Second -time MLA from Nalwa, Ranbir Gangwa who is a Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, termed unemployment in the State as a major challenge, but said his government is taking steps to overcome the problem.
He says that the ground water in most of the areas in Nalwa constituency is salty. People are facing here problems of drinking water as well as irrigation water. The State government is working on effectively to provide drinking water to the people and irrigation water to farmers in Nalwa Constituency.
The 56- year- old Gangwa who was elected for Rajya Sabha on Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket from 2010 to 2014 joined the BJP in March, shortly before the Lok Sabha election-2019. He has been representing the Nalwa Chaudhry seat which is a part of Hisar Lok Sabha constituency since 2014 and defeated Randhir Panihar of Congress in 2019 Assembly election.
In an interview with The Pioneer, Gangwa reveals his political journey and priorities as an MLA and Deputy Speaker. Excerpts from the interview:
How did you feel when you were elected as Deputy Speaker unanimously?
I feel proud that the House entrusted me with the responsibility. For this, I thank Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and party high command and the voters of my Nalwa constituency.
How did you come in politics?
I was not having any political background when I joined politics. I left my graduation due to financial constraints and got involved in farming activities. I had never thought of joining politics during my college life. Along with agriculture, I was involved in social activities in my village having population of around 8,000. There was an election of district panchayat member. No one had filed nomination from my village. As I was involved in social activities so my friends and villagers asked me to contest. Without joining any party, I contested election and won the election of district panchayat member as an independent candidate. Later I joined INLD in 2000.
How has your political journey been so far?
I was a great admirer of former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhari Devi Lal and followed him since College time. After winning election of district panchayat member as an independent candidate, I was offered to join the party by the leaders of different political parties. But I chose to join INLD. Later, I was made backward class INLD district president. I contested Assembly election on INLD ticket in 2009 but lost. In June 2010, I was made Rajya Sabha member from INLD. Being a Rajya Sabha member, I contested election on INLD ticket in 2014 and won the election by defeating Chandra Mohan of Haryana Janhit Party. In 2019, I contested election on BJP ticket and won the election and I am now serving the people as Deputy Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha in the State.
INLD had sent you in the Rajya Sabha after you lost the Assembly election in 2009. Why did you quit INLD? Do you think you betrayed the party (INLD) by joining BJP?
Being a true solider of the party (INLD), I tried a lot to unite the Chautala family but failed to do so. I met closed family members and party office bearers on several occasions to resolve the differences in the family and the party. Under such circumstances, I had no option but to take a big decision. I met people from my constituency, friends and relatives and with their decision, I joined BJP.
Congress MLAs say they are facing difficulties to address people’s concern. For the development of the Constituency, there is no provision of MLA local area development fund for MLAs in Haryana. You may be facing same problem. What do you say?
On developmental front, there is no shortage of funds in the State. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently asked all the MLAs to send a list of proposed development works in their Assembly constituencies through Deputy Commissioner (DCs). As per the state government’s decision, development works worth Rs 5 crore are to be carried out in each constituency as per MLAs’ proposal in the financial year.
What are the issues in your Constituency? How will you address?
Farmers in my constituency face shortage of irrigation water. We have met the chief minister and raised this issue. To complete the work related to roads, school buildings, community centres among others, there is no shortage of funds in the State for the development of the constituency. I will soon send developmental projects of the Constituency at CMO for its completion.
You were earlier in INLD and now in BJP. Opposition says BJP and JJP fought election against each other and now they have formed the coalition government. Do you think this government will complete its five year tenure?
BJP-JJP coalition government is stable and will complete its five year term. This government is working to eliminate corruption. Competitive examinations are being conducted locally and free and fair in the State. Transparency is being maintained in government jobs and people have liked it. There is no threat to this coalition and will complete its five year term.
Being a deputy Speaker, what are your priorities?
It is honour for me to become deputy speaker of the Assembly. I will keep interest of all legislators irrespective of parties they belong to. I will not make any discrimination for any MLAs to give chance to speak or raise the issue. I only appeal to legislators to raise issue based discussion as well as people’s pertinent issues at the forum of Vidhan Sabha.
What are the issues people raise before you as an MLA?
It is public perception that welfare schemes are being launched by the governments but not being executed effectively. People are also raising the same issue. All government benefits must reach the last person in the queue and I will continue to work in this direction.
You must have made promises during Assembly elections for your constituency. What are priorities for your constituency?
The officers have been directed to speed up the completion of the ongoing development works for the betterment of the people. Instructions have also been given to the officers to ensure that all the public related complaints are taken seriously heard apart from taking necessary actions. There has been shortage of teachers and doctors in my constituency. We would like to provide adequate teachers in government schools and doctors in primary health centres and other hospitals.
Unemployment is a big issue. What are steps your government being taken to create employment?
It is true that youth are struggling to get jobs. People of my constituency are asking for jobs. Unemployment is a major challenge. But the government is taking many steps to tide over the challenge. The private sector is being encouraged to invest in the state and entrepreneurship is being promoted among the youth to generate more job avenues. Moreover, vacant posts in the government departments are being filled transparently with new appointments. To ensure ‘equal distribution' of government jobs, this government is giving 5 per cent extra marks to candidates if no member of their family is in a government job. Priority is being given to those areas which increase employment avenues.
Many areas of the State especially sharing boundary with Rajasthan are facing with shortage of water for drinking purpose and for irrigation. What do you have planned for this?
Many areas of my constituency share boundary with Rajasthan. People here get salty ground water. In the constituency people are also facing problems of drinking water and irrigation water. I would like to work on providing drinking water and irrigation water to farmers adequately. For this I met the Chief Minister and this issue will be addressed on priority basis.