The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Mobile traffic courts in Gurgaon
Sunit Dhawan /TNS

Gurgaon, June 4
Following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, mobile traffic courts are being organised in Gurgaon district from June 1 to June 15.

In order to ensure the convenience of the residents, these courts are being organised in the evening at different locations in the district.

The evening courts, which are functional from 5 pm to 7 pm all seven days a week, also hear Negotiable Instruments Act cases involving cheque amount of up to Rs 50,000 as well as summary cases.

Gurgaon District and Sessions Judge Dr Bharat Bhushan Prasoon said the local courts would also function during the vacations to provide relief to the people and help in swift and smooth disposal of pending cases.

“The move is part of an initiative aimed at streamlining the functioning of the judicial machinery at the district level and is being implemented for the first time,” Dr Prasoon said.

Meanwhile, with a view to generating awareness about the ill-effects of smoking and chewing tobacco, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) organised a rally to mark the World No-Tobacco Day here on May 31.

Acting on directions received from Justice SK Mittal, executive chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority, the district chapter of the authority also launched an awareness campaign in this regard in collaboration with the local health authorities.

DLSA chairman-cum-Gurgaon District and Sessions Judge Dr Bharat Bhushan Prasoon, Chief Judicial Magistrate Jasbeer Singh and CJM-cum-DLSA secretary Narinder Kaur flagged off the rally from the local judicial complex.

DLSA panel lawyers and other volunteers carried banners and placards bearing slogans to highlight the health hazards and threats associated with tobacco use. CJM Narinder Kaur pointed out that tobacco was the second largest killer across the world and its addiction claimed the life of one in every 10 persons.

Awareness camps were organised at health centres in Sohna, Pataudi, Hailey Mandi and Farrukhnagar areas of the district.

Jat Education Society
Returning Officer finds discrepancies in voters’ list
Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, June 4
As many as 12,415 names of such electors have been found in the previous voters’ list of the state’s prominent Jat Education Society, Rohtak, during its process of revision of electoral roll who either are not alive, don’t belong to the Jat community and have more than one entry in the voters’ list or whose addresses are not complete due to which their identification is not possible.

Among them, 2,206 such voters belong to Jhajjar district who have recently been served show-cause notices through newspapers by the Returning Officer to invite their objections in this regard for verification.

Chander Prakash, Returning Officer (RO) of the Society, and Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authorities (HUDA), Rohtak, disclosed this while interacting with mediapersons during his visit to Jhajjar town recently.

Notably, voters’ list of the Jat Education Society, which is one of the biggest societies of the Jat community in north India and running 10 educational institutes spreading in about 90 acres, is being finalised these days on the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

“The draft voters’ list of the Jat Education Society has been published and any person, who has any claim/objection/submission with regard to the show-cause notice, may file the same along with all relevant documents at CR Polytechnic Institute, Rohtak, by June 15,” said the Returning Officer.

Chander Prakash said the received objections/ claims/submissions would be considered before finalising the voters’ list for conducting polls of office-bearers of the Executive Committee of the Society as per the directions passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

“Of 12,415 electors, 4,516 are those ones who have not been found to be alive during enquiry, 1,821 don’t belong to the Jat Community, 688 have more than one entry in the voters’ list and 5,376 are those voters whose addresses are not complete. Besides, 14 voters are those who were not adult at the time of alleged enrolment as member,” the RO added.

He said the High Court had directed to finalise the voters’ list prior to June 20 next.

More CCTV cameras for KU
DR Vij

Kurukshetra, June 4
To further tighten the security arrangements and check the entry of intruders on the Kurukshetra University campus, more area will be brought under surveillance by installing additional CCTV cameras.

This was stated by Prof Surender Deswal, registrar, Kurukshetra University, here recently.

Prof Deswal said more area, especially the girls’ hostels on the university campus, would be brought under surveillance.

Although CCTV cameras had already been installed on the main entrance gates of both the boys and girls hostels, the university authorities had decided to get CCTV cameras installed in the hostels in such a manner that even the boundary walls of the hostels could be brought under total surveillance, he said.

In addition, the CCTV cameras would be fixed to cover the parking lot of the university college, while the cameras with less resolution would be replaced by the high resolution cameras, he added.

Sonepat lad wins chess c’ship
Our Correspondent

Harshit Arya receives the first prize from the organisers of the Haryana State Chess Championship in Sirsa. Photo: BS Malik

Sonepat, June 4
Sonepat lad Harshit Arya was the winner of the U-9 age category of the state-level chess championship concluded at the Rajindera Institute of Technology and Science at Sirsa recently. In the final, he defeated Nukul of Gurgaon.

