the cylinders and the buckets at their own. Meanwhile, there are reports that some cylinders have started leaking. One such leakage was reported from the primary school of Loopen village in Chhachhrouli block. |
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Birender for
vigilance probe against Chautalas
Panipat, April 23 The Finance Minister said that he was not in favour of constituting any commission to look into the alleged corrupt practices of the Chautalas as it would be time consuming. He was in favour of a vigilance inquiry as had been done by Capt Amarinder Singh in Punjab against SAD president Parkash Singh Badal, he added. Mr Birender Singh said that most of the affected people had not come forward against Mr Chautala when the Congress prepared its `charge sheet’ because of his fear as he was the Chief Minister at that time. However, now a large number of affected persons were coming forward with concrete evidence against the Chautalas and these would be inquired into
by the Vigilance Bureau and the state government would not hesitate to put them behind the bars if found guilty, he added. He said that he was contacting business associations like FICCI and the CCI to train educated unemployed youths of the state for getting jobs in the IT and other related sectors. The Finance Minister said that he would introduce the policy of third party inspection of work done by some departments to minimise corruption and provide high standard facilities to general public. Earlier, he also addressed district officers and Congress workers separately. |
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Women’s self-help groups doing well, says Selja Kumari
Panchkula, April 23 This was stated by Ms Selja Kumari, Union Minister of State for Poverty Alleviation and Employment, while talking to media persons here today. “The self-help groups in most parts of the country have done very well. These women have not only repaid loans but have also made their groups self sustaining,” she says, while adding that she has now written to the Union Finance Ministry to extend these micro credit schemes to urban areas as well. Ms Selja Kumari also said that her ministry would now institute awards for those self help groups and financial institutions extending micro-credit, who had done exceptionally well. The Union Minister for Employment when quizzed about the
rehabilitation or upgradation of slum colonies, said since each state had different needs, the state governments had now been asked to formulate its own policies. Talking about the National Slum Draft Policy introduced by the previous NDA government at the Centre, she said the policy never took off. Ms Selja Kumari, who is a Member of Parliament from the Ambala constituency, said the Kalka and Pinjore by-pass project would be taken up along with the
four-lanning project of the National Highway 22 (between Panchkula and Kalka). She said since Panchkula shared borders with both Punjab and Himachal, a special industrial package for the district could be made so as to promote trade and manufacturing here.
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One held for murder of two Head Constables
Sonepat, April 23 Narrating the sequence of events, Dharam Raj said that guided by one Mukesh Sharma of Julana he, along with Sandeep and Mintoo, reached near Kathura on the Gohana-Lakhan Majra road to take away cars. After sometime, the Head Constables reached the spot and asked for the driving licence and RC of the scooter used by them. He further narrated that as they did not have the RC of the scooter. He handed over his driving licence to the policemen. However, as the police personnel were not on their guard Sandeep fired at Randhir Singh and Mintoo at Ram Kishan from countrymade pistols in their possession. After committing the crime, they left their scooter at the site and went up to Jassia village on the police motorcycle, he said, adding that after leaving the motorcycle at Jassia. They walked through fields and reached Gord village, the native village of Sandeep. After sometimes, he went to his father’s sister at Bhainswal Kalan village. “Though I was planning to surrender to the police, I was arrested by the police,” he said, pleading that he had never committed any crime other than this. Dharam Raj was produced in the court this afternoon. He has been remanded in 10 days’ police custody. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Rohtak range, Mr V.N. Rai, has decided to provide weapons to the drivers on bike patrolling duty in all five districts, Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Karnal, falling under the range in an effort to avoid the recurrence of a similar crime. Mr Rai held a special meeting of police officers of the districts falling under the Rohtak range to review the security arrangements here on Saturday. Soon after the meeting, he told The Tribune that the bike patrolling driver would also be provided weapons so that any untoward incident like the one that occurred in Gohana could be avoided. The IG said the patrolling policemen would be provided matching weapons as those might be with the criminals to give them a befitting reply. |
