Chandigarh, October 31
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced two new schemes for senior citizens and a scheme for patients of haemophilia on the occasion of Haryana Day, falling tomorrow.

Hooda said 50 per cent concession would be given to women above 60 years of age in fares of state roadways buses. The decision would benefit about six lakh women to the tune of about Rs 4 crore per year.

The facility would be available in the case of ordinary buses and within the state only. The beneficiary would have to produce her senior citizen identity card to get the facility.

The Chief Minister said another scheme to provide spectacles to senior citizens belonging to below the poverty line (BPL) families would be implemented from tomorrow. This facility would be available to those who were 60 years of age or more. Under the scheme, the state government would bear an expenditure of up to Rs 200 per pair of spectacles and benefit about five lakh persons. The scheme would cost the state exchequer about Rs 10 crore.

He said to provide spectacles under the scheme, each civil surgeon would constitute a panel of three or four specialist doctors to examine the eyesight of senior citizens before providing them spectacles. Each beneficiary would have to first contact the civil surgeon concerned who would refer the beneficiary to any of the empanelled doctors to get spectacles.

Under another scheme, the health department would provide free AHF treatment to persons with haemophilia through recognised NGOs or institutions. Free education would also be provided to all haemophilia children up to class 10 in government schools of the state. They would also get the free travel facility in roadways buses to the nearest blood component separation facility located in the state, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Hooda said the Haryana State Blood Transfusion Council would prepare smart cards (photo identity cards) of all haemophilia patients.

He said that in addition to the implementation of these two schemes, three districts-— Bhiwani, Jhajjar and Gurgaon — which had attained the first three positions respectively in improving the sex ratio during 2007, would be given cash awards by Governor A.R.Kidwai during the Haryana Day celebrations at Raj Bhawan here tomorrow.

Bhiwani district would get a cash award of Rs 5 lakh as its sex ratio improved from 861 females per 1,000 males in 2006 to 895 by the end of 2007. Jhajjar district would be awarded the second prize of Rs 3 lakh for improving the sex ratio from 797 females per 1,000 males in 2006 to 826 females by the end of 2007. Gurgaon district would be awarded Rs 2 lakh for improving the sex ratio from 826 females per 1,000 males to 850 females during the same period.

The award money would be utilised by the district administration for the welfare of women.

According to the 2001 census, Haryana recorded a sex ratio of 819 females per 1,000 males in the age group of 0 to 6 years.

Chandigarh, October 31
The state has received the approval of the Centre for implementing the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana scheme in the remaining twelve districts of the state to provide health services to about 6.98 lakh families living below poverty line from December 1.

An official spokesman said the scheme was already implemented in the eight districts namely Faridabad, including Palwal which was recently declared a district, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Bhiwani, Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak and Mewat. A total number of over 5.99 lakh BPL families of these districts were already covered under the scheme. He said the scheme was to be implemented in the whole state in a phased manner by 2012.

However, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda took up the case with the Centre for implementing the scheme in the remaining twelve districts of the state in this year itself, so that all BPL families could avail this benefit. With the approval of the Centre Haryana had now become a leading state in the country for implementing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana as a total number of 12.97 lakh families living below poverty line would be able to avail the benefits under this scheme in a year.

He said in the first phase, the scheme was implemented in four districts of the state namely Faridabad (Palwal), Yamunanagar, Panipat and Bhiwani from April 1. — PTI

Chandigarh, October 31
The high moisture content and discolouration of paddy in the state has restricted the lifting of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from various mandis.

Against a total procurement of 19.48 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) by various state procurement agencies, private millers and the FCI, the latter’s share is just 7,000 metric tonnes. By the time, the procurement process ends in another 10 days the central agency is expecting to procure another 3,000 metric tonnes of paddy.

