Dozen IAS officers reshuffled
CHANDIGARH, May 7— After reshuffling a couple of Deputy Commissioners, the Haryana Government today ordered a reshuffle of nearly a dozen IAS officers.

Transfer raises storm
KARNAL, May 7 — The unceremonious transfer of Mr S.K. Jadhav from Kurukshetra a few days back has raised a storm in the corridors of power in Haryana.

Five ministers deny report
CHANDIGARH, May 7 — Five Haryana ministers have termed as "totally baseless" a news report that appeared in a section of the press today, pointing out that there was a move by certain ministers to topple the Haryana Government.

Pranab to attend HPCC meeting on Monday
FARIDABAD, May 7 — A meeting of the executive committee of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has been called here on Monday to chalk out the party strategy for the September mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha.

MDU results from June 1
ROHTAK, May 7 — The results of the annual examinations of undergraduate students being conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University will be declared in the first week of June.

HVP's statewide campaign from May 15
CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Haryana Vikas Party will launch a fortnight-long statewide "Jan jagaran" campaign from May 15 to make the people aware of the achievements of the present government since its formation on May 11, 1996.

Move to topple Bansi Lal fizzles out
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, May 7 — The move by former Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Bhajan Lal, and dissident MLAs and ministers of the ruling Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) to topple the Bansi Lal government seems to have fizzled out with Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, making clear last night that the Congress was not party to the move to destabilise the Bansi Lal government through defections. She also refused to commit in favour of Congress ticket to the possible defectors from the HVP in the next assembly elections in the state.

Mrs Sonia Gandhi made her views clear at her meeting with the party leader from Haryana, including the state president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, yesterday.

The Congress leadership's a stand came as a jolt to the HVP dissidents and Mr Bhajan Lal. The dissidents, the sources said, wanted the commitment from the Congress leadership regarding giving party ticket before announcing their dissociation with the HVP. They had mobilised support of 17 MLAs and ministers following Mr Bhajan Lal's assurance that he would manage Congress ticket for 20 defectors.

Incidentally, only 12 MLAs were required to cause a split in the HVP which has a strength of 35 in the Haryana Assembly. Mr Bhajan Lal is also reported to have assured the dissidents of support of all 12 Congress MLAs to the alternative government.

Another factor that gave cold feet to the dissidents was one of their member who was in the race for the post of Chief Minister in the alternative government toughened his stand. The minister stood firm that only he should be the candidate for the post of Chief Minister and he demanded loyalty from the other dissident members.

The dissidents in the HVP wanted fool proof assurance from the Congress for its support to the alternative government as well as party ticket to them in the next assembly elections.

Age of retirement in Haryana unchanged
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Haryana Cabinet which met here last evening under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, decided to revise the pay scales of teachers working in the universities and colleges of the state as per the recommendations of the UGC as accepted by the Government of India with effect from January 1, 1996 (a brief report appeared yesterday).

Detailing out the revision of pay scales, the Haryana Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, said that salary in the revised scales would be released with effect from January 1, 1998.

The arrears on account of revision of pay scales for the period January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1997, would be deposited in their GPF accounts and those who are not subscribing to the GPF for any reason, the National

Saving Certificates would be purchased.

The entire liability on account of this revision would be taken over by the state government with effect from April, 2000. The Central assistance would be restricted to the pay scales in respect of only those posts which were in existence and filled on January 1, 1996. The total liability from January 1, 1996 to March 31, 2000, would be Rs 136.80 crore. It is assumed there would be an additional burden on the exchequer to the tune of Rs 40 crore for the year 2000-2001 which would go on increasing every year due to increments and DA instalments.

It may be added that there are 53 Government, 111 non-government colleges and three universities in the state.

The scales of pay of teachers, librarians and physical education personnel in universities and colleges as on January 1, 1996:

In case of private colleges the cases to award senior or selection grade will be examined at the university level by a screening committee under the chairmanship of Dean of College of the university concerned. A nominee each of the Director, Higher Education, Vice-Chancellor and subject expert would be its other members and Principal of the college concerned would be its member-secretary.