On the basis of this performance, Harshit, student of class III, has been selected as member of the state team for participating in the national chess championship to be held in 2012.

He has also participated in national chess championship in 2011.

Nilesh Kumar and Simran Arya of Sonepat also bagged the second and third position in the U-19 age category of boys’ and girls’ sections, respectively.

HJC opposes proposal to set up N-power project
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, June 4
Haryana Janhit Congress supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi termed the proposal to set up a nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad as hazardous for the local population.

He said his party would not allow the project to come up.

Bishnoi, along with BJP’s state unit president Krishan Pal Gurjar, addressed a joint Karyakarta Sammelan of the two parties at Bhuna in Fatehabad.

He said highly fertile land of farmers was being taken away for a nuclear power plant project that would be a constant safety threat in future.

Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Congress is the second major political party of the state after the INLD to have denounced the project at a public meeting.

Addressing a meeting of party workers at Fatehabad on May 13, INLD supremo Om Parkash Chautala announced that his workers would sacrifice their lives and not allow the nuclear power project to be set up.

Accusing Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of having a regional bias towards the area, Bishnoi alleged that eight major industrial units, including the manufacture of cars, had been allotted to Rohtak while a perilous project like the nuclear power plant had been given to Fatehabad.

Bishnoi concentrated his attack on an upcoming power project while Gurjar castigated the Hooda government for its failure to provide sufficient power to people.

“After coming to power, Hooda promised to end the power crisis in Haryana within three years, but he has failed miserably. Similarly, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to bring the prices down within 100 days, but he, too, did not succeed,” Gurjar said in his speech.

Dharam Pal Malik, a former MP, and Ganeshi Lal, a former minister, were among those who addressed the sammelan.

12 most wanted criminals, 43 POs arrested
BS Malik

Sonepat, June 4
In its recent drive against criminals and anti-social elements, the Sonepat police claimed to have arrested 12 most wanted criminals, 43 proclaimed offenders, 65 bail jumpers and two parole deserters.

According to Ramesh Dalal, a police spokesperson, the most wanted criminals who were carrying rewards ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1.21 lakh had become a problem for the Sonepat police as well as the Delhi police because of their involvement in heinous crimes, including triple murder in a police van near Jhajjar.

One of them identified as Rakesh of Karor in Jhajjar district was killed in a police encounter and other arrested criminals included Sandeep of Jatheri, Pawan of Nahra, Rakesh of Rohat Praveen of Bhainswal Kalan Vikas of Siwah, Jai Bhagwan, alias Sonu, of Pinana.

Besides, the police also succeeded in nabbing notorious jail breakers - Pramod of Badhmalikpur, Jagbir of Chamrara in Panipat district, Manoj and Rajiv, alias Raja, of Pugthala and Vijay, alias Lila, of Rajpur from different places.

After obtaining bail from the court, proclaimed offenders and bail jumpers did not present themselves in the court; but went underground and became active again in criminal activities, including revenge killings, loot, dacoity, etc. The two arrested criminals who were convicted and were serving imprisonment in the jail went on parole, but did not return to the jail.

Besides intensifying police patrolling, particularly during night hours, the new Superintendent of Police, Arun Singh, has been reviewing the law and order situation and the progress in investigation of the cases on a regular basis.

Govt should take potassium, nitrate mines on lease in other countries
Satish Seth

Kaithal, June 4
Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda has said the Central Government should take phosphorous, potassium and nitrate mines on lease in the other countries.

While interacting with mediapersons at Cheeka, 25 km from here recently, Deepender said he would soon meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and urge him to take on lease mines of phosphorous, potassium and nitrate producing countries on the pattern of China. It would help in reducing the prices of fertilisers in the country and farmers would be directly benefited, he added.

He said during the past one decade, the production of fertilisers in China had increased two-and-a-half times, whereas India could not produce that much and it depended on imports, which had resulted in the increase in fertiliser prices.

The MP said the mines of phosphorous, potassium and nitrate were only limited to Africa and Canada, adding China had taken a number of mines on lease in those countries and successfully increased its fertilisers production.

The Congress leader said he had raised voice in the Parliament against the hike in the prices of fertilisers as it would hit the farmers hard, who were already facing financial problems due to an increase in cost of agricultural inputs.

He said he had also told the Union Ministry of Agriculture that if the government hiked the price of fertilisers then the minimum support price (MSP) of agriculture produce should also be increased in the same ratio and MSP should be declared much before the sowing of crops.

