Chandigarh, April 3
Haryana has achieved a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.3 as against the all-India average of 2.5 and the state Health Department is taking effective steps to bring it further down to 2.1 to accomplish the goal of population stabilisation. This was revealed at a two-day state-level workshop-cum-comprehensive review of the State Family Welfare Programme, which began at Panchkula today.

Rao Narender Singh, Haryana Health Minister, who inaugurated the workshop said with a view to further bring down the TFR and achieve population stabilisation, the Health Department was planning to involve accredited private hospitals, medical colleges and the NGOs engaged in health sector in this drive. Also, there was a plan to set up the Family Welfare Centres accredited by the state government.

Rao Narender Singh also stressed the need to seek help of the Panchayti Raj Institutions (PRIs) to more effectively implement the Family Planning Programme and other campaigns of the Health Department. He added that he himself would write to representatives of the PRIs to seek their cooperation.

The minister said the Health Department would continue to make concerted efforts to further bring down the TFR by providing family welfare services of good quality. During the financial year 2012-13, the Health Department would try to focus on the quality of services being provided for spacing and permanent methods of family planning. Sterilisation methods, especially male sterilisation using Non-surgical Vasectomy technique would be promoted, as it is technically easy procedure that could be performed in a very short time and was virtually painless.

Chandigarh, April 3
The Haryana Government today posted Pradeep Kumar Chaudhery as Chief Secretary to the Haryana Government against a vacant post. He will hold the charge of departments of General Administration, Personnel, Training, Vigilance, Parliamentary Affairs and Administrative Reforms and Secretary, in charge of Plan Coordination and Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary.

A 1977 Haryana cadre officer of the IAS, Chaudhery did MSc (Honours School) in Physics from Punjab University in 1974. He has been a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow.

Having joined the IAS in 1977, from 1979-86, Chaudhery worked in the State of Haryana as Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Additional Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. 

Rohtak, April 3
The police has found the body of a youth who was allegedly shot dead by some unidentified persons at Kheri sadh village in the district last night. His body was found dumped at a nearby field in the morning. Though a case has been booked, the police has launched a hunt to arrest the culprits. A love affair or illicit relations are suspected to be the main cause of the murder.

Police sources said the victim, identified as Jagbir, was a resident of Bishaan village of Jhajjar district and had come on Monday to meet one of his relatives at Kheri sadh village, about 10 km from here. The police was informed in the morning today that the body of a youth had been lying in the vicinity of the village and had gunshot injuries. Jagbir had been recently selected as a driver in the Delhi Transport Corporation and was likely to join training in about a week.

Though the police says it was clueless about the murder, the sources claimed that the murder could have been carried out as part of a conspiracy by some persons who perhaps were opposed to an affair with a female resident of the village, though the woman was still to be identified. He was shot dead from a close range and the body was dumped in a field before the culprits fled from the scene of the crime.

A case has been registered. 

Fatehabad, April 3
As many as 32 persons were injured when a private bus overturned near Ayalki village on the Fatehabad-Ratia road this afternoon. Four of them have sustained serious injuries.

According to reports, the bus belonging to a private transport society was on its way to Tohana from Fatehabad with nearly 45 passengers, when its driver lost control over the vehicle and the bus overturned. The reports said the bus was speeding and the driver failed to control it while trying to save a motorcyclist. The bus hit the motorcyclist, then skidded off the road and fell in a roadside pit. The motorcyclist, Mandeep, and two women, Bimla and Shakuntala, who were riding pillion, were also injured.

CPS Prahlad Singh Gillankhera rushed to the accident site with SDM Baljit Singh immediately. Ambulances of the Health Department shifted the injured to the General Hospital, Fatehabad.

An official spokesperson said 18 injured persons needed treatment in the hospital, while rest others had minor bruises. Doctors are contemplating shifting the four seriously injured persons to Hisar, he said.

Karnal, April 3
Enthusiastic about Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s visit to Karnal, a hapless AIDS victim Om Prakash, who hopped from one function to the other in the hope that someone would listen to his grievances and come to his aid, returned disappointed and empty-handed. Not to talk of meeting the Chief Minister to narrate his tale of woe, Om Prakash was not fortunate enough even to have an audience with senior officials of the AIDS Control Society and other officials concerned.

During inaugurations and foundation-stone laying ceremonies he stood as a mute spectator throughout the day with a dim hope of some help but it faded as the functions were over and even the ‘largest’ Red Ribbon show could not sensitise the people to come to his rescue.

