Chandigarh, December 28
In a disturbing trend, a minor goes missing every day in Haryana. In the past six months, over 200 children, including 72 girls, have gone missing in the state, a development which has a direct bearing on the safety of the missing chidren.

In fact, the districts bordering Delhi in the National Capital Region (NCR) seem to be reporting highest number of missing children. The urbanised and crime-prone district of Faridabad reported the highest number of missing children with 45 children reported missing in the past six months. Suprisingly, out of these 45 missing children, 20 were girls. Sonepat with 33 missing kids and Hisar with 23 missing children were the other districts with a sizable missing population below 18 years.

Since June 28,2011, over 800 persons went missing in the state out of which nearly 250 were women above 18 years and over 200 children up to the age of 18 years. In all, over 1,600 children are reported to be missing in Haryana.

Expressing concern at the increasing number of missing children, a senior police official said the rise in number could be the result of the registration of cases in case of the missing persons which was not the case earlier. However, the involvement of the children trafficking gangs in the state could not be ruled out particularly in the districts in the NCR near the National Capital, he said, adding that nearly five minors went missing in Delhi every day.

The disappearance of the children in northern states was cause of concern for the authorities. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) of the Union Home Ministry recently organised a workshop here to study the problem at the grassroots level and formulate a strategy to tackle the problem.

Meanwhile, data showed that Sonepat, with 40 cases, led the state in case of missing women (above 18 years), a majority of whom were married. Intriguingly, 27 minor boys went missing in Sonepat in the past six months. Similarly, Faridabad with 25 cases of minor boys missing reported 32 cases of women (above 18 years) missing. In Hisar, 34 women above the age of 18 years went missing as compared to 23 cases of minors, including 15 boys, gone missing.

Hisar, December 28
The police in Hisar, Bhiwani, Jind, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts will now put into practice a special scheme called the 3-2-2 scheme for checking crime. Inspector-General of Police, Hisar range, AS Chawla said here today that under this scheme crimes like loot, dacoity and snatching would fall under category 3 and the police would tackle these cases on a priority basis.

Under the next figure 2, the police would investigate and collect information about unidentified bodies and missing persons.

The next figure of 2 represented misbehaviour by policemen with the people or reports of helping any person against whom a complaint had been lodged.

Complaints of police misbehaviour could be lodged on the following mobile numbers: Hisar - 8295826100, Jind - 9729996518, Sirsa - 9729997825, Bhiwani - 9896740387 and Fatehebad - 9729996915.

The mobile numbers for reporting misconduct by policemen were: Hisar - 8295821700, Sirsa - 9729997801, Jind - 9729996520, Bhiwani - 9896740259 and Fatehabad - 9729996916.

Chawla said though the numbers 3-2-2 appeared innocuous, every cop would have to function within the scope of these numbers.

He said the police had also been assigned tasks to check crime speedily. Under CYAA (criminal you are after) the police would speedily solve cases of loot, dacoity, snatching and theft. Under CTBA (criminal to be arrested) the police would prepare a database of criminals and crime that took place during the past five years.

As soon as the database was completed, the police would make special efforts to arrest criminals who were involved in these crimes.

He said under the UIDB (unidentified dead bodies), the police would be required to collect photographs of missing persons and information would be shared within the police stations falling in the Hisar police range.

The IG said every SHO had been directed to arrest at least one criminal and follow up the case till sentencing within a specified period.

Bhiwani, December 28
The performance reports of candidates of senior secondary first semester examination conducted by the Board of School Education, Haryana, in October will be declared tomorrow. The result of private or re-appear candidates of senior secondary will also be declared tomorrow.

Chander Parkash, Board Secretary, said 2,57,788 candidates took the first semester examination at 1,646 centres. Only performance reports of these candidates would be declared and the whole results would be declared after adding the results of second semester examination scheduled to be held in March. Those students who have got re-appear in their performance report could apply for March examination with an examination fee of Rs 375. He said the result of private or re-appear or additional subject or improvement candidates would also be declared tomorrow. A total of 65, 200 candidates took this examination and 32,963 candidates were declared pass giving the pass percentage of 50.55. He said the performance report or Hindi version of check list would be available at schools or heads of institutions concerned in the offices of the District Education Officers tomorrow from 11 am to 5 pm and on December 30 from 9 am to 4 pm.

