Jhajjar, November 22
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged the people to repay their cooperative loans on time so that adequate resources could be mobilised not only to meet the requirements of other needy persons, but to also carry on with the cooperative movement.

Reiterating his government’s resolve to make arrangement for sufficient water and electricity to the farmers, he said water would flow in the Hansi-Bhutana link canal to ensure equitable distribution of water to the farmers.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering at the 45th Cooperative Day function at Government Polytechnic here today. Referring to agriculture and animal husbandry as two sides of the same coin, he said efforts were afoot to pay dairy farmers handsomely for the milk supplied. At present, milk cooperative societies were providing milk at Rs 21.50 per kg, he said.

“The co-operative movement, which is the largest socio-economic movement in the world, has contributed significantly to the alleviation of poverty and creation of employment in the country,” said the CM, adding that it would hurt him to see the land of farmers auctioned due to non-payment of loans. Therefore, he had decided to do away with the practice.

An exhibition on the services provided by HARCOFED, HAFFED, the Haryana Dairy Federation, HARCO Bank, Sugar Mills Federation, IFFCO and KRIBHCO was put up on the occasion. The CM gave away the Sahkar Ratan Samman to Jagjit Sangwan, Administrator HAFED, Swarankanta, President, Nasrauli Women Cooperative Milk Production Society, and Tej Parkash Singh, Chairman, Central Cooperative Bank, Ambala, for commendable work in the cooperative sector. They were given a cash prize of Rs 21,000, a shawl and a memento each.

In the exhibition category, HAFED, Sugarfed and Central Cooperative Bank, Yamunanagar, received the first, second and third positions respectively. The stall put up by Government Polytechnic, Jhajjar, bagged the consolation prize.

HAFED’s marketing-cum-processing societies in Pehowa and Thanesar were honoured for outstanding performance.

Others who were felicitated were the Women Milk Production Society, Bhidrana and Mudlana of Hisar-Jind and the Rohtak Milk Production Federation working under the Haryana Dairy Development Federation. Under the HARCO Bank category, the Central Cooperative Bank, Jhajjar , the Dharuhera PACS of Rewari, the District Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, Sirsa and Sonepat, the District Cooperative Labour and Construction Federation, Rohtak and Sirsa, and the Primary Labour and Construction Federation Societies, Rohtak and Kaithal, were also awarded.

The Shanti Lok Cooperative Group Housing Society, Rewari, was honoured under the HOUSEFED category.Accompanied by Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal and Minister of State for Agriculture Sukhbir Kataria, the CM inaugurated a Girls' hostel for SC students at Government Polytechnic, Jhajjar, built at a cost of Rs 5.50 crore and a teaching block built at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

New Delhi, November 22
The Supreme Court today agreed to hasten the disposal of Haryana’s original suit opposing Punjab’s control over the Shahpur Kandi dam, Modhopur Head Works and Thein Dam/Ranjit Sagar project.

A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan said in the normal course, the suit would have come up only after 2-3 years, but the court wanted to hear it “at an early date.”

Senior counsel Vinod Arvind Bobde and Ejaz Maqbool, appearing for Haryana, wanted the Bench to consider the state’s plea for interim relief, pending disposal of the case. Additional Solicitor-General Mohan Jain said the Centre would like the court to take up the suit for consideration, rather than the plea for interim relief which amounted to allowing the suit.

Bobde said the main plea was for divesting Punjab of the control of the three projects, while the interim relief was for joint management till the disposal of the case.

Fixing the next hearing for the second week of February, the Bench said the parties - Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan, besides Punjab and Haryana - would exchange draft “issues” that day that would have to be adjudicated. The Bench would also consider Haryana’s plea for interim relief then.

Rajasthan said it supported Haryana’s plea while Punjab maintained that there was no basis for Haryana’s claim. Haryana accused that “Punjab has illegally taken over the control” of the three projects. Justice Sathasivamsaid such disputes had arisen because of the water problem. If the nature was benevolent, states would not be fighting and allow the excess water to flow into the sea.

This problem persisted across the country and it was unfortunate that some states were fighting for “even one drop of water,” the court observed.

Rohtak, November 22
Providing employment to every household is among the top priorities of the government, said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while addressing residents during redressal of public grievances at his house here this morning.

The Chief Minister said that every move of his government was aimed at creating more jobs and better employment avenues for the people of the state.

While thousands of youths had been provided government employment in the past about six years on the basis of merit and fair selection, the government had initiated several measures to enhance self-employment opportunities and jobs in the private sector simultaneously, the Chief Minister claimed.

