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Education dept suffers loss of
Rs 10 lakh
Plugging ‘bribe’ holes in
Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
State to get two girls’ colleges
HCTA wants increase in examination duty fee
Plundering the earth — IV
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A powerhouse for panchayats
Narad Muni, a communicator par excellence: Experts
31 more Congmen join Bhajan camp
Haryana SGPC: SAD to oppose move
BJP kisan cell office-bearers
Probe against MC president begins
Kurukshetra doctor penalised
Woman, daughter killed in accident
Angry villagers lock waterworks
Four killed in mishaps
JE held for taking bribe
Draw of lots for shops in Civil Hospitals
Rs 2 cr grant for rural job plan, says DC
Farmers’ compensation
Boost for child health programme
Descendants of martyrs to be honoured
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Education dept suffers loss of
Rs 10 lakh
Yamunanagar, May 3 No wonder both the officers claim that they made the purchases because they were authorised to do so. Materials purchased in both the cases have been delivered to the schools concerned. In October 2006 district education officer (DEO) M.R Sharma was given additional charge of DEEO. In December last the government upgraded 20 schools in the district. As per the provisions of SSA each of the upgraded schools was to be supplied educational materials worth Rs 50,000, said sources. Sharma was reportedly issued a letter in this regard. Sharma purchased the goods worth Rs 10 lakh for the 20 schools. Payments were released on January 19, 2007 to two firms which supplied the goods ordered by Sharma. Interestingly, on the same evening (January 19) Mange Ram Nehra joined here as DEEO. In March SSA released a bank draft for Rs 10 lakh for the purchase of educational material for the 20 schools. Nehra again placed orders and purchased almost similar goods as had been purchased by Sharma and made the payment to suppliers. Goods purchased by Nehra too were recently supplied to the schools. The two purchases have raised a few questions. Why did Sharma make the payments on January 19, the day when a full fledged DEEO had joined? When Nehra, the DEEO was aware that purchase has already been made then why did he not return the bank draft? If payment was released from treasury on January 19 for purchase, then why a bank draft was released again? Sharma took the plea that Nehra should not have purchased the goods when he knew those had already been purchased. On the other hand Nehra said his purchase was authorised as the draft for Rs 10 lakh had come for the purchase of the material. He said had he not made the purchase the grant would had lapsed by the end of the financial year. Regarding the surplus material Sharma said it would be supplied to schools which would be upgraded in future. On the other hand state project director of SSA Raghuendra Rao said he would seek a detailed report of the purchase and action would be taken against the guilty, if any. |
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Plugging ‘bribe’ holes in
Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
Chandigarh, May 3 Having woken up to the irregularities, committed knowingly or unknowingly, the department has stepped up scrutiny of purchases under the SSA. It has come out with revised guidelines to plug “bribe” holes in the scheme. “The biggest step we have taken in the direction of bringing greater transparency in the items bought under SSA is that we have fixed a rate contract. We have also issued the instruction that items of the said specifications will be bought only from shortlisted companies at specified rates only. This will greatly minimise the discretion available in purchasing all items under the SSA,” says P. Raghvendra Rao, who recently took over as the state project director of the SSA. Finances disbursed under the SSA were meant to be used as decentralised grants for purchase of medical and science models, charts, calendars, maps and science kits among others. However, in most districts, all grants under the SSA were consolidated at the district level, running into huge amount. Since there was no rate fixed for any item, the district-level officers were free to purchase it at “exorbitant prices”. “With the imposition of the rate contract, they cannot play around with the funds. Also, with decentralisation, only small purchases can be made, which further reduces the chance of any misappropriation,” Rao stated. While the department has sought the list of items to be purchased for 2007-08 by May 15, the department has also asked them to follow the method of short-term tenders to procure material, which is less than Rs 5 lakh. “Even if the sanction is to be given for the items, which are not on the rate contract, the component in charges should fix the specifications and rate of the items on local quotations. We have also suggested that the district should keep a sample of each item purchased out of the sanction given by the state office,” Rao added. The department has also asked the in charges to fix a time-table for different activities and plan the expenditure uniformly while warning them against releasing sanctions in the last weeks of March, before the closure of the financial year. |
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State to get two girls’ colleges
Sirsa, May 3 Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would lay the foundation stone a girl’s college in Kaithal on May 6 and the work of another college in Julana will soon start, added Maulana while replying to a query about the government’s plan to construct colleges for girls. He said the state government had earmarked Rs 2,700 crore for the education. We had been trying to provide better facilities to those studying in government schools and colleges. While talking about the shortage of teachers in Chaudhary Devi Lal University, he said the vice-chancellor had been told to send a proposal for getting the posts sanctioned. |
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HCTA wants increase in examination duty fee
Kaithal, May 3 In a signed statement issued today, HCTA general secretary Dr Rajbir Parashar stated that the association had demanded a minimum increase of 40 per cent in the remuneration from April 2007. |