He said the performance report would be available on BSNL mobile through SMS by typing HR12<SPACE>rollno>send to 56666 and on Helpline number 01664-254000 from 8 am onwards. The students could also log on to websites: http://bseh.gov.in, http://hbse.nic.in, www.educationgateway.co.in, www.indiaresults.com, www.schools9.com, www.examresults.net and www.amarujala.com.

He said the students who want to apply for re-appear or compartment or fail or full subjects examinations in March could send their examination forms up to January 18 with an examination fee of Rs 640. After this date, a late fee of Rs 100 would be payable up to January 25 and the late fee of Rs 300 would be charged up to February 1 and a late fee of Rs 1,000 would be payable up to February 8. In case of a holiday, the next working day would be considered as the last date. Forms would not be acceptable by courier, he added.

Hisar, December 28
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) will keep all its cash counters open on Saturday the December 31 so that consumers can get the benefit of Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS) for unauthorised extension of load. The scheme expires on December 31. In case unauthorised load is detected after the expiry of the scheme, a penalty will be imposed.

A spokesman of the DHBVN said here today that the VDS had been launched for domestic, non-domestic and industrial consumers to declare their unauthorised extension of load voluntarily without paying any penalty.

He said a very simple procedure had been specified for declaring the extended load under the VDS.

The domestic and non-domestic consumers can declare the extended load by submitting an “Application and Agreement” (A&A) form along with advance consumption deposit (ACD). They need not submit any terms and conditions form or affidavit.

The consumers are not required to submit any fresh test report also up to 20 KW total load. They may submit a self declaration form. However, for extension of load beyond 20 KW, a fresh test report is required to be submitted. Their load will be regularised without any penalty.

He said the industrial consumers could also declare their unauthorised load on A&A form along with revised test report and consumption security and service connection charges for extended load. They also need not submit any terms and conditions forms and affidavits.

The extension of load will be regularised with the existing system if lines and transformers can bear the extended load. In case the existing system cannot bear the declared load, the consumer will be asked to remove the unauthorised load.

In case the extended load causes change in category of consumers from low tension to high tension, the consumer will be required to declare his contract demand and change to HT mode of supply by completing all other formalities. If extended load necessitates installation of metering equipment of a higher rating, the consumer will provide the same, if it is not available with the nigam.

He said the extension of load would be deemed to have been regularised from the date of submission of A&A form by the applicant in the office of the subdivisional officer concerned. As such, the consumers need not go to the office after completing the formalities initially.

However, the benefit of the scheme will be given to the consumers who are not defaulters or who have made the entire payment of their outstanding dues.

Chandigarh, December 28
Health care services continued to reel under severe staff shortage in Haryana in 2011. While the state government initiated certain major health projects, an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff at the grassroots level in the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) sent the rural health care for a toss.

As if shortage of doctors was not enongh, members of the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association went on mass leave in support of their demands for two days from November 8, crippling medical services in the state.

The year saw the launch of nationawide Rashtriya Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyajkram for pregnant women and infants at Mandi Khera in Nuh (Mewat) by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on June 1. However, a few months later, the scheme aimed at providing institutional deliveries, including required treatment, pick-and-drop facility, test, medicines and diet for women and newborn, faced teething troubles in the wake of the shortage of doctors.

Despite recruitment of over 2,000 doctors under a liberalised doctor recruitment policy through walk-in interviews by the Health Department, the shortage continued to plague the hospital with the department failing to retain the doctors in view of better pay and perks in the private sector.

The Health Department has a sanctioned strength of 2,206 for the medical officers (MOs) and 449 for the SMOs.With the Haryana Government sanctioning 285 more posts recently, the number comes to be 2,940.

