The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Panipat police gets advanced mobile fingerprint scanners Manish Sirhindi Tribune News Service Panipat, March 12 The district police has been equipped with an advanced mobile fingerprint scanner which has been installed on PCR vehicles making it easy for the security agency to identify suspects and link them with any unsolved crimes with just a click of the mouse. These PCR vehicles started patrolling the city roads recently and are all set to be introduced in all other districts of the state in a phased manner. Layak Ram Dabas, director of the State Crime Record Bureau, said the facility would enable the police to identify criminals and link suspects to crimes instantly. He said PCR vehicles had remote identification devices which had been connected to the high-end Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) already installed at the Madhuban Crime Record Bureau through Internet. The whole system could be used to determine identity based solely on fingerprints and currently had a database of over 5 lakh criminals. He said the system would enable the police to automatically match one or many unknown fingerprints against a database of known and unknown prints making it easy for the investigators to identify criminals. He said the AFIS came with capabilities such as latent searching, electronic image storage and electronic exchange of fingerprints and criminal identification. While the European police agencies are now required by a European Council Act to have the AFIS of their own to improve the war on terror and investigate cross-border crime, in India, the system is yet to find favour with the state police departments with only a few states having this system. Dabas said the system was so accurate that there were seldom more than single matches unless there were multiple records from the same person in the database. Meanwhile, the Indian version of Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is called FACTS, which was co-developed by NCRB and CMC Ltd, India. The current version of FACTS is 5.0. The system uses image processing and pattern recognition technique to capture, encode, store and match fingerprints, including comparison of chance prints. It uses pattern class, core and delta information, minutiae location, direction, neighbouring information, ridge counts and distances, density, type, print background/foreground and other information to establish the identity.
	Setback for Hooda as Vijay Lakshmi loses security deposit Pradeep Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 12 The crushing defeat of the Congress in the Punjab elections, besides being a jolt to the party, was a personal setback for Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with his daughter’s mother-in-law and BJP candidate Vijay Lakshmi Bhadoo losing her security deposit. Even as the SAD-BJP alliance’s junior partner put up a creditable performance by winning 12 seats in the state, Bhadoo, a senior BJP leader, could manage to get only 9,251 votes and finished a poor third after Congress’ Sunil Jakhar (55,613 votes) and Independent Shiv Lal Doda (45,825 votes). The Abohar Assembly segment is considered to be the stronghold of Sunil Jakhar, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker and late veteran Congress leader Balram Jakhar. On the other hand, Bhadoo was considered to be comparatively lightweight candidate against the backdrop of the faction-fighting in the saffron party. Doda, who had also applied for the BJP ticket, was expelled from the party after he raised the banner of revolt and filed nominated papers as an independent candidate. Saying that electoral win or loss was a part of the political game, a senior Congress functionary close to the Chief Minister conceded that in a way it was an “embarrassment” for the Chief Minister’s family. “More than embarrassment or personal setback, Bhadoo’s dismal performance reflected poorly on the mass base of the much-touted cadre-based party like the BJP in the Abohar area,” he quipped. During the run-up to the elections, Chief Minister and his MP son, Deepender Singh Hooda, were caught in a Catch-22 situation on support to the Congress candidate or their close relative and BJP candidates. Though the Abohar Assembly segment was too close to Haryana, both Hooda and his son had avoided campaigning for either of the candidates to “avoid embarrassment” to themselves and the Congress and the SAD-BJP candidates.
	Special Scheme ‘No database of units getting tax concessions’ Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 12 The Departments of Industries and Excise and Taxation have failed to maintain any database of the industrial units availing benefits of tax concessions under a special scheme of the state government causing huge loss to the state exchequer. This was stated by Onkar Nath, Prinicipal Accountant General (Audit), Haryana, while addressing a press conference here recently. Onkar Nath alleged that 17 units closed business after availing the exemption and the department failed to recover exemption and deferment benefits amounting to Rs 20.64 crore availed by them. Besides, no evaluation study of the scheme was done with a view to measure the impact of tax concessions on growth of industries and employment, he alleged. Not only that, the government granted excess benefit of tax deferment totalling Rs 4.47 crore to an expansion unit treating it as a new unit. Similarly, the interest-free loan of Rs 2.91 crore from nine units in three districts and interest of Rs 48.53 lakh on delayed payments from two dealers in two districts were not recovered. The scheme for the exemption and deferment of payment of sales tax for the new unit was introduced in 1989 with a view to giving a boost to the industrial development. However, tax concession benefits had been granted indiscriminately to those units, whose database regarding tax benefits availed and tax recovered was not available with the departments concerned. Meanwhile, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which was tabled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha recently, stated that despite attractive tax concessions amounting to 250 to 300 per cent of the fixed capital investment by the state government, there were no takers for the agro-based and electronic/software industries.
