Chandigarh, August 21
A large number of posts in government-aided private colleges in Haryana have been lying vacant for the past several years, affecting the quality of education being imparted in these institutions.

The managements are not being able to fill the posts because they need prior permission of the state government, which gives 95 per cent of the expenditure as grant to these colleges.

For the past several years the state government had been reluctant to give permission to the private colleges to fill the vacancies because it wanted to reduce its financial burden. To overcome the staff shortage, the managements resorted to employing teachers on contract and paid them a paltry sum. This has resulted in exploitation of teachers.

The situation changed for the better after Bhupinder Singh Hooda took over as Chief Minister. Hooda, being committed to the concept of quality education, directed the Education Department and the Finance Department to be liberal in allowing the managements of the private colleges to fill the vacancies.

Last year, about 50 per cent of the vacancies in the private colleges were filled. Still a large number of vacancies exist. The government had assured the Haryana College Teachers Association(HCTA) and the managements that it would give permission to fill the remaining posts from the next academic session, which has already begun.

Dr Rajbir Prashar, general secretary of the HCTA, told TNS that contrary to its assurance last year, the government has now imposed an "unannounced ban" on the recruitment to these posts. Describing the "ban" as "a step absolutely detrimental to the interests of these institutions of higher learning", Prashar urged the Chief Minister to allow the process to fill the vacancies in the current academic session.

The HCTA has also requested the state government to frame a comprehensive policy of "medical security" for the employees of the government-aided private colleges.

Dr Prashar said a transparent policy of "guest faculty" in these colleges should be framed because at present young teachers were underpaid and the managements "grossly exploited these non-permanent members of the teaching fraternity".

Karnal, August 21
The Haryana Police yesterday presented a one-hour musical drama, a light and sound show, at the Haryana Armed Police Complex at Madhuban, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first war of independence of 1857.

Haryana Governor A. R. Kidwai was the chief guest at the show.

The purpose of the show, according to Director General of Police, Haryana, R. S. Dalal, was to make Haryana Police more sensitised towards the public. He added that the show would also be held in other cities of the state. Additional Director-General V. N. Rai conceived the show and also wrote its script.

Nearly 750 police personnel, including 300 policewomen, participated in the show. The show highlighted the sacrifices made by the martyrs in their struggle to free the country from the British.

The show depicted how the East India Company, by deceit, took over the reins of the country which led to the rebellion of 1857 and its aftermath.

Impressed by the performance of the actors, Kidwai announced a cash award of Rs 2.01 lakh for them.

Israna (Panipat), August 21
Governor Dr A. R. Kidwai today stressed upon the need for improving standard of scientific and technical education to meet the growing demand of scientists, technocrats and engineers in MNCs and developed economies of the world.

He was addressing the orientation day function of N. C. Engineering College here after inaugurating the two new colleges - S.D. Institute of Technology and Management and S.D. College of Management on the same campus.

Dr Kidwai said as India had emerged as the main sources of scientific and technical manpower in the world, around 400 MNCs were planning to open their R&D and production centres in the country.

He said that Indian scientists and engineers had created a niche for themselves in the fields of IT, management and were leading the world in automobile, medicines and other industries.

Impressed by the standard of education, dedication and commitment of Indian doctors, scientists and technicians, the World

Trade Organisation and the countries like the USA, Australia, Canada and also a number of European countries had relaxed their immigration policies for these categories of Indians, he said.

He, however, pointed out that liberalisation of policies, financial management and uniform standard of education in the institutions was required to keep pace with the developed economies.

The Director, Technical Education M. P. Gupta, outlined the incentives being offered by the state government for promotion of technical education in the state.

He revealed that enrolment of women in technical studies had increased from 16 per cent to 29 per cent in the past three years.

On the occasion, the Governor awarded the meritorious students of the college.

Earlier, the Governor addressed the investiture ceremony of Delhi Public School, Panipat and distributed prizes to the school students.

Rohtak, August 21
The two-day national conference on biotechnology organised by the Advanced Centre for Biotechnology at Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU), here, concluded today with a clarion call for exploiting the immense research potential embedded in India’s rich biodiversity.

Centre’s director Prof Basant Kumar Behera said the conference had succeeded in its aim of bringing together eminent researchers, academicians and industrialists on a common platform to identify the emerging trends and challenges in biotechnology.

Dr V.S.Chauhan, director, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, disclosed the development of a new malaria vaccine at the centre, which was ready for phase-I trial.

Dr U.C. Banerjee, head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, delivered a speech on the role of biotechnology in production of bio-pharmaceuticals and biotechnological medicine.

Dr Pramod Raut, senior scientist at the Central Institute for Research on Goat, Mathura, called for an integrated use of vaccines, drugs and gene therapy to get optimum productivity in the livestock sector.

Dr S.K. Gakhar of the Advanced Centre for Biotechnology, MDU, made a presentation on control of malaria through genetically modified mosquitoes on the concluding day of the conference.

Hisar, August 21
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) have drawn a comprehensive plan of Rs 315 crore to strengthen power transmission and distribution system in India’s first CFL district - Sirsa.

A DHBVN spokesman said here yesterday that under the plan, the two power utilities would construct 17 substations of 33 KV each. Of these 11 had already been approved and six others are likely to be approved soon.

The HVPN would construct a 220 KV substation at Chormar village and a 132 KV substation at Panjuwana village. The Chormar substation would have two transformers of 100 MVA capacity each. The first transformer of 220/132 KV level would feed power to 132 KV substations at Odhan, Assa Khera, Dabwali and Panjuwana.

The 220/33 KV level transformer would feed 33 KV substations at Rori, Kalanwali, Khuinyan, Malkana, Desu Jodha, Jagmalwali and Kharia.

With the construction of 220 KV substation at Chormar, the entire Sirsa district would get improved voltage and regular power supply.

All 83 feeders of 11 KV level having rural domestic and agriculture load would be segregated to ensure separate distribution system for rural and agriculture consumers.

Ambala, August 21
A first year student of SD College (Lahore) was stabbed outside the college gate this morning.

The incident took place around 8.15 am when Manpreet, who is a BA-I student, reached the college. He is a resident of Nagla Jattan village. Just as he was about to enter the college, a group of youths attacked him.

He was repeatedly stabbed with sharp-edged weapons. The assailants also threatened Manpreet with dire consequences. The attack is believed to be the result of a personal animosity.

SD College principal Dr Desh Bandhu said Manpreet was attacked outside the college campus. He was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt. Later, he was referred to the GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh, from where he was taken to the PGI as he required blood of a specific group,” he said.