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Education still out of Kotla’s reach
Kotla (Mewat), August 30 This is not only the story of one student but out of 272 students studying in the government school in Kotla many are planning to drop out next year due to their inability to travel 6-7 km daily for further studies. Kotla village is one of the most backward village of Mewat district which has only a primary school.Despite government’s claim that adequate facilities have been made available to make education within the reach of rural people, yet the children of this village have to travel more than 6-7 km even for middle education. Moreover, there is no regular mode of transportation available in the village. There is only one roadways bus, which comes to the village on alternate days. The state government has floated a number of schemes for girl child education, but this village depicts the dark picture of the difference between the formulation and implementation of the policies at the grassroots level. Headmaster of the school Harun Rashid says the village is not only backward in terms of literacy rate but also in terms of infrastructure. Kotla has a population of around 2,000, but not even a single person is graduate in the village. Khurshid Ehmad is first boy of the village who is doing graduation now. Rashid says in a recent survey of the village it is reported that out of 569 children in the village in the age group of 6-14 years. There are only 252 boys and 80 girls whose names have been registered in the school and the parents of 237 children refuse to send their wards to the school. As many as 37 students have dropped out from the school this year. Rashid says the parents feel that it is a sheer wastage of time to send their wards to even primary school, as the children cannot pursue further studies. The village panchayat has recently decided to construct a school on village land, but its permission is still awaited. Mohd Imran a representative of NGO Sehgal foundation, Kotla, says there are only two schools, one in Multan and another in Molvi, which are almost 6-7 km away from Kotla, he says, adding that as most of the villagers are not financially sound it is difficult for them to send their children to these places.
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Access to land records made easy
Fatehabad, August 30 After that the farmers requiring copies of “jamabandi” or “intakaal” will be able to get these from the local mini-secretariat or the respective tehsil offices where the officials on duty will be having access to these records at the click of a mouse. Earlier, villagers had to go to their area patwaris for a handwritten copy of the record required for procuring loans or any other dealings with regards to their lands. This led to delay as more often the patwaris are busy in field jobs and also they have to write down a number of copies. This also encouraged corruption. All this will be a thing of the past and the last of the important works associated with the office of the patwaris will go out of their hands. The influence associated with the office of patwari has witnessed much erosion in the past and the computerisation of land records is likely to prove the proverbial last straw. Deputy commissioner O.P. Sheoran said the work was almost complete and people would be able to get computerised copies of land records from September 1, 2007.The work was started in 1997 soon after Fatehabad acquired the status of a district. District information officer Ramesh Sharma, whose office National Information Centre (NIC) is the technical coordinator with the revenue authorities in this project, said the department hired the services of private data-entry operators on contract basis. While it paid Rs 4 for entering the records of a “khawat”, Rs 5.50 was paid for entering an “intakaal”, he added. He said the records of Rattia, Tohana, Jakhal, Bhuna and Bhattu Kalan had been sent to the respective tehsil offices.
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All’s not well in Madhopura
Chandigarh, August 30 Two, one after the other, will apply force holding the far end of the rope while one standing close to the well will maintain the balance and pour water in the container from the gurgling bucket. Premises of the government's water supply network dots the countryside of Loharu subdivision of Bhiwani district. There are, however, still unfortunate villagers that have not been covered by the network. Shakuntala, a resident of Madhopura village, giggles as she narrates her tale of woe. The water requirement of her family, including the supply for the livestock, is needed to be fetched by her from the well with the help of her children. Her ancestral village has already come under the government’s water supply network, she says. Despite the strenuous water collection system, women are generally a cheerful lot here. Men, however, are seeped in despair. The reason for their despair is not having any worthwhile employment to get going in life. Rakesh, a young man who claimed to be a graduate, says not even a single person from the village is employed with the state government. “We don’t even have proper water supply not to speak of good jobs even after 60 years of Independence.” The primary school in the village has just three rooms and there is not even a single drop of drinking water in the school. All children have to carry their own water bottles. The anganwadi workers also bring water from home for cooking. The government had made an underground water reservoir near the well in the village. Water used to be supplied to the reservoir from a nearby canal-based project. Fetching water from the reservoir having a higher surface is much more easier than getting water from a depth of 70 ft. But water supply to the reservoir was cut off soon after it began working and that was the end of the story of Madhopura women getting water with relatively less labour. However, the reservoir in neighbouring Mathani village works and it has brought welcome relief for the villagers. Madhopura, Jhupa and Bidwan are among the Bhiwani villages on the Rajasthan border, which depend exclusively on wells to meet the daily need of water. According to Pawan of Madhopura, women of these villages have developed a reputation for their hard work, which enhances their matrimonial prospects. The boys, on the other hand, have a tough time getting brides as people from other villages do not want their daughters to marry in a village where water collection takes a heavy toll on women.
