Rohtak, May 6
The serial ‘Na Aana Iss Des Laado' being telecast on Colors TV channel besides attracting the attention of critics, has come on the radar of a community, which wants it to be banned immediately, in view of the alleged indecent language and presentation of the image of the community hailing from Haryana in a bad taste.

A delegation of residents belonging to Sangwan sub-caste (surname) met Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni recently. She assured them of a proper action and had directed the authorities concerned to issue a notice to the serial producer and the channel, claimed Jorawar Singh Sangwan, a resident of the Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani district, where Sangwan is a prominent gotra.

The issue was highlighted by Haryana Plus a couple of weeks ago, following which several residents across the state came in support of the view that the serial has hit the sentiments of lakhs of viewers in the state. It has been presenting a wrong image of the community, while there is no truth in what was shown to the viewers leading to severe resentment and criticism.

It is reported that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has also spoken to the I&B Minister about the objections regarding the contents of the serial.

Member of Rajya Sabha Ramparkash has also raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha, demanding a ban on this “anti-women” serial.

Earlier, Pawan Kumar Bansal, a Rohtak-based author and social worker, had taken up the matter and written to the I&B Minister demanding a ban on the serial. Bansal, convener of Kanyakawach, a voluntary organisation working for the empowerment of women, said at a time when the UPA government passed the Women Reservation Bill, the telecast of such a serial encouraging female foeticide was shameful. He said “Amma ji”, the main character of the episode, who had been shown as the head of the Sangwan Gotra Jat family, commits atrocities on her daughters-in-law in the name of family honour.

“In this serial, one daughter-in-law, whose husband is an impotent, is forced by Amma ji to have physical relation with an outsider, so that the family can have a heir. When there is revolt in the family over this suggestion, Amma ji forces her to have physical relations with her husband's younger brother”.

The serial, according to Bansal is full of atrocities on women. In the serial, a daughter-in-law, who has given birth to a male child, gets preferential treatment, while others are tortured and beaten.

On the contrary, the directors of the serial claim that they strongly oppose atrocities against women through the serial. 

Jhajjar, May 6
With a view to making available better healthcare facilities to people at their doorsteps, the state government has accorded approval for the construction of 19 community health centres (CHCs), 79 primary health centers (PHCs) and 287 sub-centres under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) across the state.

An annual grant of Rs 1.75 lakh to each PHC, Rs 2.50 lakh to each CHC and subdivisional hospital and Rs 5 lakh to each district hospital would be given as untied fund for local health action.

Disclosing this, State Health and Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal informed that the government would incur Rs 284 crore under the NRHM during the current financial year as against Rs 239 crore incurred last year to implement a number of various schemes in order to provide sufficient health infrastructure at grass-roots level.

“Likewise, a sum of Rs 10,000 per committee has also been allotted to 6,280 village level committees and Rs 21.20 crore has been distributed to Swasthya Kalyan Samitis to promote health activities in the state. Besides, as many as 50 urban rural community health centres have been set up whereas 295 PHCs have been made functional by providing additional staff nurses,” said the minister.

She maintained that the NRHM had been launched in the state in 2005 with a view to bringing about dramatic improvement in the health system and health status of people, especially those living in the rural areas.

“The main aim of the mission is to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services to the people. After implementing this programme, child and maternal deaths has been reduced, besides population stabilisation and gender and demographic balance,” said Geeta Bhukkal, adding that under the mission, 85 per cent of the funding provided by the Central government while the state contributed the remaining 15 per cent of the total fund.

Ambala, May 6
“The death of MC Jolly and SD Chatterjee has led to a gradual downfall of football in the state. Today, it appears to be on the verge of extinction partly due to internal politics and clash of egos in football clubs,” says Pawan Kumar, a veteran athlete and a resident of Ambala Cantt.

“There is, however, still some hope if the state government comes forward and plans to open a sports (football) nursery to exploit the local talent. Otherwise the only reminder of the good old days of this once famous and attractive game shall remain confined to two monuments — The War Heroes Memorial Football Stadium whose foundation stone was laid by Maj Gen Shamsher Singh on July 2, 1967, and the SD Chatterjee Football Chowk,” added Pawan, who is one of the well-known football players of the state of his time.

