Rohtak, May 17
Several persons holding Master of Mass Communication (MMC) degrees, who have cleared their National Eligibility Test (NET) for lecturership conducted by the UGC, have been denied certificates.

The reason behind the move is whereas the UGC wants the degrees to be renamed as MA (Mass Communication), universities are insisting on continuing the course in the same name, i.e. MMC.

The UGC recently shot off letters to the affected candidates, stating that their MMC degree was not a UGC-specified degree as per the UGC notification in this regard.

"The matter relating to the issuance of NET certificate/JRF award letter to the candidates is under consideration of the UGC. As and when the matter is resolved, you will be intimated accordingly," the letter states.

The affected candidates include those holding MMC degrees of Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, and Kurukshetra University, besides other universities of the region. Some such students approached The Tribune here today and narrated their tale.

The candidates said they were suffering mental harassment and their career was at stake due to non-issuance of certificates despite the repeated reminders. "We are being subjected to agony and humiliation for no fault of ours," they said.

And all this, despite the fact that the UGC has no objection on the course content, it allowed the candidates to appear in NET and declared them passed.

In any case, the students have been made to suffer for non-compliance on part of the university authorities.

Inquiries made by this correspondent revealed that a number of universities in Haryana as well as neighbouring states are running masters-level study programmes in journalism and mass communication.

Many of them have named the PG degree course in the discipline as "Master of Mass Communication (MMC)."

These courses have been running for years and after passing out, many students have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) for lecturership conducted by the UGC. Before 2004, the NET-qualified students used to get the certificates from the UGC.

Then, the UGC authorities wrote to the universities to rename their courses as MA (Mass Communication) for the sake of uniformity.

The authorities of universities, in turn, requested the UGC to let the MMC courses continue as such.

While this communication was going on, several candidates appeared in the UGC NET exam. Some of them cleared the exam and their roll numbers appeared in the Employment News as well as on the Internet. However, these candidates have not got their NET certificates till date.

On being asked to comment on the issue, Prof B.K.Kuthiala, chairman, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University, justified the diversity in the nomenclature of the mass communication courses in view of the diversity in functioning of the media.

"The chairpersons of the mass communication departments of all affected universities of the region will meet the UGC chairperson and request him to allow the diversely named degree programmes," he maintained.

Nonetheless, what will be the fate of candidates caught between the crossfire of the UGC and the universities till the matter is resolved remains to be seen.

Mewat, May 17
In 1947, a few days after the Partition, Mahatma Gandhi visited Ghasera, renamed Gandhidham, and had appealed to the Meo families to resist exodus and stay back in India, assuring them a dignified life.

However, 60 years after that, this village awaits the fulfillment of the long-overdue promises.

A high school now stands where Gandhi had first set foot here. With a 7,000-strong population, the Meos only have Bapu’s words to go over and over again as development has eluded them.

“Since Independence, the only thing that has gone up here is swindling. Freedom for us just means that we are not slaves anymore. Even in this age when India is all set to be a super power, we are struggling to get our share of basic amenities,” rues the elderly Mohammad Ameen.

The littered village has seen very little in the name of roads and it has no electricity and water.

“I went to school for four years and realised that jobs are not dependent on the education. The only thing that works is manipulation and there is no hope for us as we don’t have any godfathers,” 21-year-old Sajjid says.

The only consolation for the Meos who decided to stay back is that they are not ‘refugees’ like their counterparts who chose to migrate to Pakistan.

“The districts that produce Chief Ministers prosper. We are unlikely to have any Chief Ministerial candidate from here and so will have to manage without really enjoying the fruits of freedom,” laments 85-year-old Rurdah, who heard and saw Gandhi deliver his speech to the villagers.

The 73-year-old Ismail recalls, “His conviction made us believe that we will be on the path to development shortly. Today, it saddens me to see the village full of unemployed, illiterate youths. Though I don’t regret staying back, I do feel that we have been denied our share of progress.”

Every evening, the young and the old of the village gather at a tea stall to discuss India’s developments in various spheres. The conversation invariably veers to their status and the Bapu’s promises that remain unrealised.

