Chandigarh, October 4
Haryana will be poorer by over Rs 1 crore as the state government entourage headed by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will take off for foreign destinations on October 8.

The 12-day trip touching the USA, Canada and Germany will follow the hectic campaign the Chief Minister and his associates are currently engaged in to mobilise people for Sonia Gandhi’s rally at Jhajjar on October 7. The rally has been named the “bijli rally” to denote its association with the power sector, an area in which the Hooda government is making determined efforts to make a mark.

Moreover, the rally organised by the opposition INLD at Ambala last month on the occasion of Devi Lal’s birthday was an impressive one. The Chief Minister will want the rally with the Congress president as its star attraction to be a befitting reply to the INLD’s mobilisation.

The proposed trip that will follow one day after the rally is touted as an investment-seeking tour, in the course of which the Chief Minister and other members of his entourage will visit various industrial and commercial establishments and also have meetings with government functionaries and private persons associated with industry.

One may not be too much off the mark if one suspects the politician members of the entourage to be looking forward to having some rest and relaxation also in the picturesque western countries after braving the heat and dust of Haryana villages for a fortnight for mobilising people for the rally.

There are a fair number of politicians in the group besides the Chief Minister. Rohtak MLA Shadilal Batra is going in his capacity as chairman of the Agricultural Marketing Board. According to a source, Phool Chand Mullana, HPCC chief, has been also included in the entourage. Mullana has been appointed vice-chairman of the 20-point programme implementation committee by the Chief Minister. The office came in handy to justify the PCC chief’s participation in an investment-seeking tour. Ajay Yadav, a cabinet minister with multiple portfolios, will also accompany the Chief Minister to the foreign countries.

A source said Anand Singh Dangi, Congress MLA from Meham and an old Hooda faithful, has been also included in the entourage. A representative of the HSIDC, the nodal agency handling important aspects of the trip, however, claimed that Dangi would not be going.

The officials who will be going abroad with the Chief Minister are primarily from the industries department.

The trip will cost the state exchequer Rs 1.37 crore. The size of the entourage reportedly kept swelling with the inclusion of new members every now and then. The group now reportedly consists of 20 members.

Karnal, October 4
A four-day international conference on animal nutrition in tropics: Constraints and Opportunities Tropnutricon-2007, being organised jointly by the Animal Nutrition Society of India (ANSI) and the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), started here today.

Prof D. Dongaonkar, secretary-general, Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, while addressing the gathering, including 500 delegates from the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Iran, Pakistan and Gambia said there was an urgent need that the traditional wisdom available with the farming communities in the country needed to be explored, refined and used for enhancing productivity. He added that the vast knowledge available with the farmers, if used properly and after scientific validation, could make India a global leader.

Quoting the varied literacy rates in different states of the country, Professor Dongaonkar, who was the chief guest, said the extension system for disseminating technical information and knowledge among different end users needed to be addressed seriously so as to improve the adoption of technologies. He added that the deliberations in the different sessions of the Tropnutricon-2007 would help scientists reshape the future research issues for increasing livestock productivity without harming the eco-system.

Dr Sushil Kumar, director, NDRI, in his address, said as the major population of livestock owners in the country belonged to marginal and small farmers, demand-driven and need-based livestock production technologies needed to be evolved.

Prof E.R. Orskov of Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK, who was the guest of honour, in his address stressed that researches not be done for citation alone but should also benefit the common man.

Dr K. Pradhan, former vice-chancellor, RAU, Bikaner; Dr Nagendra Sharma, vice-chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu, Dr S.L. Goswami, joint director (research), and Dr G.R. Patil, joint director (academic), both of the NDRI, and Dr S.N. Rai, secretary, ANSI, were among the eminent scientists present in the inaugural session.

Dr K.K. Singhal, organising secretary of the conference, said a total of 470 research papers had been received and eminent scientists would present their papers in 11 technical sessions and through poster presentations.

He said the conference was being sponsored by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, leading feed manufacturers and the dairy industry.

Dr T.K. Walli, president, ANSI, said the main areas selected for in-depth deliberations during the conference included feed resources, animal nutrition education, related biotechnological innovations, feed-processing technologies, monogastric nutrition, small ruminant nutrition, livestock and environment, genetically- modified feeds and feed supplements.

On this occasion, Dr J.S. Ichhponani, Dr M.G. Jackson and Dr Anjania Prasad were honoured with the lifetime achievement awards for their significant contribution to the field of animal nutrition.

Hisar, October 4
The campaign launched by the Congress for mobilisation of masses for the October 7 “bijli rally” at Jhadli in Jhajjar district has attained a feverish pitch as it enters the final phase.