In reply to a question regarding the imposition of house tax in Haryana, he said the Planning Commission and the Union Urban Development Ministry had stopped giving funds and grants to Haryana that were needed for the development of the state, adding that in view of this, the state government was forced to consider the imposition of house tax.

While replying to a question on the recent increase in petrol prices, the MP said the increase in value of dollar in the international market and decrease in the value of rupee had directly affected the petrol prices. “India has to import 80 per cent of crude oil to meet its demands,” he added.

MP Naveen Jindal, who was also present on the occasion, said the government should review the increase in price of petrol, if the prices in international market fall and the price of rupee increased.

Villagers use langur to get rid of monkeys
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 4
After the district authorities and the officials of the Wildlife Department failed to provide respite from monkeys, the villagers of Sahuwala in Sirsa have evolved a method for getting rid of the simian menace.

The villagers have got a langur to chase away monkeys from their village.

The monkey menace had become a bane of villagers, as they had bitten several villagers in the past few days.

Although the villagers brought their problem to the notice of the authorities and sought their help, nothing came out of their representations. Village sarpanch Angrez Singh, Gurdwara Dasham Patshahi’s president Parkash Singh Sahuwala and INLD’s state vice-president Jasbir Singh Jassa, who hail from the village, have hired the services of the owner of a langur now.

“We have brought the animal from Nada Sahib near Chandigarh and its owner will charge Rs 42,000 for three-month services,” said Jassa.

He said the animal owner had taken a round of the village in the past three days since the langur arrived here on Thursday and nearly half of the monkeys had already disappeared.

Sirsa jail inmates complain to judges
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

CJM Harish Gupta (second from left), Tayyab Hussain and Mainka Singh, both judicial magistrates, at the Sirsa District Jail. A Tribune photograph

Sirsa, June 4
Inmates of the Sirsa District Jail wait for 15 to 20 days for a meeting with their dear ones and when the day of meeting comes, they are not able to communicate with them properly.

This was a common complaint of prisoners when three judges from Sirsa courts visited the jail premises to hold a lok adalat in the jail. The judges - Harish Gupta, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-secretary of the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Mainka Singh and Tayyab Hussain, both judicial magistrates, recently visited the District Jail to meet prisoners and resolve their problems.

“It takes 15 to 20 days for us to meet our family members. And when my turn comes, I can only read emotions on the face of my wife or can see her lips speaking something, but I am not able to decipher what she actually says because of the noise. A large number of prisoners are made to meet their kin from across the small grill and iron net at one time,” complained a prisoner.

“We will suffer the punishment for the offences we have committed, but why our family members are being made to suffer,” the prisoner pleaded. Some inmates came forward with complaints like lack of medical facilities.

The judges took up their complaints with Jail Superintendent Atma Ram and asked him to mitigate the genuine problems of prisoners. Some inmates sought legal aid for their pending cases and the judges provided them the services of lawyers from the penal of advocates with the DLSA.

“Prisoners, too, have certain rights, which cannot be snatched away from them,” Gupta said.

He said the judges would hold lok adalats in the prison on regular intervals and the lawyers empanelled with the DLSA would also meet inmates to know their legal aid needs.

Nominations for award invited
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
With a view to acknowledging, recognising and rewarding the extraordinary and innovative work done by government officers, the state government has invited nominations for the year 2011-12 for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

While stating this recently, an official spokesperson said nominations would be sent to the Personnel Department latest by June 15, 2012.

He said the scheme had been introduced by the Government of India. The nominations should strictly adhere to the guidelines of the scheme and the eligibility criteria be specifically complied with. Self-nominations would not be accepted.

He said the State Government would constitute a state-level committee to shortlist its nominations for forwarding the same to the Central government.

It would be ensured that no vigilance case or enquiry was pending against the officer nominated. Overall performance of the officer would also be considered while forwarding the nomination.

He said the nomination in respect of a group of individuals could also be sent.

Teams to check health infrastructure

Chandigarh, June 4
Aiming to improve execution of projects in the health sector, the Haryana Health Department recently announced that steps would be taken to strengthen its supportive supervision system (SSS).

“In the first phase, SSS would be started at 10 sub-centres of each district to identify problems, provide solution and impart training in the health sector,” Director of National Rural Health Mission, Rakesh Gupta, said at a workshop at Panchkula.

He said better planning and execution of projects would help the department immensely in bringing down Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate.

“Standardised formats have been designed and field-tested for conducting supportive supervision in a systematic manner,” he added.