For the grant of senior scale to the teachers, librarians and physical education personnel working in the government colleges, the Director, Higher Education will be the competent authority and the eligibility of such teachers will be determined in view of existing instructions. However, for the grant of selection grade to the teachers, librarians and physical education personnel working in the government colleges, a committee set up under the chairmanship of Commissioner and Secretary, Education, will examine these cases in the light of instructions laid down by Haryana Government regarding promotion of the officials to the higher post. The members of the committee would be the Joint Secretary. Education; subject expert and the Director of Higher Education.

The revised scales of pay of tutors and demonstrators are for the existing incumbents of these positions in the universities and colleges. There shall be no fresh recruitment made to the cadre of demonstrators/tutors. The principals of government and non-government colleges will be eligible for the grant of professor's grade of Rs 16400-450-20900-500-22400 with effect from January 1, 1996 on the conditions that they have put in a total regular and continuous service of 25 years as lecturer or principal of a college in Haryana state. No relaxation in 25 years experience shall be granted on account of M. Phil or Ph.D. degrees. The experience will not include any service as demonstrator.

The professor grade shall be awarded to those principals only who have at least 70 per cent good record and there is no adverse entry about their integrity and they are not subjected to any disciplinary action for major penalty.

The cases for award of professor grade will be processed like promotion and considered by a screening committee under the chairmanship of the Financial Commissioner and Secretary, Education. The Director of Higher Education and Special or Joint or Deputy Secretary, Education, would be its members. In the case of private colleges a representative of the university concerned will also be added as a member.

The professor grade will be strictly awarded on the fulfilment of all the above conditions and not on the basis of juniority/seniority. No principal will be entitled to be placed in professor grade due to the fact that his junior who has 25 year regular/continuous service at his credit, has been awarded the professor grade. He will be entitled to professor's grade only on the fulfilment of all the above conditions for promotion.

Principals having at least two years' experience as principal of a college would be eligible for appointment as Deputy Director Colleges. Similarly, a lecturer having at least 10 years' experience would be eligible for appointment as Assistant Director, Colleges, as these posts are of administrative nature and experienced persons are required to be appointed against these posts at directorate level.

In order to encourage research in continuation of postgraduate studies candidates who, at the time of regular appointment as lecturer possess Ph.D. or M.Phil degree will be sanctioned four and two advance increments, respectively, in the scale of Rs 8000-275-13500 at the time of regular appointment along with the benefit of corresponding years of service for the purpose of promotion.

The government lecturers who are appointed on or after January 1, 1996, will have to serve in the rural area for a period of five years that is three years before the placement in the senior scale and two years after placement in the senior scale.

The lecturer in the existing selection grade Rs 3700-5700 in the colleges will be placed on the appropriate stage in the revised selection grade of Rs 12000-18800 in accordance with the pay fixation formula under this scheme.

The universities/colleges must observe at least 180 actual teaching days i.e. there should be a minimum of 30 weeks of actual teaching in a six-day week as a mandatory provision or the remaining period, 12 weeks may be devoted to admission and examination activities and non-instructional days (e.g. for sports, college day etc) eight weeks for vacation and two weeks may be attributed to various public holidays. If the university adopts a five-day week pattern then the number of weeks should be increased correspondingly to ensure equivalent of 30 weeks with a six-day week.

The age of superannuation will remain unchanged and teachers working in government colleges will continue to retire on attaining the age of 58 years and the teaching personnel working in private affiliated colleges and universities will continue to retire on attaining the age of 60 years.

Water crisis looms large
By U.K. Bhanot
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 6 — Despite the fact that Haryana has a good network of canal-based water supply, certain areas, including over 100 villages, are facing an acute shortage of drinking water.

Areas in the grip of serious shortage of drinking water include 54 villages and 13 dhanis in Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal's own district of Bhiwani, 37 villages in Rohtak district and 13 in Sonepat district. The issue has now been taken up at the highest level in the state government.

The reason, says Mr Virendra Nath, Financial Commissioner, Public Health, Haryana, is that adequate supply of raw water is not available in the area for filling up storage tanks.

The Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Varma, has asked the Public Health Department the Irrigation Department and the Haryana Vidyut Parsaran Nigam to coordinate effectively so that no area of the state suffers from drinking water shortage.