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Rules seldom respected in mining zones
Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 3 The most influential among the miners operating in Haryana is a team of two brothers. They graduated from mining to politics. They went on to become MLAs and MPs, and even ministers; though not necessarily from the same party. But they continue to take interest in mining. For the past one decade, there has been a pattern in their relationship with the Chief Minister of the state, whosoever he may be. As long as they are given a free hand in the mining, they remain a friend of the Chief Minister. The moment curbs are imposed by the authorities, the brothers turn into bitter enemies of the Chief Minister. There are reports in the mining industry that the current illegal quarrying of stones on the Rajasthan-Haryana border and their transportation to Delhi through Gurgaon have the patronage of a sitting Congress MP(not belonging to the area) and a former Congress MLA. It is alleged that a brother of the MP supervises the illegal operations. It is not to suggest that the other miners in the state do not wield influence. Though they may not have a direct role in politics, they have developed strong links with powerful politicians through their money power. There are instances when honest (hence inconvenient) officers, including IAS and IPS officers, were transferred at the instance of the miners. Tempted by easy money the mining offered, several politicians became partners with professional miners during 1991-96 in lieu of getting them mining leases from the then Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. The practice continued even after Bansi Lal replaced him. Even Om Prakash Chautala was under pressure from influential politicians, including certain central BJP leaders, for allotting them mining leases. He was in a dilemma -- whom to oblige. The then Director, Mines, Ram Niwas, gave him an escape route by suggesting the auction of the mining sites. The first auction, held under the supervision of an IAS officer D.S. Dhesi, was totally transparent. However, the system was subverted later on. Sources say "not so polite" messages used to be given on mobile phones by the powers that be to prospective bidders for not participating in the auction so that the chosen one could get the lease. It is to the credit of present Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda that no such messages are being sent now and the auction is transparent. However, the implementation of the rules and regulations remains, unfortunately, tardy. President of the Pryavaran Avam Van Vikas Morcha Ramesh Arya feels that since the mining cannot be stopped altogether in the interest of development, there is a strong need to regulate it. Instead of banning the mining in certain areas, the courts should goad the executive to ensure that in all the places, whether near or far from Delhi, the mining is done with the minimal possible long-term damage to environment. For this the prior approval of the environment management plan (EMP) should be made mandatory for all mining areas and even the existing lease-holders should be told to have EMPs for their areas. Otherwise, the states find out ways to bypass the notifications making the EMP mandatory for a particular size of the mining areas. (Concluded)
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Fatehabad, May 3 This means that the government would no longer be required to dirty its hands in collecting the electricity bills from the ‘defiant’ farmers. The village panchayats would also be required to manage other affairs of power distribution, acting as franchisees of the power utilities. The board of directors of the Nigam approved the scheme on April 30 and it came into effect on Tuesday. The scheme has been formulated as per the provisions of the National Rural Electrification Policy (NREP), notified by the Ministry of Power on August 23, 2006, which mandated that the Panchayati Raj Institutions be encouraged to take over management of rural electricity distribution functions. The policy prescribes the implementation of the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) and reforms in the distribution system. The panchayats would undertake activities like meter reading, bills distribution, cash collection, maintenance of distribution network, new connection facilitation and recovery of arrears, etc. They would also appoint rural youths as Gramin Vidyut Pratinidhis (GVPs), whose salary would be borne by the Nigam and whose number would depend on the number of consumers in a particular village. The DHBVN would also provide incentives on billing and collection efficiency, besides incentives on shift to CFL lamps and energy-efficient motor pumps. Managing Director, DHBVN, Vijender Kumar said the present scheme was only a prelude to the full franchisee status for the Panchayati Raj Institutions. He said to begin with, only operations and maintenance were being transferred and in the second stage, metering, billing and collection activities would also be delegated to the panchayats. — OC
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Narad Muni, a communicator par excellence: Experts
Rohtak, May 3 The meet was organised under the aegis of Shri Madhav Chetna Nyas, a socio-cultural organisation committed to promotion of healthy journalism, among other objectives. On the occasion, Prof B K Kuthiala, chairman of the Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University, gave an audio-visual presentation on Narad's life history, personality and his contribution to the society. Addressing the gathering which comprised of journalists, teachers, mass communication functionaries and other intellectuals, professor Kuthiala described Narad as a "mass communicator par excellence". He asserted that Narad was not only limited to journalism, but was also, an intellectual committed to guiding human beings, Gods as well as demons through information dissemination. Dr Harish Kumar, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, MDU, Omkar Chaudhary, resident editor of a Hindi daily, and Pritam Ahuja, the head of the local chapter of the nyas, were also present.