	INLD plans to expand base in non-Jat areas Ravi S Singh Tribune News Service Faridabad, March 12 The main opposition in the state Vidhan Sabha and arch-rival of the ruling Congress, the INLD, aims at expanding its base in the non-Jat areas of south Haryana through its March 18 rally here to be addressed by former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Sources in the INLD say the party’s strategy is to champion the cause of business community and issues relating to non-Jat sections in tune with the dominant social psychology of south Haryana. District president of the INLD Nagender Bhadana summed up the mood in his party saying the rally has been christened “Parivartan” (change of regime) and its outlook would be pan-Haryana. “Failure of the Congress government to govern the state, which has led to disappointment among all sections of the society, will be highlighted in the rally. Public in south Haryana, encompassing about six districts, was seething with anger and disappointment with the present government,” Bhadana said. A senior leader of the INLD said the Congress was in for a surprise. “There is wide-ranging disenchantment in the Congress circles and the INLD will stand to gain immensely on account of it,” the leader said. Political circles here attach significance to the proposed rally as it would be on the heels of the ongoing Budget Session of the Haryana Assembly, which has been marked by acrimony among the Congress and the Opposition. Also, the rally is being organised under the shadows of the ongoing agitation of the Jats on the issue of reservation. The under-performance of the Congress in the recent Assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, would be exploited by the INLD leaders on the occasion. The INLD leaders said the rally would stress on the failure of the government to handle the pro-reservation agitation. The mood in the INLD suggests that Chautala would pitch in for empowerment of non-Jat sections of the society in the rally.
	‘Inclusive growth has no meaning without inflation targeting’ Our Correspondent Kurukshetra, March 12 To increase the propensity to cultivate among farmers, we need concrete plan of action with political will power in place of lip service for the farming community. Just floating schemes and throwing funds in the name of inclusive growth are not sufficient without controlling corruption, population and inflation. This was stated by Dr MM Goel, Professor of Economics and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kurukshetra University, while delivering the presidential address at the valedictory function of the UGC-sponsored national seminar on ‘Inclusive Growth in Agriculture’ at the Department of Economics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, recently. Stating this in the massage emailed to mediapersons here recently, Prof Goel said, “We need financial inclusion as one of the oils in the economic engine of inclusive growth in the agriculture sector with reliability, accountability, transparency and efficiency. Inclusive growth has no meaning without inflation targeting, manpower planning and good governance”. “To maintain food self-sufficiency and gaining food security is the biggest policy challenge faced by the country in the coming years. To stop the adverse effects on equity and efficiency in the agriculture sector, adequate marketing facilities are required,” he said. For increasing the efficiency of rural markets, there was an urgent need of information provisions through direct interventions, he added. “We believe that there are net welfare gains such as improvement in procurement efficiency and reduction in transaction costs through creating direct marketing channels between producers and processors as in South Korea. It reduces traditional monopoly power of the traders who face shrinking market,” he said. “There are significant spillover effects on the movement of prices due to the change in the procurement strategy of the private buyers. There is a strong case for serious research on determination of the general equilibrium effects of improved information on wages, poverty and investment incentives available to the farmers in the country where 30 to 40 per cent productivity levels can push up yields; say to 70 per cent by applying modern technology. This will have a tremendous impact in transforming agricultural sustainability in the country,” Prof Goel added.
