Chandigarh, February 19
In order to improve the reading abilities of children in government schools, the education department has decided to set up reading development cells.

Initially, these cells will be set up in Panchkula, Gurgaon and Mewat districts, which have a higher drop out rate and high concentration of migratory labourers’ children.

Officials said initially four blocks of Gurgaon and Panchkula each and six blocks of Mewat would be taken on a pilot basis, covering 700 primary schools.

These reading development cells would not only help in carrying out a baseline survey under the guidance of the NCERT but also motivate teachers to inspire children to read books and generate reading habit.

Multiple researches carried out recently by various organisations involved in learning achievements and reading skills of school children have revealed deficiencies in language comprehension, including reading, writing skills of children which are affecting their achievement levels.

Even the mean achievement of children of Class V in language has gone down by 2.19 per cent from the baseline assessment survey to midterm assessment survey conducted by the NCERT in the state.

“The failure to acquire sound reading skills is not only one of the factors for children to drop out of school, it also acts as a barrier in the way of making elementary education universal. Encouraging children to read will widen the horizons of their knowledge, improve their overall academic performance and lead to higher retention rate. Thus, we have decided to set up these cells. Once the pilots have been successful, these will be replicated in all districts,” said the official.

It has been decided to constitute a 10-member advisory board to guide the project, with the state project director of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan as the chairman of the board. A school in semi-urban area will be selected for setting up these centres, and will cater to schools in the surrounding areas.

“We will not just provide experience and resource like books, magazines and training manual for these centres, but also encourage story reading and storytelling sessions with village elders at these centres. The teachers will compile these stories and this compilation will also become a part of the study material in these centres,” said a senior official.

Chandigarh, February 19
The political atmosphere in the state is agog with talks of possible simultaneous Assembly elections with the Lok Sabha elections. The term of the state Assembly is till March 2010.

It all started following a suggestion made by Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala at the first party campaign committee meeting, which was presided over by AICC treasurer Moti Lal Vora, who is also in charge of the party affairs in the state, here on February 15.

Surjewala, who is also a former president of the Haryana Congress, said the political situation in the state was very conducive for the party.

He reportedly said due to the good work done by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, there was no anti-incumbency sentiment.

The opposition was in disarray. If the Assembly elections were held a year ahead along with the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress would form the government in the state as well as win all 10 Lok Sabha seats.

In his concluding remarks, Vora did not turn down Surjewala's suggestion out rightly. He said this issue could be decided only by the high command in consultation with the Chief Minister.

However, later talking to mediapersons Vora did not favour the suggestion. Everyone thought that was the end of the matter.

But concessions announced by Hooda on the floor of the Assembly for several sections of society, which left opposition MLAs crestfallen as they were deprived of their populist slogans, further fueled speculation about the possibility of advancing the Assembly elections by one year.

Ruling party MLAs are happy over the possibility of early Assembly elections. Prof Chhattar Pal Singh, who first shot to fame as "giant killer" when he defeated former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal from Gherai in 1991, says if the Assembly elections are held along with the Lok Sabha elections in the state, even those sitting MPs who are facing some degree of personal anti-incumbency would sail through.

Of course, he says, the Congress would return to the Assembly with a comfortable majority. Sources close to Hooda rule out the possibility of the early Assembly elections. Though they agree that the political situation in the state is pro-Congress, they say that after the Lok Sabha elections the opposition in the state would be further demoralised.

Therefore, the political situation in the state, they assert, will continue to be as favourable to the Congress as it is now.

General secretary of the media cell of the Haryana Congress Lakhwinder Singh Lakha says Surjewala's suggestion about the early elections is the measure of the ruling party's confidence in the performance of its government in the state.

He says there is no need to spring a surprise on the opposition in the form of early Assembly elections because the people of the state would galvanise towards the Congress after various power plants under construction will start going on stream by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the opposition is in a state of bewilderment, as Hooda is known to keep his cards very close to his chest. Hooda's cards will be known only when he decides to show his hand.

