Chandigarh, December 14
The Haryana Government has, written to the Central Government to consider its request for the inclusion of Jat, Jat Sikh, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi castes in the Central list of Haryana state as recommended by the Haryana Backward Classes Commission (HBCC).

An official spokesman said that the communication was addressed to Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Anil Goswami and signed by Haryana Chief Secretary P.K. Chaudhery. It states, “The Haryana Council of Ministers at its meeting held on December 12, while accepting the recommendations of the HBCC, decided that the recommendations of the commission regarding the inclusion of the Jat, Jat Sikh, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi castes in the Central list of Haryana state may be taken up with the Union Government of immediately so that they can get the benefit of reservation etc. in the jobs of the Government of India.”

The Haryana Backward Classes Commission headed by Justice K.C. Gupta submitted its report on December 12 and made the following major recommendations:

“The State Government may notify the communities of Jat, Jat Sikh, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi as Other Backward Classes (Special Backward Classes) and provide 10 per cent reservation to the said communities in exclusion to the communities already notified as Backward Classes. The said communities shall not be included in the 27 per cent reservation provided to the Backward Classes and shall not claim any share in the existing reservation for the Backward Classes. So, the reservation shall be mutually exclusive.”

“The State Government may recommend to the Government of India that, as the representation of Backward Classes in All India Services etc. is even lower than that in the State services and is quite inadequate, so, the Government of India may also include Jat, Jat Sikh, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi in the Central List of Haryana state maintained for this purpose, so that they can also get benefit of reservation etc. in the Central jobs of India.”

He said that Haryana government has made similar requests to the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Secretary and Secretary, Union Finance Ministry.

Ambala, December 14
The state government’s circular making PhD holders from private universities ineligible for the posts of lecturer has not only drawn criticism from research scholars in the state, but also prompted them to file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The scholars are contending as to why the government allowed private universities to run PhD courses if the government was to declare the degrees holders from these varsities ‘ineligible’ for the posts of lecture and assistant professor.

In a recent circular, the government had made partial modifications in the eligibility criteria for recruitment and appointment to posts of assistant professor in the state universities.

As per the circular, the National Eligibility Test (NET) is to be the minimum condition for recruitment and appointment as lecturers in colleges. In case the candidate has been awarded PhD degree in compliance the UGC guidelines of 2009, he or she would be exempted from NET.

The circular underlined that only candidates possessing PhD degrees awarded by the state or Central universities or those private universities that have been accredited as “A” grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) would be eligible for the posts of lecturer or assistant professor. However, to the surprise of many, there is not even a single university in the state which has been accredited as “A” grade by the NAAC.

Following this, number of scholars, who had completed their PhDs from private universities, were up in arms against the latest modification made by the state government claiming that the UGC had never come up with any such provision.

Anil Kumar, a PhD holder from a private university, said scholars had spend precious years of their lives undergoing the PhD programmes at private universities. The scholars had also spent lakhs of rupees on these programmes hoping that they would be able to get jobs after completing the programme. However, the latest move had dashed their hopes.

He has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the circular. The court has issued notices to the Haryana government and fixed December 19 as the next date of hearing.

Fatehabad, December 14
After taking away cheques for the compensation of their lands acquired for the proposed Gorakhpur Atomic Power Project (GAPP), farmers are now up in arms against the authorities for hike in the payment to almost double the amount they have already received.

The authorities, too, have taken a tough stand on the issue. Deputy Commissioner ML Kaushik, whom the farmers met today, told them that they were free to refund the compensation money with interest and take back their lands.

Among the farmers, who met Kaushik in his office, included farmers who had been for the project as well as those who had opposed the plant for over two years before they finally accepted the award and lifted dharna on September 17 this year.

Hans Raj Siwach, president of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, who led the agitation for almost 26 months, was also among the farmers who demanded compensation of Rs 68 lakh per acre at par with what had been offered to farmers of Khatkar in Jind, where land was acquired for a powerhouse.

“Great injustice has been done with us. After seeking affidavits from us that we are ready to part with our lands for at least Rs 50 lakh per acre, the authorities have given us merely Rs 34 lakh,” alleged Devender Singh Bura, who is leading the farmers this time.

The DC told them that there was no parallel between the land acquired in Khatkar, located on the National Highway-71, and the Gorakhpur land, a purely agriculture land.

However, the farmers left the DC’s office after telling him that they would refund the compensation money and would not allow the authorities to take physical possession of their lands at any cost.

“Our members have already started making arrangement for the funds and we have called a meeting of all farmers at the dharna site in Gorakhpur, where the farmers have been sitting for the past 40 days to chalk out a future strategy,” said Sadhu Ram, a farmers’ leader.