Supervision teams, comprising state health officials and representatives from the Central government, would visit each district to check the infrastructure, skill level and availability of medicines, he said. — PTI

Selflessness ‘guiding force in education’
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 4
Teachers have no voice in many decisions of the government in core areas of the profession. It includes the semester system of examination which is deteriorating the educational standards in India for its role in personality development, observed, Dr M.M. Goel, Professor of Economics and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Kurukshetra University, while addressing the university and college teachers participating in the orientation course organised by UGC academic staff college, Kurukshetra university on excellence models for teachers in a changing economic Scenario.

Professor Goel said, “To ensure quality in education, we need to understand its process involving students (input), teachers (processors) and quality and quantity (output). The input of students is an issue of concern as they are directionless and lack initiative and drive. They need motivation from teachers for educational value of education. Teachers as processors have become vocational to earn their livelihood instead of leading as a mission to fulfil the vision”.

“Education is a complex culture, in which selflessness is a guiding force, where high morale is a necessity among the teachers to greatly benefit everyone involved. We need to imbibe selfless service and patience from mother earth,” he said.

Too many politicians and administrators apparently fail to comprehend the inter-related complexities of the education system which kills the morale of teachers every day, added Professor Goel.

“Other morale killer includes high-stake testing that has not been fully researched, decisions arrogantly handed down from the top that make teachers feel like babysitters rather than educators with commercialisation of education and spiritual bankruptcy,” painfully said, Professor Goel, who is the author of the book “ Economics of Human Resource Development in India” .

Telefilm on martyr Madanlal Dhingra
Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 4
To educate the youth about the sacrifices made by martyr Madanlal Dhingra, first Indian to lay down his life for the nation on foreign land, a telefilm will be produced on his life.

Director Pravesh Gaba said 20 actors would act in the 45-minute telefilm aimed at showcasing the character and life of Dhingra and his passion for the nation. The film would be released on August 17 in Amritsar.

The telefilm will be screened at schools, colleges and chowks. Dhingra, born in an affluent family, gave up everything for the nation and the motive behind the film is to shake the conscious of the youth who are running after money and moving away from ethics, morals and nationalism, Gaba added.

Rising above petty and party politics, politicians from various parties came under the banner of the Shaheed Madanlal Dhingra Charitable Trust and stated that it was unfortunate that a movie on Dhingra had not been showcased in Parliament along with other martyrs and urged the Union Government to give him due importance and also introduce a lesson on him in the school curriculum.

Chander Prakash Kuthriya, chairman of the trust, said unscrupulous people had forcefully taken possession of Dhingra’s ancestral house in Amritsar and demanded that his house should be turned into a national memorial.

11 educational institutions for Sonepat
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
The Rajiv Gandhi Education City at Kundli in Sonepat district will take the first step towards becoming the education hub of the state when Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will lay the foundation stones of 11 educational institutions and a National Law University on June 10.

These 11 educational institutions are the International Foundation for Research and Education, Manav Rachna International University, the Foundation for Organisation Research and Education, the Sonipat Hindu Educational and Charitable Society, Lala Nemi Chand Education Trust, the Asian Education Society, Sri Om Parkash Bansal Social Welfare Trust, the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysis of India, SRM University, Bharti Vidyapeeth Educational complex and Chandrawati Education and Charitable Trust. As many as 25 per cent seats in the educational institutions would be reserved for students of Haryana.

Govt to promote science subjects in schools
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 4
In order to promote science subjects in schools, the state government has decided to introduce a master training capsule in all districts of the state for which “one-school one-district” policy will be adopted.

This was stated by Surina Rajan, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, School Education, Government of Haryana, after inaugurating a one-month summer school in science and mathematics for girl students, organised by the Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in India - Prerna 2012, on the premises of Gita Niketan Awasiya Vidyalaya here recently.

Rajan said Rs 1.15 crore was spent recently on providing books of science subjects in 36 selected schools of the state. She stressed upon focusing on popularising science subjects among students especially girls.

She clarified that their aim was to prepare a new educational environment to uplift the grading and teaching ability of the teachers and the students in science subjects. This would help the sharp and meritorious students to be masters of the subject.

Dharam Vir, former Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana and President of Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in India, said as a pilot project, Prerna had proved to be a boon for the needy and meritorious students. That was why at the national level 41 students of Haryana were selected in the UPSC competitions, he claimed.

Crime Record Bureau tells students about fingerprints
Tribune News Service

Karnal, June 4
Considering the importance of fingerprints in solving criminal cases, the State Crime Record Bureau has sensitised students of 613 schools about its role.