But if he decides to go for early elections, he will have to do so before the end of this month as the Election Commission is expected to declare the Lok Sabha elections by then.

Chandigarh, February 19
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has appreciated the decision of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to abolish the law under which the land of farmers is auctioned for not returning loan of banks.

This was revealed by national president of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress Shamsher Singh Surjewala at a function organised at the residence of Hooda in Chandigarh.

A large number of office-bearers and members of the ABKKMC led by Surjewala had come to express their gratitude to the Chief Minister for announcing his decision to abolish the law and other incentives during the ongoing session of the state Assembly here.

Surjewala said he had met Sonia in Delhi and apprised her about the decision of the Chief Minister to abolish the “black law”.

He said she appreciated this decision, but she was inquisitive about the issue and had queries as well.

Surjewala said he informed her about the formula by which a part of the income of the farmer would be allowed to be retained with him so as to enable him maintain his living and the other part would be utilised to repay the loan.

Surjewala said he also suggested Sonia to get this decision implemented in other Congress-ruled states in the larger interest of the farming community.

The Chief Minister said this decision to withdraw the law to prevent auction of land of hard-pressed farmers would prove a milestone in the country.

He said a committee had been constituted in this regard and the government would enact a new legislation to put an end to the practice of auction of farmers' land who were hard-pressed because of loans.

He reminded that the state government had already fixed area-based floor rate of land. The farmers could now get loan of up to Rs 8 lakh by mortgaging only an acre of their land.

He made it clear that now for purchase of a tractor or an agricultural implement, the farmer would have to mortgage only one acre of land for getting a loan of up to Rs 8 lakh whereas earlier he had to mortgage up to three acres for the same purpose.

The Chief Minister, who was presented with a turban, a plough and a shawl as a mark of respect by the ABKKMC, said for him the office of the Chief Minister was to serve the masses and every hardworking farmer deserved the respect that had been bestowed upon him by them.

Hooda also enlisted other major decisions taken by his government for the welfare of farmers which included hike in the rate of sugarcane, thus making it highest in the country, getting the ban lifted on export of Pusa-1121 variety of paddy and getting it declared as Basmati variety.

Ambala, February 19
The strengthening of railway security agencies like the Government Railway Police (GRP) has become necessary for providing safe journey after the spurt in acts of terrorism in the country.

The GRP in Ambala has formed a team of youths who have offered their services to assist the police in preventing crimes on railway stations as well as on trains. They also keep a strict vigil on vehicle lifters and other anti-social elements.

The youths are designated as rail wardens. They have been issued a batch and a white cap each for identity. A few girls have also come forward to join the team.

According to information, the GRP has enrolled around 150 youths. Most of them are either employed in private organisations or run their own businesses. They contribute their time according to their convenience.

They accompany the GRP officials while checking the trains and the railway stations. They have been given informal training for it. They are not paid any remuneration.

A rail warden association has also been constituted which is headed by the SP, GRP, Haryana, Bharti Arora, for coordination between rail wardens and GRP officials.

According to SHO, Ambala Cantt, GRP, Ishwar Singh, most of the rail wardens have joined hands with them to serve the society while a few of them take it as an adventure. He told that the rail wardens had traced 36 missing children and handed them over to their guardians.

One of the wardens, Mam Chand Sharma, who runs a canteen at the Ambala Cantt railway station said since he used to spend most of his time on the station, he had joined the team and started contributing his time for the sake of social responsibility. Santosh Kumar, a resident of Ambala city, who recently joined the team said that he had a dream to be a police man which had became a reality by joining this noble cause.

Recently, when a robber tried to flee after snatching the cellular phone of a woman on the Ambala Cantt railway station, one of the wardens chased and caught hold of him. Some of the passengers, especially senior citizens while applauding the new venture of the GRP, said that the presence of a number of wardens at the railway station gave them a feeling of security.

Hisar, February 19
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda appears to have mastered the art of using sops to win friends and influence people. The hike in old-age pension has made him a darling of the elderly, especially in rural Haryana.