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A helping hand for physically challenged
Ambala, August 30 The trust is a family-run organisation, named after freedom fighter Lala Durga Charan of whose Aggarwal is the grandson. Aggarwal said effective functioning of the centre had encouraged them to further increase its activities. “In the coming months, we are planning to give artificial hands to the needy. We are also considering starting a mobile workshop.” The NRI, who studied at BD High School and SD College, said, “We are providing a high-quality Jaipur foot that helps a person to function almost normally. A person with the Jaipur foot can walk, run, jump, drive and even work in the fields”. The centre, which is located at the Red Cross building, near Hathikhana temple in Ambala Cantt, now receives patients from far off places like Theog and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, Noorpur, Hisar, Hardwar, Muzaffarnagar and Khanna. “Till date we have helped 3,000 persons. The help has been extended through thea Jaipur foot, callipers and crutches. The callipers are for the polio-afflicted, but we do not provide polio corrective surgery. We have also helped a few soldiers by providing them the Jaipur foot," he stated. Technicians prepare the Jaipur foot at the centre after carrying out measurements. An engineering graduate from Thapar College of Engineering, Aggarwal emphasises that no money is charged from people who avail themselves of the services. “If any person wants to donate money, we encourage him to send the money to the Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti in Jaipur,” he said. The NRI said the effort was to bring back the self-respect of the person who had become physically challenged.
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General hospital to be upgraded
Fatehabad, August 30 A new block to house the casualty department is being constructed and new doctors, including specialists of various branches of medicine and surgery, have been posted to equip the local general hospital to cater to the healthcare needs of the people. The hospital has always been in news for wrong reasons ever since it was upgraded to 60-bedded in 1980s. People always complained of lack of facilities, poor sanitation, shortage of medicines and indifferent attitude of doctors and paramedical staff. Things went from bad to worse after Fatehabad became a district in 1997, as a part of the hospital building was converted into civil surgeon office. But some marked improvements have been witnessed in the recent past. A regular senior medical officer (SMO), Dr H.L. Gupta, has been appointed for this hospital after a long time. With the appointment of over six new doctors, the hospital now has two surgeons, Dr O.P. Dahmiwal and Dr J.S. Nain, a physician, Dr Naresh Kumar, an orthopedic surgeon, Dr Sanjeev Arya, an ophthalmologist, Dr Deepti Arya, a sonologist, Dr Surinder Bishnoi, a social and preventive medicine specialist, Dr Anamika Bishnoi, a resident medical officer, Dr N.K. Chakarvarty, a lady medical officer, Dr Ramesh Chakarvarty, a gynecologist, Dr Meenu, a dental surgeon, Dr Kuldeep Gauri, and a medical officer, Dr Suman Saharan. To make the out patient department (OPD) sufficient to house the increased number of doctors, the authorities are in the process of starting construction for a new casualty block on 2,500 sq ft of land. The new block will also house a minor operation theatre. The authorities have also started the process of computerisation of patient records. While several steps have been taken to improve the functioning of the hospital, much remains to be done to make the healthcare services up to the mark. The district blood bank is yet to start although the building is in place for the past three years. Due to the poor functioning of the hospital over the years, the faith of the general public in its services has been shattered.
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Traffic chaos in Yamunanagar
Yamunanagar, August 30 A large number of tractor-trailers and trucks download timber brought from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand every day at the market. More than 10,000 persons, including 250 arhtiyas, are associated with the market where tonnes of timber could be spotted on either side of the road. Besides, hundreds of eateries have mushroomed along the highway. All this has made motoring risky on this road. Vehicles start reaching the market at around 3 am and the process of loading and unloading continues throughout the day. On an average, one person dies every eighth day in a road accident on this stretch. As many as 28 persons have lost their lives in the past eight months. The Chief Minister recently announced that the market would be shifted to some other place. The administration is working overtime to find an "appropriate" place for the timber market. It had earlier zeroed in on Dosani village where it had also acquired 20 acres, but the shifting plans had to be shelved as the locals moved court. It is to be mentioned here that about four years ago, the then Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala had made a similar announcement. Meanwhile, arhtiyas are ready to shift the market. Gulam Mohd, president of safeda, a popular arhtiya association, said they were ready to shift to an appropriate site to solve the traffic problem. Sources in the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said heavy traffic was causing a lot of damage to the road. The authority would be spending Rs 2.15 crore to strengthen the stretch from Saharanpur border to the bridge on the western Yamuna canal (WYC).
