Chandigarh,July 30
The state government has decided that the employees will get cashless treatment at leading private hospitals in the state in the case of medical emergencies.

A decision to this effect was communicated to Sarv Karamchari Sangh representatives by Chief Secretary PK Chaudhery at a meeting here recently. “To begin with, the cashless facility will be available at leading hospitals empanelled with the government,” sources said.

Now, the patients would be able to avail medicare at the private hospital without depositing any advance payment .However, the patient would have to clear hospital dues at the time of discharge.

Since medicare is very costly in the private sector, currently the patient has to deposit advance payment for treatment , which sometimes runs into several lakhs of rupees. While he has to spend a large amount from his pocket, he gets reimbursement from the government only after several months.

A senior Health Department official said the cashless scheme could be modified and extended to cover all medical facilities in due course of time.

Gurgaon, July 30
The slow pace of investigation by the SIT constituted to probe the arson and violence at the Manesar plant of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) appears to have annoyed the company management.

“Twelve days after the violence and arson at the Manesar plant, the culprits continue to be at large,” the MSIL management said in a statement issued here today.

While the police arrested more than 90 workers after the violence at the Manesar plant and a few more afterwards, the major office-bearers of the workers’ union, who are being considered the key accused in the case, continue to be at large.

The management has stated that in view of the situation, it was not in a position to decide on resuming operations at Manesar.

“Concerned about the safety and security of its people, the company is not in a position to take a decision on resuming operations at the Manesar plant. The company will announce its decision to this effect only when it is assured of its employees’ safety,” said the statement.

The labour violence which rocked the Manesar plant of MSIL on July 18 had left nearly 100 senior company executives, managers and supervisors injured, while a general manager, Awanish Kumar Dev, lost his life. The attackers also set fire to the office wing and the main gate. 

Chandigarh, July 30
Demanding that the state be declared as drought-hit, the INLD today urged the state government to immediately gauge the damage to crops.

Addressing a press conference here today, Leader of the Opposition and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala asserted that against the backdrop of deficient rainfall this season the entire state was facing a drought. “Our party demands that the state should be declared drought-hit and special girdawari (revenue survey) should be ordered to assess the damage caused to crops,” he said.

Chautala claimed that he had already written to Governor Jagannath Pahadia, urging him to ask the government to take steps to get the state declared as drought-hit. The affected farmers should be given a compensation of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per acre," Chautala demanded.

The rainfall deficiency is 71 per cent up to July 27.

Rohtak, July 30
Two persons were killed and three injured in a collision between a train and an oil tanker at an unmanned crossing near Asaudha village of Jhajjar district, about 32 km from here on the Delhi-Rohtak railway track, today.

Reports said the accident took place around 1.10 pm when an empty tanker coming from Rohad village was trying to cross the railway track at the unmanned crossing. Kisan Express, coming from the Rohtak side, hit the tanker. The train, which had come from Bathinda via Rohtak, was on its way to Delhi.

The impact of the accident was so severe that the tanker was scattered into pieces while two wheels of the train engine got off the railway track, leading to the abrupt halt of the train. The accident claimed the lives of tanker driver Shivshanker and Ashish, a train passenger belonging to Rohtak.

The injured were Gaurav of Bhiwani, Himanshu of Delhi and Mainpal of Madina village.

Senior officials from Bahadurgarh subdivision rushed to the spot. The movement of trains remained hit for around three hours on this track .

Mahendergarh, July 30
Disappointed at the failure of the Haryana government to keep its promise of reserving seats and according preference in jobs at the Central University for the residents of Jant and Pali villages on whose land the university is being set up, residents of several villages began an indefinite dharna here today.

The villagers demanded that they be given reservation in jobs and seats be reserved for their children in the academic courses at the university, as promised earlier.

They also sought jobs for those farmers whose land had been acquired for the university and compensation for land on a par with that being provided in other parts of the state.

Today’s demonstration was headed by Ranbir Singh, president of the Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Pali-Jant, which is spearheading the protest. He said the villagers would also observe fast and stage a protest demonstration at Jantar-Mantar in Delhi, if the government did not pay heed to their demands.

Meanwhile, the local Deputy Commissioner has invited the residents of Jant and Pali villages for talks on August 2. Representatives of the Central University have also been called. 

Rohtak, July 30
Counselling for admission to 60 per cent of the seats in private and self-financing medical colleges of Haryana scheduled to be held on July 31 and August 1 has been postponed. The next date
of counselling will be announced soon.

According to the Registrar, Pt B.D.Sharma Health University, which conducted the entrance exam here on July 15 last, the counselling had to be postponed due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Bhiwani, July 30
Former minister Babu Ram Bhajan Agarwal (88) passed away today at his Bhiwani residence. His final rites will be performed tomorrow at Rambagh near Hansi Gate.

All markets remained closed as a mark of respect to the departed soul. He is survived by sons Nand Kishore and Purushottam Das and three daughters. He was a close associate of the late chief minister Bansi Lal and remained MLA for two terms. During Bansi Lal’s rule, he was minister of tourism and minister of state for home.