Another village, Khanpur Kalan, merely 2 km from Gohana in Sonepat district, has attracted notice for facing an acute shortage of water. A main reason, it is said, is not so much the shortage as it is of the villagers' habit of preferring supply from particular sources over the years. The public standposts in the village, say, official sources, supply at least 30 litres of water per capita per day (LPCD) but some people do not accept it as this water has a different taste to which they are not used. As a result, they take untreated water, which may cause water-borne diseases.

Also, reports suggest ,there is wide disparity in water supply in the state because investments in certain areas were ignored on political considerations in the past. The supplies in the urban areas vary between 70 litres and 180 litres per capita per day. Areas like Karnal, Kurukshetra, Pehowa, Gharaunda, Indri, Yamunanagar and Jagadhri come under the category of maximum supply. The rest of the towns get supplies between 70 LPCD and 150 LPCD.

Areas which get 70 litres or less of water per head per day include Naraingarh, Uchana, Kharkhoda, Rohtak, Kalanaur, Meham, Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Beri, Haily Mandi, Taoru, Pataudi, Farrukh Nagar, Hodel, Siwani, Narnaund, Barwala, Ellanabad, Rania, Kalanwali and Pinjore.

The major problem in the water supply is created by residents of unauthorised colonies who are being supplied 30 LPCD to 40 LPCD through public standposts. Some residents of these colonies draw their supply from handpumps. These people are neither ready to pay for the supplies they get nor for the development charges for laying the system. Capital cost apart, the Public Health department, says Mr Virendra Nath, recovers merely 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the total maintenance cost of the water supply system. The water rates in the urban areas have not been revised for over four years. In rural areas, the recovery is merely 2 per cent of the maintenance cost.

The water supplies, he says, mean 80 per cent subsidy to the urban areas and 98 per cent subsidy to the rural areas. There are 35,000 private connections on the villages accounting for a flat rate payment of Rs 20 for up to 70 LPCD.

In the urban areas, the rates continue to be Rs 20 per tap and Rs 40 if there are more than one tap in the house. Only 4 per cent to 5 per cent area in the state gets metered supply.

The urban areas, it is claimed, get an assured supply of eight to 12 hours — four hours each in the morning and evening and two hours in the afternoon. However, reports from several areas dispute the duration of supply.

The Public Health department has now devised a special scheme to offer alternative supply for Kaithal where the residents get water supplies having high content of fluoride. The first phase of the scheme costing Rs 15 crore will be ready by next summer. The state government has also decided to give canal-based water supply to Ambala by next summer. The project involves underground laying of 18 km long pipeline from Jansui headworks to Ambala sadar.

In fact the Government of India has made available a special assistance of Rs 20 crore for augmentation and strengthening of water supply systems for Ambala. Hopefully Kaithal and Bhiwani work on schemes for these areas will begin soon.

Pension scheme for aided school staff
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Haryana Cabinet which met here last evening under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bansi Lal decided to introduce a pension scheme for the employees working in aided non-government colleges and aided schools with effect from May 11, 1998. (a brief report appeared yesterday).

At present 98 private affiliated colleges, 237 recognised aided high or senior secondary schools and 184 attached or independent primary schools in the state are getting grant-in-aid from the government. As much as 95 per cent and 75 per cent of the deficit in Budget on salaries etc. is being paid by the government to the colleges and the schools, respectively, as grant-in-aid. The employees working in private affiliated colleges are required to deposit 10 per cent of the basic pay towards the contributory provident fund on their regular appointment. The managements are also required to pay a similar matching contribution.

Giving further details, the Haryana Education Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma, said the scheme would benefit 5500 employees working in private affiliated colleges and 5194 in high and higher schools and 184 in primary recognised aided schools in the state. With this decision, the long-standing demand of the employees working in aided non-government colleges and aided schools had been fulfilled.

In case of recognised aided schools, 8.33 per cent of the basic pay is deposited in contributory provident fund (CPF) by employees and a matching share is paid by the management. At retirement, the employees get their share of CPF along with management share together with interest accrued thereon. Both in colleges and schools, the government gives 95 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, of the management share towards CPF as grant-in-aid.