“Our life is almost over and we can live by the meager pension that we get. But our children need jobs. They cannot life on the promises made by a leader who is no more. I am worried about their future,” states 74-year-old Noor Mohammad.

Without any support and hope, the Meos of this village continue to merely exist as living, they contend, is a different ball game reserved for the privileged few.

Yamunanagar, May 17
The Haryana Fishery Department has asked its district offices to provide details about all those persons who are associated with fish trade so that they could be provided free insurance cover under the central government's group accident insurance scheme for active fishermen.

The insurance scheme was earlier applicable to only fish catchers but now it has been extended to all those persons who are associated with the fish trade, including landless fishermen and persons involved in fish transportation.

The decision of the government would benefit more than 30,000 persons of the state who are associated with fish trade, sources in the department said.

They would be given insurance cover of Rs 50,000 and the premium would be jointly paid by central and state government, said sources. In case of death of the policy holder the dependent would get Rs 50,000 and in case of partial disability the policy holder would be entitled to get Rs 25,000.

As per sources there were 21,282 persons in the state who were associated with fishery and there were 9,450 fish farmers in 2005-06 in the state.

S.C Aggarwal, director, Haryana Fishery Department, said once the details of persons associated with fish trade in the state was available the same would be forwarded to the ministry of agriculture.

Yamunanagar, May 17
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked senior manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB), Jagadhri, and zonal manager of PNB, Sector 17, Chandigarh, to pay a compensation of Rs 20,000 to a local trader.

The Khera Market branch of the bank had dishonoured a cheque of the trader even when there was sufficient amount in his account.

Jagan Nath, proprietor of Jagan Nath Tilak Raj, Khera Bazar, Jagadhri, had move the forum alleging that the bank had dishonoured a cheque issued by him with a remark “fund insufficient”.

He had Rs 50,000 in his account. He had issued a cheque for Rs 20,986 to Nirman Associates but it was dishonoured.

In his complaint, he said on the day of presentation of the cheque by Nirman Associates, he had sufficient amount in his account.

Jagan Nath alleged that senior branch manager had dishonoured the cheque and returned it with remarks “fund insufficent” without verifying his account. He said his reputation in the market was affected.

He was also forced to pay Nirman Associates in cash. He urged the forum for a compensation for Rs 90,000 on account of mental agony, harassment, loss of respect.

Counsel for the bank, however, argued that the complainant was a commercial entity. Hence the complainant was not a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act.

The forum observed that it could not be proved that the account was being used for commercial purpose.

As such the complainant fell under the definition of consumer under Section 2(1)(d) of the Act.

The forum directed the senior branch manager of the bank and zonal manager of PNB house, Chandigarh, to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation for causing mental agony and also pay Rs 2,200 as litigation expenses.

Chandigarh, May 17
Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai conferred Sabir Dutt Award for social uplift of women on Dr Syeda Saiyidain at a simple function in Haryana Raj Bhavan yesterday.

Dr Syeda Saiyidain is at present member, Planning Commission of India.

She is the great granddaughter of the most revered poet, Khawaja Altaf Hussain Hali Panipati.

She has done a lot of research work on Hali Panipati.

Mr Phool Chand Mullana, Education Minister and senior vice-chairman of the Haryana Urdu Akademi, lauded the efforts made by Dr Saiyidain for the uplift of women.

The speed control was incorporated by using electronic switch ‘mosfet'. "The components of the bicycle have been sourced locally.

It runs at 12-15 km/hour and with amendments it can run up to 20 km/hour. It is pollution free and its cost is less than Rs 7,000," they said.

Although the bicycle has been designed to carry one person, it can be made a two-seater with changes in fitment arrangement.

Ambala, May 17
Former Ambala Cantonment MLA Anil Vij today demanded that the issue of possession of UHBVN land by a builder in Ambala City be probed by the CBI.

He said Haryana health minister Kartar Devi, who chairs the district grievances committee, must resign over the issue.

Anil said the ownership of the prime land, which had been taken over by a builder, had been restored back to the UHBVN.

However, the question remains as how the district grievances committee allowed the builder to take over the land which had been in the possession of UHBVN for the last couple of decades.

He said the decision of the committee had caused financial loss to the Haryana Government and Kartar Devi must tender her resignation.