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Chemist shops at govt hospitals in Haryana
Panchkula, April 23 This was stated by Dr K V Singh, Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister, Haryana. He said the previous government had introduced the policy on prescribing only generic medicines (the name of salt, not brand) at reasonable rates to patients in government health set-up. The policy went haywire after those allotted these chemist shops in government hospitals began prescribing medicines having high prices, and ensuring them a large profit margin. It may be noted that the then Chautala government had ordered that doctors in government hospitals could prescribe only the generic medicines. It wads in furtherance pf this scheme to bring down the cost of medicines to patients that the government had then decided to setup chemist shops in various government hospitals. Almost 12 such chemist shops were set up in year 2004, and these were supposed to provide the cheapest version of a generic salt to the patient. These chemist shops were to pay a minimal rent of Rs 183 per month to the Health department. “However, we have received complaints that all chemist shops were allotted to one party, and he further sublet these shops. Later, these sub-lessees defied the rules and began selling medicines that allowed them a huge profit margin,” he said. It maybe noted that medicines worth Rs 800 crore are sold in the state each year. Of the total medicines sold in the state, the sale of generic medicines is a meagre 5 to 10 per cent. With branded medicines occupying a major share in the market, the benefit to the patient can be reached only if he buys the cheapest substitute of the salt. |
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Schools hold joint function
Ambala, April 23 Ambala Cantonment MLA Devender Bansal was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bansal lauded the role of Shri Digamber Jain Sabha in imparting value-based education for the past several years. He said that the students in the schools are being given quality education which is leading towards holistic development of the child. The cultural programme was marked by song and dance items which was liked by the audience. The presentation of the school students was particularly appreciated. School principals Mrs Sudha Mathur and Ms Nutan Suri read out their school annual report and they highlighted the achievements of the students in academics, culture and extra-curricular activities. Awards were presented to teachers and students who had excelled. Among others, Mr Dinesh Jain, Mr Sant Kumar Jain, Mr NK Jain and Mr Ashok Jain were present. In the evening, new computer laboratory of Jain girls senior secondary school was inaugurated by Haryana education minister Mr Phool Chand Mullana. TNS |
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Govt to pay in lakhs
Bhiwani, April 23 Earlier, the department concerned had been ordered to pay Rs 6,57,000 (after court’s intervention) as interest to a bank whereas the original amount was just Rs 68,688 only. Now, the latest court decision has brought another financial burden on the exchequer. Moreover, the District Court, to whom the plaintiffs had appealed, has not given any relief and upheld the lower court’s decision. |
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Bank function held
Ambala, April 23 Mr
V.K. Chawla, AGM, laid stress on the customer-friendly track record of the bank. He said that under the stewardship of bank chairman, Mr
O.N. Singh, the business of the bank has crossed Rs 63,000 crore while deposits were over Rs 40,000 crore. Beneficiaries of kisan credit card scheme, kisan shakti yojana and small and marginal farmers were honoured on the occasion. |
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2,297 students found cheating
in board exams
Bhiwani, April 23 Four committees were constituted which gave a personal hearing to the students found copying from April 18 to 23. He said the decision of the committees would be published next month with the results of these examinations. |
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Bajia is Bar association chief
Hisar, April 23 Mr Harshvardhan, who got 376 votes, was elected secretary of the association after a direct one-to-one fight with Mr Neeraj Siwach, who polled 333 votes. Of the 905 members of the Bar body, 713 exercised their right to vote while five votes were cancelled. |
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3 Sessions Judges soon
Rewari, April 23 This was stated by Mrs Nirmal Yadav, a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, here yesterday. While addressing members at the Bar, she exhorted the lawyers to work harmoniously and congenially and also stimulate new entrants.
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HAU scientist honoured
Hisar, April 23 Dr Balyan, who is also the Additional Director (Students Welfare) at the university, has been felicitated by the society for his outstanding work in the field of weed science in the country.
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