With the introduction of pension scheme, the government will not give grant-in-aid in lieu of CPF and other retirement benefit. However, the management will continue to deposit its share of 5 per cent and 25 per cent as the case may be in CPF as a matching contribution of this amount.

The pension scheme will be in lieu of CPF (employer's) share. the employees opting for the scheme will continue to contribute their share in provident fund and deposit the same with the government. The management share too will be deposited with the government.

The pension rules will apply to all the employees who are appointed to the aided sanctioned posts on or after May 11, 1998, and were working in aided sanctioned posts immediately before May 11, 1998, and continue to work as such thereafter. The employees appointed to the aided sanctioned posts before the date of commencement of these rules who have attained or will attain the age of superannuation or after such date will before the publication of these rules in the official gazette have the right to opt for these rules with in a period of three months thereof.

However, these rules will not be applicable to those employees who are appointed on a part-time basis, appointed against the posts not sanctioned by the government, the employees who retired from the sanctioned posts before May 11, 1998, and attained the age of superannuation before the said date, the employees employed on a leave gap arrangement or on an ad hoc basis or on a contractual basis.

Dozen IAS officers reshuffled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7— After reshuffling a couple of Deputy Commissioners, the Haryana Government today ordered a reshuffle of nearly a dozen IAS officers.

Mr S.K. Nanda, Special Secretary, Fisheries, has been posted as such in the Science and Technology department.

Mr S.K. Saxena, Director, Higher Education, Languages, Archives, has been given the additional charge of Director Sports, Students and Youth Welfare.

Mr Harbaksh Singh becomes special Secretary Archaeology dept relieving Mr B.S. Bishnoi Under Section of the charge.

Mr Maha Singh, Special Secretary, Education, goes as such in Home -II department.

Mr S.S Ahlawat becomes Joint Secretary, Haryana Archives.

Mr Sanjeev Kaushal will be Joint Secretary (Rules) attached with OSD, rules.

Mr R.R. Jowel, Director, Sports, has been posted as Joint Secretary, Industrial Training and Vocational Education.

Mr M. Kithan, Administrator, HUDA, Panchkula, will hold the charge of Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, during the absence of Mrs Saroj Siwach, who goes on leave.

Mr Sudhir Rajpal, ADC-cum-CEO, DRDA. Gurgaon, goes as such to Jind.

Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, ADC-cum CEO DRDA, Fatehabad, succeeds Mr Rajpal.

Mr D.Suresh, ADC-cum CEO, DRDA, Kurukshetra, will also hold the charge of CEO, Kurukshetra Development Board, Kurukshetra, relieving Mr Ashok Kumar Yadav of the charge.

Transfer raises storm
From K.G. Dutt
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, May 7 — The unceremonious transfer of Mr S.K. Jadhav from Kurukshetra a few days back has raised a storm in the corridors of power in Haryana.

For one, it is reliably learnt that Mr S.K. Sethi, DGP, Haryana, has proceeded on a 26-day leave in protest against the transfer. Knowledgeable sources in the CM's office told TNS that after the transfer of Mr Jadhav the DGP talked to the CM's office asking why he had not been consulted before transferring an "honest officer". His protest met with a lukewarm response. He therefore, chose to proceed on leave.

Mr Jadhav was posted at Kurukshetra over three months back, considering his three-year efficient stint as ADC to the Haryana Governor. He replaced Mr Yash Pal Singhal after Mr Mahabir Prasad's car was gheraoed at Shahabad on his way to Kurukshetra by an irate mob.

After Mr Jadhav took over the reins of the police in Kurukshetra, he initiated steps to tone up the police administration. Investigations made by this reporter indicate that there were numerous occasions when the district police chief stood up against the wishes of the powers that be and higher officials at the range level in the Haryana police.

One incident related to the impounding of a car owned by a former DGP of Haryana which was involved in an accident near Pipli. Another was regarding differences between the district administration and Mr Jadhav on the possession of a piece of land in Mirzapur village.

Yet another related to refusal by Mr Jadhav to provide pilot car to Mr S.K. Mishra, a former Principal Secretary to Mr Bansi Lal.

