Schools using pvt publishers’ books warned

Ambala: The Haryana Board of School Education has threatened strict action against government, aided and private unaided schools if they were found using books of private publishers. In a letter the board stated that it had received information through various departments that a large number of schools were using books of private publishers instead of the ones prescribed by it. The schools are being directed to use only the prescribed books in Classes IX to XII or be prepared to face strict action. While there is a provision for slapping a fine of Rs 1 lakh on private un-aided schools affiliated to the HBSE, the cases pertaining to government schools  would be sent to the Education Department for disciplinary action .  

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A chariot of attraction

Kurukshetra: A life-sized Lord Krishna chariot created by a group of 20 artists from Kurukshetra remains a centre of attraction with visitors at the three-day cultural festival being organised in the city.  Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also had a close look at the horse-driven chariot that was displayed for public viewing on Saturday. Sanskar Bharti, organisers of the event, claims the wooden chariot was prepared as per the detailed description made in the Mahabharata. Kurukshetra-based volunteer-artist Subhash Jha and his team of artisans have prepared the chariot for the ongoing cultural event. “The great ancient epic mentions minute details of the chariot driven by Lord Krishna during the battle of Mahabharata. It is a matter of pride that our artists are able to create a replica of the vehicle used nearly 4,000 years ago,” said Vijayant Bindal, head of the Kurukshetra chapter of the NGO affiliated with the RSS.

‘Nazrana’ in gold

Faridabad: Trying to gift a gold item by a cop to his boss on the occasion of Diwali may not have gone down well with the latter but it certainly points to the corruption embedded in the system despite the tall claims of zero tolerance to graft by the government . Though the cop’s boss (posted as an SHO) did not accept the expensive gift, he was also prevented from taking disciplinary action against the former under pressure from a political bigwig, it is learnt. He was only transferred to a less important department, it is learnt. 

Connection to Jallianwala Bagh resolution 

Chandigarh: The resolution moved by 14 British MPs in the House of Commons urging the UK Government to formally apologise for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre has a Haryana connection. Haryana Education and Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma is apparently the inspiration behind the resolution moved by India-born Labour Party MP from Ealing Virendra Sharma and 13 others. In fact, it was Ram Bilas Sharma, who during his speech at a function in the House of Commons in November last year, urged the British Government to apologise for the massacre as a ‘goodwill gesture’ in the run-up to its centenary celebrations in 1919. Virendra Sharma reportedly took a cue from Ram Bilas’s address and moved the resolution. 

Police want Rampal’s court dates deferred 

Hisar: The police have requested the court to defer the dates of controversial godman Rampal’s court appearance that coincide with the closing ceremony of the Swarn Jayanti celebrations to be presided over by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on October 31.  Rampal’s followers are in an upbeat mood after his acquittal in two criminal cases in August  A large numbers of followers have started arriving in the town every time whenever Rampal is scheduled to appear in the court in connection with criminal cases. Though the police is deployed at several points to stop them entering public places like parks, bus stands and railway stations, they argue that since their Maharaj has been acquitted  how can the police stop them from visiting the town. 

Karnal farmer shares farming expertise in USA

Karnal: Vijay Kapoor, a progressive farmer and state general secretary of the Kisan Welfare Club, Haryana, got an opportunity last week to be a part of a progressive farmers’ meet named ‘Alliance for Science’ held in Rock Island, Illinois,USA, by Cornell University (New York). As many as 40 farmers from all over the world participated in this meet and discussed modern techniques of agriculture by saving water and maintaining soil quality . They also shared their knowledge in different agriculture initiatives being taken by them in their country. Polly Endreny Halmberg, International training programme leader, exhorted the progressive farmers to share the experience of this meet with other farmers . Kapoor also shared his expertise on getting a high yield, maintaining the quality of foodgrains and emphasised on less use of pesticides, fertilisers. He was among five progressive farmers from India, who attended this meet. 

Institute helps family by donating blood

Yamunanagar: A private engineering institute of Yamunanagar district helped the family of a student from Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir by donating 21 units of blood. Faiz Ibne Arshad took admission in BTech (Civil Engineering) at Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Innovative Engineering and Technology Institute (JMIETI), Radaur, Yamunanagar, in August. He revealed during counselling that he was finding difficulty in arranging 20 units of blood for his cousin, who had to undergo liver transplant in a Delhi hospital. Poonam Kalra, a teacher, assured Faiz that students of the institute would donate blood and the management would send the students to Delhi at its own cost. Ramesh Kumar, general secretary of the institute, said 20 students, led by Poonam, donated blood and the surgery was successfully conducted at the Institute of Liver Biliary Sciences, Vasant Kunj, Delhi, on September 28. Shazia Begum, who donated her liver to her son, Mohammad Ibrahim, are recovering fast. Shazia said: “We now have a blood bond with the JMIETI and will always be grateful for the help.”