Pawan was born in a Bania family in 1932 at Ambala Cantt . From his earlier school days, he represented the local Banarsi Das High School and won district championship at Bhiwani in 1949. He has been taking part in various state and national championships.

Talking to The Tribune, he said he developed interest in football when he was 10 years old and used to go to a nearby ground to play football without informing his parents. Though a regular in the state meets since 1952, Pawan first came into the limelight in 1954, when he represented the Indian Railways. He also played for Ambala Heroes Football Club under the guidance of SD Chatterjee. He also served as coach in the Haryana Sports Department.

On a query about service in the Railways, he said, “I was appointed as a Class IV employee at Ambala Cantt. In 1957, I was promoted to Class III when our team won the final match played against Indian Air Force in New Delhi”.

Pawan represented Haryana for Santosh Trophy from 1966 to 1972. He was also the chairman of the selection committee of the Haryana Football Association from 1993 
to 1995.

After retirement, he earned name as a veteran athlete. He won a number of gold, silver and bronze medals in national and international athletic meets, including the ones in Madurai, Maizaki (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Malaysia, Kanpur and Gurgaon.

Pawan, who retired in 1990 from the Railways as a TTE, was not only a good football player but also a qualified football referee. He was also the secretary of the Heroes Club for more than 10 years.

Chandigarh, May 6
The Haryana government has decided that no government department or organisation will henceforth ask general public to submit affidavits for delivery of services except in those cases where affidavit is required by law or under statutory rules. The decision has been taken to avoid unnecessary harassment to the public.

In a letter addressed to all financial commissioners and principal secretaries, heads of departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, managing directors of boards, corporations, public undertakings and registrars of universities, chief secretary Urvashi Gulati has asked them not to obtain affidavits from general public along with applications as a matter of routine for various works or services. Rather, a self-declaration should be accepted in place of affidavit from applicants.

The officers have also been directed to draft application forms in such a manner as to contain an undertaking or declaration by the applicant that the facts stated in the application are correct to the best of his or her knowledge and belief and that nothing has been concealed therein. In case of any concealment or misrepresentation, legal action can be taken under Section 182, Section 415 read with Section 417 and Section 420 of the IPC, as the case may be, against culprits.

Fatehabad, May 6
Shri Geeta Vihari Sewa Samiti, a socio-religious organisation, has been working towards empowering women from poor families in Fatehabad.

The samiti, which is running a centre to provide vocational training to women, started a free computer centre for poor girls here recently.

Prahlad Singh Gillankhera, chief parliamentary secretary, inaugurated the centre in the presence of Swami Divyanand of Tapowan ashram in Haridwar.

Gillankhera lauded the efforts of the samiti in the field of women empowerment and said by starting this computer centre, the samiti had provided girls from poor families an opportunity to keep them at pace with the times.

Emphasising the need for women education and their empowerment, Gillankhera said this was the only answer to social evils like female foeticide and dowry system.

He called upon women to stand up against these evils and said when they would raise their voice against these ills, society would be cleansed of several problems.

Swami Divyanand urged people to contribute towards such ventures and said the service to humanity was the real service to the God.

He congratulated members of the samiti for making this venture a success.

Dev Raj Batra, chairman of the Manohar Memorial Group of Educational Institutions, Balbir Singh Chaudhary, a former MLA, TD Mehta, president of Geeta Vihari Sewa Samiti, Rajiv Batra, Ramita Batra, Sunil Sachdeva, Brij Bhushan Midha, Mulakh Raj Batra and Sanjay Bansal were present.

Gillankhera also honoured women who had excelled in their class in the vocational centre run by the samiti.

Rohtak, May 6
Following the Mirchpur episode that led to the death of two persons, the police seems to be on its toes to avoid any such incident.

It thus acted swiftly and managed to resolve a dispute between two communities at Baniyani village in the district. Representatives of both sides reached the SP office and expressed satisfaction over the resolution of the matter amicably.

According to police sources, youths hailing from Balmiki and Rajput castes in the village clashed with each other about three weeks ago over a trivial matter. Two persons were injured in the clash and the police had registered a case against four persons, identified as Ravinder, Mohan, Sunil and Deepak.

