Karnal, December 11
The state police in collaboration with the Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi, today organised a conference at Madhuban Police Academy to generate awareness against human trafficking.

The conference titled “Combating trafficking in human beings” was chaired by Ajay Maken, Minister of State, Home Affairs. He said human trafficking had attained alarming proportions and it was now the third most organised crime in the nation followed by drug and arms trafficking, respectively.

The minister said it was high time that NGOs, judiciary and the police worked in tandem to counter human trafficking. He said there was an urgent need to develop a strategy with which those involved in the illicit trade could be checked and the practice be thwarted.

Maken said a lot of money was now involved in the trade and it could really go out of hands if corrective steps were not taken well in time for its eradication.

DGP Haryana police RS Dalal said the state police department was ready to take on the problem of human trafficking.

Rohtak, December 11
Despite a ban on the employment of minors and kids at workplaces under the provisions of the Child Labour Act and the Right to Education Act, a large number of children are still engaged in labour work, including brick-kilns.

Though the Department of Labour carries out a programme to create awareness in this regard, it seems to have failed to enlighten many.

A visit to a brick-kiln located near Katesara village of Kalanaur block of the district revealed that several kids had been either working or helping their parents in brick preparation.

Living in conditions not fit for their proper growth, these children aged between five and 15 years were found working there with no school nearby.

“A majority of children living at brick-kilns have no access to schooling as these are located at isolated spots and many labourers employed there are migrants, who are themselves illiterate,” claimed Yoginder Dahiya, a lawyer and social activist here.

He said despite claims of the state government, there was no proper schooling and health facility at brick-kilns, where they were forced to live in subhuman conditions.

“Children are found working at dhabas, tea stalls and even at homes without any check,” he claimed. A labourer at a brick-kiln normally gets Rs 300 per 1,000 bricks, claims Ramesh, a labourer employed at one of the brick-kilns.

He said they had to face several problems, including lack of supply of clean drinking water and other items of daily use, for which they had to go to a nearby town. “There is no school nearby so they have no option than to get their children engage in the work done by them,” he claimed.

There are a total of 145 brick-kilns in the district and the total number of child labourers in the Kalanaur region could be 150, claim sources.

The temperature in and around a brick-kiln is several degrees above normal especially in summers and this could prove detrimental to the health of children, claimed Dr Kuldeep, a physician here.

Fatehabad, December 11
Anaemia and malnutrition are common in school-going children in the 12 to 18 years age group in the district.

Nearly 31 per cent of children in this age group suffer from anaemia. Seventeen per cent suffer from dental disorders, nine per cent from malnutrition and three per cent from night blindness or other visual impairment.

These disturbing facts came to light during the examination of schoolchildren during the third phase of Indira Bal Swasthya Yojna which ended on November 30.

Though a large number of children were found suffering from a plethora of health problems, anaemia is at the top of the afflictions.

The health authorities examined 13,198 children in 99 schools of the district during the third phase. Over 4,000 were found suffering from mild, moderate and severe anaemia (2,064 mild, 1,890 moderate and 174 severe).

During the medical examination of schoolchildren, the authorities found 965 were below weight. The health authorities found 22 children with severe malnutrition, 111 moderate and 348 mild malnutrition.

As many as 286 children were identified suffering from night blindness, 681 had skin diseases and 342 had ENT-related problems.

Nine children suffered from tuberculosis, three from heart diseases, one from thyroid, 18 from epilepsy, one from juvenile diabetes and three from hernia.

In all, 121 girls were found suffering from gynaecological problems. Nineteen schoolchildren had hearing disability, 20 speech disability, 46 orthopaedic disability and 46 children suffered from impaired vision.

Nine schoolchildren were found “mentally differently abled”. As many as 899 children were treated for dental problems at the local level while 1,348 were referred to hospitals for treatment.

During the first phase of the scheme, over 20,000 cases of anaemia were detected in 387 schools of the district. In the second phase, which covered anganwadi centres in the district (children up to 2 and in the 2 to 6 years age group) 5,400 children were found suffering from anaemia out of a total of 29,097 who were examined.

Civil Surgeon Dr OP Arya said the health authorities had treated the children at the local level wherever possible and referred others to community health centres.