The recent hike in pension for senior citizens and several other categories of beneficiaries has shown that he has perfected the use of sops as a political tool which once was the hallmark of his one time bete noire the late former Deputy Prime Minister, Devi Lal, who had used this tool to good effect.

It was Devi Lal who introduced old-age pension in Haryana. This helped him win over senior citizens in the villages as even though meagre, the pension gave them a new sense of independence and self respect.

His son and political successor, Om Parkash Chautala, who became Chief Minister in 1999, too, used pension as a means to retain support of the elderly. He hiked the pension amount considerably.

But Hooda surpassed them all through sheer political acumen. During the presentation of the budget last week, the government decided to hike the old-age pension to Rs 500 a month. That hike gladdened the hearts of the elderly.

However, Hooda had obviously planned to stage a little melodrama in the state Assembly on Tuesday when during discussion a close political associate of his Anand Singh Dangi suggested that the government do more for the elderly and the Chief Minister made an impromptu announcement raising the pension for those above 70 to Rs 700 a month.

Knowing that Hooda is not prone to uttering anything without carefully studying its pros and cons, it is obvious that the whole hike had been well planned and the dramatic announcement of the hike was meant to extract maximum political advantage. The large advertisements put out in next day's newspapers by the government buttress the argument that the whole exercise was planned.

He even announced that the initial pension of Rs 500 a month would be increased by Rs 50 a month every year.

Not wanting to leave anything to chance, the Chief Minister announced that all female pensioners would be honoured with a shawl and their male counterparts would be presented with a saafa (turban) and dogaa (walking stick). Hooda realises the importance of these articles in the rural society of Haryana.

These are some antics that the late Devi Lal and Om Parkash Chautala could not think of during their rule in the state.

The charade has already upset the cart of the leading opposition parties. Indian National Lok Dal MP Ajay Chautala remarked that the hike was announced under pressure from the support he had elicited during his “Jan Aakrosh Yatra”.

Likewise, Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) leaders have commented that Hooda was only trying to do what their party had promised.

Nevertheless, thus far Hooda has succeeded in putting the opposition on the back foot, be it the issue of pension, power or water.

Rohtak, February 19
The district police has launched a new scheme to seek help and cooperation of the masses in order to contain crime in the region.

The scheme, titled as “warden scheme”, has the provision of providing cash prize and commendation certificates to those involved in this project. This is first of its kind drive in the district in which any person can take part.

Stating this, a spokesperson for the local police said local residents were welcome to be listed as ‘wardens’ of their respective area, locality, colony, sector and village.

These representatives would be expected to submit regular reports and feedback to the respective beat or police station regarding crime or suspected criminal activities.

The activities which ought to be reported include the movement of anti-social elements, sale of illicit liquor and drugs, gambling points, encroachments, acts of public nuisance and thefts in various localities during a certain period.

The police authorities have announced to reward ‘wardens’ who excel in their work with cash prize and a certificate.

The department has invited applications from residents who want to be listed as a warden. They have been asked to submit the application on a plain paper with their personal details along with a copy of residence proof and two passport size photographs to the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP).

The selected persons would be issued an identity card by the department soon, said a police official.

“This campaign can be successful if it is implemented with full zeal and dedication. The selection, however, should be based on merit,” said Master Tirath Singh, a retired teacher.

Kaithal, February 19
The Panchayati Raj representatives should work with dedication for the coordinated integrated development of the villages, only then the dream of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, to see prosperity in villages, would be fulfilled.

Commissioner Ambala division Mohinder Kumar while addressing sarpanches and panches stated this at a district-level function here recently.

Commissioner said the panchayats have to play an important role in the development of the villages and ensure that the development schemes were implemented in letter and spirit.

He said since April last year, the NAREGA scheme has been enforced in the rural areas to ensure 100 days guaranteed employment for the rural people.

This scheme would go a long way in providing employment opportunities to the deserving employment seekers and bring prosperity in the rural areas.

He said as per the state government policy 100 yard plots have been allotted to the SC families in about 100 villages and directed the district administration to expedite this process.

