Chandigarh  - Dean College of Agriculture, Chaudary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Dr. Sucheta Khokhar and Dr. J.S. Dhankhar, Director Extension Education participated in an orientation workshop organized at Hotel Mid Town Grand in Hisar Haryana for the Senior Coordinators of Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the state by Infrastructure Leasing &Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS). Sh. G.V.V. Satyanarayana, the Vice President (e-Governance) of IL&FS the National Level Service Agency (NLSA) for Common Services Centers (CSC) Scheme in India also participated in the workshop.

The Common Services Centers (CSC) Scheme is a mission mode project of the Department of Information Technology under the National e-Governance Program (NeGP) to provide a range of citizen services from both the Government and Business through rural internet enabled kiosks across the country. Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation (HARTRON) is the State Designated Agency (SDA) for facilitating the implementation of the CSC Scheme in state. IL&FS in partnership with Haryana Agricultural University initiated a pilot project for extending knowledge and services relevant to farm sector through the Common Services Centers (CSCs) in Haryana

As part of the pilot project, all the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of the state are provided with Computer facilities and BSNL broadband internet along with a five computer ICT lab at the headquarters of the Agricultural University. A farmer portal called Kisan Margdarsan Seva is developed to provide farmer related knowledge and services at the village level, through the CSCs operators who act as intermediaries for assisting the farming community to access knowledge generated by the University. Additionally under this project, reports for some of the services offered through KVKs like soil and water testing are now made available online. The CSCs and the web portal will now act as an additional channel for seeking knowledge and online advice regarding farm sector from the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the Agricultural University.

Dr. Sucheta Khokhar observed that the ways and means of producing and adapting knowledge for farmers should adapt and change with time and assured the wholehearted support of the Agricultural University in promoting the Common Services Centers as an additional medium of reaching the farmers. Dr. J.S. Dhankhar stated that the project partnership with the CSC Scheme also achieves the University's objective of a pluralistic approach to agricultural extension services delivery in rural Haryana. Sh. A.K. Sharma, the Project Manager (CSC) shared the challenges and future plans in CSC Scheme implementation in the state with the participants and expressed that farmer related information and services from Haryana Agricultural University will strengthen the CSC network as rural services delivery channel. Dr. Narendra Singh Dagar, Senior Scientist in vegetable science in the Agricultural Technology Information Centre who participated in the workshop noted that this project can strengthen "land to lab" feedback linkages between the University and farmers.

Chandigarh – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that the focus of the State Government in the second term would be on conservation, distribution and judicious use of water. He was addressing Aggarwal Sammelan at Faridabad on Sunday.

Mr Hooda said that the water has become a major global concern and is not confined to any specific area. The efforts should be made to conserve every drop of water so that water could be ensured for every citizen for drinking, domestic and irrigation purposes. The Government would ensure potable and irrigation water for the State in this term, he added.

Mr Hooda said that though the State Government during its previous term made all round development of all the parts of the State including Faridabad. “But, earlier in the first term, the focus was more on power generation and the Government initiated various schemes and projects to generate 5000 MW electricity. The State would get adequate power by the end of this year or the early next year.” The previous State Governments made no efforts to increase the power generation capacity of the State as there was only one power plant in the State in last 40 years. However, the Congress Government started four power plants to generate 5000 MW electricity, he added.

Without naming the opposition for derailing the progress of Faridabad, Mr Hooda said that basically he was not in the habit of criticizing anybody, but the reality and factual position was for everybody to see and assess. As in the previous Government the Faridabad had become Faqirabad, which is all set to become a leading city of the country, he further added.

Faridabad is mini India, where the people of all States and religions live today. The Government has initiated various schemes for speedy progress of Faridabad region. Expansion of Metro rail upto Faridabad had already been sanctioned, which would be extended to Ballabhgarh later on. Similarly, an Industrial Model Township (IMT) was being developed over an area of 1800 acres in Faridabad. The work of Badarpur flyover on National Highway-2 would be completed this year. He said that the highway from Faridabad to Agra would also be made six lane. Seven flyovers are being constructed between border of Delhi to Ballabhgarh, which shows the commitment of the State Government for progress of the area, he further added.

