a date with democracy -...

Haryana shooters hit the bull's eye

P 50

April 2014, Vol 28, Issue 4, Rs 15www.haryanasamvad.gov.in

A date withdemocracy

Date of Poll10th April, 2014

In election 2014, MAKE YOUR MARK for Equality and Human Rights

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 1EDITORIAL

CHIEF PATRON Bhupinder Singh Hooda

PATRON Pt Shiv Charan Lal Sharma

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr K K Khandelwal

CHIEF EDITOR Sudhir Rajpal

MANAGING EDITOR Viraat

CONSULTING EDITOR Parveen K Modi

NEWS BUREAU Ruchi Sharma Swati Sethi

COPY DESK Shweta Vashishta

LAYOUT & DESIGN Monika Modak

ILLUSTRATOR Gurpreet Singh

PHOTOGRAPHER Vinay Malik

PHOTO SUPPORT Gopal Singh Karam Singh Neeraj Chopra Gauri Shankar Jasmer Singh

DIGITAL & IT SUPPORT Vikas Dangi

VOL 28, ISSUE 4, APRIL 2014Edited and published for the Haryana Government by Sudhir Rajpal, IAS, Director General, Information, Public Relations & Cultural Affairs Department, and issued from Samvad, Room No 314, 2nd Floor, Mini Secretariat, Sector-1, Panchkula (Haryana). (Mailing address: SCO 23 (FF), Sector 7, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh. Phone 0172-5055971, 5055977). All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication’s contents, in whole or in part, without written permission, is prohibited. Haryana Review does not necessarily agree with the views of the writers/contributors.Website: www.haryanasamvad.gov.inEmail: [email protected] at: M/s New PrintIndia Pvt Ltd, 8/4B, Industrial Area, Site No. 4, Sahibabad-201010, Ghaziabad (UP)

It is the 13th time since Haryana was carved out of Pun-jab as an entity of federal India that the people of the

state will exercise their franchise to elect and send ten representatives to the 16th Lok Sabha. The process which is in full swing will culminate with the announcement of results on May 16. At least three key factors make the 2014 electoral exercise, billed as the biggest in the world, stand out.

Firstly, some first-time initiatives have been taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to not only tempt the voters to cast their votes but also make voting a memo-rable experience. These include awarding the first ten vot-ers at a booth; giving them discount slips for dining out; and making provision for NOTA (none of the above) op-tion. Besides, the transgender community has been given the opportunity to vote under the ‘Others’ category.

Secondly, the electoral exercise will see the largest-ev-er chunk of first-time voters, estimated at about 15 crore all over the country. The tally gains more weight when weighed against the fact that in 2009, no single party polled more than 15 crore votes. In Haryana, the first-time voters aggregate 3,49,452, including 98,756 women. Thirdly, the parties in the fray in Haryana as well as in oth-er parts of the country will have a debutant in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Besides tightening the loose ends for the conduct of polls, the ECI has cracked down on the menace of paid news, both in print as well as on the electronic media. Monitoring committees have been set up to keep a prying look at paid news during the elections. Besides an over-view of the preparations made by the ECI for the greatest democratic event on the earth, our Cover Report turns fo-cus on the ten Haryana seats to bring readers an in-depth account of the history of the Lok Sabha polls; votes polled by different parties; their percentage of vote share; and seats won etc. It also makes an attempt at cracking the election code for the benefit of the common man.

What happens when the queen of seasons descends on the earth? See the beauty of spring captured on lens in our Photo Feature. Read our report on World Wildlife Day and the guest columns on World Health Day and Earth Day.

In the Sports column, read about the shooters of Harya-na who have hit the bull’s eye in the 7th Asian meet held in Kuwait. Learn more about the exquisite art of embroidery in the Art and Culture section. g

Time to nurse democracy

2 HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014CONTENTS conten

ts

COVER STORY

Giving their will the voice p 4Amid some first-time initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India to make voters step into the polling booths to cast their votes, all is set for the 1.55 crore voters of Haryana, including 3,49,452 first-timers, to elect ten members of the Lok Sabha on April 10

The sensitive and hyper sensitive p 8The Haryana Election Department has identified as many as 3,043 hyper-sensitive polling stations and 2,976 sensitive polling stations in the ten Lok Sabha constituencies of the state which go to the polls on April 10

Lok Sabha constituencies profiled p 10

Making voting memorable p 20

3.49 lakh first-timers p 22

A guide for voters p 24

Cracking the election code p 28

You ask, we tell p 32

Parties and Lok Sabha polls p 34[26]

[4]

Chhore,iss baar tohLok Sabha

chunav ke liye matdan ko lekar

logon mein ghana josh sei...Har ek

booth parmatdataon ki

lambi katareinsei.

Kyun na hotau! Iss baar

auron ke saath saath pehli baar vote

karne waalon kisankhya bhi ghani sei...

Main aur mere yuva saathi bhi pehli baar

matdan karne keliye aaye sei.

3HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 CONTENTS

Those readers who have changed their addresses should intimate it to Deputy Director Magazine, SCO 24, Top Floor, Sector 7-C, Madhya

Marg, Chandigarh - 160019. Ph. 0172-5055971

PHOTO FEATURE

Spring, the queen of seasons, descends p 36

REPORT

Celebrating wildlife p 44

GUEST COLUMN

Health is in your hands p 46 Time we felt the pain of Mother Earth p 48

SPORTS

Haryana shooters hit the bull's eye p 50

ART AND CULTURE

Exquisite art of embroidery p 52

POTPOURRI

Loving our elders p 54

[40]

[52]

[46]

[50]

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014COVER STORY4

Parveen K Modi

Come April 10 and the people of Haryana will exercise their

democratic option to lend voice to their will. They, along with their brethren across the country, will press the buttons on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) to send their representatives to the 16th Lok Sabha in what has been billed as the biggest

Giving their will th e voiceAmid some first-time initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India to make voters step into the polling booths to cast their votes, all is set for the 1.6 crore voters of Haryana, including 3,73,394 first-timers, to elect ten mem-bers of the Lok Sabha on April 10

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 5COVER STORY

battle of the ballot in the largest democracy on the earth.

At stake in Haryana are ten seats for which candidates belonging to the Congress, INLD, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC)-BJP alliance; BSP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a debutant, Independents and others, are in the fray. In the 2009 elections, Congress had won nine out of the ten seats in Haryana and one was bagged by HJC.

Besides Congress and HJC, the other parties in the fray were BJP, INLD, BSP, Independents and others. Out of the total 81,56,553 votes polled, the percentage of votes bagged by various parties in 2009 worked out to BJP 12.9; BSP 15.75; Congress 41.79; INLD 15.75; HJC 10.01; Independents and others 4.61.

230 IN FRAY FOR TEN SEATSWith 21 candidates withdrawing

their nominations papers on the last day of withdrawals, 230 candidates, including 10 women, are in the fray for the 10 Lok Sabha seats. Mr Walgad said that nomination papers of 48 candidates were rejected during the scrutiny of papers.

Giving constituency-wise details of the candidates, he said that 14 candidates were in fray from Ambala; 26 from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh; 27 from Faridabad; 22 from Gurgaon; 41 from Hisar; 23 from Karnal; 22 from Kurukshetra; 14 from Rohtak; 18 from Sirsa; and 23 from Sonipat.

All is set for the 1.6 crore voters in Haryana, including 87 lakh women and 73 lakh men, to exercise their franchise in the high-stakes polls to elect ten members of the Lok Sabha. Elections all over the country will be held in nine phases, the longest so far, starting from April 7 to May 12, 2014. Counting of votes for all the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will be held on May 16.

Arrangements are in place for the democratic extravaganza: polling par-ties have fanned out to their respec-tive destinations; booths have been set up, EVMs have been dusted and oiled; and paramilitary forces deployed at sensitive and hypersensitive booths to keep a close watch and ward off any untoward incidents.

Giving details of the arrange-ments, Mr Shrikant Walgad, Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, told Haryana Review that the state had been given 60 companies of central para-military forces besides six addi-

Giving their will th e voice

One could see great enthusiasm among the people who had come to get themselves registered as voters, especially the first-timers.

Shrikant Walgad Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana


tional companies for conducting the elections peacefully. As many as 50,000 personnel of the security forces had been deputed at about 17,000 polling stations across the state.

“Security forces have been requisi-tioned to ensure smooth sailing dur-ing the voting at the hyper sensitive polling stations (HSPS) and sensitive polling stations (SPS) across the state. We have identified as many as 3,043 HSPS and 2,976 SPS dotting the ten Lok Sabha constituencies of the state. While Kurukshetra tops the list with 419 HSPS, Gurgaon accounts for the highest number of 483 SPS”, Mr Walgad said.

Each polling station would either have a micro observer for supervi-sion, or web-casting or videography. All voters would be given photo voter slips through BLOs which would be accepted as identity proof at the poll-ing stations. Nineteen district control room officers had been appointed in the districts to ensure free and fair elections. One could reach them any time with information about the activities of political parties.

POLLING PERSONNEL DEPLOYEDMore than 70,000 polling personnel and about 1,300 supervisors have been pressed into service for fair conduct of elections. An assistant expenditure observer has been deputed at each of the 90 Assembly constituencies of the state besides a general observer in each Lok Sabha constituency.

Three flying squads have been deployed in each constituency to supervise the entire election process. These would conduct videography of all political functions and rallies and put up nakas at different locations based on the tip-off received.

Out of the 1.6 crore voters in Haryana, 3,73,394 in the age group of 18-19 years will cast their votes for the first time in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. The maximum number of 47,161 first-timers fall in the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency.

The maximum number of 14,144 women in the 18-19 age group fall in the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency. So do the maximum number of 33,017 first-time men voters. On the lower side, the minimum number of 27,213

voters in the age group of 18 and 19 fall in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency. These include 7,221 women and 19,992 men.

As many as 3,70,235 voters above 80 years of age would cast their vote in the state. The maxi-mum number of 41,571 voters in this age-group are in Sirsa, including 25,097 men. The maximum number of women voters in this age group is in Ambala. The least number of 26, 207 voters, above 80 years of age, fall in the Faridabad Lok Sabha constitu-ency. These include 12,465 women and 13,742 men.

Three factors will mark the 2014 polls out. Firstly, this time we shall have the highest number of first-time voters, estimated at about 15 crore, in India’s electoral history. In 2009, no single party polled more than 15 crore votes. In Haryana, the first-time voters aggregate 3,73,394. As many as 80,000 new voters were registered at the spe-cial registration camps organised on March 9 by the (ECI) at all the 16,129 polling booths across Haryana. "One could see great enthusiasm among the youth and most of the people who had come for getting themselves regis-tered appeared to be first-time voters", Mr Walgad remarked.

Secondly, the 2014 polls will be

remembered for the many first-time initiatives taken by the ECI to pull the voters out of their homes to the polling booths and make voting an enjoyable experience. These include NOTA (none of the above) option allowing voters to reject all the fielded candidates; instant feedback to know if the vote has been cast as intended; the transgender community will have the opportunity to vote under the ‘Others’ category, which was intro-duced in 2010; and photo voter slips as identity proofs etc. With the help of these slips, voters will be able to cast their ballot even if they do not have any identity proof, including voter I-card.

Besides, candidates will be able

HaryanaVoters 2014

7COVER STORYHARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

to e-file their affidavits. The typical affidavit filed by a candidate includes personal information like details of assets, including movable and immov-able properties, and accounts under his or her name in a foreign land, liabilities, name of the spouse and de-pendents, educational qualifications and criminal antecedents, if any.

Thirdly, the electoral exercise will be known for the concerted and con-scious efforts made by the ECI to woo the voters to step out of their homes and step into the polling booths to exercise their franchise. It has been decided that at each polling booth, surprise gifts and cash vouchers will be given to the first 10 voters.

DISCOUNT TO TEMPT VOTERSTie-ups have been made with hotels and restaurants which will offer discounts to people who exercise their franchise. To avail themselves of the discount, voters will have to show the indelible mark on their finger to the restaurant owners.

Adopting a no-nonsense approach, the ECI has kept things on a tight leash. Be it candidates filing affidavits on assets, both movable or immov-able; posting contents on the social

media—all contesting candidates have been told to get each and every content certified before posting it---giving expenditure details etc, strict guidelines have been issued to the candidates as well as political parties. Any expenditure incurred on posting content on social media will be added to the expenditure limit prescribed for contesting the elections.

“Model polling booths, which made their debut during the 2013 Assembly polls in Delhi, are set to swell in num-ber during the Lok Sabha elections. The model polling stations promise an enhanced voting experience as they will be equipped with better infrastructure, spacious interiors, air-cooled waiting halls, token system for voters, comfortable seating arrange-ment, water coolers and toilets etc”, Mr Waglad said.

These will have spacious waiting halls for voters who don’t want to stand in the queue. People will get a token and can vote when their serial number is called out. The furniture in the booths and waiting rooms will be new and modern, a welcome change from the rickety chairs seen in government buildings and schools. The booths will have state-of-the-art

signage and display boards with the name of the constituency and polling station displayed prominently.

A new campaign that will ensure a better poll-day experience for the differently-abled persons has been launched. Physically challenged electors will be allowed to enter the polling stations without having to wait in the queue and all necessary assistance as may be required, will be provided to them.