	Selection of Info Commissioners Government urged to ensure transparency Ravinder Saini Jhajjar, March 12 The Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch, a social organisation working in the field of Right to Information (RTI) for the past few years, has urged the state government to adopt a transparent way for the selection of state Information Commissioners in Haryana. In a missive to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda recently in this regard, all district presidents of the manch have threatened the government that they would register a state-level protest by launching a special drive against the government if it does not follow the transparent way of selection of Haryana State Information Commissioners by inviting application from the public. “Since the post of State Information Commissioner is the most responsible one in nature and is associated with the interest of the common man, it should not be a part of the inside-politics of the state government. The post should be filled through inviting applications from the public by laying down criteria for it so that only competent people could be appointed to the post,” said Subhash, state coordinator, Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch. The state government was persistently appointing the bureaucrats as the State Information Commissioners directly after their superannuation without adopting any transparent selection procedure in this regard, hence the move of the government was against the public interest, he said. He said the Supreme Court had also mandated that all the further appointments to such posts should be done by adopting a transparent procedure.
	Selection of Mandi Supervisors, Assistant secretaries High Court asks HSSC to produce records Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 12 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) to produce the relevant records on the selection of mandi supervisors and assistant secretaries. The directions by Justice K. Kannan came during the resumed hearing of two separate civil writ petitions filed by Bhupinder Kumar and others. They had expressed surprise at the procedure adopted by the HSSC for selection and appointment to the posts of mandi supervisors and assistant secretaries in 2011. The counsel for the petitioners in both the writ petitions contended that the HSSC conducted a written qualifying examination it was not empowered to hold, as it could, at the most, organise a screening tests for shortlisting candidates. The counsel further submitted that a separate shortlist was not prepared by the HSSC on the basis of the written test for mandi supervisors for the SC and BC candidates. Similarly, a shortlist was not separately prepared by the HSSC for the BC candidates for the post of assistant secretary. Justice Kannan directed the HSSC to produce the criteria of selection on the next date and also the marks secured by all shortlisted candidates in the written test and interview. Justice Kannan has also called for the list of all shortlisted and finally selected candidates. The case now has been adjourned to March 30.
	‘Management of agricultural produce need of the hour’ BS Malik Sonepat, March 12 Joint effort of farmers and agriculture scientists has made the country self-sufficient in foodgrains and need of the hour is to have proper technological management of the agricultural produce. This was stated by Sonepat MP Jitender Singh Malik while addressing the district-level Kisan Mela, organised by the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), at the Subhash stadium here recently. Under the ATMA, agriculture development reforms were being carried out and over 1,26,000 farmers in the state had benefited during the past six years from these reforms, he said. Malik stressed on the need for promoting animal husbandry to ensure a regular source of income for rural people. He said the state government had set up the Farmers’ Commission to protect their interests. Outstanding performance of the state in wheat production was acknowledged at national level when the state was honoured with the Sarvshresta Krishi Karman award by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, he added. Hari Ram, a resident of Gangeshar village, was adjudged the best farmer and was given reward of Rs 25,000. Sanjay of Pipli in Kharkhoda block, Dilbag of Baroda in Murlana, Bhagat Singh of Gudha in Kathura, Rajpal of Aterna in Rai, Ranbir of Garhi Keshri in Gannaur, Randhir of Sandal Kalan in Sonepat and Jugti Ram of Sikanderpur Majra in Gohana were declared best farmers at the block level. Cash reward of Rs 10,000 each were given to them by the MP. An exhibition was also organised by various departments and private institutions. The farmers were given information about various agriculture-related techniques, including seed treatment, fish farming and floriculture, by the experts.
	‘Technical education, research facilities must’ Our Correspondent Sonepat, March 12 It is the need of the hour to provide the youth with the best possible technical education and research facilities to enable them to compete in this era of globalisation. This was stated by Haryana Education Minister, Geeta Bhukkal while addressing faculty members, students and other staff of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of science and technology, Murthal, recently. She distributed prizes to winners of the 3-day function Techno Rhythm -2012. The minister announced a grant of Rs 1.51 lakh for the students of ‘Savera’, a day school being voluntarily run by students of the university to teach the children of the labourers and workers engaged in construction activities at the university premises. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, HS Chahal, listed the progress made by the university in four years and said that the number of research scholars had gone up to 193 in the university. Besides providing best possible technical education and research facilities, the university had also been rewarded at state level for its energy conservation campaign, he added. The university Registrar, RK Arora, Chairperson of the Haryana Social Welfare Board, Sunitra Chauhan, faculty members and students were also present on the occasion.