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Inside Babudom
Chandigarh, August 30 Hooda has the option to pick any officer already serving in the state or recall an officer from central deputation. Initially, he had gone by the principle of seniority to fill top posts in the bureaucracy and the police. However, when Prashant and Ranjeev Dalal were appointed chief secretary and director-general of police, respectively, the Chief Minister gave weight to the possible longer tenure of the officers. The seniormost IAS officer of the state cadre is Deepa Jain Singh, who belongs to the 1971 batch. Currently on deputation with the centre, Deepa will retire on July 31, 2008. Sources say she is willing to return to her parent state. Next in line for promotion as chief secretary is the 1972 batch, which has five officers. While one officer, Naseem Ahmed, will retire next month, Promilla Issar, posted as financial commissioner, revenue, will attain the age of superannuation on February 29, 2008. Her husband, Ranjit, is on central deputation and will retire on September 30, 2008. Ranjit's presence in the Haryana civil secretariat a couple of days ago led to whispers in the power corridors that he had come to stake his claim to the top post. Another officer of the 1972 batch, Pius Panderwani, has eight months to go. The youngest officer in this batch is Pradeep Kumar, who is on deputation with the centre. His retirement is due on September 30, 2009. But he is believed to be reluctant to return to the state. Among the 1973 batch officers, only one officer, Dharamveer, is serving in the state. His retirement is due on October 31, 2009. The others in this batch, Anil Razdan, his wife Rajani, and H.S. Anand, are on central deputation. While Rajani will retire on November 30, 2009, the other two will superannuate next year. If the Chief Minister's choice falls on an officer on deputation, the state may have to remain without a chief secretary for a few days as had happened when Meenaxi Anand Choudhry was recalled from central deputation in 2005 to become the first woman chief secretary of the state. Since the state intimated its decision to recall Choudhry on the day the then incumbent was to retire, it took about a week for completing the formalities for her relieving. However, the sources point out that Punjab chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh took over his state assignment before the formal orders for his relieving from central deputation were issued. Prem Prashant established a healthy tradition of informally meeting the media at least once a week. Newspersons are hoping that his successor will continue the tradition. Another IAS officer, H.S. Rana, will also retire tomorrow. Rana must be one of the rare officers who called a large number of his friends and admirers to dinner before his retirement.
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Tributes to Rezangla martyrs
Rewari, August 30 Lt Gen Deepak Kapur, Vice Chief of the Army staff, will flag off the march, which is being organised by the Rezangla Shaurya Samiti (RSS), Rewari. The Rezangla Shaurya Kalash contains the sacred soil of the Rezangla War Memorial, known as Ahir Dham (abode of Ahir heroes of the Rezangla War), which lies at a height of 16,420 ft near the Rezangla post in Chushul sector of Ladakh region. A five-member expedition team of the RSS recently brought the soil here. As many as 114 Ahir jawans of the Charlie company of 13 Kumaon had sacrificed their lives while fighting against the Chinese at the Rezangla Post on November 18, 1962. Around 51 of these martyrs were the natives of various villages of Gurgaon, Rewari and Mahendergarh districts of the Ahirwal region. The bodies of all martyrs were collectively consigned to the flames with full military honours near the Rezangla post, which is now known as Ahir Dham. RSS general secretary Naresh Chauhan recently met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi and presented her a copy of Rezangla Shaurya Gatha Samarika (souvenir containing the saga of the historic battle). Former union minister and chief patron of the RSS Col Ram Singh said in the first phase, the march would cover around 50 native villages of the martyrs. He said besides paying tributes to the martyrs, the aim of the march was to stir the young generation with the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice.