Hisar, December 14
Former Haryana Minister Sampat Singh today appealed to Jat leaders not to resort to agitation, as the Haryana government had already acceded to their demands.

Speaking to media persons here today, Sampat Singh said the Haryana Cabinet decision of accepting the recommendations of the Backward Commission of 10 per cent reservation for Jats and four other castes and 10 per cent additional reservation for economically backward people from some other castes Punjabis, Rajput, Vaish, Jain and Brahmins was a welcome step and must be lauded by all.

He said that the Jat Arakashan leaders should plead their case with the Members of Parliament rather than resorting to agitation, so that the recommendation of the Haryana government for reservation in the central government posts was accepted soon.

He said he was the only leader from the Congress or the opposition parties, who had given a representation to the commission seeking quota for Punjabis, Bhakra dam oustees, besides Jats and other four castes.

He alleged that leaders of the opposition parties, who have now been instigating Jat leaders, never made any representations before the Backward Classes Commission, when it sought claims and suggestions.

Sampat Singh said former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala should have welcomed the recommendations of the commission as all along he had been demanding what the commission has recommended. 

Faridabad, December 14
The Labour Department of Haryana has initiated a move to standardise the practices with regard to the approval of a building plan for a factory/industrial building and to ease the procedure concerning it. This was revealed here yesterday by the Additional Labour Commissioner of NCR, Naresh Narwal.

During an interface with the industry, SK Goel, president of the Faridabad Industry Association (FIA), said a committee constituted by him to study the procedures relating to the approval of building plan had been recommended to the office of the Labour Commissioner to standardise the practices on the part of government agencies in conformity with the Factory Act, 1948.

Narwal’s office has jurisdiction over Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rewari, Mahendergarh (Narnaul), Mewat and Palwal, which is the key area of industrialisation in Haryana.

At present, the standards followed by the municipal bodies, HUDA and HSIIDC are at variance with the provisions of the Act. Hence, the Labour Department raises objections when the cases reach it for dispensation.

Citing an example, he said the Act demands that the height of any structure in the factory building should not be less than 12 feet. However, government agencies do not adhere to it.

He said the department was ready to forego the requirement of NOC (no objection certificate) from the fire department with regard to the building plan. It would suffice if the entrepreneur concerned convinced the department that building had adequate safety measures.

In response to an objection from industrialists, he announced that the collection of cess under the BOCW Act would not be applicable for construction undertaken within the premises that are covered under the Factory Act. The issue assumes significance in the context of the department not clearing the building plans till the cess cases were disposed of.

He said the department had taken measures to make online the process of applications and approvals of building plans and registration of the contrator. The process regarding obtaining factory licence was already online, he added.

He accepted the demand for one-time registration of a contractor on the part of the entrepreneurs.

In response to queries from the industry, the department clarified that as per the rules, only the contractor was responsible for providing gratuity and bonus to employees employed by him.

Rewari, December 14
Government Middle School, Bahala, in charge was today allegedly manhandled and slapped by Kosli tehsildar Dharam Pal Singh.

Sources said tehsildar Dharam Pal Singh along with Nahar block education officer KK Punia, BEEO Davender Singh Dhillon, Jawan Singh Mehra, principal, Government Model Senior School, Nahar, and Rajender Singh Yadav, principal, Government Senior School, Lilodh, visited Government Middle School at Bahala village for inspection of sanitary conditions in the school under the Chief Minister’s schools beautification award scheme.

On finding cobwebs and some dirt lying in a classroom, the infuriated tehsildar allegedly manhandled and slapped school in charge Narpal Singh and also directed him to remove the dirt in the presence of students.

After the alleged incident, Narpal Singh lodged a complaint against the tehsildar at the Nahar police post.

Surender Yadav, district president of the Haryana State Government Teachers’ Organisation-70, Mahabir Singh, state vice-president of the Haryana School Teachers’ Organisation, and other office-bearers of the organisations, demanded stringent action against the tehsildar.

However, tehsildar Dharam Pal Singh denied having slapped Narpal Singh.

Admitting that Narpal had filed a complaint against the tehsildar, a senior police official said they had asked the complainant to approach the SDM and the Deputy Commissioner in this regard. — OC

Rohtak, December 14
A stenographer in the SP’s office here was caught accepting a bribe from an employee of the department. It is reported that the accused had demanded the money in lieu of settling the complainant’s suspension case.

Vigilance Bureau officials said the accused , ASI Rampal Singh, had demanded Rs 75,000 from suspended ASI Jagdish Chander when the latter approached him for help in settling his case. The accused told Jagdish Chander that if he failed to do so, he could be dismissed from service. “The steno assured the suspended ASI that he would be reinstated at just the cost of curtailment of one year’s salary increment”.