In spite of strenuous efforts, Om Prakash could not meet Dr Narveer Singh, project director, Haryana State AIDS Control Society, as no one had time and patience to listen to him. “I was told that Dr Narveer Singh was here for the state-level function on AIDS but I could not meet him,” said Om Prakash.

Om Prakash is one of the worst victims of AIDS having lost three of his children to the dreaded disease and is struggling to save his fourth child. Neither the Red Cross nor the AIDS Society has given any financial help to him and the only help given to him was that the district administration opened a bank account in his name and issued an advertisement, appealing to the people to contribute in the account.

A leading NGO NIFAA offered him to provide a ‘fruit rehri’ for earning livelihood but his failing health and frequent visits to Delhi for his son’s treatment are some of the constraints, which are practically impossible for him to overcome. 

Sonepat, April 3
A large number of shopkeepers in the town today responded positively to the Sonepat bandh call given by the district unit of the All-India Jewellers Association by keeping their shops and business establishments closed in the forenoon hours.

A large number of jewellers and representatives of other traders’ associations led by the BJP’s state media in charge, Rajiv Jain, took out a protest march in the town and raised slogans against the UPA government for working against the interests of the common man.

Demanding immediate roll back of the imposition of the excise duty, Krishan Kumar Verma, district president, and Kishori Lal, general secretary, said they had been staging indefinite dharna for the last 18 days and it would be continued till the government did not accept their demands.

Hisar, April 3
Mewa Devi, a woman ASI, on Sunday night foiled a bid by gun-toting youths to take away her gold chain. She was returning home after an evening walk from Town Park. Two youths on a motorcycle tried to snatch her chain near the Community Centre in the Police Lines area. Thinking that they were eve-teasers, she abused and tried to ward them off.

However, the youths took out a pistol and snatched her chain. Although a number of passers-by gathered there, no one dared to help her. The youths tried to escape on their motorcycle and threatened to shoot her.

She did not lose her presence of mind and kicked the youths sitting on the motorcycle. They fell down and fled, leaving the bike behind.

Kaithal, April 3
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced a “motivation” incentive of Rs 25 lakh each to Mundri and Kithana vilages and Kalayat town in Kaithal district for showing an improved gender ratio of 1,313, 1,140 and 1,170, respectively, and for checking female foeticide.

Hooda was addressing a public meeting at Kalayat town, 25 km from here, today. He announced a number of incentives for the Kalayat Assembly segment and projects for the people of the area after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of 18 projects.

He laid foundation stones of three 33-KV substations at Kailrum, Mataur and Kotra, the Market Committee office and a Rest House at Kalayat, ITI at Pinjupura, two Arohi Model Schools at Songri and Ramgarh Pandawa Sports Statdium at Roheda.

Braving heat, thousands of people converged at the rally organised at Kapil Muni College for Women. The rally was organised by former minister and DCC president Tejinder Pal Mann.

Giving a bonanza to the people of Kaithal district, Hooda announced carving out of a new sub-division in the district, Municipal Committee status to Rajaund village, a community centre at Kalayat, four veterinary hospitals at Taragarh village, Birbangda, Dhundwa and Kheri Lamba, extension of Kalayat Grain Market, Rs 2 crore for the development of the second phase of Kapil Muni Tirath, Rs 10 crore for the development of villages of the district, extension of Shimla Minor for ensuring irrigation water at the tail end and Rs 1.5 crore for the Kalayat Municipal Committee.

The extension of grain market would incur an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The Chief Minister said a committee would be formed soon, which would decide about the limitation of the new subdivision.

While making a scathing attack on INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, Hooda said Chautala shed crocodile tears for the farming community but did nothing for them. Hooda said Chautala undertook development but it was limited only to himself and his family .

Hisar, April 3
The police today arrested Sunil, alias Bona, and his lover, Komal, in connection with the incidents of firing at three places in the city on March 25 and 26 to intimidate and scare people.

On March 25, the duo went to Sainian Mohalla here where Komal’s uncle, Hoshiar Singh, lived. The uncle was opposed to Komal’s liaison with Sunil. They fired several shots outside Hoshiar Singh’s house.

From there, they proceeded to Rajiv Nagar where they fired shots in front of the house of Sham Sunder who had recently purchased that house. Sunil was opposed to the deal for the house. On March 26, they went to Mahavir Colony and fired shots in the air outside the house of Rinku Verma with whom Sunil had a property dispute. They were produced in a local court that sent Komal and her seven-year-old son to the Borstal Jail. — TNS