He also called upon the panchayat representatives to create awakening among people about the Rajeev Gandhi Health insurance scheme, under which the pink and yellow ration card holders have been entitled to claim medical facility to the tune of Rs 30,000 by depositing just Rs 30.

He expressed concern over the imbalance in the male-female ratio and its adverse effects on the society and urged the sarpanches and panches to help check female foeticide.

Deputy commissioner Amneet P Kumar highlighted the various schemes being implemented for the benefit of the people in this district.

She said the process to allot 100 yard plots in 238 villages was under process, out of which 100 villages have already been allotted.

People had shown keen interest in the total sanitation and the NREGA schemes and the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan had made much headway under the guidance of the ADC, she added.

ADC Ramesh Verma gave details of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and schemes launched by the DRDA and the objectivity of self-help groups to provide employment to the rural men and women.

Panipat, February 19
The recent spell of rain in the region has brought cheers to the farmers who are expecting high yield of their crops this season.

Even as inconsistent power supplies and frosty weather conditions that had prevailed in the region during a few weeks in December and January had dismayed the farmers, raising their apprehensions of incurring losses, with the sun shinning in the sky and timely showers the general mood amongst the farming community appears to be upbeat now.

Farmers who had sown wheat, potato and mustard have smiles written all across their faces as they are expecting a comparatively high yield this season.

Agricultural officer Ranbir Sangwan said all rabi crops had benefited immensely from the rains and the farmers could expect high returns.

Besides the conducive whether conditions that increases the chances of a good output, rain also reduced need to irrigate the fields, thus adding to the earnings of the farmers, he said. Vegetables growers are also looking forward to reaping increased profits.

As per an estimate, the farmers are likely to harvest around 20 to 30 per cent more crops this season. Even the quality of the crops would improve from the favorable whether conditions.

The agriculture department has claimed that a large number of farmers of the district would also benefit from several measures taken by the department to bring about improvements in the soil fertility.

During the current financial year, the department brought around 1,148 hectares of agricultural land under the scheme that was aimed at increasing soil fertility.

A total of Rs 48 lakh were spent on developing 1,148 hectares that benefited as many as 490 farmers.

These farmers were provided with 540 metric tonnes of gypsum that helps replenish soil nutrients and making it more fertile.

Panipat, February 19
The refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Panipat, is fast marching ahead to become an integrated petrochemical complex and one of the most advanced establishments of the company by the yearend.

The expansion of the refinery from 12 MMTPA to 15 MMTPA would be completed by November. Besides, an adjacent naphtha cracker complex will also be put on stream that will make it the integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex.

The expansion would ensure better supply of petroleum products to the strategic northwest region of the country.

The IOC is investing a whopping Rs 14,000 crore for upgrading the refinery. The refinery-cum-petrochemical hub will not only better the fuel supplies but will also benefit polymer units in the northern states. It is also expected to drive the growth of the petrochemical industry of the region.

The IOC had earlier expanded the capacity of the refinery from six MMTPA to 12 MMTPA. It had also commissioned the para-xylene and purified terephthatic acid unit while the naphtha cracker unit is still to be constructed on which Rs 8,000 are expected to be spent.

Besides providing employment to a large number of persons directly and generating indirect employment opportunities through ancillary units, the new complex will create a dedicated industrial zone for the downstream industries and is expected to attract an investment of more than Rs 15,000 crore.

The state government had signed an MoU with the IOC for setting up this petrochemical hub on June 22, 2004, and extended special package of incentives to the IOC.

It is anticipated that the hub would pave the way for opening up of ventures like high quality plastic industry, polyester fibers and other similar industries in the region.

The IOC has also been working towards complying with the auto fuel policy, according to which petrol and diesel quality for Delhi, the national capital region and 12 other cities would be made as per BS-IV norms from April 1, 2010.

As of now BS- III quality fuels are being used in these regions, a top official of the refinery said. The rest of the country would switch over to BS- III quality from the present BS- II.

