Chandigarh, July 29 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has approved an amendment in the policy of state awards for teachers working in state universities, government colleges, and government-aided private colleges.

According to the amendment, the service evaluation period for teachers has been reduced from 15 years to 10 years. This change will allow new teachers to also be eligible for awards.

A spokesperson for the Higher Education Department said on Monday that the government runs a state teacher award scheme for excellence and commendable services for the contribution of teachers towards academic, curricular and extracurricular assignments.

The aim of these awards is to honour faculty members for their performance in the field of teaching.

The spokesperson said the faculty members in higher education who demonstrate outstanding exceptional academic efficiency, quality of teaching, professional competence, good conduct, team spirit, community engagement, and use innovative teaching methods will be recommended for the awards.

Under the policy, 14 state awards will be given each year for their outstanding service.

Two awards will be given to state universities under the purview of higher education, eight for government colleges, and four for government-aided private colleges in Haryana.

The winners will be awarded Rs 1 lakh in cash, a citation, and a shawl.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Former Mumbai Police ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma’s wife Swikruti Sharma along with her two daughters Ankita and Nikita joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena here on Monday, months ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Swikruti runs a non-governmental organisation by the name of PS Foundation.

CM Shinde welcomed them into the party fold as he hailed PS Foundation’s work, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chief Minister also promised that the state government would address the various issues prevailing in the western suburb of Andheri.

Sources said Swikruti may contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Andheri East on a Shiv Sena ticket. The constituency is currently represented by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Rutuja Latke.

Pradeep Sharma, who was one of the 10 persons arrested in 2023 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the ‘Antilia’ terror threat case and the murder of Mansukh Hiren, had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Assembly elections on a Shiv Sena (united) ticket from the Nalasopara constituency against Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) founder Hitendra Thakur.

In May this year, the Supreme Court granted bail to Sharma in the 2006 Lakhanbhaiya fake police encounter case.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) In the run-up to the Assembly elections scheduled later this year in Maharashtra, the ruling MahaYuti on Monday evening announced the allotment of a whopping Rs 270 crore for launching a special publicity campaign for its slew of welfare and development schemes.

The General Administration Department issued a government resolution (GR) in this regard, days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced a slew of freebies and sops for all sections while presenting the state Budget.

The populist schemes included Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Pink e-rickshaw scheme, mass marriage scheme, Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, free higher education to girls, free power up to 7.5 horsepower for agricultural pumps, Mukhyamantri Tirthdarshan Yojana (pilgrimage visit), and Mukhyamantri Karya Prashikshan Yojana, among others.

A media blitzkrieg will now be carried out through newspapers, TV channels, radio, and social and digital media to spread information about the schemes.

According to the government resolution, of the Rs 270 crore, Rs 136.35 crore has been earmarked for publicity through private and public hoardings, digital flex banners, hoardings at state transport bus stands, BEST bus stops, suburban railway stations, metro railway stations, airports, housing complexes, and others.

The government has earmarked Rs 51 crore for publicity through social and digital media, SMS, bulk OBD calls, WhatsApp chatbot, and WhatsApp messaging, etc.

A total of Rs 39.70 crore has been allotted for publicity through Doordarshan, All India Radio, private FM channels, community radio channels, cinema halls, audio jingles, local cable networks, and public announcements in supermarkets and railway stations, etc.

The government has also allocated Rs 40 crore for publicity through newspapers and Rs 3 crore for publicity through short films, documentaries, TVC with celebrities, and audio and visual clips.

Sources said the state government’s move aims to counter the opposition’s ‘fake narrative’ calling the welfare schemes ‘election Jumla’.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also slammed the opposition for questioning the funds needed for the implementation of the schemes, especially those aimed at empowering girls and women.

Ajit Pawar, on his part, has said the government is ready to spend any amount for the financial independence, self-reliance, and overall empowerment of women to increase their respect, dignity, and self-esteem.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at Sanjay.j@ians.in)

Navi Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Shiv Sena-UBT Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve on Monday called on the family of Yashashri Shinde who was brutally murdered last weekend. Her mutilated body recovered from an isolated spot in Uran town.

Danve said he had come to offer support to the victim’s kin and assured them of getting justice for their 22-year-old daughter even as a police team was despatched to track the prime suspect reportedly hiding somewhere in Karnataka.

“The SS-UBT has assured the family that we are with them. We urge the government to track and give the most stringent punishment to the accused,” Danve later told the media, accompanied by others – Deputy Leader Kishori Pednekar and Raigad District chief Manohar Bhoir.

Identified as a history-sheeter Daud Mohamed Shaikh, the absconder-suspect was in a relationship with the girl but her family was against it, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has termed the incident as an instance of ‘love-jihad’.

On July 25 evening, Yashashri left her home in Belapur ostensibly to meet a friend, but failed to return even the next day, after which her family lodged a missing complaint.

Two days later (Saturday), her body was found in a mutilated state with multiple injuries and stab wounds in the bushes near the Uran railway station, with the family accusing Shaikh, a driver by profession.

As the incident appeared to snowball into a political issue, a police team was formed to probe the crime under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Vivek Pansare.

According to police, Shaikh has a previous criminal record, including a 2019 complaint by the deceased girl for molestation, and a crime under the POCSO Act, for which he was out on bail, and is believed to have fled to his native Karnataka.

Highlighting the incidence of growing crimes against women in Navi Mumbai, Danve said that recently a 30-year-old homemaker was allegedly gangraped by three temple staffers in Koparkhairne, and her body was dumped in a deep ditch on July 9, and alleged a breakdown of the law-and-order situation in the state.

Labelling the latest incident as ‘love jihad’, BJP ex-MP Kirit Somaiya and Uran BJP MLA Mahesh Baldi also visited the victim’s family and urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to ensure justice in the matter.

–IANS

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Jammu, July 29 (IANS) Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone Anand Jain said that there is a need for offensive operations and to reinforce the border deployment in the wake of the recent terror attacks in the Jammu division.

“We should reinforce the border deployment grid and secure the police and army establishments. There is also a need for offensive operations alongside the preventive measures in other districts,” said ADGP Jammu while chairing a high-level meeting ahead of Independence Day.

The security force officials provided an extensive overview of the current security assessment and potential threats during the meeting while a thorough discussion was also held on the inputs shared by intelligence agencies including the Army, CRPF, BSF, and CID.

The ADGP instructed the intelligence agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to address the security concerns.

“To address the latest trends in terror activities inter-agency cooperation is a must to mitigate these threats,” the ADGP said.

He instructed the officials to establish joint checkpoints at vulnerable locations while the security of inter-district boundaries must be also taken up.

“Prepare for the 15th of August function and maintain a high level of alertness. Also, ensure that the ongoing Amarnath Yatra is conducted peacefully,” the ADGP said.

He also directed officers to remain vigilant in border areas and the hinterland to prevent any infiltration attempts.

“Special attention must be given to countering the increasing use of drones by terror outfits for illicit activities,” the ADGP told the officials.

–IANS

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