Director of State Crime Record Bureau Layak Ram Dabas said in many cases it has been seen that the evidences especially fingerprints were destroyed by the people who come to help. Therefore, it was significant to educate people about things that were to be done to avoid destroying evidences at the crime scenes.

There is a definite relationship between fingerprints of a person and criminal tendencies. Identification of criminal nature and tendencies were possible from examination of fingerprints said Dabas. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the bureau.

Dabas also said that it was possible to curb criminal tendencies among children, if necessary measures are taken, after examining the fingerprints, to mould the children in the right frame.

List of schools they covered

The drive that started in March 2011 has sensitised students of 30 schools at Ambala, 22 schools at Panchkula, 27 at Yamunanagar, 32 at Kaithal, 33 at Kurukshetra, 34 Hisar, 27 Sirsa, 24 at Fatehbad, 34 at Jind, 34 at Bhavini, 37 at Rohtak, 33 at Sonipat, 30 at Panipat, 21 at Jhagger, 36 at Karnal, 21 at Revari, 24 at Narnaul, 27 at Mewat, 25 at Palwal, 29 at Gurgaon, 32 at Faridabad and 1 at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

GNI invites MNC for placements
Our Correspondent

Ambala, June 4
Guru Nanak Institutions (GNI), Mullana, invited world’s leading company Bosch at its campus recently as a part of its training and placement efforts.

The MNC was invited as a part of the initiative of GNI to provide the best summer training and subsequent placements to BTech (Mech) third year students.

Bosch is an internationally acclaimed company which deals in automotive technology, automotive parts and accessories, power tools, security systems, packaging technology, industrial equipments, home appliances and etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Sachin Chawla, Dean, GNI group, said that GNI emphasises not just on academics only but also provides best training and placement facilities for its students.

This is evident with a large number of tie-ups that GNI has with leading companies.

More than 53 companies have visited the campus in the session 2011-12 till now and more are companies are expected to visit.

Yamunanagar students develop automotive braking system
Suman Bhatnagar

Yamunanagar, June 4
Three mechanical engineering students, Manoj, Banveet and Lukesh, of BTech fourth semester of Shree Siddhivinayak Engineering College, Yamunanagar, under the guidance of V. Chopra, Sumit Lohan and Rann Singh, have developed an automotive braking system, which according to them is a foolproof system and will prevent accidents occurring due to the failure of the present braking system in vehicles.

The present braking system is a type of mechanical and hydraulic system in which braking takes place due to friction in braking parts. It also results in the loss of costly components.

Dr MK Sehgal, chairman and CEO, congratulated the students and staff on doing excellent work.

He gave an assurance that this invention would be taken up for obtaining a patent. He said the institute was always keen to organise industrial visits to make students familiar with practical aspects and their implementation. Live projects were the key to innovation as theoretical concepts learnt during their course study were put into practice.

The Director-General, Dr Rajni Sehgal, said this was the result of good guidance and hard work of the students. She also said regular seminars and industrial visits increased the knowledge of students.

KU don to present paper in UK
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 4
Prof Rajbir Singh, director, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology, Kurukshetra University, has been invited to present a paper at a three-day 6th Global Conference on “Visual Literacy: Exploring Critical Issues” being organised at Oxford, England, from July 3 to 5.

According to Prof Rajbir Singh, the paper is titled “Visual Product Advertisements in Indian Print Media: Examining Visual Literacy in Middle Class Youth”. The paper explores the nature and level of visual literacy among middle-class youth. It also explores the pertinent theme of visuality, which is gaining importance in the world.

School organises talent hunt competition
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 4
Terii Public School organised an open talent hunt competition of skates, chess and mental maths of different age groups on its premises here recently.

Sunil Girdhar, vice-president of the Kaithal District Skating Association was the chief guest.

About 200 students from Kurukshetra, Ambala, Kaithal and Pehowa participated in the open competition and showed their remarkable presentation in chess, skates and mental maths.

Results

Mental Maths

Age group below 7: 1. Raghav, 2. Vikas, and 3. Dushyant

Age group 7-10: 1. Hardik, 2. Aastha, and 3. Sanyam

Age group 10-12: 1. Shristhi; 2. Muskan; and 3. Ishita

Chess

Age group 6-8: 1. Vivek, 2. Hardik, and 3. Arnav

Age group 9-10: 1. Saneth, 2. Abhishek, and 3. Ankush

Age group 11-12: 1. Nissim, 2. Naveen, and 3. Abhishek

Skates

Age group under 6 (boys): 1. Sidarth

Age group under 6 (girls): 1. Deepika, 2. Shrishti, and 3. Tamanna

Age group under 6-8 (boys): 1. Anuj, 2. Parth, 3. Vivek

Age group under 6-8 (girls): 1. Khushi

Age group under 8-10 (girls): 1. Agrima, 2. Yashika, and 3. Harnjeet

Age group under 8-10 (boys): 1. Karan, 2. Aditya, and 3. Dhruav.