This is the second year in a row when the FCI will not be able to achieve the allotted 10 per cent share in total procurement of paddy. So far, the FCI has managed to procure only 0.3 per cent of the paddy reaching the mandis. The maximum procurement of 16.48 LMT has been done by the state agencies like Hafed, the Haryana Warehousing Corporation, Confed, the Food and Civil Supplies department and the Haryana Agro Industries Corporation. Even the private millers in the state have procured 3.30 LMT of paddy till date.

Last year, too, the FCI had managed to lift just 10,000 metric tonnes of paddy of the total 26. 24 LMT that was procured by the state agencies, private millers and the FCI.

Official sources in the FCI said the main reason for the FCI to not lifting stocks from the mandis was its stringent quality control measures. “We have strict norms on moisture content and colour of the variety and technical assistants check this before procuring the paddy. No paddy with moisture content beyond 17 per cent is procured by us, whereas the state government agencies relax these specifications,” said an official in the FCI.

Another reason for the poor show by the FCI in the procurement process is that the mandi allotment (where each agency can procure) and the percentage share allotted to the agency is not commensurate. “The FCI would be allotted mandis for procurement, which are at a distance from our storage points. This, too, affects procurement. Besides, the different methodology adopted by the FCI for paddy allotment to millers, too, affects the procurement. The millers influence the powers that be to not allot mandis to the FCI, where maximum paddy arrivals are there. They want to get the best paddy for milling, whereas in the FCI, we follow a standard procedure of first -cum- first basis, for lifting paddy by millers from our godowns, ” said the official.

Gurgaon, October 31
If the state government is not going to grant pay scales and house rent according to the Centre, the Haryana Employees Coordination Committee will hold a rally to protest against it in Rohtak on November 30.

Chander Pal Sharma, one of the employee leaders told The Tribune, “The state government is exploiting the employees. The time when Palwal district was made, the Chief Minister had promised them that whenever the government is going to give sixth pay scale we will also get the same, but nothing has been done till now.”

He said there were more then one lakh temporary employees serving the government although many of the places in various boards, municipal corporation, government institutions were lying empty, thus government should make these employees or guest teacher permanent and issue ex-gratia scheme, otherwise they would take out a huge rally.”

Sharma also mentioned that the Centre had recruited aanganwadi workers and helpers, but were not paying them accordingly.

The employee union also wants government to issue the pay scale for its retired employees and to increase the pension with the age.

The committee that protested against the government in front of the DC office here today also gave the memorandum to the state Chief Minister through DC.

Thousands of employees from Sohana, Pautadi, Farookhnagar and Gurgaon block participated in the protest.

District and state level employee leaders Amar Singh Yadav, Kehav Dutt Sharma, Chandrpal Sharma, Devi Singh Pawar, Duli Chand Saini, Ram Lal, Usman Khan, Lakhmi Chand were few who shared their views with employees.

All of them criticised the state government for not issuing a pay scale to the state employees and being partial to them.

Gurgaon, October 31
Two Chinese women, who were arrested from DLF Phase 2 on Friday, were sent in judicial remand by the districts court here.

Choju Bhongh (40) and Chouqoke (50) were arrested on a charge of living without a valid passport and visa in the country.

According to police sources, both of them have told the police that they have lost their passports some time back. However, they never informed the police nor the embassy, which otherwise is necessary to stay in the country.

The sources said someone informed the police that two Chinese women were staying at a Chinese Guesthouse situated on Gulmohar Marg illegally as their visa had expired earlier this year, after which they never got it extended.

Gurgaon ACP Sumit Kumar told The Tribune that these women were working in a Chinese Guesthouse situated on Gulmohar Marg for the last two years and no information was given in the police station regarding this. Thus, when they received the information, they immediately went to the guesthouse and arrested them.

On the other had, the lawyer of the women said: “Both of them were working at someone's house as cooks and their visa had expired on August 10. Apart from this, I don't know anything else and will be able to give you details tomorrow.”

Chandigarh, October 31
Haryana was on Thursday directed by the High Court to ensure within three months the filling of vacancies existing in Haryana State Commission for redressal of consumer grievances.