Mr Hooda also paid rich tributes to Maharaja Agarsain. He appreciated the spirit of equality and brotherhood prevalent in the Aggarwal city during his times. He also referred to various developmental schemes launched in Agroha.

Faridabad MP Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana, Rajya Sabha MP Mr Shadi Lal Batra, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Prof. Virender Singh, MLAs Anand Kaushik, Raghubir Singh Tewatia and Faridabad Mayor Mr Ashok Arora were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh – The Haryana Government has decided  to set up Knowledge Commission in the state.

This was disclosed by the Executive Deputy Chairman of Haryana Sahitya Akademi and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Shiv Raman Gaur while delivering his presidential address in the Direct Interaction Programme organised by the Haryana Sahitya Akademi at Haryana Niwas today.

Expressing his gratitude to all the writers who took part in the programme, he said that we should avoid following western culture indiscriminately and we have to preserve our cultural and family set up. Literature was the priceless asset of experience.

Haryana Sahitya Akademi would continue to organise such programmes, he added.

Dr Manjula Rana, a noted story writer opined that literature was the beginning of indefinite possibilities. To be a good reader was the first prerequisite for a writer. Literature was a mixture of both reality and idealism.

Today, insensitivity had gripped our society and in such a scenario, a writer could play a vital role. She credited her achievements to her father.

Speaking in the programme, Mamta Kalia said that a writer was a volcano and not an iceberg. That was why, he broke the stagnation of the society. Unrest and outcry gave birth to her writings. The literature had a bigger role to play in this age of degradation of moral values.

A number of litterateurs like Virender Mehandiratta, Indu Bali, B.D. Kalia, Radhey Shyam Sharma, Shyama Bhardwaj, Phool Chand Manav, Pankaj Malviya, Maheshwar Sharma, Sushil Narelvi, Vijay Sehgal, M.P. Bhardwaj, Urmil Sakhi and Hari Ram Arya participated in this programme.

Chandigarh – Modern kitchens will be constructed in all the schools of Haryana to make mid-day meal scheme more attractive.

This was disclosed by the Education, Health and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Haryana, Mrs Geeta Bhukkal while redressing the grievances of the people at Jhajjar today.

She said that all the necessary paraphernalia would be provided for these kitchens so that quality foods could be provided to the children. She urged the Headmasters and teachers of the schools, not to be careless in serving food to the children under mid-day meal scheme. Special heed should be paid to cleanliness and hygiene.

Praising rural people for extending their cooperation in the conduct of peaceful Panchayat elections in the State, she said that peace and brotherhood were helpful in ensuring all round development of the village and the area. Concrete steps were being taken to solve the problem of electricity and water of the people.

She flagged off ‘Jan Jagriti Sandesh Yatra’ organised by Haryana Handicapped Welfare Association from the premises of the Rest House. Praising the efforts of the Association, she said that the ‘Sandesh Yatra’ would give positive message to the people to take disability as a challenge and not as a curse. Disability could not hinder the path of progress of a determined person, she added.

Chandigarh — The Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Ms Sharda Rathore, has asked the youth to draw inspiration from the patriotism and indefatigable spirit of Maharana Pratap. She was speaking at the state-level function organized by the Rajput Sabha at Rohtak today to commemorate the 471th birth anniversary of the great patriot and warrior.

Maharana Pratap was a great fighter, who did not lose heart despite odds, and continued to fight for the honour of the people and dignity of the nation. "The present state government, led by Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is following the ideals of Maharana Pratap in the field of education and social welfare, and has taken several path-breaking steps in these directions", she added.

Ms Rathore said that national and state boundaries had diminished with the whole world being reduced to a global village. The importance of education has increased many-fold in this competitive age. Hence, the state government has taken many initiatives to offer education to all and prepare the present generation to face the challenges of the future. She listed out some of the innovative schemes implemented like the Right to Education, implemented by the state and Central Governments, to provide quality education to all children.