	Computer education ‘vital for everyone’ Tribune News Service Sirsa, March 12 The Computer Science Department and Entrepreneurship Development Cell of Jan Nayak Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial College of Engineering organised a four-day workshop on computer awareness here recently. Dr Vikram Singh, Professor of Computer Science and Application, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, inaugurated the workshop. Lekha Bhambhu, Head, Computer Science Engineering Department of the college, introduced the main aspects of the workshop. More than 200 participants, including children, women and senior citizens, attended the workshop. The participants got acquainted with MS-Word, Excel and the Internet and also learnt about installing software on a computer. Pardeep Kumar, City Magistrate, Sirsa, was the chief guest at the valedictory function while Dr Shamim Sharma, Managing Director of Jan Nayak Chaudhary Devi Lal Vidyapeeth, was the guest of honour. Pardeep Kumar said in order to survive in the present era, computer knowledge was necessary. If a person did not have ample knowledge of computers, he would not be able to go far in life as far as his career options were concerned. Dr Shamim Sharma laid emphasis on the importance of computer literacy in society and said computer education was becoming vital for everyone. Dr Gurcharan Dass, Principal of the host college,said computers had truly brought about a revolutionary change in today’s education and work culture. The chief guest gave certificates to the participants.
	Sapling plantation drive Our Correspondent Ambala, March 12 A tree plantation drive was held at the PKR Jain (PG) College of Education here recently. Students and teachers participated in this drive with great zeal and enthusiasm. Dr Mudita Bhatnager, principal of the college, said it was a good effort on part of the students to participate in such a drive. She gave a slogan for motivating the students, “Plant Trees and Save Earth”.
	Kurukshetra NIT holds technical fest Our Correspondent Kurukshetra, March 12 A four-day students’ technical fest, Literati, organised by the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, concluded here recently. Prof VK Arora, Dean (Planning and Development), NIT, Kurukshetra, was the chief guest at the valedictory function. One of the main attractions of the festival was an exhibition organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The exhibition showcased technological advancements of BrahMos missile, Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), the three laboratories of DRDO. During the technical fest, a total of 67 events were organised in which events like architect, contraption, junkyard wars, town planning, brainstorm, interface and family fortune was a big hit. Earlier, inaugurating the event, Dr S Sundresh, a distinguished scientist and chief controller, Research and Development (R and D), DRDO, New Delhi, said “Students should think big and aim high, keeping a pace with the emerging technologies and career opportunities offered by the DRDO”. In the inaugural session, Dr SN Asthana, who was the guest of honour, motivated the technocrats and budding engineers to contribute to the development of the country. Presiding over the inaugural session, NIT director Prof Anand Mohan appreciated the efforts of the organising team in making the event a grand success. Results Contraption: 1. Team Stikers, and 2. Team Ingenio Robowar: 1. Team Prateek; and 2. Team Nitin Microsearch: 1. Gurpreet and Krishna, and 2. K Jagathi and Raman Fastest Coder: 1. Kshitij, and 2. Chandan Nirmaan: 1. Shiney, and 2. Sneha and Garima Vidhwaan: 1. Team Amit, and 2. Team Anupama Ashwamegh: 1. Monika and Jitesh, and 2. Rahul and Saurabh Excalibur: 1. Team Marg, and 2. Team Mo-game Nimbus: 1. Manu, and 2. Vinay Roll-a-coaster: 1. Team Genius, and 2. Team Keshav Black Box: 1. Vaibhav and Rahul, and 2. Kunal and Deepak Cyberfang: 1. Aman and Vinay, and 2. Bhumika and Abhishek Encoder: 1. Shobit, and 2. Utkarsh Sudoku: 1. Sachin, and 2. Raman and Vaibhav Cyberbyte: 1. Shubham, and 2. Kirti and Jyoti Spectacles: 1. Anurag, and 2. Komal Mechguru: 1. Vikram and Sahil, and 2. Ashish and Sahil Big Fight: 1. Anurag, and Shubham and Siddharth Apprentice: 1. Team Tribune, and 2. Team Alchemists Interface: 1. Ankita and Bharti, and 2. Neha and Ekta Techempore (Civil): 1. Nishant, and 2. Siddharth Techempore (Mechanical): 1. Ramesh, and 2. Sandeep Techempore (Electronics and Communication): 1. Satyendra, and 2. Parag Techempore (Electrical): 1. Mukul, and 2. Prateek