CRACKDOWN ON PAID NEWSThe ECI has cracked down on the menace of paid news in print as well as on electronic media. Monitoring committees have been set up to keep a watch on paid news during the elections. “Expenses incurred on any news adjudged and verified by the committee as paid news will be added to the total expenditure limit of the contesting candidate”, Mr Waglad said. The expenditure limit on the Lok Sabha polls has since been increased from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 70 lakh.

All these measures will make the Lok Sabha elections 2014 an event to remember. What’s more, it will set a new trend for future elections, Mr Walgad said. g

Anganwadi workers from various districts of Haryana taking pledge in Chandigarh to cast their vote


Parveen K Modi

With the intention of deploying the security forces requisitioned

for ensuring smooth sailing during the voting for the Lok Sabha polls, the Haryana Election Department has identified hyper sensitive polling stations (HSPS) and sensitive polling stations (SPS) in the state.

There are as many as 3,043 HSPS and 2,976 SPS dotting all the ten Lok Sabha constituencies of the state which go to the polls on April 10, 2014. While Kurukshetra tops the list with 419 HSPS, Gurgaon accounts for the highest number of 483 SPS.

The Ambala-1 SC Lok Sabha con-

stituency has 183 hyper sensitive poll-ing stations and 247 sensitive polling stations; Kurukshetra 419 HSPS and 206 SPS; Sirsa 236 HSPS and 247 SPS; Hisar 297 HSPS and 335 SPS; Karnal 338 HSPS and 319 SPS.

Similarly, the Sonipat Lok Sabha constituency has 241 HSPS and 186 SPS; Rohtak 319 HSPS and 294 SPS; Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 391 HSPS and 242 SPS; Gurgaon 291 HSPS and 483 SPS; and Faridabad 328 HSPS and 417 SPS.

AMBALA CONSTITUENCYIn the Ambala-1 (SC) constituency, Kalka Assembly segment has 19 HSPS and 14 SPS; Panchkula Assembly seg-

ment 50 HSPS and 10 SPS; Naraingarh 13 HSPS and 27 SPS; Ambala Canton-ment 2 HSPS and 33 SPS; Ambala City 15 HSPS and 34 SPS; Mullana (SC) 18 HSPS and 38 SPS; Sadhaura (SC) 24 HSPS and 31 SPS; Jagadhari 18 HSPS and 33 SPS; and Yamunanagar 24 HSPS and 27 SPS.

Similarly, in the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, Radaur Assem-bly segment has 19 HSPS and 28 SPS; Ladwa 27 HSPS and 22 SPS; Shahbad (SC) 27 HSPS and 19 SPS; Thanesar 50 HSPS; Pehowa 41 HSPS and 41 SPS; Guhla (SC) 55 HSPS and 18 SPS; Kalayat 65 HSPS and 43 SPS; Kaithal 41 HSPS and 13 SPS; and Pundri 94 HSPS and 22 SPS.

The sensitive and hyper sensitive

The Haryana Election Department has identified as many as 3,043 hyper-sensitive polling stations and 2,976 sensitive polling stations in the ten Lok Sabha constituencies of the state which go to the polls on April 10

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 COVER STORY 9

In the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituen-cy, the Assembly segments, including Narwana (SC) has 20 HSPS and 26 SPS; Tohana 17 HSPS and 19 SPS; Fatehabad 10 HSPS and 26 SPS; Ratia (SC) 11 HSPS and 22 SPS; Kalanwali (SC) 42 HSPS and 23 SPS; Dabwali 44 HSPS and 49 SPS; Rania 52 HSPS and 17 SPS; Sirsa 18 HSPS and 26 SPS; and Ellenabad 22 HSPS and 39 SPS.

Besides, in the Hisar lok Sabha constituency, the Uchana Kalan Assembly segment has 27 HSPS and 37 SPS; Adampur 47 HSPS and 24 SPS; Uklana (SC) 21 HSPS and 42 SPS; Narnaund 59 HSPS and 61 SPS; Hansi 17 HSPS and 32 SPS; Barwala 30 HSPS and 34 SPS; Hisar 11 HSPS and 13 SPS; Nalwa 19 HSPS and 25 SPS; and Bawani Khera (SC) 66 HSPS and 67 SPS.

KARNAL CONSTITUENCYIn the Karnal Lok Sabha costituen-cy, Nilokheri (SC) Assembly seg-ment has 30 HSPS and 46 SPS; Indri 32 HSPS and 18 SPS; Karnal 9 HSPS and 41 SPS; Gharaunda 41 HSPS and

28 SPS; Assandh 44 HSPS and 33 SPS; Panipat Rural 38 HSPS and 64 SPS; Panipat City 22 HSPS and 11 SPS; Israna (SC) 52 HSPS and 34 SPS; and Samalkha 70 HSPS and 44 SPS.

The Assembly segments under the Sonipat Lok Sabha constituen-cy, Ganaur has 23 HSPS and 40 SPS; Rai 48 HSPS and 15 SPS; Kharkhoda (SC) 34 HSPS and 10 SPS; Gohana 46 HSPS and 16 SPS; Baroda 46 HSPS and 35 SPS; Julana 15 HSPS and 27 SPS, Safidon 12 HSPS and 32 SPS; and Jind 17 HSPS and 11 SPS.

Similarly in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency, Meham Assembly seg-ment has 25 HSPS and 34 SPS; Garhi Sampla-Kiloi 20 HSPS and 35 SPS; Rohtak 19 HSPS and 17 SPS; Kalanaur (SC) 43 HSPS and 44 SPS; Bahadur-garh 45 HSPS and 27 SPS; Badli 47 HSPS and 28 SPS; Jhajjar (SC) 29 HSPS and 35 SPS; Beri 55 HSPS and 27 SPS; and Kosli 36 HSPS and 47 SPS.

In the Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency, the Assem-bly segment of Loharu has 55 HSP and 13 SPS; Badhra 47 HSPS and 26

SPS; Dadri 65 HSPS and 49 SPS; Bhi-wani 100 HSPS and 14 SPS; Tosham 53 HSPS and 53 SPS; Ateli 24 HSPS and 31 SPS; Mahendragarh 24 HSPS and 19 SPS; Narnaul 12 HSPS and 15 SPS; and Nangal Chaudhry 11 HSPS and 22 SPS.

In Gurgaon, the Bawal (SC) Assem-bly segment has 9 HSPS and 54 SPS; Rewari 7 HSPS and 101 SPS; Pataudi (SC) 36 HSPS and 34 SPS; Badshah-pur 91 HSPS and 77 SPS; Gurgaon 38 HSPS and 58 SPS; Sohna 33 HSPS and 71 SPS; Nuh 21 HSPS and 32 SPS; Ferozepur Jhirka 29 HSPS and 27 SPS; and Punhana 27 HSPS and 29 SPS.

FARIDABAD CONSTITUENCYLikewise, in the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency, Hathin Assembly seg-ment has 75 HSPS and 50 SPS; Hodal (SC) 59 HSPS and 69 SPS; Palwal 29 HSPS and 77 SPS; Prithla 36 HSPS and 19 SPS; Faridabad NIT 26 HSPS and 29 SPS; Badkhal 33 HSPS and 22 SPS; Ballabgarh three HSPS and 42 SPS; Faridabad 20 HSPS and 29 SPS; and Tigaon 47 HSPS and 80 SPS. g


The Ambala Lok Sabha constitu-ency is reserved for Scheduled

Caste candidates. It covers the entire Panchkula and Ambala districts and part of Yamunanagar district. This constituency covers nine segments namely Kalka, Panchkula, Naraingarh, Ambala Cantt, Ambala

City, Mullana (SC), Sadhaura (SC), Jagadhari and Yamunanagar. The total number of voters from the constituency are 16,92,257 out of which 9,09,726 are males and 7,82,531 are females. As many as 1,762 polling stations have been set up in this

constituency for the elections. Out of total 1,762 polling booths, 183 have been identified as

hyper sensitive and 247 as sensitive.

The highest number of

voters are

from Ambala City Assembly seg-ment which has a total of 2,25,199 voters, of which 1,19,137 are males and 1,06,062 are females. Similarly, Kalka Assembly segment has the lowest number of voters. Kalka segment has total 1,56,328 voters, out of which 83,761 are males and 72,567 are females. Among other segments, Panchkula has total 1,94,422 voters, Naraingarh 1,68,353, Ambala Cantt 1,70,991, Mullana 1,92,065, Sadhau-ra 1,93,986, Jagadhari 1,93,286 and Yamunanagar segment has total 1,97,627 voters. g

Lok Sabha constituencies profiled

AmbalaSegments Male Female Total

1 Kalka 83,761 72,567 1,56,3282 Panchkula 1,03,672 90,750 1,94,4223 Naraingarh 90,432 77,921 1,68,3534 Ambala Cantt. 91,054 79,937 1,70,9915 Ambala City 1,19,137 1,06,062 2,25,1996 Mullana (SC) 1,04,600 87,465 1,92,0657 Sadhaura (SC) 1,05,035 88,951 1,93,9868 Jagadhari 1,04,810 88,476 1,93,2869 Yamunanagar 1,07,225 90,402 1,97,627


The Kurukshetra constituency covers the entire Kurukshetra

and Kaithal districts and part of Yamunanagar district. The constit-uency has nine Assembly segments namely Radaur, Ladwa, Shahbad (SC), Thanesar, Pehowa, Gulha (SC), Kalayat, Kaithal and Pundri. The total number of voters from this constituency are 14,98,459, out of which 8,07,700 are males and 6,90,759 are females. As many as 1,542 polling stations have been set up in this constituency, out of which 419 have been identified as hyper sensitive and 206 have been identified as sensitive.

Radaur Assembly segment has 19 hyper sensitive polling stations (HSPS) and 28 sensitive polling stations (SPS); Ladwa 27 HSPS and 22 SPS; Shahbad (SC) 27 HSPS and 19 SPS; Thanesar 50 HSPS; Pehowa 41 HSPS and 41 SPS; Guhla (SC) 55

HSPS and 18 SPS; Kalayat 65 HSPS and 43 SPS; Kaithal 41 HSPS and 13 SPS; and Pundri 94 HSPS and 22 SPS.

The highest number of voters are from Kalayat Assembly which has total of 1,82,900 voters, out of

which 1,01,504 are males and 81,396 are females. The lowest number of voters are from Shahbad Assembly which have 1,46,024 voters, out of which 78,114 are males and 67,910 are females. g

KurukshetraSegments Male Female Total

1 Radaur 96,211 82,110 1,78,3212 Ladwa 87,781 76,584 1,64,3653 Shahbad (SC) 78,114 67,910 1,46,0244 Thanesar 87,066 75,620 1,62,6865 Pehowa 84,574 74,847 1,59,4216 Guhla (SC) 86,138 75,390 1,61,5287 Kalayat 1,01,504 81,396 1,82,9008 Kaithal 96,358 82,284 1,78,6429 Pundri 89,954 74,618 1,64,572


The Sirsa Lok Sabha constituen-cy covers the entire Sirsa and

Fatehabad districts and part of Jind district of the state. It is reserved for the Scheduled Caste candidates since its inception in 1967. This constitu-ency covers nine Assembly segments namely Narwana (SC), Tohana, Fate-habad, Ratia (SC), Kalanwali (SC), Dabwali, Rania, Sirsa and Ellenabad. The total number of voters from Sir-sa constituency are 16,60,557, out of which 8,86,302 are males and 7,74,255 are females. As many as 1,678 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, out of which 236 have been identified as hyper sensitive, 247 sensitive and four critical.

In Sirsa constituency, the Assem-bly segments, including Narwana, have 20 HSPS and 26 SPS; Tohana 17 HSPS and 19 SPS; Fatehabad 10 HSPS and 26 SPS; Ratia 11 HSPS and 22 SPS; Kalanwali 42 HSPS and 23 SPS;

Dabwali 44 HSPS and 49 SPS; Rania 52 HSPS and 17 SPS; Sirsa 18 HSPS and 26 SPS; and Ellenabad 22 HSPS and 39 SPS.

Out of nine Assembly segments, Fatehabad and Kalanwali have the highest and lowest number of voters respectively. Fatehabad segment has total 2,19,502 voters which include 1,17,681 males and 1,01,821 females. Kalawali segment has total 1,60,704 voters, out of which 85,803 are males and 74,901 are females. Among other

segments, Narwana has total 1,87,880 voters, of which 1,02,731 are males and 85,149 are females. Tohana seg-ment has total 2,03,700 voters which include 1,07,963 males and 95,737 females.

