Om Prakash Dhankar, Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Fisheries, Development of Panchayats and Irrigation in the Bharatiya Janata Party- led Government in Haryana says the State is moving fast towards providing good governance to the people of the State and development has been taken place at a rapid pace. He points out that not a single case of corruption has been reported. He said 50 percent of the total agriculture cost has been given to the farmers as a profit by the BJP-led State government. After the formation of the BJP Government in Haryana, the income of the farmers increased by 16,000 per acre. "The state government is currently engaged in promoting farmers towards horticulture, floriculture, poultry fishery, animal husbandry and others to increase the income of the farmers. Farmers in the state are risk free as they were being adequately compensated of their crop loss due to natural calamities such as hailstorms, water logging, drain overflow, fire among others,” he said.
Dhankar holds 18 departments at present and is considered to be very close to BJP’s high command. During Jhajjar Lok Sabha rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reportedly called OP Dhankhar as his close confidant and dedicated political leader who has effortlessly worked for last 30 years. He has also been made the national coordinator for the Narendra Modi’s dream project- ‘Statue of Unity’ Iron Collection Corporation Committee.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Dhankar reveals his major work and achievements as a Cabinet Minister in the State. He also reveals his political journey as well as his strategy for the upcoming assembly polls. Excerpts from the interview:
You had started your career as a Geography lecturer in a School, Bhiwani. How did you enter into politics? How has been your political journey so far?
I was born in August 1, 1961 in Village Dhakla, Jhajjar district of Haryana. After getting elementary education from my native place, I completed Master and MEd from the Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Since my school days, I wished to become a Journalist or a Politician. First, I wrote news articles for many newspapers and later worked as a Geography lecturer at a School, Bhiwani for 11 years. I published a book on analysis of education sector, with views on education reforms and issues concerning student lives. I have been associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1978 as a Swayamsevak. I was driven by a mission and zeal to work for social causes and issues affecting youth. I worked for Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from 1980 to 1996. After eighteen years of association with RSS and ABVP, I joined BJP in 1996. I held key positions such as State General Secretary, State President, National Secretary, and National President in various BJP and its affiliate organisations. I performed duties as a national secretary during Vajpayee era. I was part of various socio-political movements and worked for youth affairs concerning systemic change in education sector. I joined Swadeshi Jagaran Manch movement. To establish my credentials as a keen observer of life and dynamics of a civilised society, I delivered a rendition on Emotions Management. I was elected twice as BJP Kisan Morcha, President (2011-2013) and (2013-2015). I was Pradesh Prabhari for Himachal Pradesh and greatly contributed to BJP government formation in the hilly state. I have held various padayatras and cycle yatras to agitate and protest against meager compensation and arbitrary land acquisition for Special Economic Zone. Now I am serving the people of the State as cabinet minister.
How do you assess your government's performance in five years?
The BJP -led State Government has succeeded in providing corruption free government in five years. The state is moving fast towards providing good governance to the people of the State. Concerns of people are being addressed within stipulated time. More than 400 services of 37 Government Departments are now being provided at the Antyodaya Saral Kendras in Haryana. These Kendras have proved to be a milestone in providing the benefits of government schemes and services to people in a time bound manner and to simplify the work. Most of promises made by the party in the manifesto of 2014 assembly election have been fulfilled. There are several works like empowering panchayat financially, ‘padha likha panchayats’ among others, which were not the part of election manifesto of 2014, has been also completed.
What is BJP's vision document? Why do you need to draft it now when Assembly election is approaching nearer?
We will make Haryana exactly as the people of the state want. The vision document is a roadmap of the development for the next five years in the state, which will be prepared on the basis of public needs and their expectations. The objective of vision document was to seek suggestions from people about ‘Hamare Sapnao ka Haryana’ which will be incorporated in the Vision Document and that will be the part of party’s election manifesto for the Assembly election. To make its Vision Document all inclusive, the help of social networking sites was taken and also launched a website, facebook page, twitter account and instagram. Till August 14, more than 19, 000 intellectuals, industrialists, farmers, youths and others from various fields have sent their suggestions to include it in the vision document. The party will prepare its manifesto for the assembly elections on the basis of people’s expectations.
Has the farmers' condition in Haryana improved in the last five years? What are the steps you have taken to redress farmers’ concerns?