	Hindu Girls College wins overall trophy Our Correspondent Sonepat, March 12 The local Hindu Girls College won the overall trophy at a three-day cultural competition concluded in Jhajjar recently. The students of the college bagged 11 prizes in literary, cultural and musical events in which teams from various colleges across the state participated. According to Nirmal Jabbal, principal of the college, Pritam won the first prize in Haryanavi poetic recitation and the second prize in Hindi poetic recitation, while Rashmi stood first in English poetic recitation and Harleen stood third in the English essay writing competition. Yogita and Sweety won the first and second prizes, respectively, in rangoli competition, while Poonam won the third prize in Sanskrit poetic recitation. Poonam and Kalpana won the second prize in folk dance, while Anita won the third prize in folk song. The winners were given cash prizes by Pradeep Kaushik, City Magistrate, Jhajjar.
	Delay in Construction of Hospital Manch writes to Capt Yadav Nawal Kishore Rastogi Rewari, March 12 The Dakshin Haryana Vikas Lok Manch (DHVLM) has made a written representation to Power, Forest and Environment Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav drawing his attention to laying of the foundation stone of a 100-bed multi-speciality hospital by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here on November 18, 2010. The state government had given an allocation of Rs 16 crore for its construction. Copies of the representation have also been dispatched to Governor Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Health Minister Rao Narender Singh and other dignitaries. The DHVLM lamented that while not a brick had been laid for the construction of the above multi-speciality hospital even after the passage of 15 months, 100-bed multi-speciality hospitals had already been set up in Gohana, Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh. Besides, while a mini PGI had been established in Kaithal, the construction work of AIIMS-II was in progress at Badhsa town in Jhajjar district. Lamenting the apathetic attitude of the present government towards the region in the matter of development, Prof Ranbir Singh Yadav, general secretary of the DHVLM, urged Power Minister Capt Yadav to expedite the establishment of the multi-speciality hospital here in the interest of the residents.
	VC urges youth to participate in nation building Tribune News Service Panipat, March 12 DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, exhorted the youth to contribute to nation building by standing up against the challenges like terrorism, poverty, starvation and unemployment being faced by the country today. He said this while addressing a convocation of graduates and postgraduates at SD (PG) College here recently. “Almost 55 per cent of our population is young and it is the duty of the youth to make their contribution to the progress of the nation,” said the Vice-Chancellor. He applauded the contribution of SD (PG) College in providing value-based education to the youth of the area. The Vice-Chancellor was accorded floral welcome by Satish Chandra, president of the governing body of the college, vice-president Sudhir Singla, general secretary Dinesh Goel, educationists Kailash Chand Gupta and Pankaj Goel, principal Sampurnand, director KS Dhillon and Dr RP Saini. While welcoming the chief guest, Satish Chandra enumerated the academic and military distinctions achieved by Dr Sandhu and called him an erudite scholar and a soldier who received PVSM for his military services. Ashish Kaur, star singer of the college, sang a melodious number.
	‘Ensure better implementation of govt policies’ DR Vij Kurukshetra, March 12 In order to streamline the functioning of the offices, bring efficiency, speedy redressal of public grievances and curtail the menace of absenteeism, the state government has directed the heads of district offices to ensure better implementation of the government policies and programmes. This was directed by Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar through a circular to all the heads of the departments in the district here recently. The circular was issued by the government’s monitoring and coordination cell, the DC said. Brar said it was observed that the public found it difficult to get their grievances redressed because of non-availability of the senior officials in the offices. For prompt redressal of their grievances, it had been decided that heads of the departments would remain available between 11 am and 12 pm on all working days for meeting with the public, the DC said.