Chandigarh, October 31
The “power-full” seems the most powerless if the response to tenders floated by the Haryana Power Utilities for short-term power purchase is any indication.

Floating of tenders, extensions of last dates and still no response - that’s the long and short of power availability on a short-term basis for the Utilities.

Unable to meet the growing demand within the state and forced to tap “alternative sources”, the Power Department’s attempt to buy power on a short-term basis has come to a nought yet again.

The latest in its string of failures is to attract any supplier in a recent tender floated by the Utilities to buy short-term power. Though October 24 was the last date for applying, the Utilities were forced to extend it to November 7 on account of no response. While the officials are hoping against hope, this is the third tender by the Utilities in this financial year to have met this fate.

The first tender of the financial year was floated for purchase of 200-400 MW power for April to September on March 7 this year and the closing date was fixed for March 25. However, no response was received and the last date for applying was extended by nearly a month. Though the Utilities were rewarded in terms of one response, this too was rejected because of high rates quoted.

Again, the Utilities floated another tender in July for purchase of 300-600 MW power for August- November and fixed the July 29 as the last date for applying. However, this tender, too, had to be extended twice before the Utilities managed to net 75 MW power, which is being received.

Principal secretary, power, Ashok Lavasa said: “Buying power in the short-term market has become a chronic problem. The suppliers never respond to tenders floated by us and expect us to apply to them in response to their tenders. Further, we are forced to buy power on their terms and conditions which is as expensive as Rs 9 per unit.”

Emphasising the need to check this monopoly of suppliers, managing director of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Vijendra Kumar said: “The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission circulated a paper on regulating the short-term market. We have suggested that there should be a price cap on short-term power trading and its cost should be limited to Rs 4 or 5 per unit. There should be a complete UI or a trading market because if trading takes place up to a limit of Rs 5 per unit, everybody will dump power in the UI. These have to be either at par or one has to go.”

The UHBVN has also suggested that the unallocated power available with the central government should not be allowed to be traded. Further, many private plants being set up and getting coal blocks from the central government should not be allowed to sell energy in the short-term market.

Kaithal, October 31
Rich tributes were paid to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 24th death anniversary at a district-level function held at Government Senior Secondary School here today.

ADC Ramesh Verma, principal of school R.K Malik and teachers offered floral tributes to the departed leader. The ADC administered the oath to all those present in this function to safe guard the national integrity and sovereignty and oppose terrorism and violence which were posing threats to national unity.

The ADC said the supreme sacrifice made by the late Prime Minister to maintain national integrity would be remembered in the times to come.

Gurgaon: The death anniversary of late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was observed as National Rededication Day in Gurgaon on Friday.

A programme to mark the occasion was organised by the district administration at government college, Mehrouli Road. College principal Dr Ranjana Lal said the late Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for the unity and integrity of the country. “She contributed her life in nation building and it was because of her policies that India emerged as a forerunner amongst the developing countries,” she maintained.

Dr Lal exhorted the students to follow the ideals of Indira Gandhi and contribute in nation building.

SCERT lecturer Dr Sriyansh Dwivedi observed that throughout her life Indira Gandhi worked as a “karmayogi” and made the Indians proud of their nationality.

“She always thought about the welfare of the nation and because of her deeds, some thinkers rightly call her an iron lady,” he maintained.

Fatehabad: The death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was observed as “Sankalp Diwas” here in the mini-secretariat, where deputy commissioner J.S. Ahlawat exhorted people to take a pledge for working towards the unity and integrity of the country.

“India perhaps, is the only country in the world, where people of all communities live in peace and tranquility and respect the religious sentiments of each other,” Ahlawat said.

SP Saurabh Singh said late Indira Gandhi had been the source of inspiration for many across the globe and was known by the sobriquet of iron lady.