Rewari, February 19
A state-level convention of marriageable boys and girls of the Jangir Brahman Samaj was organised by district Jangir Brahman Sabha at Khandelwal Vatika here recently.

To endow the entire proceedings with religious sanctity, a “kalash yatra” by 551 women of the samaj was taken out from Vishwakarma temple here up to the venue of the convention.

Over 4,000 members of the samaj, including over 1,000 women, from various parts of the state participated.

The convention, the first of its kind in the region, aimed at the consolidation of members of the samaj as well as creating awareness about social evils.

While as many as 25 nubile girls along with their parents participated, the involvement of boys along with their guardians went beyond 90.

As regards lesser participation of girls, RK Jangir, national president of the All-India Jangir Brahman Yuva Mahasabha, and Naresh Sharma, president of the Vishwakarma Shiksha Samiti, said one reason behind such inequality was reluctance on part of girls’ parents.

The participants also took a pledge that they would never indulge in female foeticide and eschew dowry. Cash assistance to the tune of about Rs 1 lakh was also distributed among 60 poor and meritorious students as well as 22 poor women of the samaj.

Local minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav along with deputy commissioner Chander Prakash and other prominent functionaries of the samaj released a directory containing detailed information of all Jangir Brahman families of the district.

Fatehabad, February 19
The district unit of the Haryana civil pensioners association has rued the state government's apathy towards implementing the recommendations of the sixth pay commission for its pensioners.

A spokesman of the association and founder president of the senior citizens association, Fatehabad, Balwant Singh Sethi, alleged that no effort has been made to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay commission for the civil pensioners in the state.

Sethi said the civil pensioners had been in active service of the government at the time of Independence and had an active role in the settlement of the population unsettled by partition and in the reconstruction of the country.

KURUKSHETRA: Haryana pensioners welfare society (HPWS) president Kasturi Lal Sharma said the state pensioners had submitted their charter of demands to the Chief Minister twice during his visit to the district bar association, Kurukshetra, but till today no time has been given to them.

The HPWS has been demanding additional pension to the state pensioners at the rate of 20 per cent, 30 per cent, 40 per cent, 50 per cent and 100 per cent on attaining the age of 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 year, instead of 80, 85, 90, 95 and 100 years respectively, as suggested by the 6th pay commission.

This includes grant of pension to the state pensioners on the central pattern, grant of house rent like medical allowance, government service to one family member of the pensioner according to one’s educational qualification, concession to the state pensioners in the state roadways buses on the Punjab pattern and cost of denture twice in life time, if first one is broken and rendered useless.

Sharma has warned that in case the state government does not accept their demands, the pensioners and their family members would oppose congress during ensuing Parliament as well as the assembly elections. Society will stage a dharna in front of the office of the deputy commissioner in each district.

Fatehabad, February 19
Sumitra was adjudged the best athlete of the local Government Post Graduate College for women here in the 11th annual sports meet held in the college recently.

She stood first in the long jump, shot put, 400 metre race, 400 metre relay race and javelin throw came second in discus throw and third in triple jump and 200 metre race.

Promilla, another sportsperson of the college came first in the 1,500 metre race, fast cycling race, slow cycling race, 400 metre relay race and 800 metre race.

She stood second in javelin throw. A large number of girls participated in as many as 20 events. The deputy commissioner JS Ahlawat gave away prizes to the winners.

SDM JK Abhir, city magistrate Satish Jain, Principal WS Garg, sports coordinator of the college CL Jassu and prominent persons of the town were present.

Ahlawat said in his address that such events inculcate the spirit of competitiveness among the students.

He said the sports are as important as studies for the all round development of the students and the college authorities should encourage more and more girls towards the sports activities. Earlier, the SDM JK Abhir inaugurated the sports meet.

Sirsa: The three-day athletics meet of the local CMK National Post Graduate College concluded here recently amidst a myriad of cultural activities.

Shakuntala, a BA part II student of the college bagged the title of the best athlete through her all round performance.