Of late, Mr Jadhav had floated a forum known as "Shanti and Sahyog Dal" for promoting direct interaction between the citizens and the police. The functions of the forum were to solve small problems of the area in cooperation with the police, to provide information about criminals, to keep a liaison with the chowkidar of the area and to provide information to the police regarding part-time domestic servants.

But before the district police chief could give a practical shape to his project, he was transferred to Chandigarh.

Five ministers deny report
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — Five Haryana ministers have termed as "totally baseless" a news report that appeared in a section of the press today, pointing out that there was a move by certain ministers to topple the Haryana Government.

In a statement, the ministers, namely, Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, Mr Rao Narbir Singh, Mr Vinod Kumar Marya, Ms Kanta Devi and Mr Jagdish Nayar, whose names figure in the news item said that the HVP-BJP Government, headed by Mr Bansi Lal was strong like a rock and would complete its full term of society five years. They said the Chief Minister was enjoying the support of all legislators of the party and all sections of.

The pointed out that their names had deliberately been dragged to spoil their image and that of the government. They said such a news item also reflected the frustration of those who were not able to digest the success of the government in various fields of development. They added that they always stood by Mr Bansi Lal and would continue to support him.

The ministers urged the people not to be misled by such news reports as these were being planted by vested interests.

Pranab to attend HPCC meeting
on Monday
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, May 7 — A meeting of the executive committee of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) has been called here on Monday to chalk out the party strategy for the September mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee, a former Union Minister who is also the party observer for Haryana, will address the meeting which would also be attended by Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana, Congress president.

Mr Birendra Singh, a former president of the Haryana Congress, has also called a meeting of the district workers and leaders of the party here tomorrow to mobilise them for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Indian National Lok Dal headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala has also started the pre-poll exercise by holding workers' meetings here. Mr Chautala has also already addressed a number of meetings here.

On the other hand, the BJP and the HVP,. ruling alliance partners, are yet to mobilise workers for the coming elections.

Child given wrong medicine
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, May — If you are a resident of Fatehabad and planning to get your child immunised in the local general hospital, against various diseases, be sure that your child gets the right medicine.

In a glaring case of carelessness, a lady health visitor at the local general hospital administered cetrimide drops, an antiseptic solution, in place of vitamin A solution to a child yesterday. The child started vomiting. When she realised that she had committed a blunder, she tried to administer some other medicine to the child to undo the damage. But the condition of the child worsened. The agitated parents took the child to a local nursing home, where he got treatment.

Angry residents met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr V Raja Shekhar and complained about the incident. Mr Raja Shekhar asked the Civil Surgeon, Dr Beena Choudhary to conduct a probe into the incident, the Civil Surgeon has in turn asked the Senior Medical Officer of the local general hospital to conduct the inquiry.

Vitamin A solution is administered to children under the National Blindness Control Programme and has different colour than the cetrimide solution.

MDU results from June 1
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, May 7 — The results of the annual examinations of undergraduate students being conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University will be declared in the first week of June.

The examinations which commenced on April 1 will end on May 13 and the practical examinations were held between March 8 and April 27.

The Controller of Examinations, Dr K.C. Bhardwaj, said the result of BA-I would be declared on June 1 and BA-II and BA final on June 6 and 10, respectively. He claimed that the decision on the unfair means cases would be taken before the announcement of the results.

The complaints regarding question papers would be disposed of before the compilation of the results. He said the detailed marksheet would be despatched to candidates within three days from the declaration of the results.

The results of the postgraduate examinations would be declared in the first week of July. The postgraduate examination that began on May 1 would end on June 12.

HVP's statewide campaign from May 15
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) will launch a fortnight-long statewide "Jan jagaran" campaign from May 15 to make the people aware of the achievements of the present government since its formation on May 11, 1996.

The general secretary of the HVP, Mr Rajeev Jain today said all ministers, legislators and office-bearers of the party would actively take part in this campaign. He added that the meetings of the District Executive Committees of the HVP would be held at all the district headquarters on May 14.

Mr Jain said meetings of party workers would also be held in assembly constituencies from June 7 to 30.