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31 more Congmen join Bhajan camp
Karnal, May 3 Former youth Congress general secretary Harvinder Kalyan led the group. He said more disgruntled party workers would soon tender their resignations. In the second phase, women workers would quit the party against the ill treatment meted out to their leaders, he added. In a resignation letter addressed to working president of the state unit of the Congress Ram Prakash Kalyan he charged the Hooda-led government for shielding land mafia. He said dedicated party workers were facing the heat of the voters at the rural and urban areas. No one in the state was ready to listen to their grievances and most of the party workers, including hardworking MLAs, were being sidelined.
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Haryana SGPC: SAD to oppose move
Ambala, May 3 The SAD’s state unit today made it clear that it would strongly resist the move of the Haryana government to form a separate SGPC. The resistance could make the task of forming a separate SGPC challenging for the Hooda government. Sant Singh Kandhari, spokesperson for the SAD’s Haryana unit, told media persons that they had decided on a plan of action to oppose the move on the separate SGPC. “We will be generating awareness among the Sikhs about the move of the Haryana government to divide the Sikhs by forming a separate SGPC,” he said. Demonstrations would be held throughout Haryana in phases from May 5 to May 25. The first such programme by the SAD would be held in Karnal. A number of SAD leaders from Punjab are expected to participate in the programmes to be held in various districts of Haryana. Among others, Sukhbir Badal, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Harmel Singh Tohra, Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu, Ajaib Singh Makhmailpur are expected to come to Haryana for the programmes. Besides, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Bibi Jagir Kaur are also likely to participate. The series of demonstrations will be followed by an international conference in Kurukshetra. The date is expected to be finalised between May 25 and May 30. Sant Singh Kandhari said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had stated that there would be no politics in religion. “Yet the Congress manifesto for Haryana has talked about a separate SGPC for the state. This is an internal matter of the Sikh community and we will strongly resist this move,” he said. He said the committee headed by Harmohinder Singh Chatha was expected to submit its report soon. “There is a big question mark on the total number of proformas submitted to the committee regarding a separate SGPC,” he said.
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BJP kisan cell office-bearers
Bhiwani, May 3 V.K. Sood (Panchkula), national vice-president, Kisan Morcha, and Shyam Bhaskar
(Kurukshetra) would be ex-offico members of the state executive committe. |
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Probe against MC president begins
Ambala, May 3 The enquiry against MC president Neelam Sharma is being carried out following a complaint made by a section of Municipal Councilors. The councilors have alleged about misuse of emergency provisions under Section 35, repair of car, which has been declared unfit and the diesel consumption. SDM spoke to the municipal councilors who filed the complaint. Municipal councilors Omkar Nathi, Babu Kanojia, Pradeep Goyal, Riya Ratra, Dimple Mittal and Roop Chand were present. The municipal councilors said the entire matter is being politicised. They said till such time the enquiry is being carried out, MC president Neelam Sharma should be asked to step down and an administrator should be appointed in her place. SDM Ahuja spoke at length with the municipal council officials. He is expected to visit places where works under the emergency provisions have been carried out.