Director general of the JCD Vidyapeeth Kuldeep Singh Dhindsa was the chief guest during the concluding ceremonies, while the college Principal Vijaya Tomar presided over.

Besides, friendly events for the teaching as well as the non-teaching staff were also organised. A musical chair competition for women employees was well applauded.

College students presented a variety of cultural items. The guests especially appreciated Haryanvi dance by the girls.

Dhindsa said sports help in developing all round personality of the students and also helped them keep them healthy.

Sirsa, February 19
A district-level committee for the implementation of anti-tobacco laws has been constituted in the district with the Deputy Commissioner as its chairman.

The SP, the Civil Surgeon, the Deputy Civil Surgeon, holding the charge of the school health programme, the District Information and Public Relations Officer, the District Education Officer, the General Manager of the Sirsa depot of the Haryana Roadways, the Drugs Control Officer, the Food Inspector and a representative of the local NGOs are its members.

At a meeting of the committee held here , steps to implement the anti-tobacco laws were discussed. It was decided to set up a task force to stop smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco items in public places.

The task force will check public places from time to time to ensure that the law is implemented properly.

The committee also decided to install hoardings for creating awareness about the anti-tobacco laws.

Talking to mediapersons, SK Goyal, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the committee, said the sale of tobacco products had been banned within a radius of 100 metres of all educational centres in the state after the implementation of the anti-tobacco laws.

He said smoking was prohibited in public places like bus stands, railway stations, hospitals, restaurants and educational institutions.

Goyal said it had been decided to organise workshops and awareness camps on this issue in the district.

He said subdivisional magistrates had been authorised to deal with the challans of smokers at the subdivision level.

Yamunanagar, February 19
Talking about outsourcing in the time of recession, US-based president of Allsoft Solutions Pankaj Chopra has said one should provide services to mid-size and large corporations to meet their continuously evolving needs in a highly professional manner.

“Whether one needs services for a short-term project or a full in-house system, corporations can save time and money on recruiting, interviewing, screening, reference checking and training to provide a competitive advantage”.

Chopra was addressing B.Tech students at the Ganpati Institute of Technology and Management located in Bilaspur here recently.

He stressed the need to explore how the IT market had changed rapidly under the current economic situation and what would be the future of IT and the availability of jobs.

“We need to conduct client’s business processes both faster and more efficiently. To achieve clients’ goals, one has to work within budget while closely assisting them in developing their systems in a highly efficient, timely and professional manner” he added.

Karnal, February 19
Four scientists of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Regional Station, Karnal, have been honoured for their significant contribution to the development of basmati rice varieties by Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar.

The scientists, namely, Dr S. N Sinha (head of the centre), Dr S. S Atwal, Dr Rakesh Seth and Dr N K Chopra received the award which carried a cash prize of Rs 25000 and a certificate each for their outstanding services at a function held during the Vice-Chancellors' Conference on February 16, 2009, a spokesman of the ICAR said.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.L Bhuria, Dr Mangla Rai, Director-General, ICAR, and Dr SA Patil, Director, IARI, New Delhi were also present.

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra.

Director: Rakesh Omprakash Mehra.

Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi, Vivinen
Pocha, Clair.

Music: AR Rehman, Rajat Dholakia.

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Om Puri, Rishi Kapoor.

A keenly awaited film of 2009, directed by ‘Rang De Basanti’ fame Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, is apparently based on Mehra’s growing years in old Delhi.

The film also has a special appearance by Big B. It opens today at Suraj-Panchkula, Sun City- Hisar, CHM Cine Garden- Sirsa, Minerva- Ambala Cantt, Sheila- Rohtak, SRS Omaxe-Faridabad, SRS Sector 12- Faridabad, SRS Pristine-Faridabad, SRS Shubham- Faridabad.

Special attraction: The movie has Abhishek- Sonam Kapoor’s performance, melodious score by AR Rehman, Rajat Dholakia and a beautiful track ‘Massakali’ composed by ‘Silk Route’ fame Mohit Chauhan.