Smart learning set to transform education
Our Correspondent

Ambala, June 4
Om Prakash Aggarwal, chairman of E-max Group of Institutions, while addressing the students of E-max Public School, said smart learning would transform the educational process in the country as it was expected to improve the overall quality of education. "Smart learning is the future, which starts with the modernisation of schools,” he said.

About 300 schoolchildren and their parents living in the rural areas were present during the seminar. Rajiv Bansal, finance secretary of E-max Group, said he anticipated the E-max international school to take a leading role in smart learning in the rural areas of Ambala. “E-max international school provides an advanced level of education that is similar to that in advanced countries,” he said.

Principal of the school Tajinder Kaur said the E-max group had previous experience in developing school libraries and turning them into digital learning resources. She said, “We have planned to create centres for digital learning resources at schools.

Teachers’ orientation programme concludes
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, June 4
Dr Ajai Khare, director, School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal said, “The need of the hour is to identify student’s talent and to give them right direction,” while addressing the closing session of 11th teachers’ orientation programme at BPS Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan.

“Now is the time to develop feeling of responsibility and accountability among the students toward society,” he said and added that educated youths should play a positive role in socio-economic uplift of society. Dr Khare appreciated the implementation of the Right to Education Act and suggested that students should have the right to choose field of education, including subjects of their choice and interests.

Dr Pankaj Mittal,Vice-Chancellor of the university, was the guest of honour. She said with the knowledge of contents of the subject, presentation was also necessary. She explained various modes of effective presentation and stressed that they required good communication skills.

Dr Asha Kadiyan, registrar ,and other faculty members were also present o the occasion. The 29-day UGC-sponsored orientation programme was organised by the academic staff college of the university and as many as 47 teachers from various universities and colleges attended it.

IT students visit science city
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, June 4
Students of the Information Technology Department of the Kurukshetra Institute of Technology and Management (KITM) visited Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, Punjab, recently.

During the visit, the students were taken to Virtual Reality Park, Space Theatre, Flight Simulator Theatre, 3D Theatre and Space and Aviation Park of the Science City where they were told about various objectives of virtual reality, pilot training objectives and basic science used in daily life.

It was a fruitful experience for the students as they learnt a lot about satellite communication and weather prediction.

3,000 to be recruited in cooperative banks
Ravinder Saini

Jhajjar, June 4
Haryana Cooperation and Housing Minister Satpal Sangwan said 3,000 posts of employees of various categories in cooperative banks across the state would be filled and the process for recruitment would be initiated soon.

While interacting with mediapersons here recently, Sangwan said recruitment in banks located in Panchkula and Yamunanagar districts would be made in the first phase and there would be no shortage of manpower in the cooperative banks after the appointments.

“Several steps are being taken for the computerisation of cooperative banks in the state. Computer system will soon be introduced in the banks so that the employees as well as the common man can get the benefit of the system,” said the minister.

He added that some more plans were also underway to develop cooperative banks on the pattern of private sector. He said the state government had formulated a policy to provide affordable houses to Below the Poverty Line (BPL) families.

“Under the policy, 50 per cent plots of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the society of the size of 50 sq m each belonging to the private colonisers in the licenced area will be transferred to the housing board at a subsidised rate of Rs 500 per sq yd for the construction of flats for BPL families,” Sangwan said.

He said the Director General, Town and Country Planning, Haryana, had so far identified 10,000 plots to be transferred to the board throughout the state and the possession of 4,493 plots had been taken over by the Housing Board, Haryana.

“Possession of balance plots will be taken as and when development works are completed. The construction work of 6,957 flats on 2,319 balance plots will be taken up during 2012-2013 after floating the registration of these flats,” the minister said.

Under the new policy, a provision had been made by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to earmark 10 acres of land in the each new sector to be carved out by HUDA to construct houses, he added.

“The Haryana Housing Board is constructing 11,633 houses of different categories valued at Rs 500, including 6,044 houses for BPL families, 1,692 houses for EWS and 404 houses for lower income group,” said Sangwan.

He said the construction of these houses was in progress at Yamunanagar, Karnal, Narwana, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, Ratia, Hansi, Bahaudrgarh, Sirsa, Sonepat, Gurgaon, Bawal, Dharuhera, Narnaul, Rewari, Faridabad, Palwal, Barhi and Sisoth in Mahendegarh district.