Sirsa: SDM Harish Bhatia offered floral tributes to late Indira Gandhi at the Shaheed Samarak situated in the mini secretariat on Friday on the occasion of her death anniversary.

A police party saluted the Samarak by lowering their arms to the tune of police band. Bhatia said Indira Gandhi laid down her life for the unity and integrity of the country. Meanwhile, the Congress workers paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi in the local Congress Bhawan here on the occasion of death anniversary of the late Prime Minister.

Rewari, October 31
Members of the ‘kachhadhari’ gang have abruptly started their ravaging offensive in the district to the horror and dismay of residents.

Half a dozen ‘kachhadhari’ gangsters, armed with lethal weapons, reportedly barged into Satender Yadav’s farm house at Kanharwas village, near Kosli, late last night and mercilessly thrashed Satender, his wife Saroj Devi, his mother Kamlesh Devi and his two brothers - Akshay Yadav and Anoop Yadav.

The gangsters decamped with ornaments and other valuables. While the victims, who are seriously injured, have referred to hospitals at Gurgaon and Delhi.

The police has registered a case under Sections 395, 397 of the IPC.

In a second incident, two armed ‘Kachhadhari’ gangsters barged into Jagdish Yadav’s house in Rao Tula Ram Vihar colony here in the wee hours yesterday and reportedly thrashed mercilessly Jagdish Yadav, his wife Raj Bala, his daughter Praveen Kumari, his son Arvind Yadav, his nephew Rajender Yadav and his wife Mamata Yadav.

However, when Jagdish raised the alarm, the gangsters, who could not loot cash and ornaments, fled.

The victims have been admitted to a private hospital at Gurgaon. The Rampura police here has registered a case of offensive trespass under Section 458 of the IPC.

Panipat, October 31
The police has booked as many as seven persons on charges of having intimidating and attacking a secretary of a local religious body.

The cases were registered on the basis of a complaint filed by secretary of the Arya Vedic Samiti Navneet Singla, who was allegedly beaten up by members of the management of Arya School. He stated that he had rented out shops belonging to the samiti located in the circus grounds to some shopkeepers during Diwali. A day before yesterday, the shopkeepers called him up and informed that some members of the school management were asking them to pay the rent. He alleged that as he reached the scenes to sort out the matter with the school management, around 12 persons started to intimidate him and later gave him a through bashing.

Singla claimed that the issue pertaining to the ownership of the shops had already been decided in the favour of samiti and he even offered to produce the copy of the orders that had been passed by the SDM.

However, the members of the management refused to acknowledge the orders and told Singla that the shops belonged to the school management and he should not rent these to anybody.

Following the incident, Navneet reported the matter to the district police and a case was registered against seven persons, including Ranbir Singh, Umedh Alawat, Balraj, Sukhpal, Balraj Singh, Rampal Arya and Sukhbir Singh.

Ambala, October 31
Two bombshells have been recovered just close to GT Road, near Motor Market, in Ambala City today. The news spread out panic among shopkeepers and passersby.

According to information, one of the passerby noticed that two bomb-like objects were lying near the GT Road. Later, the shopkeepers of the Motor Market gathered there and matter was reported to the police.

Ambala SP Sibash Kaviraj said a team of explosive experts of Ambala Air Force station had been summoned to find out whether the bombshells were live or not. The explosive experts examined the bombshells and were of the view that the bombshells seem to be dead.

No case has been resisted so far.

Sirsa, October 31
The first permanent lok adalat (PLA) of the district will start functioning in the local district court complex from tomorrow. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has appointed G.L. Goyal, a retired District and Session Judge as Presiding Judge of the PLA.

Besides the presiding judge, the PLA will have two members. Kiran Agarwal and Bhim Jhunthra have been appointed members of the PLA. The permanent lok adalats, also known as “Samjhauta Sadans,” have been set up for speedy disposal of litigation.

More than half a dozen districts of Haryana, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, Panchkula and Hisar already have their permanent lok adalats, while it has been set up Sirsa for the first time.