Since the situation was tense and had led to enmity between the two castes and it could have flared up causing more damage to the social fabric in the village, the police decided to take up the matter with the concerned and mediated to resolve it amicably even as a case had been registered, claimed district police chief Anil Kumar Rao.

He said police officials deputed on the job managed to achieve the target with both communities agreeing to coming to table for talks and resolving the issue outside the legal purview. Both sides had agreed to bury the hatchet after resolving the differences and had assured that the matter stood resolved forever with all demands accepted and an action taken in the presence of officials, said the SSP.

Both sides had come up here to express their satisfaction over the development and thanked the police for its initiative, claimed an official spokesperson. Earlier also, the police had intervened after a clash took place between two communities at Bohar village. The dispute had been resolved and there was no tension between the two communities, claimed the official.

Chandigarh, May 6
The Haryana Civil Pensioners Welfare Association, with its headquarters based in Karnal, has demanded that it should be provided with an office accommodation.

HP Babbar, president of the association, said it was got registered by its founder president MR Singla about 25 years ago in 1984. Hence, the association is the oldest body of pensioners, with its state body based in Karnal.

The Karnal district administration provided space to the association in the old district courts. A big hall having a homeopathic dispensary was constructed at the cost of the pensioners. Besides the dispensary, the place served as a day-care centre for senior citizens. The association also used it as a platform to bring to the notice of pensioners and family pensioners the latest instructions of the state government concerning them. In a way, the building served as a meeting place for the pensioners.

After the mini-secretariat was constructed in Karnal, Babbar said the district administration demolished the building constructed by the pensioners and took away the construction material, promising that the pensioners’ association would be provided office accommodation.

Babbar said while various government offices like SDM office, tehsil office, treasury office, SP’s office and district public relations office were shifted to the new building, the administration ignored the pensioners. Since then the association has been trying in vain to get suitable accommodation for it.

Representatives of the association have repeatedly met local MLA Sumita Singh as well as MP from Karnal Arvind Sharma to use their good offices to get them accommodation. They also met Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2007 and submitted a memorandum to him.

Though Hooda asked the Karnal DC to provide a suitable accommodation to the pensioners, the administration informed the association that it would have an office of its own when an additional block in the mini-secretariat would be constructed.

Chandigarh, May 6
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society, Chandigarh, will hold a singing contest for Best Singer Award-2010 for male and female in senior and junior categories on May 16 at Punjab Kala Bhawan Sector 16, Chandigarh at 8 am.

Male participants will sing Mohd Rafi’s songs and the female will Lata’s. The society is celebrating 2010 as its silver jublee year.

For more details contact: B.D. Sharma, 9814731112.

Panipat, May 6
The newly constituted municipal corporation here has chalked out plans for flood-protection measures, required to be taken prior to the onset of the monsoon.

Giving directions to the officials concerned of the local civic body, its first commissioner-cum-Deputy Commissioner Vijay Singh Dahiya asked them to take up the cleaning of the local drainage system so that there was no flooding due to blockages in the drains.

It was stated that the topography of the district was such that rainwater quickly flowed out, but to ensure the smooth flow of the water it was necessary to desilt all drains and minors.

Officials of the civic body have already identified areas prone to floods. The main focus is on clearing the local drains so that rainwater can be flush out without any hassles.

Executive officer of the corporation Pratap Singh said the MC had already cleaned up drain No. 1 using machines and other drains were also being cleaned.

Last year a flood-like situation had been created in the district after water was released from the Hathnikund barrage at the Tajewala headworks following continuous rain. Even as some low-lying areas of the district had come under a flood threat, prompt monitoring of the situation by officials of the district administration had prevented damage to life and property.

Faridabad, May 6
Concerned over the falling standard of agriculture produce in some districts of southern Haryana on account of polluted water from Agra and Gurgaon Canals, the Progressive Farmers’ Forum had urged the Delhi government that water from Yamuna be first treated before allowing it into the canals.