I got elected as National President of BJP’s Kisan Morcha twice in a row. As national president of BJP’s Kisan Morcha, I worked and raised a range of issues namely Land Acquisition, Pesticide Management, Farmer’s suicide, Farming Reforms. Swaminathan Report Implementation among others. I played a key role in bringing about a Land Acquisition Handbook which addresses issues of farmers and industry alike by allowing enough opportunity for industrial growth. 50 percent of the total agriculture cost was being given to the farmers as a profit by the BJP-led state government. Moreover, as we have surplus production of agriculture products like rice, pulse, wheat and others in the State and across the country so focus is laid on quality of food products and increasing farmer’s income through various methods. As many as 89, 171 farmers filed their claims under the localised calamity of PMFBY during kharif 2017 to Kharif 2018. An amount of Rs 133.6 crore was settled as claim of 58463 farmers.
Increase in minimum support price (MSP) of crops as approved by the Central Government would benefit the paddy farmers of Haryana with Rs 6,000 per acre, cotton farmers with Rs 8,000 per acre and bajra farmers with Rs 7800 per acre. Due to the increase in MSP, Haryana would get Rs 1500 crore which includes Rs 1200 crore for paddy and Rs 300 crore for other crops. The government has imparted three-level and five-level pond system for the treatment of water of rural ponds which would be implemented in a phased manner. The treated water thus could be used for irrigation and other purposes.
You had lost election of Rohtak Parliamentary from Congress party candidate Deepender Hooda in 2014. But you had won the Assembly election from Badali. Tell me the name of the constituency you are going to contest Assembly election? Are you confident of winning the Assembly election 2019?
I have been involved in social works effortlessly for last 30 years. In 2014, I contested from Rohtak Parliamentary constituency against Deepender Singh Hooda, son of former Chief Minister, Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda. I finished second with 319436 votes (31 per cent) and the Indian National Lok Dal candidate finished a poor third. I successfully contested as BJP’s candidate from Badali constituency (by garnering 36.48 per cent of total polled votes) in the 2014 Haryana Legislative Assembly election. I am working hard for the betterment of the people of my constituency and the state. Party will decide from which constituency I would contest election.
Your party has set target of winning more than 75 + seats in the upcoming assembly election. Your comment
For a healthy democracy, opposition parties should be strong. Unfortunately, big parties like Congress and INLD in the state are struggling due to leadership crisis. Their leaders are hungry of power and fighting themselves. Current BJP- led Government has provided corruption free governance in the last five years. BJP’s agenda is only development of the people. Party has set the target of 75+ and we are working effectively to achieve it. We are confident of forming government in the state with full majority.
What is Seven- star rainbow scheme? What are its benefits for village panchayats?
7-Star Rainbow scheme which was launched to connect the Gram Panchayats with social causes has borne fruits. Under this, 3930 Gram Panchayats (GPs) out of 6,167 GPs, which is 63 per cent have successfully achieved star rating from 1 to 6 star. Last year, 1,122 Gram Panchayats had achieved the Star ratings under the scheme, which was just 18 per cent and it has increased to 63 per cent, this year. 20 GPs which have achieved 6-Star Rating and 58 GPs which have achieved 5-Star Rating and four districts of Rohtak division namely Rohtak, Jhajjar, Charkhi-Dadri and Bhiwani for achieving 4 to 1-Star felicitated. This year, all Star GPs would be given away awards worth of Rs 84 crore, whereas last year, awards worth Rs 21 crore were given away last year.
Under the scheme, seven social parameters under which village panchayats judged are sex ratio, education, hygiene, environment preservation, governance and social participation. Gram panchayats scoring maximum in all parameters are recognised as Indradhanush GramPanchayats. They get special grants for development works from Development and Panchayats Department of the State Government depending upon their performance. Villages winning six stats are be entitled to get additional developmental works worth Rs 20 lakh. It is a matter of great pride for Haryana that Andhra Pradesh has adopted its Star rating system and Himachal Pradesh has adopted the Gram Gaurav Patt. In about 3500 villages, Gaurav Patts have been installed. Inter-District Parishad has been constituted for decentralization of power.
What are the other achievements of your departments in five years?
Keeping in view of the success of Haryana’s peri-Agriculture concept in Delhi and NCR area, Russia has sought cooperation from Haryana to poultry and fisheries sector. A cell was received from the central government to provide cooperation to Russia and for this purpose I have recommended the names of four persons who did excellent work in poultry and fisheries sector.