Ratia segment has total 1,95,029 voters, out of which 1,02,812 are males and 92,217 are females. In Dabwali segment, total number of voters are 1,81,943 of which 97,052 are males and 84,891 are females. Rania segment has total 1,63,119 voters which include 86,549 male and 76,570 female voters. Sirsa segment has total 1,81,938 voters, including 96,635 males and 85,303 females. Ellenabad segment has 1,66,742 voters, includ-ing 89,076 male and 77,666 female voters. g

Sirsa

Segments Male Female Total1 Narwana (SC) 1,02,731 85,149 1,87,8802 Tohana 1,07,963 95,737 2,03,7003 Fatehabad 1,17,681 1,01,821 2,19,5024 Ratia (SC) 1,02,812 92,217 1,95,0295 Kalanwali (SC) 85,803 74,901 1,60,7046 Dabwali 97,052 84,891 1,81,9437 Rania 86,549 76,570 1,63,1198 Sirsa 96,635 85,303 1,81,9389 Ellenabad 89,076 77,666 1,66,742


The Hisar Lok Sabha constituen-cy is the smallest constituency

in Haryana. Spreading over entire Hisar district and parts of Bhiwani and Jind districts, the constituency covers nine Assembly segments namely Uchana Kalan, Adampur, Ukalana(SC), Narnaund, Hansi, Barwala, Hisar, Nalwa and Bawani Khera. The constituency has total 15,17,606 voters out of which 8,26,810 are males and 6,90,796 are females. The total number of poll-ing stations set up in the constitu-ency is 1,513 out of which 297 have been identified as hyper sensitive and 335 as sensitive and 53 as criti-cal stations.

Uchana Kalan has the highest number of voters i.e. 1,50,634 out of which 81,002 are males and 69,632 females. Nalwa segment has the lowest number of voters, i.e.

1,50,634, out of which 81,002 are males and 69,632 are females.

Among other segments, Adam-pur has total 1,52,873 voters which includes 82,608 males and 70,265 females; Ukalana has total 1,78,928 voters, out of which 98,199 are males and 80,729 females. Narnaund Assembly segment has 1,86,120 voters including 1,03,414 males and 82,706 females. Hansi Assem-

bly segment has 1,65,668 voters, including 90,294 males and 75,374 females. The total number of voters in Barwala segment are 1,56,493, including 84,528 males and 71,965 females, Hisar segment has total 1,55,157 voters, out of which 82,862 are males and 72,295 are females and Bawani Khera segment has total 1,80,921 including 98,267 males and 82,654 females. g

Hisar

Segments Male Female Total1 Uchana Kalan 1,05,636 85,176 1,90,8122 Adampur 82,608 70,265 1,52,8733 Ukalana (SC) 98,199 80,729 1,78,9284 Narnaund 1,03,414 82,706 1,86,1205 Hansi 90,294 75,374 1,65,6686 Barwala 84,528 71,965 1,56,9437 Hisar 82,862 72,295 1,55,1578 Nalwa 81,002 69,632 1,50,6349 Bawani Khera 98,267 82,654 1,80,921


The Karnal Lok Sabha constituen-cy comprises Karnal and Panipat

districts. It is divided into nine As-sembly segments. These are Nilok-heri (SC), Indri, Karnal, Gharaunda, Assandh, Panipat rural, Panipat city, Israna(SC) and Samalkha. The total number of voters from this constit-uency are 16,84,321 out of which 9,13,321 are male voters and 7,71,000 are female voters. Total 1,559 polling stations have been set up in Karnal constituency, out of which 338 have been identified as hyper sensitive and and 319 as sensitive.

Nilokheri segment has 30 HSPS and 46 SPS; Indri 32 HSPS and 18 SPS; Karnal 9 HSPS and 41 SPS; Gharaun-da 41 HSPS and 28 SPS; Assandh 44 HSPS and 33 SPS; Panipat Rural 38 HSPS and 64 SPS.

Karnal Assembly segment has the highest number of voters. It has total 2,02,460 voters, out of which 1,06,925 are males and 95,535 are females. Is-rana (SC) segment has a total number of 1,59,800 voters, which is lowest in the constituency. Out of to-tal 1,59,800 voters, 86,725 are males and 73,075 are females. Nilokheri (SC) segment has total 1,85,900 voters, out of which1,00,461 are males and 85,439 are females. There are total 1,73,053 voters in Indri segment of which 93,494 males and 79,559 females. Gharaunda segment has total 1,87,182 voters which include 1,02,222 males and 84,960 females.

Similary, Assandh segment has total 1,98,828 voters, of which 1,08,558 are males and 90,270 are females. Pa-nipat Rural segment has total 1,96,618 voters, including 1,08,335 males and 88,283 females. In Panipay City, there are total 1,99,357 voters, including 1,07,581 males and 91,776 females. Samalkha segment has total 1,81,123 voters, out of which 99,020 are males and 82,103 are females. g

Karnal Segments Male Female Total1 Nilokheri (SC) 1,00,461 85,439 1,85,9002 Indri 93,494 79,559 1,73,0533 Karnal 1,06,925 95,535 2,02,4604 Gharaunda 1,02,222 84,960 1,87,1825 Assandh 1,08,558 90,270 1,98,8286 Panipat Rural 1,08,335 88,283 1,96,6187 Panipat City 1,07,581 91,776 1,99,3578 Israna (SC) 86,725 73,075 1,59,8009 Samalkha 99,020 82,103 1,81,123

15COVER STORYHARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

The Parliamentary Constitu-ency Sonipat of the state has

nine segments namely; Ganuar, Rai, Kharkhoda (SC), Sonipat, Gohana, Baroda, Julana, Safidon and Jind. The number polling booth stations in the constituency is 1,475. The highest number of voters is from Sonipat and lowest from Kharkhoda (SC). The to-tal number of voters in the constitu-ency is 14,17,188 of which 7,77,824 are male and 6,39,364 are female voters. As many as 1,475 polling stations have been set up in this constituency, out of which 241 have been identified as hyper sensitive, 186 as sensitive

and 16 as critical.

In Ganaur, there are total 1,51,388 voters, of which 83,482 are male and 67,906 are female. In Rai, there are total 1,49,827 voters, of which 83,835 are male and 65,992 are female. In Kharkhoda(SC) segment, the total number of voters is 1,40,949 of which 78,157 are male and 62,792 are female. In Sonipat, the total number of voters 1,74,846 of which 92,540 are male and 82,306 are female. In

Gohana, there are 1,52,984 total voters out of which 83,822 are male and 69,162 are female voters. In Baroda segment, of the total 1,61,302 number of voters, 90,556 are male and 70,746 are female voters. In Julana, the total number of voters is 1,61,302 of which 89,127 are male and 72,175 are female voters. In Safidon segment of the total 1,63,921 voters, 90,074 are male and 73,847 are female voters. In Jind segment, there are 1,60,669 total voters of which 86,231 are male and 74,438 are female voters. g

Segments Male Female Total1 Ganaur 83,482 67,906 1,51,388 2 Rai 83,835 65,992 1,49,8273 Kharkhoda (SC) 78,157 62,792 1,40,9494 Sonipat 92,540 82,306 1,74,846 5 Gohana 83,822 69,162 1,52,984 6 Baroda 90,556 70,746 1,61,302 7 Julana 89,127 72,175 1,61,302 8 Safidon 90,074 73,847 1,63,9219 Jind 86,231 74,438 1,60,669

Sonipat


The Rohtak Parliamentary Constituency has nine seg-

ments namely; Meham, Garhi-Sam-pla-Kiloi, Rohtak, Kalanaur(SC), Bahadurgarh, Badli, Jhajjar(SC), Beri and Kosli. The number polling booth stations in the constituency is 1,621. The highest number of vot-ers are from Kosli and lowest from

Beri segment. The total number of voters in the constituency

is 15,67,420 of which 8,50,088 are male and 7,17,332 are female voters.

As many as 1,621 polling stations have been set

up in this constituency, out of which 319 have been identified as hyper sensitive and 294 as sensitive.

In Meham, there are total 1,66,551 voters, of which 92,174 are male

and 74,377 are female. In Grahi-Sampla-Kiloi, there are total 1,87,656 voters, of which 1,03,232 are male and 84,424 are female. In

its segment Rohtak, the total number of voters is 1,70,959 of which 89,602

are male and 81,357 are female. In Kalanaur(SC),

the total number of voters is 1,75,108 of which 95,420

are male and 79,688 are female. In Bahadurgarh, there are 1,79,810 total voters out of which 99,049 are male and 80,761 are female vot-ers. In Badli segment, of the total 1,58,122 number of voters, 86,064 are male and 72,058 are female voters. In Jhajjar (SC), the total number of voters is 1,57,980 of which 85,093 are male and 72,887 are female voters. In Beri segment, of the total 1,57,251 voters, 86,513 are male and 70,738 are female voters. In Kosli segment, the total number of voters is 2,13,983, of which 1,12,941 are male and 1,01,042 are female voters. g

RohtakSegments Male Female Total

1 Meham 92,174 74,377 166,5512 Garhi Sampla 1,03,232 84,424 1,87,6563 Rohtak 89,602 81,357 1,70,9594 Kalanaur (SC) 95,420 79,688 1,75,1085 Bahadurgarh 99,049 80,761 1,79,8106 Badali 86,064 72,058 1,58,1227 Jhajjar (SC) 85,093 72,887 1,57,9808 Beri 66,513 70,738 1,57,2519 Kosli 1,12,941 1,01,042 2,13,983


The Parliamenta-ry Constituency

Bhiwani- Mahendragarh of Haryana has nine segments namely; Loharu, Badhra, Dadri, Bhiwani, Tosham, Ateli, Mahendragarh, Narnaul and Nangal Chaudhry. The number polling booth stations in the constituency is 1,633. The highest number of voters is from Tosham and lowest from Narnaul segment. The total number of voters is 14,73,912 of which 7,92,166 are male and 6,81,746 are female voters.

As many as 1,633 polling stations have been set up in this constitu-ency, out of which 391 have been identified as hyper sensitive, 242 as sensitive and 59 as critical.

In Loharu, there are total 1,67,514 voters, of which 90,248 are male and 77,266 are female. In Badhra, there are total 167,559 voters, of which 89,995 are male and 77,564 are female. In Dadri segment, the total number of voters is 176,209 of which 94,883 are male and 81,326 are female. In Bhiwani, the total number of voters 1,78,645 of which 95,943 are male and 82,702 are female. In Tosham, there are 1,83,875 total

voters out of which 99,306 are male and 84,569 are female voters. In Ateli, the total number of voters is 1,68,745 of which 89,971 are male and 78,774 are female voters. In Mahendragarh segment, of the total 1,71,282 voters, 91,727 are male and 79,555 are female voters. In Narnaul segment, there are 1,26,655 total voters of which 67,794 are male and 58,861 are female voters. In Nangal Chaudhry, the total number of voter is 1,33,428 of which 72,299 are male and 61,129 are female. g

Bhiwani-Mahendragarh

Segments Male Female Total1 Loharu 90,248 77,266 1,67,5142 Bhadra 89,995 77,564 1, 67,5593 Dadri 94,883 81,326 1,76,2094 Bhiwani 95,943 82,702 1,78,6455 Tosham 99,306 84,569 1,83,8756 Ateli 89,971 78,774 1,68,7457 Mahendragarh 91,727 79,555 1,71,2828 Narnaul 67,794 58,861 1,26,6559 Nangal Chaudhry 72,299 61,129 1,33,428


Gurgaon Parliamentary Constituency of the state has

nine segments namely; Bawal (SC), Rewari, Pataudi(SC), Badshahpur, Gurgaon, Sohna, Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka and Punhana. The number polling booth stations in the constit-uency is 1,816. The highest number of voters is from Badshahpur and lowest from Nuh segment. The total number of voters is 18,44,908 of which 9,84,609 are male and 8,60,299 are female voters.

As many as 1,816 polling stations have been set up in this constituency, out of which 291 have been identi-fied as hyper sensitive and 483 as sensitive.

In Bawal (SC), there are total 1,87,216 voters, of which 99,221 are male and 87,995 are female. In Rewari segment, the total number of voters is 2,03,315 of which 1,08,251 are male and 95,064 are female. In Pataudi(SC), the total number of voters 1,92,999 of which 1,02,900 are male and 90,099 are female. In Badshahpur, there are 3,08,755, total voters out of which 1,63,373 are male

and 1,45,382 are female voters. In Gurgaon segment, of the total 2,88,106 number of voters, 1,50,735 are male and 1,37,371 are female voters. In Sohna, the total number of voters is 1,88,736 of which 1,01,527 are male and 87,209 are female voters. In Nuh segment of the total 1,47,269 voters, 79,971 are male and 67,298 are female voters. In Ferozepur Jhirka segment, there are 1,78,564 total voters of which 97,037 are male and 81,527 are female voters. In Punhana, the total number of voter is 1,49,948 of which 81,594 are male and 68,354 are female. g

Gurgaon

Segments Male Female Total1 Bawal (SC) 99,221 87,995 1,87,2162 Rewari 1,08,251 95,064 2,03,3153 Pataudi (SC) 1,02,900 90,099 1,92,9994 Badshahpur 1,63,373 1,45,382 3,08,7555 Gurgaon 1,50,735 1,37,371 2,88,1066 Sohna 1,01,527 87,209 1,88,7367 Nuh 79,971 67,298 1,47,2698 Ferozepur Jhirka 97,037 81,527 1,78,5649 Punhana 81,594 68,354 1,49,948


The Faridabad Constituency has nine segments namely; Hathin,

Hodal(SC), Palwal, Prithla, Faridabad NIT, Badhkal, Ballabgarh, Faridabad and Tigaon. The number polling booths in the constituency is 1,645. The highest number of voters is from Tigaon and lowest from Hodal (SC) segment. The total number of voters is 17,40,352 of which 9,69,407 are male and 7,70,945 are female voters.