Ms Rathore praised Rohtak MP, Mr Deepender Singh Hooda, for providing land and Rs 15 lakh for the construction of Rajput dharamshala at Rohtak. She announced a donation of Rs 3 lakh for the Sabha and honoured several promising students.

Chandigarh – Haryana Government has renamed five senior citizens awards after national heroes so as to enhance the prestige of these awards.

While disclosing this here today, Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Mrs Geeta Bhukkal said that Best Mother Award had been renamed as Mother Teresa Award, Courage and Bravery Award as Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Courage and Bravery Award, Best Panchayat Award as Mahatma Gandhi Panchayat Award, Lifetime Achievement Award as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Life Achievement Award and Senior Citizen Award as Ch. Ranbir Singh Centenarian Award.

These awards of Rs one lakh each were instituted by Social Justice and Empowerment Department in 2008, she added.

Chandigarh – The Haryana State Election Commission has ordered re-poll at 33 polling stations of districts of Bhiwani, Mewat and Jind where polling for the Panchayat elections was held on June 12, 2010.

While stating this here today, State Election Commissioner, Mr Dharam Vir said that re-poll had been ordered on the recommendations of the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officer (Panchayat), concerned Returning Officer (Panchayat) and taking all the material circumstances of the elections into account. Re-polling at these booths would be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 14.

He said that re-poll in these booths had been ordered due to error in printing of ballot papers, eruption of violence, snatching and destruction of ballot papers, electronic voting machines, ballot boxes and other election material, etc.

Giving district-wise details of the polling booths, where re-polling has been ordered, Mr Dharam Vir said that in district Bhiwani, re-poll had been ordered at booth No. from 1242 to 1248 of Gram Panchayat Sohansara, from booth No. 1217 to 1221 of Gram Panchayat Birhi Kalan, at booth No. 1215 of Gram Panchayat Kheri Batter, at booth No. 832 of Gram Panchayat Badalwala, at booth No. 946 of Gram Panchayat Dhani Katwar, at booth No. 876 of Gram Panchayat Dulheri, at booth No. 944 of Gram Panchayat Bushan, at booth No. 850 and 851 of Gram Panchayat Pataudi Khurd and at booth No. from 855 to 862 of Gram Panchayat Sandwa.

In district Mewat, re-poll had been ordered at booth No. from 133 to 137 of Gram Panchayat Mewali and in district Jind at booth No. 21 of Gram Panchayat Pegan, he added.

He said that counting of votes for the concerned Panches and Sarpanches would be taken up on the same day after the close of poll and counting of votes for the concerned wards of Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads would be taken up on June 14 at the places specified by the District Election Officer (Panchayat).

Chandigarh – The Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Health Minister Mrs. Geeta Bhukkal have congratulated Mrs. Indrawati, Lady Health Visitor posted at ESI Hospital, Panipat on receiving prestigious "National Florence Nightingale Award". The award has been given to her in recognition of valuable services rendered by her to the community as a Lady Health Visitor and as such she has brought laurel to the State.

The award was presented to her recently by the Vice-President of India, Dr. Hamid Ansari at New Delhi in a function organized by the Ministry of Health, Govt. of India to honour those who had done excellent work in the field of health activities.

The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of great pride for the State that this prestigious award had been begged after a long gap of 28 years.  Mrs. Geeta Bhukkal said that the award was given at the National level every year to those who have fulfilled certain criterion earmarked for the award.  She disclosed that earlier this award was given to M. Arthor, a Lady Health Visitor in 1982 posted at PHC, Gharaunda in district Karnal. She said that recently the State had also got the first prize in implementation of National Health Rural Mission Programme.

Mrs. Bhukkal said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and sagacious guidance of Chairperson of National Advisory Council, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the country had made tremendous progress in implementation of a number of health programmes for the benefit of the people of the country.

The Health Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Mr.  Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the State had also implemented a number of ambitious schemes for the welfare of the people of the State.  She hoped that the health workers and doctors of the State would serve the people with a missionary zeal in future also.  She hoped that sincere efforts would be made by them to get more and more awards in the field of health activities.