Claiming that hundreds of industrial units were being set up in the state every year, he said infrastructure, which included roads, expressways and power, was being strenghthened to boost business.

“To prepare and develop human skills to meet the growing challenges and needs of the industry, the government has made way for hundreds of new engineering and professional colleges in the state,” he said.

Earlier students had to move out of the state for technical and professional degrees by paying capitation fee, but the government was now trying its best to provide quality education on their doorstep.

Panchkula, November 22
“Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is indulging in undemocratic ways and practising unethical politics,” said Kuldeep Bishnoi, president, Haryana Janhit Congress, while interacting with the media here today.

In city to hold a meeting of party office-bearers, he said Hooda’s announcement on making Satpal Sangwan, MLA from Dadri, a minister was yet another example of his “unethical and undemocratic” working. He said his petition against the MLA joining the Congress was still in court.

Bishnoi said he was probably the only leader who had been continuously criticising UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Hooda for their “corrupt” governance. None should think of his rejoining the Congress, he said, in an attempt to put to rest all rumours on the matter.

Bishnoi said that he planned a state-level rally on December 2 at Jind and take on the Congress and the INLD leaders for their “corrupt and undemocratic” ways. Local leaders Shashi Sharma, Ram Gopal Mehta and Dalbir Singh were among those present at the meeting. The HJC received a shot in the arm with Congress leaders Parmal Singh and Ranjit Singh and BSP’s Paramjit Singh joining the party. 

Palwal, November 22
Faced with the possibility of arrest in a criminal case, Palwal legislator belonging to the INLD, Subash Chaudhary, has convened a “panchayat” here on December 6 to inform the people of his constituency that he was being “framed” in a case at the instance of a senior local leader of the ruling Congress.

The move by Chaudhary has the the backing of his party whose leaders have warned of a mass agitation if their MLA is arrested on “fictitious” charges.

The “panchayat” was earlier scheduled to be held on November 26.

However,it was put off on account of the demise of the mother of the legislator.

Chaudhary and more than six of his supporters have been booked under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act for alleged casteist slur against the president of the Palwal Municipal Council, Netra Pal,a Congress leader, a few days ago.

The INLD legislator was involved in a scuffle with Netra Pal at a meeting convened by shopkeepers of Camp Area here following a a clash between four youths and some shopkeepers. The two leaders fought in the presence of the public after which Netra Pal lodged a complaint with the police against the MLA, alleging that he had hurled casteist remarks at him.

Meanwhile, the Congress too has taken a firm stand on the issue.

It has submitted a memorandum to the Governor vide the office of the SDM, demanding action against the MLA.

Hisar, November 22
A pair of white-breasted barn owls has been reportedly missing after laying nine eggs in a fodder store in the fields of Satrod village near here. The pair was first seen by farmer Baljit Singh a day before Diwali. However, while the eggs are still in the nest, the pair has not been seen around it for the past several days.

Villagers said one of the owls had been devoured by an eagle or a falcon and the other had simply vanished after that. However, none of them had seen this happen. Wildlife officials had visited the village after the pair was noticed. Wildlife Inspector Krishan Lal Saini said he had visited the fodder store about 10 days ago but found the pair missing.

He said had the owl been caught by a falcon, bones of the victim should have been found in the village. He said there was no likelihood of the eggs hatching in the absence of the pair. He said this was the first time that he had seen a barn owl laying nine eggs. The white-breasted barn owl is found in grasslands in northern India. The species chooses abandoned buildings or old trees for nesting.

Size: 29-44cm, 187-400g

Range: Europe, Africa, Middle East, India & South- East Asia, Australia, America and oceanic islands.

Habitat: Prefers open lowlands, rough grassland, plantations, marsh, coastal regions, savannah

Food: Mainly small mammals, particularly rodents, small birds, reptiles, frogs and sometimes insects 

Gurgaon, November 22
The Anti-Measles Campaign launched by the union government in five districts of the state suffered a setback on the opening day itself with several local schools shutting their doors to the team of health workers.

During the first week of the three-week drive, members of the 393 teams constituted for the purpose are supposed to visit schools for vaccinating the students as more than 50 per cent of the target children are school going.

However, on the first day itself, the managements of eight private schools in Gurgaon denied entry to the teams to vaccinate the children.

The school managements claimed that it was the parents’ decision and they could not go against the wishes of the parents. The eight schools include Salwan Public School, Sectors 5 and 15(II); Suchita Memorial Public School, Sector 5; Open Sky Public School, Sector 5; Sidheshwar Senior Secondary School, Gurdwara Road; Old Lady Fatima Convent School, Old DLF Sector 14; DAV Public School, Sector 14; and DP High School, Rajiv Nagar, Gurgaon.