As many as 1,645 polling stations have been set up in this constituency, out of which 328 have been identified as hyper sensitive and 417 as sensitive.

In Hathin, there are total 1,86,315 voters, of which 1,02,275 are male and 84,040 are female. In Hodal(SC), there are total 1,61,765 voters, of which 88,947 are male and 72,818 are female. In Palwal segment, the total number of voters is 1,97,976 of which 1,08,541 are male and 89,435 are female. In Prithla, the total number of voters 1,64,303 of which 90,163 are male and 74,140 are female. In Faridabad NIT, there are 2,08,623 total voters out of which 1,19,182 are male and 89,441 are female voters. In Badhkal seg-ment, of the total 2,14,679 number of voters, 1,18,836 are male and 95,843 are female voters. In Ballabgarh, the total number of voters is 1,95,314 of which, 1,11,482 are male and 83,832 are female voters. In Faridabad segment of the total 1,91,246 voters, 1,05,319 are male and 85,927 are female voters. In Tigaon segment, there are 2,20,131 total voters of which 1,24,662 are male and 95,469 are female voters. g

(Constituency profiles compiled by Ruchi Sharma and Swati Sethi)

Faridabad

Segments Male Female Total1 Hathin 1,02,275 84,040 1,86,3152 Hodal (SC) 88,947 72,818 1,61,7653 Palwal 1,08,541 89,435 1,97,9764 Prithla 90,163 74,140 1,64,3035 Faridabad NIT 1,19,182 89,441 2,08,6236 Badhkal 1,18,836 95,843 2,14,6797 Ballabgarh 1,11,482 83,832 1,95,3148 Fraidabad 1,05,319 85,927 1,91,2469 Tigaon 1,24,662 95,469 2,20,131


Shweta Vashishta

The Lok Sabha Elections 2014 will be remembered for the many

firsts attached to it and for some unique initiatives taken by the Elec-tion Commission (EC) to woo voters to exercise their right to franchise and make voting a pleasurable expe-rience for them.

Elections to the 16th Lok Sabha will be held in nine phases, the longest so far, starting from April 7 to May 12, 2014. Counting of votes in all the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will be held on a single day on May 16, Chief Election Commissioner vs

Sampath announced.

ALL THE FIRSTSNOTA:The Lok Sabha Elections 2014 will be India’s first election to have the None of the Above (NOTA) option, allowing the voters to reject all field-ed candidates.

The debutants:

These elections will have the highest number of first-time voters in India’s electoral history, estimated at about 15 crore. In 2009, not even one party polled more than 15 crore votes.

Instant feedback:

For the first time in Lok Sabha elec-tions, some voters will get instant feedback to verify that their votes are cast as intended. The voter-ver-ified paper audit trial (VVPAT) will generate a receipt after a vote is caste. The receipt will have a serial number, name and symbol of the candidate. The receipt, once viewed, goes inside a container linked to the EVM and can only be accessed by the election officers in rarest of rare cases. This system is being tested at a few polling stations. All 543 constit-uencies are expected to be covered before the 2019 general elections.

Making voting memorableThe 2014 Lok Sabha elections will go down in electoral history as one which was marked by many first-time initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India to make voting a memorable experience

COVER STORY 21HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

‘Others’:The transgender community will have the opportunity to vote under the ‘Others’ category, which was introduced in 2010.

Photo voter slips:Photo voter slips are being intro-duced in the coming Lok Sabha elec-tions. For the first time, EC officials would send voting slips with the person’s photograph to the homes of voters in Haryana. This would be accepted as an identity proof at polling stations, said Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Shrikant Walgad.

With the help of these slips, the voters will be able to cast their ballot even if they do not have any iden-tity proof, including voter I-card. Till now such slips were issued by various political parties. But in the absence of photos on these slips, the voters had to carry another ID proof to prove their identity.

E-filing of poll affidavits:

In a maiden initiative, the EC has introduced e-filing of affidavits by candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. The affidavits (Form 26) are supposed to be furnished by the candidates at the time of filing of their nomination for contesting a Parliamentary or an Assembly seat.

A typical affidavit filed by a candi-date includes his personal informa-tion like details of assets (including movable and immovable properties), properties and accounts under his or her name in a foreign land, liabil-ities of a candidiate, name of the spouse and dependents, educational qualifications and criminal anteced-ents, if any.

The e-filing facility, however, will be optional this time. After filing the affidavit online, a candidate has to provide the returning officer with an attested hard copy.

The EC has also asked the state election panels to quickly upload these affidavits in their respective websites and also paste them for public viewing in their office premises.

Model polling booths:

Don't be surprised if you get red-car-pet treatment as you cast your ballot

this parliamentary elections. With a view to making voting a happy experience, the Election Commis-sion had issued guidelines to all the states to set up model polling booths for the 16th Lok Sabha Elections and accordingly all the states are gearing up to set up such booths.

On the Election Commission’s di-rections, Chandigarh will be the first city in the country to have all its 490 polling booths as model poll-ing stations where electorate will be provided with an array of facilities ranging from cool potable water, lavatories and instant medical facil-ities to flex boards guiding them to their booth.

What more, in an attempt to woo voters to exercise their right to franchise, it has been decided that in each polling booth, surprise gifts and cash vouchers will be given to the first 10 voters.

Tie-ups have been made with ho-tels and restaurants which will offer discounts to people who exercise their franchise. To avail themselves of the discount, voters will have to show the indelible mark on their finger to the restaurant owners.

Model polling booths, which made their debut during the 2013 Assem-bly polls in Delhi, are set to swell in number during the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The model polling stations prom-

ise an enhanced voting experience as they will be equipped with better infrastructure, spacious interiors, air-cooled waiting halls, token sys-tem for voters, comfortable seating arrangement, water coolers and toilets.

They will have spacious waiting halls for voters who don’t want to stand in queues. People will get a token and can vote when their serial number is called out. The furniture in the booths and the waiting rooms will be new and modern, a welcome change from the rickety chairs in government buildings and schools.

The booths will have state-of-the-art signage and display boards with the name of the constituency and polling station displayed on them prominently. Emergency lights will be provided at the model polling stations.

A new campaign that will ensure a better poll-day experience for dif-ferently-abled persons will be put in place. Physically challenged electors will be allowed to enter the polling stations without having to wait in the queue for other electors and all necessary assistance as may be required will be provided to them.

Thus, for all the above good rea-sons, the Lok Sabha Elections 2014 would be an election to remember and the one to set a trend for other future elections. g


Haryana Review Bureau

As many as 3,73,394 voters in the age group of 18-19 years would

cast their vote for the first time in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections be-ing held in Haryana on April 10. The maximum number of such first-time 47,161 voters fall in the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency.

According to the data released by the Haryana Election Department today, the maximum number of 14,144 women in the 18-19 age group, fall in the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency. The maximum number of 33,017 first-time men voters, also come from Gurgaon. On the lower side, the minimum number of 27,213 voters in the age group of 18 and 19 is in the Rohtak Lok Sabha constit-uency. These include 7,221 women and 19,992 men. In all, more than 1.55 crore voters would cast their vote in Haryana in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, including 71,52,207 women and 84,42,220 men.

As many as 3,70,235 voters above 80 years of age would cast their vote in the state. The maximum number of 41,571 voters in thisage group is in Sirsa out of which men number 25,097. The maximum number of women voters in this age group is in Ambala. The least number of 26, 207 voters, above 80 years of age, fall in the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituen-cy. These include 12,465 women and 13,742 men.

AGE GROUPS AND NUMBERSThere are 35,84,090 voters in the state in the age group of 20-29 years, including 14,88,926 women and 20,95,164 men. Similarly, there are 37,76,969 voters in the age group of 30-39, including 17,35,026 women and 20,42,943 men. There are 33,39,362 voters in the age group of 40-49 years, including 15,73,444 women and 17,65,918 men. Also, in age group of 50-59 years, there are 22,54,273 voters, including 10,90,607 women and 11,63,666 men.

The total number of voters in the age group of 60-69 years are 12,99,232, including 6,39,954 wom-en and 6,59,278 men. As many as 6,20,814 voters are in age group of

3.73 lakhfirst-timers

A young enthusiastic voter


70-80, including 3,16,836 women and 3,03,978 men.

The total number of voters in the age group of 18-19 years in Ambala is 31,670; Kurukshetra 34,236; Sirsa 41,132, Hisar 32,455, Karnal 38,108; Sonipat 29,334; Rohtak 27,213; Bhi-wani-Mahendragarh 28,788; Gurgaon 47,161; and Faridabad 39,355.

Similarly, the total number of voters in the age group of 20-29 in Ambala is 3,54,127; Kurukshetra 3,26,796; Sirsa 3,95,366; Hisar 3,35,731; Karnal 3,91,516; Sonipat 3,18,874; Rohtak 3,02,785; Bhiwani-Mahen-dragarh 2,96,687; Gurgaon 4,50,030; and Faridabad 4,12,178.

The total number of voters in the age group of 30-39 years in Ambala is 3,98,468; Kurukshetra 3,43,005; Sirsa 3,83,646; Hisar 3,57,061; Karnal 3,98,063; Sonipat 3,31,114; Rohtak

3,69,064; Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 3,45,144; Gurgaon 4,25,860; and Farid-abad 4,25,544.

The total number of voters in the age group of 40-49 years in Ambala is 3,46,270; Kurukshetra 3,09,358; Sirsa 3,50,747; Hisar 3,32,310; Karnal 3,52,416; Sonipat 2,89,880; Rohtak 3,30,283 Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 2,99,447; Gurgaon 3,61,189 and Farid-abad 3,67,462.

THE 50-59 AGE BRACKETThe total number of voters in the age group of 50-59 years in Ambala is 2,51,182; Kurukshetra 2,15,287; Sirsa 2,31,754; Hisar 2,14,417; Karnal 2,30,669; Sonipat 2,01,024; Rohtak 2,28,785; Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 2,14,408; Gurgaon 2,35,133 and Farid-abad 2,31,614.The total number of voters in the

age group of 60-69 years in Ambala is 1,51,380; Kurukshetra 1,26,764; Sirsa 1,2,9087; Hisar 1,16,903; Karnal 1,29,604; Sonipat 1,16,737; Rohtak 1,35,460; Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 1,28,750; Gurgaon 1,42,256; and Farid-abad 1,22,291.

The total number of voters in the age group of 70-80 years in Ambala is 70,256, in Kurukshetra 59,423; Sirsa 62,899; Hisar 55,216, Karnal 61,257; Sonipat 57,638; Rohtak 65,730; Bhiwani-Mahendragarh 64,335; Gur-gaon 68,590; and Faridabad 55,470.

The total number of voters above 80 years of age in Ambala is 39,731, Kurukshetra 40,485; Sirsa 41,571; Hisar 33,131; Karnal36,108; Sonipat 33,365; Rohtak 40,720; Bhiwani-Ma-hendragarh 40,483;Gurgaon 38,434; and Faridabad 26,207. g

There are 3,70,235 voters in the state who are above 80 years of age


Why should you vote?India is the largest democracy in

the world. The right to vote and more importantly the exercise of franchise by the eligible citizens is at the heart of every democracy. We, the people, through this exercise of our right to vote have the ultimate power to shape the destiny of country by electing our representatives, who run the government and take decisions for the growth, development and benefit of all the citizens.

Who can vote?All citizens of India who are 18

years of age as on January 1 of the year for which the electoral roll is prepared are entitled to be registered as a voter in the constituency where he or she resides. Only persons who are of unsound mind and have been declared so by a competent court or disqualified due to ‘Corrupt Practices’ or offences relating to elections are not entitled to be registered in the electoral rolls.

What is an electoral roll?An electoral roll is a list of all

eligible citizens who are entitled to cast their vote in an election. The electoral rolls are prepared Assembly Constituency wise. An electoral roll for any Assembly Constituency is subdivided into parts corresponding with the polling booths. The Election

Commission of India has decided to generally have a maximum of 1,200 electors per booth. The polling booths are so set up that no voter should ordinarily travel more than 2 kms to reach the polling booth. Normally, one part will correspond with one polling booth.

To exercise your franchise, the first and foremost requirement is that your name should be in the electoral roll. Without your name registered in the relevant part for the area where you ordinarily reside in the Assembly Constituency, you will not be allowed to exercise your franchise. Therefore, it is your duty to find out whether your name has been registered or not.

How to register?The Election Commission prepares

the electoral rolls through a process of intensive revision where house-to-house enumeration is done and electors residing in each house are

registered by official enumerators who go physically from door-to-door to collect the information about electors. This process is done normally once in five years. Between two Intensive revisions, summary revisions are done every year during a specified period when persons who are left out of the electoral rolls are given an opportunity to register themselves by applying in Form-6. It is also expected from you to get your name deleted from the place where you earlier resided, and get it included at new place in case you have shifted. For this, on your part, it is sufficient that you file claim application in Form

6 before the Electoral Registration Officer of the new place and in that application give the full address of your earlier place of residence.

Short absence from place of residence does not debar one to continue his/her name in electoral roll. Similarly, deletions are carried out of electors who have died or who have shifted residence from one area to another outside the prescribed part of the electoral roll.

You should note that you can be registered only at one place. Registration in more than one place is an offence.