The victim told officials of the Vigilance Department that while he had already paid Rs 17,000 in two instalments to the steno, he was scheduled to pay the third instalment of Rs 10,000 today.

A team of officials set up by the SP, Vigilance, led by Tehsildar Pramod Chahal as duty magistrate caught the accused ASI while accepting the bribe of Rs 10,000 today. The accused has been arrested after the registration of a case under the Corruption of Prevention Act.

Chandigarh, December 14
Facing cut-throat competition from the private sector in the hospitality industry, Haryana Tourism is warming up to amusement-cum-entertainment tourism with the setting up two amusement parks at Rohtak and Surajkund in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in a bid to bringing Haryana on the Indian tourism map.

“The proposal to develop state-of-the-art amusement parks on the land adjoining the tourist complexes in Rohtak and Surajkund is a part of a multi-pronged strategy to boost tourism at the strategically-located tourist resorts in the state”, Vijai Vardhan, Principal Secretary (Tourism), told The Tribune here today.

While land under the PPP mode would be provided by the Haryana ggovernment, the equipment at the amusement parks would be installed by the private players selected through a competitive transparent bidding process, Vardhan informed.

The amusement park at Rohtak would be spread over an area of around 25 acres and its total cost is estimated to be Rs 60-70 crore. Similarly, the amusement park at Faridabad would be set up on an area of 12 acres at a cost of Rs 10-15 crore.

Meanwhile, the mini amusement park at Pinjore is set to be expanded and opened to the public soon.

Also, as part of the strategy to increase the footfall at the state-run tourist complexes the facility of “banqueting and conferencing” is being expanded to more tourist complexes. Besides, all rooms in the tourist complexes are being renovated. This would be complimented with the start of camping sites at Damdama, Dabchick and Dharuhera in the PPP mode.

Claiming that Haryana Tourism was not running in losses, Vardhan asserted that its performance was much better than the tourism departments of the neighbouring states, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Since the sites of the amusement parks were in the vicinity of the New Delhi, the new amusement parks would go a long way in increasing footfalls at the tourist complexes, particularly during weekends, boosting business.

Kaithal, December 14
The district police has taken steps to check eve-teasing of schoolgirls and women. Women PCRs have been deployed in the vicinity of institutions for girls.

A police spokesperson said here today that superintendent of police Kuldip Singh Yadav had issued instructions to maintain vigil at sensitive places. He had asked the girls and women not to feel insecure and in case of help, they should contact PCR in charge assistant sub-inspector Darshna Devi on mobile no 97299-90219.

He said that a drive had been launched to create awakening among girls and women to check the menace of eve-teasing. The police would involve local representatives and seek their cooperation to keep a watch on anti-social elements.

Special police riders would also remain on patrol duty at the time of start and closure of educational institutions, he added. 

Chandigarh, December 14
The Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (HSCFDC) has provided financial assistance over Rs 17.77 crore, including over Rs 2.86 lakh as subsidy to 3,847 beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes under various schemes during this financial year, .

A spokesman of HSCFDC said here today that members belonging to the Scheduled Castes were being provided loans under various categories to enable them to set up their own ventures. These categories included agriculture and allied, industrial, trade and business, professional and self-employment sectors. Financial assistance under schemes assisted by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) was also being provided to them .

He said over Rs. 6.88 crore was given as loans for dairy, poultry and piggery farming, sheep rearing.

Of this, more than Rs 5.69 crore had been released as a bank loan, over Rs.1.18 crore as subsidy and Rs 1.52 lakh as margin money.

About the number of beneficiaries, he said Hisar district topped with 436 beneficiaries followed by Sirsa (382), Karnal (151) Ambala (130) , Bhiwani (255) Kaithal (295) , Fatehabad( 246) , Yamunanagar (190) , Kurukshetra(240) and Jind (253), among others.

Rewari, December 14
SUCI activists held demonstrations against the bus fare hike at Dahina , 23 km from here, as well as at Budana Chowk , 8 km from here, and burnt effigies of the state government today.

Addressing the protesters at Budana Chowk, district party secretary Rajender Singh described the hike in bus fare as an ‘anti-people’ measure of the Hooda regime.

Jhajjar, December 14
Two brothers, Manoj and Mukesh, died after falling into a 20-foot-deep pit at their house in Kot Ukhalchana village last evening. They were government employees.

Sources said the incident took place when they were digging a septic tank. Since the area around the pit was damp, it caved in. Both Manoj and Mukesh got stuck in it. On getting information, the district authorities reached the spot.

The pit was cleared with the help of a JCB machine and the victims were pulled out after an hour. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital but doctors declared them brought dead.