Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that a 5-member committee will be formed under the chairmanship of School Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar, which will investigate the sexual harassment incidents in schools from year 2005 to 2023. 

While interacting with media persons after the winter session of the Haryana Assembly in Chandigarh, Khattar said that earlier the House had agreed to get the investigation done by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the Jind school harassment case but some members said that the issue of the Assembly should remain in the Assembly, hence a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee was held again and decided that a 5-member committee will investigate the issue.

The Chief Minister further said that thoughtful and constructive issues were discussed in the 3-day winter session. 157 questions were asked, out of which 60 were starred questions. 62 calling attention proposals were received, which were compiled into 13 due to the same topic.

Khattar also mentioned the establishment of the Foreign Cooperation Department to deter the illegal migration of Haryana's youth. Through this department, efforts are made to skill the youth and provide employment opportunities abroad. Notably, Israel has requested 10,000 skilled workers, and there are demands for 40 from Dubai and 120 from the UK. The state government has issued an advertisement in this regard.

In response to the query about the state song, the Chief Minister informed the formation of a 5-member committee led by MLA Laxman Singh Yadav. The names for the committee are to be approved by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta. Notably, 14 states in the country have already adopted songs for their respective states. A conclusive decision on the state song for Haryana is anticipated during the upcoming budget session.

The Chief Minister said that Rajya Sabha MP and BJP National President JP Nadda will participate in the ongoing International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra on December 21 and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will participate on December 22. Later Shah will also participate in the programme in Chandigarh. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will attend the closing day on December 23, Khattar added.

He further informed that on December 28, 2023, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will hold a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana regarding the SYL issue.

Govt to soon start recruitment process for 63,000 posts

Khattar, while speaking during the concluding day of the winter session of the State Vidhan Sabha, said that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has vacated the stay on the examinations of other groups of the CET, excluding 56 and 57 groups. The state government will soon commence the recruitment process for 63,000 posts, he added. Khattar further informed that Haryana has been awarded the 'Best Performing State' across the nation for the events organized in memory of the martyrs during the celebrations of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Around 31,000 programmess were organized in the State, he said.

MLAs can’t call meeting of officers

Khattar said that members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) do not have executive powers and cannot officially summon a meeting of officers. However, being elected public representatives, the MLAs can seek information about development projects from officers. The chief minister said this while responding to a question by Rohtak Congress MLA BB Batra during zero hour. Batra was referring to an August 25 communication by the chief secretary’s office. Khattar said that MLAs can visit government offices and obtain information about development projects in their area from officers. They will also be able to call officers to the rest house to discuss development issues. However, they cannot call a meeting of officers or chair open darbars.

Unemployment rate in Haryana remained at 5.2 percent from July to September 2023

The Chief Minister while informing the House about the unemployment figures in the state said that according to the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) report, the unemployment rate in Haryana during July-September 2023 was 5.2 percent, while the national level figure is 6.6 percent. He further informed that during the same period, the unemployment rate in neighboring states was 14.5 percent in Himachal Pradesh, 8.8 percent in Punjab, and 12 percent in Rajasthan. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of happiness for us that our government has been successful in reducing the state’s unemployment rate.