Don’t take over pvt colonies lacking basic facilities, MC told
Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, June 4
The Urban Local Bodies Department has directed the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) to “take over” only those private colonies falling in its jurisdiction that have completed internal developments/infrastructures, including parks, sewerage and water distribution networks.

The Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies, Ram Niwas, who was here recently, directed the MCF authorities to take over the colonies floated by colonisers/private builders only after the latter had fulfilled their commitment to buyers of plots and the municipal body.

The department is understood to have given direction on similar lines to other municipal bodies in the state.

A functionary of the MCF said as per the norms, the municipal bodies take over the private colonies in their jurisdiction after 5-10 years of their completion. Consequently, they assume the responsibility of maintenance of the internal developments/infrastructures.

A senior officer said in many cases, private colonisers procure licences from the municipal bodies and the departments to float colonies by submitting lay out plans which fulfil all the stipulated conditions. However, when the colonies are established, some of the commitments remain unfulfilled. The colonisers, who work on commercial lines, dispose of plots to buyers on alluring promises. Eventually, amenities like parks, proper water distribution network, sewerage and electricity in their colonies are not provided.

The colonisers, who enjoy patronage of bigwigs, make quick bucks from their projects, and wash their hands of those who purchased plots and set up houses in the colonies. They take advantage of the system, collude with of a section of the bureaucrats and escape with impunity.

After passage of some years, the residents in the colonies hold the civic bodies responsible for the ills, for which the colonisers are directly responsible.

A senior functionary of the department said there are large number of ‘half-baked’ colonies set up by land mafia, builders’ lobby and fly-by night operators in the state.

In view of the rapid urbanisation of Haryana, the process of colonisation, including hitherto semi-urban areas, has picked up momentum, he added.

Youth assaults cop for stopping him at red light
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 4
Incidents of road rage and violation of traffic rules have been on the rise in the city. A constable manning traffic at a busy crossing here was allegedly assaulted by a youth recently. The police has arrested the accused after registering a case against him under various sections.

Though several such cases have surfaced in the past few months, the police is yet to take any long-term measure to check these incidents.

The latest incident took place near the old bus stand here when a policeman was assaulted and his uniform was torn by a youth identified as Rajkumar. The policeman had asked Rajkumar to stop at the red light. The accused reportedly got furious when he was told to stop to give way to the traffic coming from the other direction. “He parked his bike and assaulted the policeman, abusing him in full public view,” says the complaint lodged with the police.

As he slapped the policeman and tore his uniform, he was overpowered by onlookers and handed over to the police team which reached there soon after the scuffle.

He was arrested and produced in court where he was remanded in judicial custody, said a police official. “Though this incident has led to tough action against the accused, several cases of this nature either go unreported or not booked by the police in the district every month,” claimed sources in the department.

CDLU hikes remuneration for exam duties
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, June 4
Chaudhary Devi Lal University has hiked the remuneration paid to teachers and non-teaching staff for various duties related to examinations.

The Chaudhary Devi Lal University Teachers Association (CDLUTA) has raised this demand in a memorandum submitted to Vice-Chancellor Dr KC Bhardwaj earlier this month after which he had constituted a committee comprising controller-of-examination Praven Aghamkar, CDLUTA secretary Rajesh Malik and executive council member Rani Devi to study remunerations paid in other universities of Haryana and give its recommendations.

The executive council of the university that met here recently accepted all the recommendations of the committee. “Our members are grateful to the Vice-Chancellor for considering our just demand sympathetically and giving us relief promptly,” said Malik.

The remuneration paid to the chairman and members of the Unfair Means Committee (UMC) have been raised from Rs 350 and Rs 250 per meeting respectively, to Rs 500 and Rs 450.

The centre superintendent will get Rs 250 per session instead of the earlier rates of Rs 140, while his deputy and assistant will get Rs 225 and Rs 200 respectively, instead of Rs 130 and Rs 115. Centre clerks will get Rs 175 per session instead of Rs 100, while waterman and safai karamchari will get Rs 100 instead of Rs 50 per session.

For evaluation of answer sheets, the CDLU teachers will now get Rs 12 per sheet for undergraduate classes and Rs 15 per paper for postgraduate classes. Earlier, they used to get Rs 8 and Rs 10, respectively. For paper setting, the teachers will get Rs 600 for UG classes and Rs 800 for PG classes instead of the earlier rates of Rs 400 and Rs 600, respectively.