During Intensive Revision of

A guide for voters


electoral rolls which normally takes place once in five years, a draft roll is prepared after house to house enumeration and published at every polling booth location for inviting claims and objections. Any eligible person can file claim in Form No. 6 for inclusion of his name in the roll or raise an objection to somebody’s name or for deletion of his or any other person's name in Form No. 7.

Similarly if any particulars in the electoral roll are to be modified such as name, house number, middle name, last name, age, sex, epic number etc. a claim in Form No. 8 can be filed. In case any elector has changed his house from the polling area of one booth to other booth in the same Assembly Constituency he can file application in Form No. 8A for change/transposition from one electoral part to other part.

During Summary revision of electoral rolls which takes place every year, the existing electoral rolls are published at each polling booth locations to invite claims and objections for inclusion, deletion, modification and transposition. After due enquiry all the claims and objections are decided and a supplementary electoral roll is prepared and published.

Even after the final publication of electoral rolls the process of continuous updation of electoral rolls goes on and the citizens are free to file any application for the addition, deletion, modification and transposition with the Electoral Registration Officer.

As per the law, your name can be registered upto the last date of filing nominations by candidates that has been notified by the Election Commission for any general election or bye-election to an Assembly or Parliament. To enable the Electoral Registration Officer to take action on

your application, you must apply at least ten days before the last date of making nominations as he has to mandatorily invite objections by giving a seven clear days notice before including your name in the roll. If you apply later than ten clear days before the last date for nominations your name may not be included for the purposes of that particular election.

How to check your name in the electoral rolls and to find the polling station where you have to go to vote?

As an elector you should immediately check whether your name has been included in the electoral roll of the constituency where you reside or not. You can find out this information from the Electoral Registration Officer of your area. Electoral rolls in all major cities have now been displayed on official websites also.

Do you have an Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC)?

The Election Commission of India has made voter identification mandatory at the time of poll. The electors have to identify themselves with either Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Commission or any other

documentary proof as prescribed by the Commission.

Will possession of an EPIC alone entitle you to vote?

You should note that mere possession of an EPIC issued to you does not guarantee you your vote, because it is mandatory that your name should appear in the electoral roll. Once you have found out that your name is there in the electoral roll and you also possess an identification document prescribed by the Election Commission (EPIC or others), you are entitled to vote.

Before you come to the polling booth, there are some other important aspects that you need to know as an elector and a conscientious citizen of the country.

What is the Disclosure by Candidates?

Recently the Election Commission of India has made it mandatory consequent upon a Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court that all candidates must file an affidavit along with their nomination form with details such as:-

1. His/her criminal antecedents,2. His/her assets and liabilities

and those of his/her spouse and dependents, and

3. His/her educational background.

This has been done with a view that every citizen has a right to know about the candidates contesting an election and make an informed choice.

The Election Commission has directed all Returning Officers to display the copies of nomination papers and accompanying affidavits received during any day on his notice board immediately on receipt and make copies of these for distribution to the press and any members of public who want this information, free of cost. Any citizen of the country can obtain copies of the nomination form and the affidavit filed by any candidate from the Returning Officer and it shall not be refused. As a voter you have every right to seek this information and get it.

The details of the dues owed by the candidates to the Government

A guide for voters


are published by giving an advertisement in the leading newspapers by the Returning Officer for the benefit of electors.

Above measures help the electors make an informed choice about the candidate they are going to vote for.

What are the basic do’s and don’t’s as polling day approaches?

As a voter you should also know the aspects that are considered as corrupt practices or electoral offences:

1. Offering or accepting money or any other gratification either to vote for or not to vote for a particular candidate.

2. Inducement by way of liquor, feast, gifts, etc. to vote for or not to vote for a particular candidate.

3. Inducement to vote or not to vote for a particular candidate on the grounds of religion, caste, community, sectarian beliefs or place of birth.

4. Threat to an elector of ex-communication if he votes for or against a particular candidate.

5. Offer of free conveyance to

any elector to go to or from any polling station.

What is the process of voting? How do you go about it?

The poll date and hours are fixed by the Election Commission of India and they are well publicised before all elections.

When you reach the polling station, entry will be regulated by queues. There will be separate queues for men and women voters and the physically handicapped persons. The persons who enforce the queues will allow 3-4 voters into the polling station at a time. Physically handicapped voters and women voters with babies in arm will be given precedence over the other voters in the queue.

Stage 1: When you enter the polling station, you will go to the First Polling Officer who is in-charge of the marked copy of the electoral roll and responsible for identification of electors. You should keep your identity document ready to show to the First Polling Officer. You can also show to him the unofficial identity slip giving your particulars. However, you should note that unofficial

identity slip only helps in locating your name in the electoral roll but is not a guarantee of your identification. The First Polling Officer will then call out your name and serial number so that the polling agents become aware of your presence and your identity is not challenged.

Stage 2: Thereafter, if your identity is not challenged, you will proceed to the Second Polling Officer who will mark your left forefinger with the indelible ink. Thereafter, he will proceed to record your serial number in the electoral roll in the Register of Voters. Once this is recorded, you are to sign in the appropriate column in the Register of Voters. If a voter cannot sign, his/her thumb impression will be obtained. The Second Polling Officer will then give you a signed voter’s slip which will record your serial number in the register of voters and your serial number in the electoral roll.

Stage 3: You will then proceed to the Third Polling Officer who will take the voter’s slip issued to you by the Second Polling Officer. The Third Polling Officer will press the "Ballot" button on the Control Unit


of voting machine and direct you to the voting compartment where you will record your vote on the balloting unit of the voting machine. Please note that each voter will proceed to the voting compartment in exactly the same sequence in which his/her serial number is recorded in the voters’ register.

Stage 4: Voting Procedure.n Inside the voting compartment,

you are to press the blue candidate button on the Balloting Unit against the name and symbol of the candidate of your choice.

n Press the button only once.n On the candidate button being

pressed, the red lamp will glow against the name and symbol of that candidate.

n There will also be a beep sound heard to indicate that your vote has been recorded and the busy lamp goes off in the Control Unit.

n This process is repeated for other voters till end of the poll.You must remember that secrecy

of voting is important. Every elector is expected to maintain the secrecy of voting and in case of failure to maintain secrecy the elector may not

be permitted to vote. Any person who violates the secrecy, will be booked for an offence under Section 128 of Representation of People Act, 1951. You should, therefore, not disclose to any person who you have voted for. Similarly, if any election official attempts to obtain information on who you have voted for, it will amount to an offence committed by that official. Photography of a voter casting vote is prohibited. It may also be noted that no polling official or agent can come inside the voting compartment under the pretext of helping you to vote. You can, however, be permitted to take a companion of not less than 18 years with you for recording your vote, if for any physical infirmity you require such assistance.

Can you decline to cast your vote at the last stage?

The law enables a voter to decline casting his vote at the last stage. If you decide not to cast your vote after having signed on the Register of Voters and after having received the voters’ slip from the Second Polling Officer, you must inform the Presiding Officer immediately. He will then take back the voters’ slip from you and proceed to record in the remarks column of the Register of Voters that you have declined to exercise your franchise and you will be required to put your signature under such entry. After this is done, you can leave the polling station without proceeding to the Voting Compartment.

What happens when your vote is challenged?

In case your identity as a voter is challenged by a polling agent of any candidate, on the ground that you are not the person whose name is listed on the rolls, the Presiding Officer will ask the challenger to give evidence in proof, of his challenge. Similarly, he will ask you for proof of your identity. You can use your EPIC or any other supporting document like Passport, Ration card etc. for this purpose. If the challenge is not established, you will be allowed to vote. However, if challenge is established, you will be debarred from voting and handed over to the police with a written complaint by the Presiding Officer.

What happens if someone else has cast the vote in your name?

If the First Polling Officer tells you on arrival inside the polling station that your vote has already been cast, bring this to the attention of the Presiding Officer immediately. The law allows you to cast a Tendered Vote. A Tendered Ballot Paper, as per Rule 49P of the Conduct of Elections Rules, will be given to you and you will be required to sign your name on the list of tendered votes. A tendered ballot paper is the same as the ballot paper displayed on the balloting unit, except that it shall be endorsed on the back, with the words, “Tendered Ballot Paper” either stamped by the Returning or written by the Presiding Officer at the time of issuing it.

After marking your choice of candidate with the help of Arrow Cross Mark rubber stamp you should hand over the tendered ballot paper to the Presiding Officer, who will keep it in a separate cover. Please note that in such case, you will not cast your vote on the EVM.

What are the grievance redressal mechanisms available to you?

If you have any grievance in regard to electoral roll, electors photo, identity card or any other election related matter, you may approach following Officers:n Chief Electoral Officer - at the State

Leveln District Election Officer - at the

District Leveln Returning Officer - at the

Constituency Leveln Assistant Returning Officer - at

Taluka/Tahsil Leveln Electoral Registration Officer - at

the Constituency Leveln Presiding Officer - at Polling

Stationn Zonal Officer - for a group of

polling stations(Detailed addresses etc. to be

provided by the CEO)During every election, the

Commission appoints observers who are senior civil service officers from outside the state. If you have any grievances or problems, you should approach them. g

(Courtesy Election Commission website)

COVER STORY HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201428

Haryana Review Bureau

With the announcement of 16th Lok Sabha elections to be held

from April 7 to May 12 the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect from the date of announcement i.e. March 5, 2014.

The Model Code of Conduct for guidance of political parties and can-didates is a set of norms which has been evolved with the consensus of political parties who have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code and also binds them to respect and observe it in its letter and spirit.

The Election Commission ensures its observance by political party(ies) in power, including ruling parties at the Centre and in the States and

contesting candidates in the dis-charge of its constitutional duties for conducting the free, fair and peaceful elections to the Parliament and the State Legislatures under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. It is also ensured that official machinery for the electoral purposes is not misused.

The code is applicable through-out the country during Lok Sabha elections and Vidhan Sabha elections. And during bye-elections, the code is applicable in the entire district or dis-tricts in which the constituency falls.

Below are given some points for the guidance of the public, officials, political parties and candidates.

GENERAL CONDUCTn No party or candidate shall include

in any activity which may aggra-vate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and com-munities, religious or linguistic.

n Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and Can-didates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unveri-fied allegations or distortion shall be avoided.

n There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.

n All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intim-idation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from polling station.

n The right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home-life shall be respected, however much

CRACKING THE

ELECTIONCODE

With the announcement of 16th Lok Sabha elections to be held from April 7 to May 12, the Model Code of Conduct has come into

force with immediate effect from the date of announcement i.e. March 5, 2014

DON'T PUT RED BEACON ATOP VEHICLES


the political parties or candidates may resent his political opinions or activities. Organising demonstra-tions or picketing before the houses of individuals by way of protesting against their opinions or activities shall not be resorted to under any circumstances.

n No political party or candidate shall permit its or his followers to make use of any individual’s land, building, compound wall etc., without his permission for erecting flag-staffs, suspending banners, pasting notices, writing slogans etc.

MEETINGSn The party or candidate shall in-

form the local police authorities of the venue and time any proposed meeting well in time so as to enable the police to make necessary arr-agements for controlling traffic and maintaining peace and order.

n A Party or candidate shall ascer-tain in advance if there is any restrictive or prohibitory order in force in the place proposed for the meeting if such orders exist, they shall be followed strictly. If any

exemption is required from such orders, it shall be applied for and obtained well in time.

n If permission or license is to be obtained for the use of loudspeak-ers or any other facility in connec-tion with any proposed meeting, the party or candidate shall apply to the authority concerned well in advance and obtain such permis-sion or license.

n Organisers of a meeting shall invariably seek the assistance of the police on duty for deal-ing with persons disturbing a meeting or otherwise attempting to create disorder. Organisers themselves shall not take action against such persons.

PROCESSIONn A Party or candidate organizing a

procession shall decide before hand the time and place of the starting of the procession, the route to be followed and the time and place at which the procession will termi-nate. There shall ordinary be on deviation from the programme.

n The organisers shall give advance intimation to the local police au-

thorities of the programme so as to enable the letter to make necessary arrangements.

n The organisers shall take steps in advance to arrange for passage of the procession so that there is no block or hindrance to traffic. If the procession is very long, it shall be organised in segments of suitable lengths, so that at convenient inter-vals, especially at points where the procession has to pass road junc-tions, the passage of held up traffic could be allowed by stages thus avoiding heavy traffic congestion.

n Processions shall be so regulated as to keep as much to the right of the road as possible and the direction and advice of the police on duty shall be strictly complied with.

n If two or more political parties or candidates propose to take proces-sions over the same route or parts thereof at about the same time, the organisers shall establish contact well in advance and decide upon the measures to be taken to see that the processions do not clash or cause hindrance to traffic. The as-sistance of the local police shall be availed of for arriving at a satisfac-

DON'T ANNOUNCE NEW SCHEMES OR CONSTRUCTION WORKS

DON'T SWITCH ON LOUDSPEAKERS FROM 10 PM TO 6 AM

30 COVER STORY HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

tory arrangement. For this purpose the parties shall contact the police at the earliest opportunity.

n The political parties or candidates shall exercise control to the maxi-mum extent possible in the matter of processionists carrying articles which may be put to misuse by undesirable elements especially in moments of excitement.