Principal of DAV Public School Anita Makkar gave a written refusal stating that the parents of the students had objected to getting their wards vaccinated.

Similarly, the Principal of Old Lady Fatima Convent School has also given in writing that the parents of the students would be informed about the campaign and if they desired to get their wards vaccinated against measles, they could do so by taking them to the General Hospital.

The principals/managements of the other schools have not given anything in writing, but denied the teams’ entry to their school premises to vaccinate their students.

Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Saryu Sharma, who is in charge of the Anti-Measles Campaign, maintained that today’s progress of the teams would be reviewed.

“The WHO representatives as well as the district administration will be informed about the non-cooperation shown by some private schools. The further course of action will be decided as per their decision,” she said, asserting that the vaccine was completely safe.

The campaign commenced today in five districts of Haryana, including Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Faridabad, Mewat and Palwal. It will continue for three weeks that is till December 11.

It is for the first time that such a campaign has been launched against measles in the state. Children from 9 months to 10 years are being given second dose for protection from measles during the campaign.

World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Dr Gurmeet Singh said measles was a leading cause of childhood mortality and in India, 60,000 to 1 lakh deaths were reported due to measles every year.

“Post-measles corneal scars lead to permanent vision loss and complications due to measles include pneumonia, diarrhoea, otitis media and encephalitis,” he said, adding that in view of the after-effects of the disease, the union government had decided to launch the campaign with a target to minimise the cases by 2013.

As per the official records, in Gurgaon the estimated population of children in the age group of 9 months to 10 years is more than 3.81 lakh. Of these, nearly 2 lakh children are in schools.

Gurgaon, November 22
The prize money for the state-level school sports competitions has been enhanced by five times. An announcement to this effect was made by Haryana Minister for Education, Health and Social Welfare Geeta Bhukal here today.

The minister, who was here to inaugurate the 24th state-level primary schools sports competition, said the first prize winner would now get a prize of Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 200, the second Rs 750 instead of Rs 150 and the third would get Rs 500 instead of Rs 100.

Bhukkal arrived at the venue in the evening, hoisted the flag of the competition and declared it open. Schoolchildren had been waiting for the minister since morning.

Nearly 2,500 students from government primary schools of all 21 districts of the state are participating in the event.

They will compete in kho-kho, gymnastics, yoga, rope pulling, athletics, carom board, chess, painting and cultural events. In all these events, both boys and girls will participate, while in kabaddi, only boys will compete.

District Elementary Education Officer and event organiser Jagvir Singh Malik said there would be seven athletics events, including 100m, 200m and 400m races and 4 x 100 m relay race, besides high jump, long jump and shot put.

In her address, the minister disclosed that the registration for the selection of meritorious sportspersons in the age group of 8 to 19 years under SPAT 2011 would be taken up from December 3 to 10. The students could apply online on the address www.play4india.com.

She said this year, 5,000 budding players would be selected under the programme and they would be given a scholarship ranging from Rs 1,500 to 2,000.

Bhukkal also gave away prizes to the winners of the first day of the contest.

Haryana Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary (Education) Surina Rajan, Director (Secondary Education) Vijender Kumar and Director (SCERT) Sneh Lata were also present. 

Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), November 22
The Department of Laws of Bhagat Phool Singh Women University (BPSWU) today organised a one-day seminar on “Role of legal aid in sensitising people to work for society”.

Dr Vimal Joshi, Dean, Faculty of Laws, spoke about the importance of spreading awareness about social responsibilities amongst students.

In her speech, Dr Balbir Kaur said the initiative taken by the department was praiseworthy in the wake of the fact that rural people were largely unaware of their legal rights making it difficult for them to have access to law and also for law to protect their rights.

She said lack of legal awareness compounded their problems of poverty leading to a state of total helplessness.

She advocated the importance of selfless service to society as that was the best contribution one could make to the nation.

She also said the university had always aimed at creating social awareness and the seminar was a step towards the realisation of the aim of the university.

The seminar comprised four sessions, including the inaugural and valedictory sessions.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr KPS Mahalwar.

During the seminar, students gave presentations on various topics.

The valedictory session was chaired by Dr Balbir Kaur, Pro-Vice Chancellor, BPS Mahila Vishwavidyalaya. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Pawan Kumar. 

Gurgaon, November 22
Here is some good news for the residents of the millennium city, who find local commuting a tough job due to the lack of public transport.

With a view to providing affordable and convenient means of transport to the local residents and visitors, Radio Tuk Tuk and TVS Motor Company yesterday launched their auto-on-call service here, the first of its kind in the city.