The main highways all over the state are dotted with huge hoardings erected by party supporters urging people to attend the rally. All party leaders right from Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to village-level party workers are engaged in the exercise.

Although Hooda is spearheading the campaign, his main job is to supervise the operation and look after the logistics. All MPs and legislators have been assigned their own constituencies, while ministers have been assigned different districts to take care of.

After Hooda, the main responsibility lies on the shoulders of his son and Lok Sabha member Deepender Hooda as the venue of the rally falls in Jhajjar district which is part of the Rohtak parliamentary seat which he represents.

For the younger Hooda it is a test of his mettle since the Chief Minister had told partymen that if the rally creates new record of attendance, the “bijli” would fall on the opposition and, if it doesn’t the “bijli” would fall on them. His son has been touring the entire constituency since September 26 concentrating initially on Jhajjar and then other areas.

Elsewhere too, party leaders are working overtime to mobilise masses. In Hisar, chief parliamentary secretary Dharambir and MP Jai Parkash addressed a meeting of party workers today to finalise last-minute details. Hooda’s senior cabinet colleague Birender Singh has already met partymen here.

What should gladden the party managers’ hearts is the fact that the public response from areas such has Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa has been overwhelming. These areas are generally considered as weak points because the political base has shifted from here to Rohtak after the last assembly poll.

Party managers say Jhajjar district has raised the hopes of the leadership as the response from there has been unprecedented. The fact that the new power plant is coming up there has helped the party gain more ground in recent weeks. The junior Hooda’s public relations exercise in the district since his election two years ago appears to be yielding fruit.

The theme of the rally - electricity - has helped the government create an impression that it is serious about solving the problem of paucity of power in Haryana. That is why party leaders are doling out figures of the money spent on power projects since 1966 to 2005. They claim that only Rs 3,633 crore was spent since the creation of Haryana till 2005. As against this the three power projects under construction at Khedar near here, Yamunanagar and Jhadli would cost Rs 14,580 crore.

Bohra Kala (Gurgaon), October 4
“We are ourselves a big stumbling block between our dreams and their fulfilment; if we think we cannot fulfil them, then how can they be achieved.” This message was given by Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams during an interaction with numerous children and students aspiring to become astronauts.

Addressing students of seven schools of North India, the 42-year-old astronaut, who spent a record 195 days on board the international space shuttle Atlantis, said she wanted to become a veterinarian as she had great love for animals.

She said when she got a chance to be a part of the navy, she thought it was not her cup of tea even though everybody around her made her feel that she could do it. After that she realised that it “is not somebody else who is an obstacle but one’s own mind that forces us back”.

Williams said zeal and determination were important to achieve a target.

“I am the second Indian to visit space and I believe soon we will have the third Indian astronaut from among you,” said Williams.

Williams said on seeing the earth from above “we don’t see any borders which we have created here, dividing us from each other”.

Sharing her experience regarding her delay in returning to earth, she said she was surprised when her family members told her that people all over the world were praying for their safe return. She said she had full faith that she would return safely.

Asked whether she felt bored in space, she said she had the zest to discover more and more as she knew that her stay in space was limited.

Guiding students on how to become astronauts, Williams asked them to study mathematics and science thoroughly.

Williams gave an audio-visual presentation of her stay at the International Space Station to the audience, who occasionally burst into applause on seeing astonishing images of astronauts struggling to gulp water or take food during the 15-minute film.

Asked what she would take back from India, Williams said earlier people knew her because of her father but after her visit, she had experienced the warmth and love of the people of India for her.

Chandigarh, October 4
Kurukshetra University has instituted the Haryana Research Scientist awards in commemoration of its golden jubilee year to encourage and recognise the outstanding contributions by scientists working in universities, research laboratories and other institutions located in the state.

Vice-chancellor of the university R.P. Hooda said here today that a corpus fund of Rs 20 lakh had been specially created to finance the awards, one each in the fields of physical sciences and life sciences. Each award would carry a cash prize of Rs 50,000, besides a medal and a citation.

Scientists working in Haryana alone will be eligible for nomination for the award. They should have worked for at least five years in any field of science in an academic or research organisation in the state. There is no age bar for the candidates to be nominated for the award. However, the work accomplished in the preceding 10 years will receive special attention. Their work will be evaluated by a panel of experts constituted by the organising committee.

The university already awards Goyal prizes, sponsored by the Goyal Foundation of Ram S. Goyal, an NRI settled in the USA, to outstanding Indian scientists.

Dr Hooda said the nominations for the Haryana Research Scientist awards must reach the university by October 25.

Chandigarh, October 4
The Haryana government has promoted Ved Parkash, DPRO, Jhajjar, as deputy director in Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department, Haryana, and posted him as such in the headquarters at Chandigarh.