POLLING DAYAll Political parties and candidates shall –n Co-operate with the officers on elec-

tion duty to ensure peaceful and orderly polling and complete free-dom to the voters to exercise their franchise without being subjected to any annoyance or obstruction.

n Supply to their authorised workers suitable badges or identity cards.

n Agree that the identity slip sup-

plied by them to voters hall be on plain (white) paper and shall not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or the name of the party.

n Refrain from serving or distrib-uting liquor on polling day and during the fourty eight hours preceding it.

n Not allow unnecessary crowd to be collected near the camps set up by the political parties and candidates near the polling booths so as to avoid confrontation and tension among workers and sympathisers of the parties and the candidate.

POLLING BOOTHExcepting the voters, no one without a valid pass from the Election Commis-sion shall enter the polling booths.

OBSERVERSThe Election Commission is ap-

pointing observers. If the candidates or their agents have any specific complaint or problem regarding the conduct of elections they may bring the same to the notice of the observer.

PARTY IN POWERThe party in power whether at the Centre or in the State or States con-cerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign and in particular –n The Ministers shall not combine

their official visit with election-eering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneer-ing work.

n Government transport including official air-crafts, vehicles, machin-ery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power.

n Public places such as maidans etc., for holding election meetings, and use of helipads for air-flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolised by itself. Other parties and candidates shall be allowed the use of such places and facilities on the same terms and conditions on which they are used by the party in power.

n Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for parti-san coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the pros-pects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided.

n Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission.

From the time elections are an-nounced by Commission, Minis-ters and other authorities shall not –n Announce any financial grants in

any form or promises thereof.n (Except civil servants) lay foun-

dation stones etc. of projects or

DON'T PASTE POSTERS AT PUBLIC PLACES

COVER STORY 31HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

schemes of any kind.n Make any promise of construction

of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc.

n Make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.

n Ministers of Central or State Gov-ernment shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorised agent.

GUIDELINES: ELECTION MANIFESTOSn The Supreme Court in its judgment

dated 5th July 2013 in SLP(C) No. 21455 of 2008 ( S. Subramaniam Balaji Vs Govt. of Tamil Nadu and Others) has directed the Election Commission to frame guidelines with regard to the contents of election manifestos in consultation with all the recognised political parties. The guiding principles which will lead to framing of such guidelines are quoted below from the judgment:

n "Although, the law is obvious that the promises in the election manifesto cannot be construed as ‘corrupt practice’ under Section 123 of RP Act, the reality cannot be ruled out that distribution of freebies of any kind, undoubtedly, influences all people. It shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree".

n "The Election Commission, in order to ensure level playing field between the contesting parties and candidates in elections and also in order to see that the purity of the election process does not get vitiated, as in past been issuing instructions under the Model Code of Conduct. The fountainhead of the powers under which the Commission issues these orders is Article 324 of the Constitution which mandates the Commission to hold free and fair elections."

n "We are mindful of the fact that generally political parties release their election manifesto before the announcement of election date, in that scenario, strictly speaking, the Election Commission will not have

the authority to regulate any act which is done before the announce-ment of the date. Nevertheless, an exception can be made in this regard as the purpose of election manifesto is directly associated with the election process."

n Upon receiving the above direc-tions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Election Commission held a meeting with the recognised National and State Political Parties for consultation with them in the matter and took note of their con-flicting views in the matter.

n During consultations, while some political parties supported the is-suance of such guidelines, others were of the view that it is their right and duty towards voters to make such offers and promises in manifestos in a healthy democrat-ic polity.

n While the Commission agrees in principle with the point of view that framing of manifestos is the right of the political parties, it cannot overlook the undesirable impact of some of the promises and offers on the conduct of free and fair elections and maintaining level playing field for all political parties and candidates.

n The Constitution under Article 324 mandates the Election Com-mission, to conduct elections inter alia to the Parliament and the State Legislatures. Having due regard to the above directions of the Su-

preme Court and after consultation with the Political Parties, the Com-mission, in the interest of free and fair elections, hereby directs that Political Parties and Candidates while releasing election manifestos for any election to the Parliament or State Legislatures, shall adhere to the following guidelines :

n The election manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and further that it shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of Model Code of Conduct.

n The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitu-tion enjoin upon the State to frame various welfare measures for the citizens and therefore there can be no objection to the promise of such welfare measures in election manifestos. However, political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on the vot-ers in exercising their franchise.

n In the interest of transparency, lev-el playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that mani-festos also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled. g

DON'T EXCHANGE VOTES FOR NOTES

32 COVER STORY HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014

Q. Can government transport be used for electioneering work?

Ans. No; no transport, including official aircraft, vehicles etc, shall be used for furtherance of the interest of any party or a candidate.

Q. Can government make transfers and postings of officials who are related to election work?

Ans. There shall be a total ban on the transfer and posting of all officers/officials directly or indirectly connected with the conduct of the election. If any transfer or posting of an officer is considered necessary, prior approval of the Election Commission shall be obtained.

Q. Are ministers entitled for official vehicle during the election? Can ministers or any other political functionaries use pilot car with beacon lights affixed with siren?

Ans. Ministers are entitled to use their official vehicles only for commuting from their official residence to their office for official work provided that such commuting is not combined with any electioneering or any political activity.

During the election period,

minister or any other political functionary is not allowed to use pilot car or car with beacon lights of any colour or car affixed with sirens of any kind whether on private or official visit, even if the state administration has granted him a security cover requiring presence of armed guards to accompany him on such visit. This prohibition is applicable whether the vehicle is government owned or private owned.

Q. Is there any restriction on issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power?

Ans. Yes, the advertisement regarding achievements of the party at the cost of public exchequer in the print and electronic media and the misuse of official mass media during the period of election is prohibited.

Q. Can a minister or any other authority sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds?

Ans. No

Q. How the government may meet the emergency situation

or unforeseen calamities, when there are restrictions for announcing welfare measures?

Ans. For tackling emergencies or unforeseen calamities like providing relief to people suffering from drought, floods, pestilences, other natural calamities or welfare measures for the aged, infirm etc., government may do so after obtaining prior approval of the Election Commission and all ostentatious functions shall be strictly avoided and no impression shall be given or allowed to be created that such welfare measures or relief and rehabilitation works are being undertaken by the government in office with any ulterior motive.

Q. Can state-level functions be held for observance of martyrdom of martyrs which may be presided/attended by chief Minister / minister?

Ans. Yes, provided the speeches of the chief minister and other ministers are restricted to the martyrdom of the martyrs and words said in their praise. No political speech or speech enumerating or

You ask,We tell


referring to the achievements of the government or party in power should be made.

Q. What are the main guidelines for political parties/candidates while making election campaign?

Ans. During the election campaign, no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic. Further, criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.

Q. Are there any restrictions in using religious places for election propaganda?

Ans. Yes, religious places like temple, mosque, church, gurudwara or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. Further, there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.

Q. Is there any restriction on use of educational institutions, including their grounds (whether government aided, private or government), for political campaigns and rallies?

Ans. Use of educational institutions, including their grounds (whether govt aided, private or govt), for political campaigns and rallies is not allowed.

Q. Is wearing of special accessories like cap, mask, scarf etc of a candidate permitted during the campaigning?

Ans. Yes, provided they are accounted for in the election expenses of the candidate concerned. However, supply and distribution of

main apparels like saree, shirt, etc by party/candidate is not permitted as it may amount to bribery of voters.

Q. What is the deadline after which no public meetings and processions can be taken out?

Ans. Public meetings cannot be held after 10 PM and before 6 AM.

Further, a candidate cannot hold public meetings and processions during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll. Suppose, poll day is July15 and hours of poll are from 8 AM to 5 PM, then the public meetings and processions shall be closed at 5 PM on the July 13.

(Refer: Sec. 126 of Representation of People Act, 1951)

Q. Are there any guidelines for political parties/candidates for issue of unofficial identity slips to voters?

Ans. Yes. The unofficial identity slip, on white paper, shall contain only the particulars of the voter, i.e. name, serial number of voter, part no. in the electoral roll, s.no. and name of polling station and date of poll. It should not contain the name of candidate, his photograph and symbol.

Q. Is the use of mobile phone allowed in the polling station?

Ans. No person is allowed to either carry or use mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless sets etc. in 100 metre perimeter of the polling station described as the “polling station neighborhood” and within the polling booth. Only Observer/Micro Observer, Presiding Officer and security personnel are allowed to carry mobile phone but they will keep their mobile phones in silent mode.

Q. Can a political party/candidate make arrangements for transporting voter to and from polling station?

Ans. No. Any arrangement, direct or indirect, to carry any voter to or from polling station by any kind of vehicle used for transport is a criminal offence.

(Refer: Sec. 133 of Representation of People Act, 1951)

Q. Are there any restrictions on plying of government/private vehicles on the poll day?

Ans. No. Public transport like buses, minibuses are allowed to ply but it should be ensured that they are not used clandestinely for the conveyance of voters. Further, private cars, taxies carrying passengers to places other than polling booths like hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus stands, friends’ and relatives’ houses, clubs, and restaurants will be allowed on the road. But they should not be allowed to come clandestinely near the polling areas for the conveyance of voters.

Q. Suppose work order has been issued in respect of a scheme or a programme, can it be started after announcement of election programme?

Ans. Work shall not be started in respect of which work order has been issued before announcement of election but the work has actually not started in the field. If a work has actually started in the field then that can be continued.

Q. Can government release convicted criminals on parole after following due procedures?

Ans. If the government feels that the release of any convict on parole is absolutely essential for certain compelling reasons, in that case it shall consult the Chief Electoral Officer before granting parole.

Q. Can a leader of political party use private fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for the purposes of supervising and monitoring the polling and counting process on the day of poll and counting?

Ans. No, leader of a political party is not allowed to use private fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for the purposes of supervising and monitoring the polling and counting process on the day of poll and counting. g


Performance sheetParties Valid Votes Polled Percentage of Valid Votes Contested Candidate Seat Won

Lok Sabha Election - 2009BJP 9,86,136 12.09% 5 0BSP 12,84,067 15.75% 10 0INC 34,07,291 41.79% 10 9INLD 12,86,573 15.78% 5 0HJC (BL) 8,16,395 10.01% 10 1IND & OTH 3,76,091 4.61% 170 0

Lok Sabha Election - 2004BJP 13,93,106 17.21% 10 1BSP 4,03,254 4.98% 10 0INC 34,09,950 42.13% 10 9INLD 18,15,683 22.43% 10 0SP 1,37,050 1.69% 6 0HVP 5,06,122 6.25% 9 0LJSP 6,510 0.08% 5 0IND 2,49,413 3.08% 76 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1999BJP 20,36,797 29.21% 5 5BSP 1,36,330 1.96% 3 0CPM 10,511 0.15% 1 0INC 24,35,752 34.93% 10 0INLD 20,02,700 28.72% 5 5SP 29,393 0.42% 7 0HVP 1,88,731 2.71% 2 0IND 1,12,521 1.61% 74 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1998BJP 14,27,086 18.89% 6 1BSP 5,80,152 7.68% 3 1CPI 11,270 0.15% 1 0CPM 25,366 0.34% 1 0INC 19,65,397 26.02% 10 3JD 28,513 0.38% 4 0HVP 8,75,803 11.60% 4 1JP 2,936 0.04% 2 0SHS 1,45,452 1.93% 3 0SP 15,783 0.21% 5 0HLD (R) 19,56,087 25.90% 7 4SJP (R) 4,02,382 5.33% 5 0IND 93,288 1.24% 78 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1996AIIC (T) 1,71,005 2.25% 8 0BJP 15,02,723 19.74% 6 4CPI 27,573 0.36% 1 0INC 17,23,087 22.64% 10 2JD 1,16,845 1.54% 8 0SAP 14,47,340 19.01% 10 0BSP 5,01,958 6.59% 6 0HVP 11,56,322 15.19% 4 3SP 86,172 1.13% 3 0SHS 1,45,452 1.93% 3 0IND 7,80,122 10.25% 210 1

Lok Sabha Election - 1991BJP 6,31,146 10.17% 10 0INC 23,10,003 37.22% 10 9JD 7,75,213 12.49% 7 0JP 15,77,389 25.41% 10 0BSP 1,11,353 1.79% 1 0HVP 3,31,794 5.35% 4 1SJJP 70,368 1.13% 1 0IND 3,40,153 5.48% 135 0

Parties and Lok Sabha polls


Parties Valid Votes Polled Percentage of Valid Votes Contested Candidate Seat Won

Lok Sabha Election - 1989BJP 5,07,217 8.31% 2 0INC 28,16,831 46.15% 10 4JD 23,74,534 38.90% 8 6BSP 99,164 1.62% 9 0DDP 21,003 0.34% 10 0CPI 15,161 0.25% 1 0IND 2,19,420 3.59% 271 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1984BJP 3,82,447 7.54% 6 0INC 27,87,655 54.95% 10 10CPI 44,475 0.88% 1 0JNP 73,108 1.44% 7 0LKD 9,69,203 19.10% 6 0ICJ 5,32,326 10.49% 4 0IND 2,84,193 5.60% 166 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1980INC (I) 14,26,261 32.55% 10 5INC (U) 3,182 0.07% 2 0JNP 12,32,914 28.14% 10 1JNP (S) 14,68,713 33.52% 10 4IND 2,35,638 5.38% 97 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1977BLD 25,18,446 70.35% 10 10CPI 25,289 0.61% 2 0INC 7,44,862 17.95% 9 0VHP 1,92,867 4.65% 1 0IND 2,58,668 6.24% 24 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1971BLS 3,34,830 11.19% 3 1INC 15,72,929 52.56% 9 7NCO 3,39,213 11.34% 4 0SSP 86,510 2.89% 1 0BKD 10,995 0.37% 1 0SAD 9,413 0.31% 1 0VHP 2,74,091 9.16% 3 1RPK 33,108 1.11% 5 0SUC 17,577 0.59% 2 0IND 2,94,401 9.84% 29 0

Lok Sabha Election - 1967BJS 6,05,838 19.85% 7 1CPI 51,758 1.70% 3 0CPM 25,479 0.83% 2 0INC 13,44,830 44.06% 9 7PSP 10,905 0.36% 1 0SSP 1,67,973 5.50% 5 0SWA 1,70,951 5.60% 2 0RPI 70,920 2.32% 2 0IND 6,03,565 19.77% 36 1

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201436

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 37

Spring, the queen of seasons, descends

Photo feature by Vinay Malik


Time to savour grapes and strawberries


Parrots turn playful on seeing the mongo trees flowering


The spring beauties


Sweaters come to the waist

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201444 REPORT

Ruchi Sharma

Just as trees, fresh air, soil, water, air, vegetation and green environment

are essential for our continued exist-ence; similarly, our wildlife diversity is vital for maintaining the ecological balance and hence for sustaining life. Besides preserving the green environ-ment, it is also our duty to save our wildlife treasure for posterity.