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CITIZEN FIRST Faridabad has emerged as the leading exporter of "kali mehndi" (black henna), especially to the Muslim countries in Africa and the West Asia. The exporters buy henna leaves from Sujat in Pali district (Rajasthan). The sale of henna leaves is exempted from sales tax in Rajasthan, but in Haryana the exporters have to pay sales tax. This adds to the cost to the disadvantage of the exporters, who face stiff competition in the global market. The henna traders and exporters of Faridabad have been clamouring for the exemption of heena trade from sales tax, but in vain. The imposition of sales tax on henna leaves imported from another state is ill conceived for all intent and purposes. It not only escalates and proliferate the price of the henna powder by almost 100 per cent but also adversely affects its export in the foreign market. C.D. Verma 181, Sector 19, Faridabad Substandard material used Every now and then, there are media reports about a building collapse or the other. It seems that the recommended specifications are not being followed by the constructing agencies and the material used is also inferior. There is also lack of proper attention on the part of government officials. The situation is no different in the rural areas where guidelines are not being followed while constructing roads, school, medical centres etc. The lack of awareness on the part of village panchayats is one of the reasons why these specifications are not being followed. The government must adopt some remedial measures to fix responsibility in case of any lapse. J.L. Dalal, Former director, agriculture,Haryana Readers, write in
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Industrialists rue poor facilities
Jhajjar, August 30 The essential infrastructure, including roads, water supply and sewerage, continues to be a mirage for the MIE, Phase 1 and Phase 2. Industrialists allege that “inspector raj” is not yet over and officials of many departments keep harassing them on one pretext or the other. Sources say many industrial units are migrating from the MIE due to unfriendly atmosphere and lack of basic facilities. As many as 200 units have already shifted their base to industrial hubs like Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and New Delhi. Though there are very few plots lying vacant in the MIE, a large number of plots is occupied by sick or defunct units. The sources say that the owners deliberately closed down the unit as the main aim of such industrialists, mostly hailing from New Delhi, is to keep a standby option in Bahadurgarh in case their main unit face closure in Delhi. However, the infrastructure in the MIE is in a shambles. "Many roads, especially in the interiors are broken beyond repair. These roads remained choked with sewerage and rainwater and become breeding ground for mosquitoes. Most of the park sites are never taken care of. The sewerage system is completely nonexistent,” laments Narender Ahlawat, an industrialist. Many industrialists also allege that “inspector raj” is also haunting them, as there are about 20 departments, including sales tax, excise tax, ESI, measurement, pollution board, HUDA, DIC, electricity, whose officials frequently visit the units and harass the owners. The industrialists also allege that the truckers, who have strong union, overcharge from them. President of the Bahadurgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) Satish Chhikara, however, says major development activities are on the cards and HUDA has sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for repair and relaying of the roads in the MIE.
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Citizens’ Grievances I applied for a plot and a flat in the economically weaker section of R.P.S. Estates at Faridabad. I sent two drafts for Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 in the favour of R.P.S. Associates, opposite Nehru Palace, New Delhi on 4.5.2006. But till date, no draw has been held nor any refund has been made. Indra Rani 218/R-Model Town,Karnal No response from varsity
In November 2006, I sent a draft of Rs 8,000 along with all required documents to Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa, to get enrolled in M.Phil Journalism (distance education). But the university did not acknowledge the same. Even the session (2006-07) has passed and the university has still not responded. All my phone calls and reminders to the registrar as well as to the director of distance learning fell in deaf ears, as the authorities are totally unapproachable. They neither sent my roll number or any other examination form nor refunded the money. Maninder Kaur
2, Hardhyal Nagar, P.O. Garha,Jalandhar Service, Club Mahindra style
I became a member of Club Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. agreeing to pay Rs 1.5 lakh approximately half of which has already been paid. The customer care service at the Chandigarh office and at the Chennai head office is not up to the mark. Our first and only holiday experience with Club Mahindra was at Goa where we were made to wait at least three hours for check-in at the resort despite reservation done more than two months in advance. When this was brought to the notice of the Club Mahindra authorities, no correspondence was received in this regard, what to talk of an apology. Not only this, there is no availability at resorts anywhere whether one tries to book 10 days in advance or two months in advance. Moreover, I was not told about the rules and regulations at the time of joining that I have come to know just now one year after taking membership. Dr Mona Aggarwal
Sector 8, Panchkula Filthy
surroundings
It is seen that regarding the cleaning of vacant plots and surroundings of corner houses, neither HUDA nor Municipal Committee takes responsibility. There are many such spots in Sector 16, Panchkula, which owing to official apathy have become filthy and breeding ground for mosquitoes. Congess grass is also in abundance. When I met MC president, she informed it was out of the scope of the committee and HUDA was responsible for this. On the other hand, SDO HUDA says it is the job of the MC. It is pitiable that HUDA charges premium for corner plots but blame game begins when it comes to the upkeep of the area. Dr R.K. Modi
Sector 16,Panchkula
Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at adalat@tribuneindia.com or, write in, at:Grievances, Haryana Plus, Sector 29, Chandigarh – 160 030
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