The EC also approved the budget proposals for the 12th plan for sending it to the UGC.

Excise Dept collects revenue of Rs 1,707 crore
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4
The Excise and Taxation Department, Haryana, has collected revenue of over Rs 1,707 crore up to the month of April 2012 during the current financial year which is 8.52 per cent higher as compared to that of the corresponding period of the last financial year. A sum of more than Rs 1,573.04 crore was collected during the same period of the last financial year.

While stating this here recently, Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Choudhry said the department had collected Rs 1,105.53 crore as VAT during April 2012 which is 12.53 per cent more than of VAT collection of the corresponding period of the last financial year. Similarly, the collection of VAT and the Central Sales Tax (CST) during the same period is over Rs 1,233.59 crore which is 11.12 per cent high as compared to that of the corresponding period of previous year.

She said Rs 1,110.10 crore was collected in April during the last financial year.

The minister said excise collection was more than Rs 413.75 crore during April 2012 which was 3.67 per cent high as compared to the same period of the last financial year. The department had collected excise of over Rs 399.10 crore during April 2011, she added.

Choudhry said the department had recorded a 21.96 per cent hike in the collection of entertainment tax during April 2012 by collecting Rs 3.18 crore as compared to the tax collection of Rs 2.6 crore during the same period of 2011. The passenger and goods tax collection was more than Rs 54.56 crore, which is 7.27 per cent high as compared to the same period of the last year. She said Rs 1.47 crore was collected as luxury tax and Rs 44.23 lakh was collected as the local area development tax during April 2012.

She said it was expected that more revenue would be collected by the department during the current fiscal. The department would definitely achieve the target of the current financial year in the revenue collection, she added.

Gurgaon doc selected for WHO anti-polio mission
Sunit Dhawan/TNS

Gurgaon, June 4
The World Health Organisation (WHO), South-East Asian Region, has selected former Gurgaon SMO Dr Vishesh Kumar to provide technical assistance and leadership in Africa, a WHO region for global polio eradication.

Dr Kumar is a senior medical officer and consultant paediatrician with the state Health Department.

He is on deputation with the WHO for the past nine years and is presently serving as a sub-regional team leader of the WHO in Delhi.

Polio, which has been declared a public health emergency by the WHO, is now there only in three countries, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Dr Kumar will be placed in Nigeria, where there is persistent transmission of wild polio virus. India is polio-free since January 13, 2011.

Apart from having worked towards the eradication of polio in India as well as sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, Dr Kumar has also contributed towards curbing female foeticide. The Health Department of Haryana has nominated him as a special invitee to the state supervisory board of the PNDT Act.

He has also played an instrumental role in framing the national guidelines for the Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF) along with Gurgaon-based paediatrician Dr Balraj Singh Yadav to address the issue of malnutrition in children.

MP for action against officials guilty of dereliction of duty

Palwal, June 4
Local Congress MP Avtar Singh Bhadana has demanded action against government officials found guilty of dereliction of duty with regard the redress of public grievances.

Addressing government officials of Hodal recently, the Congress leader said, “The public resorts to agitations against the establishment when their problems are not solved”.

“The officials who shirked redressing problems of the people would be dealt with severely. It is their duty to sort out people’s problems,” he said. The MP had made similar outbursts in Hathin during his joint meeting with officers posted in the district. Palwal, DC and the police chief were also present at the meeting. In Hodal as well as Hathin, Bhadana demanded a report on follow up actions taken by the departments concerned on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s announcement of development schemes relating to both the areas.

Farmers told to sow certified seeds
Tribune News Service

Hisar, June 4
Scientists of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University have urged farmers to undertake agriculture-related activities as per the probable weather conditions in the state.

A spokesman for the university said the farmers should sow only certified seeds of various varieties of cotton. They should sow certified seeds of those varieties of paddy which were recommended by the university and irrigate plants in view of the

The experts also advised farmers to protect their cattle from heat. To get better quality of milk, 50 to 100 grams of feed should be mixed daily in their fodder.

Bike thieves’ gang busted, four held
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, June 4
The Gurgaon police has busted a gang of motorcycle thieves with the arrest of four youths and recovered 65 motorcycles and scooters from their possession.

While two of the arrested youths are college students, one is the son of a Delhi policeman. Police sources said they started lifting motorcycles to impress and entertain their girlfriends. Later, they started stealing vehicles and selling these for Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000. At times, they even stole two-wheelers of a specific make on demand by their "customers".

The police has rounded up Lokesh of Jhajjar, who allegedly used to purchase stolen bikes from them.