	Be sensitive to customer needs, public sector banks told Sunit Dhawan/TNS Gurgaon, March 12 Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation of a knowledge centre “Gyan Prasar Kendra” at State Bank Staff College, Hyderabad, from SBI Academy here recently. He also inaugurated a digital library of the college and “Gyanodaya”, SBI e-learning portal, through remote control. The function, which marked the golden jubilee celebrations of the SBI Staff College at Hyderabad, was organised at Gurgaon as the minister could not travel to Hyderabad owing to the upcoming Budget session of the Parliament. Mukherjee also flagged off two ambulances donated by the SBI management to the Indian Red Cross Society and Smile Foundation as part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the minister said public sector banks should be more sensitive to customer needs as good customer service was the key to the growth and stability of banks. He also advised the bank managements to employ well-designed training facilities for officials and electronic banking modules to ensure speedy delivery of services to customers. “In the present-day scenario, even retaining customers is a major challenge for public sector banks,” he observed and pointed out that as customers were becoming more aware, banks would have to provide more efficient and cost-effective services to them. Earlier, in his welcome address, SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri said the bank was unique as it served the residents of the remotest parts of the country. DK Mittal, secretary (Financial Services), and Rashpal Malhotra, Director (Central Board), also addressed the gathering. HG Contractor, SBI Managing Director, proposed the vote of thanks. SBI managing directors Diwakar Gupta and A. Krishna Kumar, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner PC Meena and SDM (Gurgaon-North) Satender Duhan were also present on the occasion.
	34 villages remained crime free in 2011, says Rewari SSP Nawal Kishore Rastogi Rewari, March 12 Sarpanches and panches of 34 village panchayats, which remained crime free during the year 2011, participated in a convention organised by Rewari SSP Vikas Kumar Arora as a part of his newly launched campaign to seek citizens’ cooperation to immunise the district from crime here recently. These villages include Shadipur, Mumtazpur, Nangal Bhagwanpur, Jetpur, Bidawas, Raghunathpura, Kishanpura, Ranoli, Bawana Gujjar, Khaleta, Kolana, Kundal, Lohana, Dhani Saton, Kaluwas, Mehlawas, Peethrawas, Garhi, Bagadwa, Rasooli, Dewlawas, Gajjiwas, Khalilpuri, Tatarpur, Kumrodha, Dhokia, Katopuri, Balawas Jamapur, Bhoorthal Thethar, Lakhnaur, Nangal Ugra, Kasauli and Narsinghpur Garhi. The district police chief said no criminal incident occurred in these villages during the past one year and if any crime-oriented dispute had arisen, it was amicably resolved by the village panchayat at its level. He felicitated the village elders for this accomplishment and awarded them certificates of merit on behalf of the district police administration. The SSP urged the panchayat functionaries to display the citations in the panchayat bhawans. He said these could inspire other village elders to ensure immunity of the villages from crime. He urged the panchayat representatives to keep an eye on suspects and provide requisite assistance to the police in curbing crime. He also counselled them to arrange for nocturnal patrolling to check the nefarious activities of marauders.