However, the actual availability of the doctors is far less than the sanctioned staff. While 2,239 doctors --1,833 MOs and 406 SMOs -- are on the rolls, about 600 doctors are not available as they are on leave, pursuing postgraduate degrees and are on deputation to the other states.

In fact, it is not the doctors’ shortage which makes the government hospitals least preferred by the common man as the specialists and other paramedical staff are also woefully insufficient. There are only 374 dental surgeons available as against the total sanctioned strength of 528. In case of staff nurses, the sanctioned strength is 1,935 while only 1,554 were employed with the Health Department. To top it all, there were only 3,835 multi-purpose health workers (MPHW) in the state as against the sanctioned strength of 5,149 health workers.The case of laboratory technicians was no different with their number being 531 as compared to the sanctioned strength of 692.

On the positive note, the state took certain pro-people decisions. Health infrastructure is being strengthened as the state government is spending an amount of Rs 287 crore under the National Rural Health Mission during 2011-12 to bring about improvement in the health care system, especially in rural areas. The state government has also taken a decision to provide free medicines to all outdoor patients and a sum of Rs 35 crore is being spent on this during the current financial year.

Besides, a new scheme has been introduced in Haryana under which health volunteers, to be named as “Yashoda”, will be deployed in district hospitals to facilitate registration of pregnant women when they reach the hospital for delivery and act as a companion during the period of labour and delivery and provide counselling on breast feeding.

The Health Department had implemented a software-based Mother and Child Tracking System in the state. Till November 2011, records of about 1.45 lakh pregnant women and 46,000 newborns have been entered in the online web portal.

The sex ratio in Haryana has also increased from 861 per thousand male in 2001 to 877 per thousand male in 2011. The vaccination percentage in Haryana has been 71.7 per cent in the year 2011 though there was scope for futher improvement.

Fatehabad, December 28
The INLD, the main Opposition party in Haryana, today rejected the Lokpal Bill passed by Parliament last night and said it would not help in rooting out corruption from the country.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Ajay Singh Chautala, secretary-general of the INLD, said the Bill passed by Parliament on Tuesday was “Congress Lokpal” and not the Jan Lokpal, which the people of this country had been demanding.

“The UPA government has not incorporated any of the important amendments suggested by the Opposition. The Bill does not include the CBI under the Lokpal, nor has the office of the Prime Minister been included in it properly,” Chautala said.

The INLD leader alleged that the Congress had scant regard for democracy or the institutions coming under the democratic set-up.

He said despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders, the Congress government in Haryana had not yet asked the three MLAs, who defected from the Haryana Janhit Congress, to demit office.

He said instead of following the orders of the high court, the Congress leaders were busy issuing statements against the verdict thereby openly denigrating the authority of the judiciary.

Refusing to admit that the INLD has suffered a loss of popularity due to defeat in the recently concluded Ratia Assembly bypoll, Chautala maintained that the INLD’s votes had remained intact in Ratia and it was only due to the “tacit understanding” between the HJC and the Congress that the ruling party won that seat.

Chautala said if the Congress had any qualms about its popularity after the Ratia bypoll, he was ready to have an open debate with any Congress leader over the first 10 promises on which the Congress came to power in 2005.

The INLD leader, meanwhile, said that his party was not contesting elections in any of the five states that were going to poll next month.

Sonepat, December 28
Physical torture on a victim of loot, Anil, allegedly the SHO, city police station, Gohana, by Nar Singh, and the Investigating Officer, Sukhbir Singh, during police investigation has led to the suspension of both police officials by KK Rao, SSP.

However, goldsmiths’ association of Gohana formed a “Sangharsh Samiti” after their meeting last evening and demanded registration of a case against the suspended police officials. They also served a 5-day ultimatum for the recovery of the looted gold and silver jewellery and arrest of the alleged accused.

According to information, if the case was not registered against Nar Singh and Sukhbir Singh, the association would move the court for registration of the case. The police had also reportedly recorded the statement of Anil under Section 155 of the CrPC for further necessary action.