RAISING AWARENESSThe United National Assembly in its 68th meeting, that was held on De-cember 20, 2013, declared March 3 as the World Wildlife Day to be celebrat-ed every year with a view to raising awareness about the world’s wild

fauna and flora. The UN General As-sembly chose March 3 for celebrating the World Wildlife Day as this date coincides with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, which plays an im-portant role in ensuring that inter-national trade does not threaten the species’ survival.

In pursuance of this, the Haryana Forest Department celebrated this day at Thapli in Panchkula district of Haryana. The day started with a nature camp for spreading awareness among children who are the future

protectors of Mother Nature. The camp enhanced the knowledge of the students and created wildlife conser-vation awareness at an early age.

As many as 50 young boys and girls of five nearby schools of Thapli attended the nature camp. On-the-spot environment quiz contest was held and students who gave the correct answers were given prizes.

Ajit Sharma, a class 7th student, from a nearby school in Thapli, who

answered most of the questions based on environment

and wildlife took away the first prize and was declared the moving encyclopedia. An elated Ajit said that the nature camp was worth attending and he learnt a lot from it.

The students were told how they could contribute their bit towards sav-ing the environment and wildlife. They were served refreshment. Besides, they

With a view to generating awareness about the importance of wildlife, the Haryana Forest De-partment celebrated the World Wildlife Day on March 3 by organising a nature camp in Thapli

Celebrating wildlife

WORLD WILDLIFE DAYfalls on March 3

On the World Wildlife Day, a small film on vultures and their breeding at the Vulture Care Breeding Centre was shown to students at Thapli in Panchkula

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 45REPORT

were also given some reading material on environment for enhancing their knowledge and awareness.

Harsh, a student from a nearby school, said that he had come to the camp as a blank student but now he was going home equipped with knowledge which had so much rele-vance in our lives.

The students were enlightened about the declining number of vul-tures and how significant these scav-enging birds were in cleaning off the carcasses of animals and keeping the environment clean by preventing the growth of diseases from the decaying dead bodies of cattle. A small film on vultures and their breeding at the Vul-ture Care Breeding Centre, Pinjore, was shown to the students.

Bharti, a class 7th student, said the information and film on vultures had helped her in looking these creatures, which otherwise she found so wild and scary, from a new angle and appreciate their importance in cleaning the environment.

Self-Help Group (SHG) members who actively take interest in preserv-ing the environment and wildlife also participated in the nature camp. One of the group members, Sonia, who works as a beautician in Surajpur village of Panchkula, told Haryana Review that with the help of the Hary-ana Forest Department, a pedestal had been constructed in Thapli.

Every SHG takes turns and collects food like rice, chappatis and other eatables and place it there for animals to eat. Their motive is that no animal

should die of hunger. A member of another SHG, Kul-

winder Kaur revealed that this week it was their turn and every day they would leave about 7 kg of rice and oth-er things for animals to eat. “It is our small effort to preserve our animal wealth,” she said.

The World Wildlife Day gave every-one an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of fauna and flora and generate aware-ness on the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people. The day also reminded people of the urgent need to put up a fight against wildlife crime, which had wide-rang-ing environmental and social impacts.

SOCIAL PARTICIPATION “It is important for all sections of the society to come together and actively participate in the efforts of wildlife conservation,”said Dr Amarinder Kaur, APCCF and Chief Wildlife War-den, Haryana.

The day concluded with all the department officials, students and members of different self-help groups present there taking a pledge to follow Indian culture and tradition of ‘Live and let live’. g

Students attending the nature camp in Thapli

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201446 GUEST COLUMN

Amar Nath Wadehra & Randeep Wadehra

When India became independent, it had to face, among other per-

ils, the menace of various diseases. Poor medical infrastructure, lack of resources, poor literacy rates etc com-bined to make diseases like malaria, polio etc intractable. However, over a period, the country has managed to subdue and even eradicate most of these diseases.

However, as India progresses on the road to prosperity and modernity a new set of health-related challeng-es have cropped up. Broadly, these can be divided into two categories: Lifestyle-related ailments and pollu-tion-related ailments.

LIFESTYLEWith the passage of time, the phe-nomenal growth of urban mid-dle-classes has led to sedentary life-style and increased consumption of liquor, tobacco and fast foods among a vast section of the populace. Conse-quently, obesity-driven ailments like diabetes, cardiovascular problems etc are on the rise.

INDIA, WORLD’S DIABETES CAPITALIndia is home to the largest number of diabetics (about 62 million) in the world. This is the result of phenom-enal increase in calorie intake in ur-ban areas. Even the diet has changed. More and more people are consuming processed foods, which are rich in salt, sugar and carbohydrates.

Earlier the diet used to be simple and well-balanced since it used to con-sist chiefly of homemade food. Add to this the increased consumption of alcohol and bottled soft drinks and you realise the problem’s enormity. According to the World Health Statis-tics Report 2012, 11.1 per cent of the adult male population and 10.8 per cent of the female population have raised fasting blood glucose.

Globally, diabetes caused 4.6 million deaths in 2011. Diabetics and obese people are more prone to develop chronic liver disease that ultimately results in untimely and early death.

According to the National Family

Health is in your hands

In order to lead a healthy and happy life, all that you need to have is a disciplined life-

style, good habits and a clean environment

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 47GUEST COLUMN

Health Survey (NFHS-3) (2005-06), the latest available on record, 13 per cent of women and nine per cent of men in India are overweight or obese. Obesity increases the chance of other lifestyle diseases.

About 116.4 per 1,00,000 people in India die due to cerebro-vascular diseases. This is the direct conse-quence of sedentary lifestyle coupled with carbohydrate-rich diet. Lack of physical exercise only complicates the problem.

STRESS COULD BE FATALThanks to the hectic lifestyle, stress has become a great menace to the health and even life of people. Along with such diseases as hypertension, schizophrenia and diabetes, stress can also cause or exacerbate cancer according to some researchers. Stud-ies have shown the risk of getting cancer may increase due to long-term and high-level stress, which weakens the immune system.

The National Foundation for Can-cer Research has found that reducing one's stress level is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy life-style and preventing cancer. Reducing stress can also help cut down on other related unhealthy behaviors such as over-eating or frequent consumption of alcohol. One must try to avoid stress and consciously maintain healthy lifestyle that includes nutri-tious food and exercise.

POLLUTIONPollution has become all-pervading. Our air, water and earth have been polluted by all sorts of chemical and other pollutants. The main sources of pollution in India are: industrial waste; tobacco smoke; coal burning; acid rain; fumes from vehicles and other forms of con-sumption of hydrocarbons; power plants; aerosol sprays and CFC; garbage and noise pollution.

Various pollutants give rise to or exacerbate a wide range of diseas-es including asthma, tuberculosis, cancer, cholera, plague, typhoid, hepatitis, diarrohea etc. There is a

dire need for maintaining sanitation in all localities, whether these are urban or rural.

Moreover, industrial effluents should not be discharged into natural water bodies like rivers, lakes and canals. Garbage disposal should be organised on scientific lines. Al-though there are laws to regulate all these aspects of pollution control, their implementation leaves much to be desired.

We must realise that diseases do not harm merely an individual or a family but the entire nation as it results in loss of man days, which in turn causes loss in productivity and general efficiency. Therefore, along with the government agencies and NGOs, even individual citizens must become conscious of this problem and contribute their mite towards its resolution.

Noise pollution can be even worse as it causes neurological

and mental problems. Main sources of noise pollution are various forms of transports, machines, industrial buildings and the blaring speakers or the continuous honking, and poor urban planning.

High noise levels can also con-tribute to cardiovascular effects in humans, a rise in blood pressure, and an increase in stress and vasocon-striction, and an increased incidence of coronary artery disease. Human ear registers pain at 120 decibels and hearing damage begins at a much lower level, about 85 decibels.

CONCLUSIONThere is a need for all round improve-ment in lifestyle as well as environ-ment. This requires joint effort by the government as well as big corporate houses, NGOs and the common citi-zen. There is also a need for building not just proper infrastructure but also spread relevant knowledge. This will encourage cooperation from all concerned. In the process, we will have a healthier society. g

Amar Nath Wadehra is a writer and Randeep Wadehra is a poet and

columnist

n Never take up more work than you can cope with. Be sure to practice saying "no" and avoid over-committing. Do not be afraid to ask for help, and be sure to get a healthy amount of rest.

n As tempting as it may be, consuming large amounts of unhealthy foods can contribute to decreased energy levels. Try to choose alternative options like whole grains, fruits and vegetables filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants. Enjoy desserts but keep it in moderation.

n Nothing is going to be perfect. Relax and enjoy time with family.

n Exercise is not only a great way to stay fit and reduce your risk of getting cancer, but it increases your endorphin levels and help keep you stress-free.

n India is a young country where we are seeing an increasing number of lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, asthma, depression, neurological problem, cardiac problem. Physical activity has almost become zero. Unless physical activity is not given importance, students will be more inclined towards sedentary lifestyle.

Tips to reduce stress

WORLD HEALTH DAYfalls on April 7


Rajbir Deswal

There is an old story about the hill people in Himachal Pradesh

that they brought their cattle back home before the evening fell, in apprehension of the imminent rains. This they were able to ascertain after watching the ants return to their colonies before time, since they instinctively knew that it was about to rain. The hill people trusted what their forefathers had told them and were proven right every time.

FLORA AND FAUNA DECLININGBut this doesn’t happen anymore. Reason being neither the hill people now remember all that folk wisdom, in the onslaught of the so-called modernity robbing them of the cul-tural practices they carried out for centuries, nor is the fauna and flora the same, as it was years ago.

The modern day man has turned a blind eye to the concerns of envi-ronment. Undoubtedly he wants to eat up the earth and leave nothing for his progeny. Not only this, we are blissfully unaware of the climatic holocausts that have exposed our lives to catastrophes of the most dis-astrous magnitude, surely affecting not only the mankind but also the flora and fauna.

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first cele-brated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

Though Gaylord Nelson was the original founder of the Earth Day, it was Denis Hayes who took the

movement to 141 countries in 1990. Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mt Everest, led mountain-eers from the United States, Soviet Union, and China to the Everest. In addition to putting more than a dozen climbers on the summit, the expedition hauled off a large amount of trash left on the mountain by previous expeditions.

In a village called Salt Springs, an island in Canada, all residents live in an environment where there is almost no aberration or violation

of the rules of nature, whether it is agriculture, business or

even having painting studios. They don’t use chemical fertilisers rather all orchards proudly proclaim ‘Or-ganic’ and grow accordingly. They opposed the laying of an oil pipe line through their land. The residents

Time we felt the pain of MOTHER EARTH

EARTH DAYfalls on April 22

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 49GUEST COLUMN

have the courage to tell the tourists to avoid eating ‘those genetically-mod-ified potatoes’ called crisp or chips. There are small dairy and poultry farms with looms and pottery—all in their eco-friendly avatar. In the US, enthusiasts adopt highways to keep them clean and dirt-free.

Contrast this with our own coun-try. Do we despite a ban abstain from burning the stubble after the crops have been cut? Do we recycle carry bags? Do we care for water depletion? Do we say no to non-bio-degradable stuff in polyethylene etc? Do we stop mining? Do we adopt rotation-al cropping? Do we use compost manure in place of chemical fer-tilisers? Do we plant enough trees and stop their felling? Do we save electricity produced by hydroelectric projects? Do we manage our floods? Do we indulge in conventional ways of saving and storing water? Do we have appropriate solid waste man-

agement plans executed properly? Do we have covered excreta latrines and toilets? Do we reclaim land rendered infertile due to alkali using appro-priate techniques? Do our industries have enough effluent treating plants? The scenario is not only lacking in proper environmental concerns but is horridly shocking.