	Despite visual impairment, he pursues his dreams Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Fatehabad, March 12“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” the adage holds true for Ramesh Kumar Sharma, who has overcome his physical shortcomings to shape his future as an educationist. Besides his achievement in the academic fields, Sharma has earned a respectable place in the literary field by his writings. He has published two books under pseudonym Kumar Saail. Visually impaired since his childhood, Sharma is now the principal of Government College for Women at Bhodia Khera in Fatehabad. Born to a former Army jawan on November 24, 1954, Sharma’s eyesight started diminishing when he was barely 6-year-old. Though he underwent three operations, he lost his eyesight by the time he was 10. However, the physical impairment did not did not dampen his spirits and he decided to double his efforts to carve his future, rather than sitting back and ruing over the handicap. “I went to the Central National School for Blinds in Dehradun and completed matriculation with the help of Braille code of reading and writing in 1972,” Sharma says. During his school days, he developed a hobby of playing sitar, which finally became his academic interest. Later, his did his MA in instrumental music from Delhi University with first division. He had completed his BA from Dehradun as a private candidate. “A visually impaired person has to face numerous hardships at every step from getting admission to a university, commuting daily for studies and getting a job. A person like me, who always believed in the ‘I-can-do-it’ spirit, starts wondering whether I can really do it,” Sharma says. With his determination, he finally got job as a lecturer in Government College at Narnaul in 1980. Later, he was transferred to Sirsa, where he served for 13 years before he was promoted as principal in 2009. However, his struggle did not end there as the state government decided to divest administrative and financial powers from visually impaired principals after promoting them. He refused to accept the government orders and moved court to set aside the discriminatory orders. “Differently abled persons do not want sympathy or mercy from the society. All we ask for is some help in day to day life,” says Sharma. RK Sharma alias Kumar Saail has authored two books titled “Reshmi Zanzeer” and “Hawayen Khilaf Thee”, both of which reflect his literary acumen, keen observation of the surroundings and human sensitivities and sensibilities. “His poetry and imagination is quite artistic and vivid,” says Dr Meet, an assistant professor in the college. Sharma is married to Madhu, a beautician by profession. They have a daughter and a son.
	Illiterates to get chance to study Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Gurgaon, March 12 The persons who have not been able to pursue studies due to any reason now have an opportunity to get educated. The interested persons can take the examination being held throughout the country on March 18 under the aegis of the National Literacy Mission. Those who pass the test will get certificates equivalent to class III from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The persons who qualify class III exam can then appear in class V, class VIII, class X and class XII exams subsequently. This was disclosed at a function organised to welcome the Saakshar Bharat Yatra - 2012 here recently. Addressing the gathering, VS Hooda, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, said as per the figures of the 2011 Census, Gurgaon was the top district in Haryana with 84.4 per cent literacy rate. He, however, pointed out that even in Gurgaon, women were less educated than men, which indicated that thrust need to be laid on women education. Kavita Yadav, chairperson, Zila Parishad, also emphasised the crucial significance of women literacy and appealed to the women present to avail themselves of this opportunity. Rao Man Singh, chairman of the Kisan Club, Farukhnagar, said an educated person could do well in agriculture. Rajender Kumar Arya, representative of the State Literacy Mission Authority, said the yatra was being taken out to spread the message of literacy. Nearly 3,500 persons are expected to take this examination from Gurgaon alone, he added. He urged the representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to spread awareness about the literacy mission so that residents of their respective village could avail themselves of the benefit of the programme.
	Sirsa lecturer honoured Sirsa, March 12 Dr Punam Miglani, a lecturer in Jan Nayak Chaudhary Devi Lal College of Education, received the Rashtriya Gaurav Award, a certificate of excellence in the field of education, conferred by the India International Friendship Society for her meritorious services in the field of education. This award is presented annually to eminent personalities representing different fields from the country and abroad who have contributed towards progress of India in their respective fields. The award was presented to Miglani by Bhishma Narain Singh, former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam, in a function held in Delhi recently. The India International Friendship Society has a programme of coordinating the efforts of Indians and NRIs in creating joint ventures in various fields of development. It has an advisory committee of economists, journalists, socialists, industrialists, scholars, MPs and retired generals. The society promotes peace, progress and prosperity at the global level. Jan Nayak Chaudhary Devi Lal Vidyapeeth chairman Ajay Singh Chautala, vice chairman Maninder Pal Singh Brar and executive director Shamim Sharma congratulated Miglani and wished for her bright future. — TNS
	Lifetime Achievement Award for KS Dangi Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 12 Dr KS Dangi, Director-General, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, Haryana, has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the state government in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the livestock sector. The award was given to him by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at a function held in Jind recently. Born and brought up in a humble farmer family, Dangi always dreamt of being a person who could help and raise the socio-economic status of rural poor. He rightly chose the profession of veterinary sciences. A gold medallist of Veterinary College, Hisar, Dangi is an internationally renowned animal breeding specialist, who earned his doctorate from one of the most prestigious institutions in the US. He preferred to serve his motherland in spite of opportunities and lucrative job offers from abroad. Some of his recent landmark achievements include successful implementation of various innovative initiatives such as field progeny testing, performance recording for identification of elite buffaloes, Murrah bull production, upgrade of sperm stations to international standards, sex-sorted semen, doorstep delivery of breeding services and zero-infertility livestock.