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Chandigarh, May 3 Delivering a judgement on the petitions filed by Gulshan Lal Gera of Kurukshetra, court of S S Singh Dahiya, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Kurukshetra held Dr Rajesh Batish of Pipli guilty of rash driving. The accident took place in 2005 in Kurukshetra when the scooter of Gulshan with his wife Saroj Bala and Aarti, daughter on pillion was hit by a car resulting in serious injuries to all three of them. Saroj Bala, later succumbed to her injuries in a hospital. In the petition Gera, Aarti (mentally retarded) through her father, and Swin Kumar, son of Gulshan claimed compensation of Rs 10 lakh. Delivering the judgement the court observed the accident took place due to rash driving of car by Dr Rajesh Kumar Batish and there was ample evidence Saroj Bala, Gulshan Lal, and their mentally challenged daughter suffered multiple injuries in the accident and Saroj Bala died as a result of the injuries received in the accident. However Gera’s complaint with the Medical Council of India against the physician remained pending since September 2004 pleading the doctor violated ‘code of Ethics regulation 2002’ as instead of giving first aid or taking the injured to a hospital he fled the spot. Had he taken the injured to hospital or given first aid his wife could have survived pleaded Gera. — TNS
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Woman, daughter killed in accident
Rewari, May 3 The accident occurred when the family was returning home at Chirhara village, near Kasaula chowk, after attending the wedding ceremony of Neetu’s brother at Chhaisa village in Faridabad district. |
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Angry villagers lock waterworks
Panipat, May 3 The irate villagers alleged though a large sum of money was spent on constructing the waterworks in the village, they still did not have access to regular supply. They further stated that all their pleas had fallen on deaf ears. They warned of resorting to block traffic if timely action was not taken. |
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Four killed in mishaps
Panipat, May 3 Sources said two moped-borne persons were killed when a truck hit them on the Panipat-Sonepat road near Siwah village. The deceased were identified as Gyani Ram of Nidana village in Karnal and Shambhu, a resident of Bihar. In another incident, a man was reportedly run over by a train at a railway crossing near NFL. Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified youth was found on the Asandh road bridge. |
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JE held for taking bribe
Ambala, May 3 JE Tarsem Kumar was demanding a sum of Rs 10,000 for clearing a site plan. He was nabbed by a team of vigilance officials today led by DSP Ram Sharan. A case has been registered.
— TNS |
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Draw of lots for shops in Civil Hospitals
Ambala, May 3 The draw was supervised by Deputy Commissioner R.P. Bharadwaj at Panchayat Bhavan, Ambala City. For Civil Hospital, Ambala City, there were 240 applicants for two chemist shops. Sumer Singh and Nitin Kumar were successful applicants. In TB hospital, Virender Singh and Surjeet Kumar were successful. In Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt, Jaipal and Ramlal got the shops while in Civil Hospital, Naraingarh, Avinash Kumar and Jagmohinder Singh were successful, a press statement stated. |
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Rs 2 cr grant for rural job plan, says DC
Ambala, May 3 Bharadwaj was addressing a programme at Khanna Palace, Ambala City. He said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched in Haryana on April 1, 2007, under which 100 days employment would be given to the unemployed rural poor. He said under the scheme rural families would be registered and the name of the adult, age, sex and address would be marked in the job card of willing worker, which would be valid for five years. The gram panchayat would issue the job card along with photograph having a registration number. Under the scheme, preference would be given to women and it would include at least 1/3rd womenfolk. After the job seeker had applied to the gram panchayat, the person would get employment. The job seeker would be informed about the place of work and joining time on the notice board of the panchayat.
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Farmers’ compensation
Kurukshetra, May 3 Stating this here today, deputy commissioner T.K Sharma said rabi crop in 45,888 acres had been damaged by hailstorm and by now a sum of Rs 8 lakh had been distributed as compensation to the farmers by the revenue department. He hoped that the compensation to all affected farmers in the district would be distributed by May 10. |
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Boost for child health programme
Chandigarh, May 3 The programme sanctioned under NRHM umbrella for Haryana is estimated to cost Rs 749 crore and will be implemented over a seven-year period till 2012. During the last two financial years, Haryana received Rs 48.74 crore. |
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Descendants of martyrs to be honoured
Chandigarh, May 3 According to a press note issued by HS Bhadu, convener of the organising committee of the function, Om Prakash Chautala will be the chief guest at the function which will be presided over by former Tripura Governor Sultan Singh. MP from Rajasthan GP Pilania, Ajay Chautala, and a host of retired police officers, including former Haryana DGP AS Bhatotia, are going to be the guests of honour at the function. |
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