Maya Chand, S.M. Jalaluddin and Hazari Lal have also been promoted as district public relations officers on regular basis. Similarly, the government has also promoted Madan Lal Saini, APRO, Charkhi Dadri, and Manjit Singh Sodhi, APRO, as public relations officers on ad hoc basis.

Yamunanagar, October 4
Area of sugarcane plantation in the district has reduced by 300 hectare and it may fall further during the current season as farmers have shifted to other crops.

The farmers are planting more paddy as it is fetching higher rates. In Radaur area, farmers, who had been traditionally planting sugarcane, have shifted to paddy.

Basmati rice is being sold at more than Rs 2,000 a quintal. A farmer gets a yield of 350-400 quintal sugarcane per acre by traditional methods and earns about Rs 45,000 to Rs 52,000 a year.

On the other hand, the paddy yield is 20 quintals from an acre and farmers get about Rs 40,000. Then he can plant wheat on the same field and again get a yield of 18-20 quintals and earn about Rs 20,000.

This way, he earns more by cropping paddy and wheat.

Farmers said the government was planning to introduce a minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane that would not be in favour of farmers of the state as the state government would give them more price.

A senior official of the Agriculture Department admitted that farmers were going away from cane, which was cause of concern.

He said the farmers were being taught new techniques of sugarcane plantation to increase their earning. “If farmers use trench and pit methods in cane cropping, the yield can almost double and so their earnings,” said the official.

Bhiwani, October 4
A local commission agent, Om Prakash, was caught red-handed while selling wheat and gram, which he had brought in the market without paying market fees, here today.

Local grain market secretary had got information that some persons were trying to sell wheat and gram without participating in the ‘boli’.

He called the police and raided shop no 13 at the grain market in presence of city magistrate G.L. Yadav, where Om Prakash and others were selling the goods.

The secretary has lodged a report against the commission agent and others. — OC

Fatehabad, October 4
Over 6,000 registered pharmacists will exercise their right to franchise in the election of six members of the Haryana State Pharmacy Council.

The election process, which is being held through postal ballets, will be completed on October 16 with the counting of votes and results.

Dr Parveen Sethi, director, health services (dental), Haryana, has been appointed returning officer for the poll.

Of the 40 candidates trying their luck in the poll two are district drug inspectors Rakesh Dahiya and Gurcharan Singh, two senior functionaries of the Haryana State Chemists and Druggists Association Prem Sagar Mehta and Manjit Kumar and some government pharmacists working in hospitals.

Yesterday was the last date for sending of postal ballet papers to the 6,375 voters, who are either degree holders or diploma holders in pharmacy or those registered with the state pharmacy council on the basis of experience.

The registered pharmacists, who have been enrolled as voters, will have to send their ballet papers to the returning officer at his Panchkula address through registered post or speed post so as to reach there by October 15.

Each voter will have the option of giving his vote to six candidates.

The sorting and counting of votes will be held at Panchkula on October 16 and the result will be declared the same day.

Rewari, October 4
Sudhir Bhargav, convener of the Rewari chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), has sent a communication to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will visit Rewari on October 7, seeking due recognition for Samrat Hem Chander Vikramaditya, known in history by the name of Hemu, a celebrated son of Rewari but a forgotten hero of the medieval history of India.

Bhargav said Hemu rose from the position of a so-called petty trader of Rewari to occupy the throne of Delhi, and distinguished himself as a man of great valour and administrative skill. He fought 22 battles and was victorious in all of them. He also put up a heroic fight against the Mughal forces of Akbar during the second battle of Panipat in November 1556.

Bhargav said it was deplorable that even after Independence, the successive union governments had failed to do anything to perpetuate the memory of this legendary hero of medieval India.

He urged Sonia Gandhi to make an announcement here on October 7 regarding the conversion of Hemu’s royal mansion, which is in a shambles, into a national museum and also raising a memorial to him.

Chandigarh, October 4
The Haryana government has made a threefold increase in the amount of scholarships and increased their number under the state merit scholarship scheme being implemented by the Education Department so as to encourage students.

While stating this today, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said this revision of rates of various scholarships and their number were last revised in 2006-07, but these had now again been revised keeping in view the increased number of students appearing in various examinations, thus benefiting the students to the tune of an additional amount of over Rs 83 lakh. As compared to the year 1996-97, there had been 60 per cent increase in the total number of enrolment of the students, he added.

Hooda said in case of those students, who had recently passed matriculation examination and those, who were already getting the scholarship after passing matriculation examination, the number of 500 scholarships had been raised to 700 and their value had been enhanced from Rs 50 per month to Rs 150 per month each.