RC Dubey, AGM (Sales) of the TVS Motor Company, handed over 50 TVS King three-wheelers to Sulabh Mehra, head of operations at Radio Tuk Tuk, at a launch ceremony organised here yesterday.

“The underlying idea behind the launch of the service is to provide a safe and reliable commuting facility, especially for women, children and elderly,” Dubey and Mehra said while talking to mediapersons.

Sumit and Amit Choudhary of Choudhary Motors, who coordinated the launch of the service, said all Tuk Tuk autos would be fitted with safety devices like GPS and emergency push buttons, besides mobile-phone chargers.

The facility will be available from November 22 and the residents can dial 0124-2343434 to call an auto.

The managers claim that the auto will reach the caller within 20 minutes and the charges will be Rs 50 for the first 3 km in addition to Rs 8 for every subsequent km. 

Sirsa, November 22
Three former sex workers tied a nuptial knot with Dera Sacha Sauda volunteers in a congregation held here last night.

The congregation - bhandara - was organised in the dera headquarters to mark the 119th birth anniversary of Sant Beparwah Mastana, founder of the dera. The brides, re-christened by dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as “Shubh Devis”, married youths who had earlier volunteered for the purpose on the call given by the dera. The dera has named such volunteers as “Bhakat Yodhas”.

The dera chief and his family members gave cash and other gifts to the newly wedded couple.

Spokesperson for the dera Pawan Insan said so far 11 former sex workers had bid goodbye to their old profession and settled in married life since January this year.

He said the identity of the couples was protected and before the wedlock, a complete medical checkup of the women was done.

Karnal, November 22
Miffed over the “indifferent attitude” of the SGPC on the issue of separate Sikh gurdwara prabandhak committee for the state, the HSGPC has decided to honour the members who courted arrest in support of the demand.

Disclosing this here today, HSGPC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said there was no outcome of talks with SGPC members, as they were not prepared to accept the major demands. He added that the “jail bharo” agitation would continue.

Jhinda said the ceremonies to honour these members would start from Kurukshetra from tomorrow and later the volunteers from other districts would be covered. During the past 80 days, over 1,000 HSGPC members had courted arrested and the government was under so much pressure that it was not keeping the volunteers under detention and setting them free after three or four hours.

Castigating the Prime Minister for not taking any stand on the issue, Jhinda said Manmohan Singh was under pressure from Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who added the issue in the manifesto, remained a mute spectator.

He also demanded a white paper report on “income and expenditure” with respect to Haryana gurdwaras from 1960 to 2002 to put the record straight. 

Jind, November 22
There is tension in Julani village following a clash between the police and a group of villagers late last night. At least two policemen have been injured.

The police has arrested three persons and booked 17 persons in this connection. A leader of the youth wing of the INLD has charged the police with damaging his vehicle inside a police station.

According to a complaint lodged with the police, a mob of more than 24 persons assaulted a police team that reached Julani village last night to resolve a dispute between two groups. Some residents, perhaps under the influence of liquor, started misbehaving with the policemen and assaulted them. This

resulted in injuries to ASI Ravinder and havildar Randhir Singh.

More police force was rushed to the village later and three villagers, Balwan, Suresh and Narender, were arrested. Fourteen others- Surender, Rameshwar, Ramesh, Bani Singh, Shamsher, Rajesh, Jitender, Ramniwas, Kuldeep, Tilakraj, Pawan, Surender, Ramesh and Rajender-were booked.

The police said they tried to prevent the police from resolving a dispute between two groups in the village.

Pardeep Gill, general secretary of the youth wing of the INLD, alleged the police was harassing the residents of the village by falsely implicating them in a case. He said when he and some village residents reached the police station, the cops on duty not only misbehaved with them but also damaged his vehicle parked inside 

Sirsa, November 22
The police today arrested an undertrial, who had escaped from the custody of a Punjab police party in Khairekan on November 3. The police produced the accused identified as Hem Raj in a local court, which sent him to judicial custody.

A police spokesperson said a police party from Punjab had brought the accused to Haryana and after producing him in a court in Fatehabad they were taking him to produce in a Hanumangarh court in some other case, when the accused gave them a slip near Khairekan village.

The Punjab police party had intimated the Sadar police station on November 4 after which an FIR under Sections 223, 224 and 225 of the IPC was registered against the cops and Hem Raj.

The Punjab cops were arrested the same day for negligence in duty and were produced before a court, from where they were released on bail.

The police spokesperson said the police raided several possible hideouts of the accused and eventually arrested him from Kotli village.

The accused has been facing trial in several cases in Punjab, Fatehabad and Rajasthan.