	Awareness rally on foeticide, drug abuse DR Vij Kurukshetra, March 12 Over 200 women took out an awareness rally against female foeticide, dowry system, drug abuse, homosexuality and prostitution in the nearby villages here recently. The rally was flagged off from the Grain Market Chowk, Gobindgarh, near here, by NK Jhamb, Deputy Civil Surgeon, LNJP Hospital. Addressing the gathering, Dr Jhamb said: “Drug addiction is weakening the youth and foeticide is a slur on society. Doctors, who are helping in aborting female foetuses, are not true to their profession.” Starting from Gobindgarh village and passing through Kheri Brahmnan, Dayalpur and Kirmach villages, the rally terminated at Hathira village. Dayalpur village sarpanch Amrawati, Kirmach former village sarpanch Ram Kali and Hathira village panchayat member Ajmer Singh were among those who were present on the occasion. The women raised slogans like “bhroon hatya paap hai, beti ko maroge to bahu kahan se laoge”, “bidi peekar khaans raha hai, maut ke aage naach raha hai”, “papa ji na pio sharab, mujhe bhi laa do ek kitaab” and “naari deh ka jo kare vyapar aids mile muft uphar” to awaken the people on all such social evils. The women drawn from Kurukshetra, Didar Nagar, Bahadurpura, Dodakheri, Hariyapur, Barna, Barwa, Gobindgarh, Kheri Brahmnan, Dayalpur, Kirmach, Mirzapur, Jyotisar, Mundakhera, Kainthla and Pindarsi participated in the rally, while Sushma, Nisha, Pooja and Anita conducted the rally.
	Dowry deaths Gurgaon, Sonepat have highest number of cases Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS Karnal, March 12 While there was minor decrease in dowry death cases in the state with 256 dowry deaths reported in 2011 as compared to 286 deaths in 2010, Gurgaon and Sonepat districts bordering Delhi reported the highest number, 25 and 23, respectively, of dowry deaths. Director of the state Crime Records Bureau Laik Ram Dabas said Karnal reported 18 dowry deaths, followed by Jind (15), Palwal and Yamunanagar (13 each), Jhajjar (12), Faridabad and Narnaul (11 each), Kaithal (8), Rewari, Kurukshetra and Mewat (7 each), Ambala (5) and Panchkula (2). Dabas attributed the decrease in dowry deaths to sustained efforts of the police to check crime against women. Women police stations and special complaint cells have been set up, while women petrol vans have been provided in all police stations, he said. It was unfortunate that women relatives of dowry victims remain mute spectators and let the atrocities continue, he said. Unless we speak out against such crimes, social evils like dowry would never end, Dabas added.
	‘I always try to write books that entertain children’ Tribune News Service Sirsa, March 12 Among the books displayed at the World Book Fair-2012 in Pragati Maidan, Delhi, last month was “Kaki Kahe Kahani”, a book on children literature authored by Monica Gupta from Sirsa. The National Book Trust, an autonomous publishing house under the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India, that published the book, had highlighted the title of the book on the hoardings of its stall. Gupta, a television journalist, has been regularly writing for children in newspapers and magazines. She has also been writing satires and articles on the present social milieu and is a good cartoonist. Earlier, the Haryana Sahitya Akademi had honoured Gupta for her book “Main Hun Mani” in March 2011. The Akademi gave her Bal Sahitya Puruskar for the book. “Samay Hi Nahi Milta”, a collection of plays written by her, received financial grant from the Haryana Sahitya Akademi for its publication. “Ab Tak 35”, a collection of satirical writings and “Sawachhata Ka Ehsaas”, a book on social values, are the other books authored by her. “I always try to write books that entertain children and at the same time give some teaching to them,” Gupta said. She said getting the Haryana Sahitya Akademi Award was an encouragement for her, but inclusion of her book in the World Book Fair was something that she would always cherish in life.