Water from Yamuna is released into Agra and Gurgaon Canals. While Agra Canal irrigates Faridabad and Palwal district, Gurgaon Canal irrigates Gurgaon and areas of Mewat district.

According to president of forum Satbir Daggar, the water from Yamuna released in the canals is highly polluted. A delegation of the forum recently met President Pratibha Patil and submitted a memorandum on the issue.

Daggar said the damage to agriculture business on account of polluted water could be assessed from the fact that about 33 per cent of farmland irrigation in Faridabad and Palwal was based on canal water. Due to the polluted water, the quality and price of produce, mainly wheat and paddy have fallen down.

In addition, the polluted water was affecting the health of cattle also. Moreover, the water of these canals was affecting the underground water in the southern districts of Haroun, he added.

Rewari, May 6
If the 18-month-long pendency in the matter of disbursement of the Haryana Journalists Awards-2008 is any indication, a lackadaisical approach of the Chief Minister has apparently made the awards a “mirage” for journalists.

It may be mentioned that in response to an advertisement of the state government published in various national and regional dailies, hundreds of journalists, photo journalists, cartoonists and electronic media personnel had tendered their applications for 13 state level and 147 district-level awards in October 2008.

Subsequently, a lifetime achievement award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 1,51,000, was also instituted by the state government, whose announcement was made by the Chief Minister himself.

It is noteworthy that the applications were duly screened by a high-level committee, constituted by the government, following which a list of 160 would-be awardees was finalised.

Though the awards were to be presented to the would-be recipients tentatively on the International Press Day on November 16, 2008, it was deferred owing to the delayed finalisation of the list of the would-be awardees caused by the hefty strength of applicants.

It is unfortunate that since then the disbursement of the awards has persistently been kept in abeyance owing to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct first during the Lok Sabha elections and then during the Assembly polls as well as for other covert reasons.

It is not known whether the Model Code of Conduct, which came into force recently due to panchayat and municipal elections, was again proving detrimental to the long-awaited distribution of the awards.

One thing needs specific mention here that recently when a citizen of Rewari wanted to know from the Chief Minister why the distribution of the awards was being delayed, the Chief Minister told the questioner that the disbursement of the awards would create a hornet’s nest, as he would then be facing a host of “disgruntled” journalists as well.

Karnal, May 6
Stepping up drive against crime, the local police has busted 14 gangs allegedly involved in theft of transformers, valuables from temples, diesel, petrol and kerosene oil, robbery, selling spurious ghee or running flesh trade racket.

The police has arrested more than 2,000 persons for various criminal offences and recovered stolen property worth over Rs 3 crore during the past few months.

The police thwarted the plan of a three-member gang to commit theft in all major temples in Karnal by arresting all three culprits who had stolen valuables from four local temples, a gurdwara and burgled a house. The gang had plans to strike at major temples, said district police chief Rakesh Arya.

Another major success was smashing the gang indulging in theft of transformers, copper wires, iron strips etc. and arrested six persons involved in 98 cases and theft of 170 transformers. The police also recovered transformers, 1,800 quintal copper wire and 10 bundles of iron strips valuing over Rs 1 crore.

The police recovered one Toyota Qualis, one Tata Indica and 40 stolen motorcycles and arrested eight persons and also cracked down on gangs indulging in theft and sale of diesel, petrol and kerosene oil and arrested about 12 persons.

The police recovered 5,700 liters of kerosene oil, 2,000 litres of petrol, 4,600 liters of diesel and 918 LPG cylinders.

The police also arrested five persons for pilfering milk on the highway and recovered 21,000 liters of milk. Besides, a sex racket was also smashed and nine persons, including eight women were nabbed.

The police solved 86 theft cases and 321 cases of house break and recovered stolen property worth Rs 77.13 lakh. Over 800 cases were registered under the Excise Act and 915 persons were arrested while 432 persons were booked for drinking in public places and 231 drivers were challaned for drunken driving.

The police also succeeded in nabbing 104 absconders and proclaimed offenders and also arrested 108 persons under the Gambling Act.

Karnal, May 6
Students appearing in different examinations should have the right to get their evaluated answer sheets on demand as it was their right to get appropriately evaluated, says Dr Ashok Sharma, regional director, IGNOU centre, Karnal.