He said in case of those, who had recently passed class XII examinations, the number of scholarships had been raised from 350 to 500 and value of each scholarship had also been enhanced from Rs 100 to Rs 300 per month.

In case of those students of three years degree course (TDC) Part II and III, who were already getting the scholarship, the number of scholarships had been raised from 350 to 500 and its amount from Rs 100 to Rs 300.

Similarly, in case of those, who had recently passed TDC Part-III in MA Part-I, M.Sc part-I and M.Com Part-I and had applied for the scholarship, the number of scholarships had been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 200 and the value of each scholarship from Rs 150 to Rs 450 per month.

Hooda said for those students of MA, M.Sc and M.Com, who were already getting scholarship; the number of scholarships had been enhanced from Rs 150 to Rs 200 and their value from Rs 150 to Rs 450 per month. Similarly, in case of fresh award in B.Ed, the value of scholarship had been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 450 per month.

Similarly, for fresh scholarship in M.Phill and Ph.D, the value of scholarship had been raised from Rs 300 to Rs 900 per month.

Gurgaon, October 4
An NRI woman, who is on her official tour to India, lodged a complaint against her NRI husband of physically and sexually assaulting her over dowry in Sector 56 police station today.

The police said the woman and her husband, who also own a house in Sector 55, Gurgaon, have the US citizenship and work for two different companies in the US.

Police sources said the woman had mentioned in her complaint that her husband had also threatened to kill her. The police have lodged an FIR against her husband, who is reportedly in USA, under various sections.

Hisar, October 4
A woman allegedly committed suicide by consuming celphos tablets followed by her husband, who was accused of harassing her for dowry, doing the same in Satroad Kalan village, the police today said.

According to the police, Rajbala (23) took committed suicide early yesterday.

She was rushed to a private hospital in Hisar in serious condition by her husband Rajkumar where she died last evening.

Rajbala’s father Sarjeet, a resident of Chamar Kheda, accused his daughter’s in-laws of harassing her for dowry and driving her to take the extreme step.

He got a case registered in this regard against her husband, father-in-law Ratan Kumar and mother-in-law Bhateri Devi.

When Rajkumar came to know of the dowry harassment case registered against him and his family, he also allegedly consumed some poisonous substance and died at a private hospital this morning.

The police handed over the couple’s bodies to their relatives after postmortems. — UNI

Rewari, October 4
A youth, Jitender Yadav, the alleged abductor of a teenaged girl, was arrested by the police yesterday.

The girl, who was allegedly abducted from Dhalia Ki village, 6 km from here, on September 3, was also recovered by the police.

It is alleged that the girl (17) was kept by Jitender Yadav, a resident of the same village and son of assistant sub-inspector of the Rajasthan police Shiv Ram Yadav, at various places in Rajasthan for full one month, during which she was repeatedly raped.

The accused was today produced in the court of chief judicial magistrate Sukrampal Singh, who remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.

The girl was restored to her parents soon after her medical examination, which confirmed rape.

Consequently, Section 376 (rape) of the IPC has now been added to the FIR.

Sonepat, October 4
The Haryana police has arrested two more accused in connection with the murder of Dalit youth Rakesh, alias Lara, in Gohana.

SP Navdeep Singh Virk said the two accused identified as Prahalad and Naresh were nabbed near Girawar village in Rohtak district last night.

The duo had escaped after an encounter with the police in Kundal village of Sonepat district on September 28. They were carrying an award of Rs 1 lakh on their heads.

The police had already arrested five accused in the Gohana murder case. — UNI

Jagadhri, October 4
Sumer Chand, husband of Premi Kumari (60) and resident of Shiv Colony, has alleged that his wife died after being thrashed up by his neighbours.

He said a girl living in his neighbourhood reportedly eloped with someone else but the girl’s family was under the impression that his son, Rajesh Kumar, had taken the girl away.

He said his son had not returned home since September 29, the day the girl disappeared. The girl's family, however, alleged that Rajesh had taken away the girl. Chand alleged that his family was attacked by the girl's family on Sunday in which his wife got injured and later succumbed to her injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh.

Police sources said the matter was being investigated. Sources said the deceased was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and was a heart patient and as per PGI reports, she died a natural death.

Jhajjar, October 4
One person was killed and nine others were injured when a tempo in which they were travelling collided with a truck near Sector 9 on the Delhi-Rohtak road in Bahadurgarh here today.

According to information, the tempo, which was going towards Rohtak, was carrying migrant labourers from Rajasthan. The truck was coming from the opposite direction.

Mohammad Yaseen died on the spot while nine others sustained injuries. Two of them were rushed to the PGIMS at Rohtak while others were admitted to local hospitals. The police has registered a case in this connection.