We need to address these concerns not only each Earth Day but every moment. Pollution of air, water and soil by chemical compounds takes many years to breakdown. Most of these chemicals are the bi-products of our modern lifestyle and created by industry and motor vehicles’ exhaust. The resultant depletion of the ozone layer is the mother of all concerns.

Since 1990, half the world’s rain forests have been destroyed. The world’s population has tripled during the past sixty years. The number of consumers of natural and manmade resources is increasing. Climate sci-

entists believe that human activity is affecting the climate change. Add to this the loss of bio-diversity. This ‘Sixth Extinction’ is going to affect the world for millions of years.

Every year, humans convert an estimated 120 million tons of nitrogen from the atmosphere into reactive forms such as nitrates, mainly in the production of nitrogen-based fertiliser for crops and in the use of food additives. This amounts to both, use and abuse. Nearly one-third of the human population has inadequate access to clean water. Over the last 250 years, surface acidity of the ocean has increased by an estimated 30 percent.

Conventional energy sources like fossil fuels, gas, crude oil and coal etc are being ruthlessly consumed car-ing two hoots for sustainable devel-opment. We don’t exploit the non-con-ventional energy sources in water, sun, geothermal and biogas. Our transportation system and industries are again biggest sources of creating an environmental imbalance. We do not cater to the concept of ‘Green Buildings’. There is need to address the use of solar energy and adopt what the National Solar Mission has to prescribe in this regard.

ECO CLUBSEco Clubs of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests envisage creating environmental awareness through seminars, lectures etc in schools besides organising field visits to environmentally-important sites. It mandates organising rallies, marches, human chains and street theatres at public places coupled with tree plantation besides encour-aging kitchen gardens. They propose constructing water-harvesting struc-tures and practising paper recycling. They also suggest mobilising support against disposal of hospital waste in unauthorised places.

Unfortunately, it leaves much to be desired in the implementation of the mandate of the ministry in this regard and more dedicated foot soldiers are required to carry the day and make the deliverables see the light of the day. g

The writer is an IPS officer ofHaryana cadre

Time we felt the pain of MOTHER EARTH

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201450 SPORTS

Saurabh Duggal

Of late, Haryana has emerged as the country’s sporting power-

house and extending its supremacy beyond the traditional strongholds of boxing and wrestling, the state is showing its dominance in shooting, particularly in the pistols events, too.

In the recently held 7th Asian Air Gun Championship held in Kuwait, the shooters hailing from the state contributed considerably in the country’s overall medal tally. Shweta Choudhary, Anmol Jain, Vishwajit Singh and Gauri Sheron clinched medals in their respective age catego-ries of the air pistol events.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEDALISTShweta Choudhary, who hails from Faridabad, won the team silver in the senior girls’ category of the 10m air pistol event. Shweta shoot 378 points out of best possible of 400 to finish individually fifth and teamed up with Heena Sidhu (386) and Harveen Sarao (374) to give India silver medal. India with a total score of 1138 was tied up with China, but on the basis of inner tens, China was ranked ahead of India. Chinese Taipei with 1134 was placed third.

The 28-year-old shooter is perhaps the first international medalist from the state. At the age of 17, she won the silver medal in the 2002 Manches-ter Commonwealth Games and since then she is regular in the national scene. Shweta also won the silver medal in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and has a number of international medals in her kitty.

“Today Haryana has become a force to reckon with in the sport of

Haryana shooters hit the bull's eye

Shweta, Anmol, Vishwajit, Gauri clinch medals in air pistol events

Shweta Choudhary

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 51SPORTS

shooting. There was a time when I used to be the only shooter from the state in the Indian team, but now you will find a number of Haryana shoot-ers in the Indian squad,” says Shweta.

Shweta is into the sport because of her father, who himself is a former national-level shooter. “My father is my driving force. He intro-duced me to the sport and whatever I have achieved today is all because of him,” she adds.

Taking inspiration from Shweta, many youngsters in her hometown, Faridabad, have taken up the sport. “The proximity to Karni Singh Shooting Range is an added advan-tage for the Faridabad shooters and this is one of the major reasons for the growing sport in the city,” says Shweta, who works with ONGC.

Another shooter from Faridabad, Anmol Jain, not only made it to the national squad, but also contributed in the medal tally. He was part of the three-member youth squad that

won the team bronze in the Asian meet. Indian team with the score of 1672/1800 won the bronze medal and Anmol shoot 558. The other two in the squad were Mohit Gour (565) and Mayank Pathak (549).

Anmol picked up the sport six years ago and Kuwait championship was his first international meet. He won the individual silver in the last year held national championship in New Delhi and the performance got him in the national squad.

GREAT EXPOSURE“Competing in international event for the first time was a great exposure for me. Though I had a better score in the national championship as com-pared to what I fired in Kuwait, I am happy that I was able to help my team win a medal. This performance will motivate me to win more and more international glories,” says Anmol.

“My next target is junior interna-tional championship in Suhl, Germa-ny in May. And hopefully I will make

it to the team during the trials going to be held next month,” he adds.

The other from the state who made it to the podium finish in the meet were the siblings from Panchkula, Gauri Sheron and Vishwajeet Sin-gh. Both Gauri and Vishwajit won medals in the air pistol events.

Gauri was part of the gold medal winning youth girls’ team, while Vishwajeet won team gold in the junior boys.

Gauri scored 375 out of 400 to con-tribute in the country’s overall score of 1137 points for the top honours. The other two shooters in the squad were Malaika Goel (385) and Yashas-wini (377).

Indian junior boys’ team scored 1687 out of 1800 for the gold medal. Vishwajeet (568), Vikas Dhama (562) and Karnav Bishnoi (557) were the team members of the gold medal winning squad. g

The writer is a senior sports journalist with Hindustan Times,

Chandigarh

Anmol Jain

HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 201452 ART AND CULTURE

Anjana Datta

In India, it is mostly the women who have kept the folk art tra-

ditions alive in the country. Folk art and craft, being a spontaneous expression of people, come natu-rally to them. They create their impressions in their work without losing contact with their age-old tra-ditions. And, by doing so, they get a sense of achievement and sublima-tion of their desires.

In Haryana, it’s a common sight to see rural women, pushing aside their mundane routine chores of everyday life for some time, in-dulging in projecting their skill in various arts and crafts. They just need something artistic to do. Most of them take to all kinds of needle-crafts and hand-crafts like embroidery, crochet, beadwork, mirrored mud sculpture.

To have a feel of the sheer beauty of embroidery, step in the house of Anju Bala, a housewife based in Bahadurgarh, whose whole house is draped with a wide range of exqui-site embroidered articles. There are

wall-hangings, toran, table-cloths, odhnis, shirts, dresses, bed-sheets and several other household linen used for various purposes – all displaying decorative, colourful and ornamental embroidery which are a feast to one’s eyes. Done with ex-treme care and fastidiousness with strict adherence to Haryanavi folk art tradition, each piece is very del-icate and very suggestive in design as well as in colours.

A DISTINCT ART“Embroidery is a distinct art. It gives the woman’s touch to a home,” remarks Anju. “The embroidering of beautiful handmade items like wall-hangings, cushion covers, tablecloths, pillow covers not only gives an ethnic look to your home but also shows off your stitching virtuosity in all your creations.” she adds.

Anju’s collection of embroidered articles, a work of concentrated care of several years, is extremely impressive. The crisp, soft and fine designs of her articles are expres-sive of her needlecraft and offer a

rich variety. Embellished with gotta and studded with mirrors, there is an orchestral blending of colours, design and style, serenity and rap-ture in each embroidered piece.

Intricate patterns of embroidery are done in running stitch, stem stitch, herring-bone stitch and zigzag stitch which look stunning and fascinating. Designs are mainly dominated by flowers, birds and animals in vivid bright colours. The motifs carry the eye smoothly

Exquisiteart of

embroidery

By Anju Suthar

53HARYANA REVIEW APRIL 2014 ART AND CULTURE

along the border and the individual details are interesting.

Another speciality of Anju’s works is that instead of using out-dated and oft-repeated patterns, she applies and adapts to the needs of modernity by introducing fresh ideas in order to break the monot-ony of the design without losing the traditional touch. According to her, no art can survive unless it is brought into the current stream of modern art.

“Embroidery is an art of leisure time. When I’ve nothing else to do, I just sit and fiddle with a needle and thread on one square millimetre of linen in the calm, cool privacy of my courtyard,” remarks Veena Phogat. “Focusing all my thoughts and ideas on that piece of cloth, I try to bring out something brilliant and exquisite. I love making em-broidered customary interior-dec-oration items like wall-hangings, cushion covers, tablecloths and lampshades for my house,” explains Veena.

A woman of aesthetic sense, Veena is a lecturer in Sanskrit at Maharani Kishori Kanya Ma-havidyala in Rohtak. Her love for embroidery started with one of her colleagues, Suman Singh, a lecturer in history, who had a great passion for this art. Veena was spurred on by her colleague to indulge in this indigenous craft.

While working on it, she gauged a great potential

of this craft in the haute couture market. She

conceived an idea to

teach this art to rural and illiterate women of the areas to empower them economically. She contacted a few rural women and started teach-ing them this simple craft during her leisure time.

Soon their number grew and the rural women showed their exper-tise in bead and mirror-work and embroidery. After assessing the quality of their work, Veena helped them in marketing their products. The artistes who find the experience exhilarating on the whole, are paid according to the work done by them.

“This financial security has helped restore the self-respect and dignity of these women within their families,” affirms Veena. “My en-deavour is not only to lend a helping hand to these artisans, but also to rejuvenate this traditional craft which has an heirloom quality,” she explains further.

“Besides, embroidery is a simple art. It’s easy to learn and a do-it-yourself craft. It doesn’t require any investment, only linen and a hand-ful of threads. It’s a sit-down work; one feels so comfortable and relaxed while doing it,” she adds.

TOUCH OF NOSTALGIA“There is a touch of nostalgia in this craft of embroidery,” exclaims Anju Suthar from Rekhachitra Academy of Arts, Panchkula. “Our mums and grandmums used to knit, embroider and crochet laces for something uniquely lovely and prac-tical items like a decorated tea-cosy, milk jug cover and tablecloths with love to bring the flavor of a more lei-sured era into the home,” she avers.

“Apart from giving an ethnic and classy look to the house, it also reflected their passion for art and aesthetics. Not only that, they would also give a unique gift item to their loved ones on various occasions by embroidering a name, date of birth and a lovely wish, along with tiny designs of the receiver on it which is now a reminder of the long-gone days when each piece of embroidery, whether a small handkerchief or a trousseau, were all masterpieces crafted by their hands,” she adds.

There is no doubt about the fact

that a gift made by hand is much more appealing than the one that has been purchased from the mar-ket. The finesse and the style of the design reflect the standard of the artisan’s expertise.

Over the years, the art of hand-made embroidery with its myriad aspects, has been passed down from generation to generation, from one craftsman to the next. Anju Bala learnt this art from her mother and is now teaching it to her daughter and other women of the adjoining areas.

“Embroidery has an important place both in the personal and domestic life of every individual. Apart from the lacy and embroi-dered pieces of tapestry as gift items or for home décor, fashion-conscious women are going in for embroidered dresses and ensembles for them-selves,” remarks Anju Bala.

“Imbibing ideas from old temple architecture, Indian motifs and designs, the designers are pleasing the picky buyers with their fabulous repertoire of exclusive richly-em-broidered ensembles in attractive designs and heavy work. Be it in silk, cotton or cotton-silk, these dresses are sure to stand out at every occasion,” she adds.

“Our heritage is our greatest leg-acy, filled with treasure of a bygone age. There is a need to bring this alluring heritage of the yesteryears to the woman of today, by making her a true princess in every sense of the word,” concludes Veena. g

The writer is a freelance journalist

By Anju Bala

By Veena Phogat

54 HARYANA REVIEW MARCH 2014POTPOURRI

If you want something in your life you’ve never had, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done."

- J D Houston

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

DO YOU

KNOW?

Man also goes through the cycle of second childhood

when he grows old. What pains me is that the current gener-ation has a care free attitude, and leaving their parents in not-so-good situation at home. Please remember that when one grows old the mental and physical capacities go down - here is when he/she needs help and hand holding. The present generation is leading a hi-fi life but never cares for the elderly parents who patiently wait for a few words from them - the parents live in solitude expecting someone to speak to them and make them feel hap-py and wanted in this world.

I have always come across people saying that its a head-

ache to take care of elders - I would think within myself - imagine if the same would have been thought by your par-ents when you were a kid.

Every month sending money from abroad or from the city that you live in, does not fulfill the void created by feeling lonely and wanting to be talked to, listened to, cared for. We have to make them feel that the world still wants you and is a better place to lead a life to the fullest. Stand beside your parents because they had a dream with you, they did so much for you. Most important what you are today is only for your parents not anyone else in the world. Look your par-ents with Love and care. g

LOVING OUR ELDERS

n India is the world's largest, oldest, and continuous civilisation

n India is the world's largest democracy

n Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software - a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987

n India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history

n India invented the number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta

n Chess (Shataranja) was invented in India

n India has the second largest pool of scientists and engineers in the world

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This too can happen!Photograph by Vinay Malik

a date with democracy -...

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