Chandigarh, December 11
The recent arrest of a supplier of explosives to Nepali Maoists in Delhi and his subsequent revelation that he had procured explosives from an owner of a stone crusher in Bhiwani district has confirmed what has been suspected since long.

Loknath Panth was arrested by the Delhi police with about 500 detonators. He confessed to have obtained the explosives from a crusher owner in Bhiwani district. The Delhi police conducted raids in the area following which the Haryana police sealed about a dozen godowns storing explosives, a classic case of the shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

It was widely believed that explosives supplied for mining were being diverted to dangerous elements like Maoists. It is more than a coincidence that almost all Maoist-infested states-Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh-have major mineral wealth of the country.

In Haryana explosives are used for mining in Faridabad, Mewat, Mahendragarh, Rewari and Bhiwani districts. Though mining in Haryana has been banned (since February 28, 2010), yet explosives are being issued to stone crusher owners. In fact, the latter get raw material (in this case boulders) from those who have the mining rights.

The crushers simply break the boulders into small stones.They don’t need explosives at all , unless they are lease-holders for mining operations also. This was not the case in Bhiwani.

Sources say rules are lax and the authorities turn a blind eye to violations. None can possess explosives without a licence for storage and use from the Explosives Department. Yet the explosives are freely available in all mining belts. Rajasthan has issued more than 20,000 leases of minor minerals, which are of one hectare or less. All these mines use explosives on a daily basis. But hardly anyone has the requisite licence. Moreover, blasting is undertaken by untrained workers, which many a time cause fatal casualties, which go unreported.

Technically speaking, if one was to construct even the smallest possible magazine for storing explosives for mining, it would cover the entire mining lease of a hectare and there would be no space left for mining since. Sources say the Explosives Act and rules need to be amended to keep an account of every gram of explosive and every detonator or fuse, from the manufacturing stage till these are used. Otherwise, these would continue to be diverted to Maoists and other such sections.

They say the governments, both central and state, should give mining rights on a long-term basis of not less than 10 years and for sufficient area so that the lessee can prepare a proper mining plan, make an environment impact assessment and employ the statutory technical manpower to use explosives.

Unless the rules are amended, the sources say, officials of the Explosives Department, the Directorate of Mines Safety, the police and the mining department would continue to keep their eyes closed to the wrongdoings of the explosive users, of course in their own selfish interests. A few months ago it was reported that more than 100 trucks laden with explosives had disappeared on their way from a factory in Rajasthan to Madhya Pradesh. It is not difficult to guess where these explosives may have gone- to illegal miners or to elements like the Maoists.

Sirsa, December 11
Friendship blossomed into love during online chatting and an Iranian, Roghayeh Rahiminezhad, travelled all the way from Tehran to Sirsa to marry her soul mate. To clear legal and religious hurdles, Sandeep Sachdeva, a student of BTech, embraced Islam and became Mohammad Salim for his sweetheart.

The nikah ceremony was held on November 30 and the marriage registered at Sirsa. A graduate in English Literature from the University of Iran, Tehran, Roghayeh and Sandeep hit it off almost instantly.

“I was bewitched by her simplicity,” says Sandeep, alias Mohammad Salim. Roghayeh came to Sirsa in February this year and stayed with Sandeep’s family for 14 days. In two weeks, she had decided on marrying Sandeep.

A determined Roghayeh then returned home for a“no-objection certificate” from her parents as well as the government of her country. She landed in India on October 11. After Sandeep’s conversion into Islam in Delhi’s Jama Masjid, the couple entered into a nikah on November 30.

Roghayeh is a happy bride. While Sandeep is busy in his exams, that began today, members of his family have been taking care of her needs. “Women from the neighbourhood and Sandeep’s relatives come to see me and are very kind to me,” says Roghayeh.

Sirsa, December 11
Efforts of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) have helped improve the lives of rural women at Meerpur village located near the Air Force Station here.

Ashima Sabharwal, president of the local chapter of the AFWWA and wife of Group Captain Anil Sabharwal, Station Commander of the Air Force Station, gave certificates to proud neo-literate women of the village recently.