Dr Sharma said students should be facilitated by satisfying their quest to know that how did they perform by allowing them get their evaluated answer sheets, at least on demand.

He said IGNOU had taken a lead by duly notifying that in order to ensure greater transparency in the evaluation process, a photocopy of the evaluated answer scripts for the term-end examinations should be provided to the students who apply for the same and all examining bodies should follow the suit.

Dr Sharma said the RTI Act had helped a lot of people not only in seeking the desired information but also in exposing irregularities in the system and the Act should be implemented in letter and spirit on the issue of getting access to evaluated answers sheets.

The CIC was aware that a student put in a lot of efforts in preparing for examinations, but later got information only about the final marks or grades and had no knowledge about what transpired in between due to a lack of transparency.

He said the RTI had actually advocated transparency in the system, but the resistance of the authorities in disclosing the evaluated answer sheets was difficult to understand.

He recalled that Prof MM Ansari, information commissioner, in his report, “Right to Information and its Relationship to Good Governance and Development”, stated that, “In the areas of technical and vocational education, including higher education, the governments have articulated plans for expansion of facilities and improvement of quality of teaching and research. Through the use of RTI, the progresses made are monitored by information seekers, who have raised issues and sought details relating to the expenditures on various educational activities, namely, admissions and recruitment processes, conduct of examinations, including disclosure of answer sheets”.

Directed by: Parmeet Sethi

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Vir Das, Meiyang Chang, Anupam Kher

Plot: Set in the 1990’s in Mumbai, “Badmaash Company” traces the journey of four friends. They start a company that indulges in white-collar crime and make their way to the top.

Directed by debutant actor, writer Parmeet Sethi, “Badmaash Company” stars Anushka Sharma (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi fame) in a glamorous role.

The movie opens today at Sun City-Hisar; Minerva and Fun-Ambala Cantt; Fame Shalimar-Panchkula; Fun Cinemax-Panipat; PVR MGF, PVR Sahara, PVR Ambi Mall, DT City Centre, DT Mega Mall, BIG Adlabs, SRS, SRS Wedding Mall, all Gurgaon; PVR Crown, INOX, SRS Sector 12, SRS Sector 32, all Faridabad; Movie Time-Karnal; Everest-Rewari; Lakshmi-Yamunanagar.

What to watch out for: Shahid-Anushka jodi, performance by comedian Vir Das, outdoor locations, direction and Pritam’s music. — Dharam Pal

This serial, being telecast on TV, showcases an exaggerated and skewed manner the lifestyle and culture of the Jat community of southern Haryana and neighbouring region. The negative way in which it is being projected is condemnable. This is an anti-women serial and women are maltreated worse than cattle.

Ammaji, the lead character whose writ runs in the village, is a law unto herself. She is prejudiced against girl child that she gets them eliminated so that there is no girl in the village. She tortures her ‘devrani’ brutally when she learns that the latter has brought her daughter in the house in the guise of a maid servant.

The elder ‘bahu’ is taunted and tortured for not delivering a child and is dubbed as barren although she knows full well that the defect lies with the husband. Throwing all norms of morality and ethics to the winds, Ammaji coerces her younger son to have sex with the elder ‘bhabhi’ to beget an heir to the family. When the elder ‘bahu’ protests, she is hounded and all sorts of atrocities are inflicted on her. This is most disgusting and repulsive.

The newly wed younger ‘bahu’, who is not to the liking and choice of Ammaji, is forbidden from having physical relations with her husband for three months on the pretext of astrologer’s advice. In earlier episodes, the bureaucracy has been shown in poor light, when the District Magistrate (DM) was seen accepting money bags, legs and pegs at Ammaji’s haveli and he was shamelessly demanding girls to satisfy his lust as the price for hushing up criminal cases pending against her. There is a height of depravation when Ammaji offers her own niece to the DM for her selfish motives.

The events have been blown out of proportion and sensationalised to have better TRP, but in the bargain the culture and traditions of this region have suffered a severe setback. Such unethical and immoral episodes send a wrong message to younger generation and as such the serial should be banned forthwith.

DP Piplani, Panchkula

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