It is recalled that jewellery worth lakh of rupees was looted by two motorcycle-borne miscreants on Saturday when Anil was returning to his house from the shop carrying jewellery in a bag. After the loot, Anil registered a complaint at the city police station, Gohana.

As alleged by Anil, he was asked to report in the police station for inquiry into the incident and was beaten mercilessly by the suspended SHO and the IO during the intervening night of Sunday.

After receiving a complaint of the alleged police torture, both police officials were placed under suspension by the SSP with the assurance to the association that the accused in the loot would be arrested soon.

Gurgaon, December 28
The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) authorities have launched a web portal in order to bring transparency in the functioning of the civic body and enable the common people to monitor the progress of the development works.

The web portal was launched by SS Dhillon, Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary of the Urban Local Bodies Department, during his recent visit to the city.

If residents want to know the status of development works in their area, they can visit the official MCG website, www.mcg.gov.in, and click on “Engineering Projects” under the “Information” section.

MCG Commissioner Sudhir Rajpal said the entire information about the ongoing projects would be placed on the web portal. He said with this, the Municipal Councillors as well as other residents would be able to monitor the status of projects taken up in their areas.

The ward number, name of the project, cost, date of starting the project, scheduled completion date, status or progress, report date and the payment made to the contractor would be displayed on the portal. The photographs of the project sites before the commencement of the said work and afterwards would also be posted on the portal. The photographs would be updated within seven days so that the people can assess the progress.

A live presentation was also given on accessing and using the portal to get the desired information. Rajpal pointed out that the officials concerned would also be able to monitor the progress of the developmental projects in a more efficient way.

“It will be like a visual inspection of the projects,” he said and added that in future, the details of the projects, which get the administrative approval would also be uploaded on the portal. Rajpal disclosed that the MCG was now on Facebook also.

“A call centre having toll-free number 18000-180-1817 is also operational, on which a total of 7,624 complaints have been received since June 2. Of these, 6,275 complaints have been settled,” he added.

Hisar, December 28
People driving two-wheelers in the district account for about 50 per cent of the traffic violations. According to a press note issued by the district police here today, out of the 43,931 challans issued under the Motor Vehicles Act during 2011, as many as 10,486 were for not wearing a helmet and 9,031 persons were challaned for triple riding.

As many as 7,505 challans were issued for speeding and 7,139 for driving without a valid licence. Another major concern is wrong parking. More than 5,700 vehicles were challaned for violation of parking rules. Vehicle owners are also prone to affixing fancy number plates. — TNS

Faridabad, December 28
Although the government has conceded to the demand to take back 966 workers of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) on job, employees of the civic body today launched an indefinite relay hunger strike on two more demands.

The employees, agitating under the banner of the “Nagar Palika Karamchaari Sangh”, had called off their 14-day strike yesterday when Shivcharanlal Sharma, Haryana Labour and Employment Minister, showed them a copy of government’s order regarding taking back the employees. The employees to be taken back are 910 safai karamchaaris. The retrenchment occurred during the INLD regime in 2001, allegedly on ground of financial crisis faced by the civic body.

Naresh Kumar Shastri, president of the Nagar Palika Karamchaari Sangh, said: “The strike was abandoned in the interest of the public. The relay hunger strike is to press the government to regularise services of daily wagers in the MCF and also that the civic body must do away the system of employing contractual workers through contractors.”

Kurukshetra, December 28
Representatives of various social, religious, educational and traders organisations staged a dharna in support of Anna Hazare’s three-day hunger strike in protest against not passing the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill in front of the mini-secretariat here on the consecutive second day today.

They demanded that respecting the feelings of people, the MPs and the government should pass a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. They reiterated the allegations that the government is adopting dilly-dally tactics to pass the Bill. They also announced that they would even go to jails if needed to get their demand accepted.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, convener of the programme, and the president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Subhash Mahendra, state president of the Gita Parchar Committee, Jai Bhagwan, advocate, Pradeep Kumar Arya, Sudesh Kumari and Om Prakash Hathira were among those who addressed the gathering.