Savitri, a villager, who could neither read nor write a word a few months ago, has started reading newspapers. Like Savitri, some other women - Lachhmi, Suman and Rani - are also proud owners of their certificate of literacy and they no more have to put their thumb impression on the register at the PDS shop.On Ashima’s initiative, the organisation began its endeavour to make women of this small village literate in May this year.

Amanpreet, Sunita, Anu Sahni, Parveen Gaur, Kopal and Maina Singh, all members of the AFWWA, were actively associated with the project.During the past six months, members of the AFWWA and volunteers associated with it have been able to bring about considerable change in the lives of these women. “We have been fairly successful in our effort. In six months’ time, we could not have made women degree-holders. But at least they are now able to read and write,” Ashima Sabharwal said about the project.

She said besides making rural women literate, the volunteers of the AFWWA gave these women tips on personal hygiene, importance of cleanliness and value of education for their children.

“Our members also made an endeavour to train village womenfolk on ways to prepare and manage their family budget in accordance with their family incomes, besides providing them lessons on letters and figures,” said Ashima. The AFWWA members utilised these literacy classes to make women aware of social issues like female foeticide, dowry and child marriages.

They also told them how women could improve the situation by standing against these evils.Women were also advised to ensure good education for their girls because an educated girl could help improve the condition of the family of her parents as well as that of her in-laws.

This all started on May 13 this year when the local chapter of the AFWWA decided to adopt Meerpur village for making rural women literate. The members and volunteers of the AFWWA went to the village for three days in a week where rural women assembled at a common place for their literacy classes.

Karnal, December 11
The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Nalvi group) has demanded scrapping of SGPC elections in the state slated for April-May next year, maintaining that these were violative of Section 72 of Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966.

The leaders, who met at Gurdwara Kar Sewa here, were of the unanimous view that SGPC elections should not be held in Haryana and a separate gurdwara committee be constituted for the state.

The president, Didar Singh Nalvi, lashed out at the Congress government for misleading the Sikhs. He pointed out that the issue of a separate gurdwara committee was mentioned in the party election manifestos of 2005 and 2009, but the Congress had not honoured its commitment.

He said the proposal for the same had the support of 81 members in the assembly in 2007.

The Haryana Sikhs would continue their struggle till the demand was accepted, he said.

He said though Punjabi had been declared second language, there had been no recruitments of Punjabi teachers so far.

Narnaul, December 11
The police department has decided to give a cash prize of Rs 1,000 to persons who will take road mishap victims to hospital.

The police has also been directed to keep the convenience of the Good Samaritans in mind and allow them to leave after recording just a few basic details.

Talking to The Tribune, SP JP Nagar said here today that the step had been taken to provide timely medical aid to injured persons. Besides, giving cash rewards, such persons would be honoured by the district administration, he added.

“It was observed that most of the passers-by avoided helping accident victims due to the apprehension of getting entangled in legal hassles…hence, we decided to simplify the medico-legal procedure, apart from introducing cash incentive for the helping hands,” he said.

He said Road Safety Decade would be observed from 2011 to 2020 in the world on the call of the United Nations Organisation. In had been decided to increase the number of traffic constables at the district level, he said.

Nagar said “Road Safety Week” would be observed in the district from January 1 to 7 and during this period a road safety drive would be launched with the help of district functionaries.

Pamphlets would be distributed through roadside dhaba owners.

To prevent police personnel from allegations of misbehaviour and bribe while implementing traffic rules, a “Road Safety Organisation” will be set up wherein social organisations and retired employees would be included as members.

Chandigarh, December 11
Governor Jagannath Pahadia administered the oath of office and secrecy to Manbir Singh Bhadana as a member of the Haryana Public Service Commission at a function organised at Haryana Raj Bhawan here today. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present on the occasion.

An advocate by profession, Bhadana (50) has done BCom, MBA and LLB. He joined the legal profession in 1999 and remained a member of the High Court Bar Association and legal advisor to several companies. He also remained on the Board of Directors of many companies.

Others present on the occasion included Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Chhatar Singh and senior officers of the state government.

The deceased has been identified as Bhoth Ram, son of Madu Ram of Jharoda village of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. — OC