Karan Dev Kamboj, Haryana minister of state for Food and Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs says the current BJP- led State Government under the leadership of Manohar Lal Khattar is working to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister said, “By following the footsteps of my father late Shardha Nand, who had occupied many positions in Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh (RSS) in Yamunanagar district, I joined RSS and later after passing out Class XII standard joined ABVP and then BJP.”
The Minister says that 94 per cent of the complaints pertaining to the Department received at Chief Minister (CM) window have been disposed off.
Any person can get information related to ration cards through Saral Portal saralharyana.gov.in, CSC, e-Disha and Atal Sewa Kendras. He says welfare schemes being launched by the Central Government and State Government for the people are being executed transparently and effectively.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Kamboj reveals his major achievements as a minister in Haryana. He also tells his political journey as well as his plan for the upcoming assembly polls. Excerpts.
What motivates you to choose politics as a career? Did you think of becoming MLA in your maiden assembly election 2014?
Since childhood, I followed my father who was had various positions in RSS in Yamunanagar district. By following his footsteps I joined RSS and then BJP. I have completed law from Jain College, Sharanpur, Kurukshetra University and have completed MA in Political Science. I had also attended two year’s training course conducted by RSS in Delhi and Ambala in the year 1979 and 1982 respectively. I learnt that RSS has space for all. I served as president of Kisan Club, Yamunanagar for 8 years. After winning election, I was made state minister with portfolios- Food and Supplies, Transport, Tourism, Hospitality.
Later I was assigned department of Food and Civil Supply with independent charge. I work to make everybody have an equal opportunity in each field.
In 2014, the BJP high command had given me ticket from Indri Vidhan Sabha constituency. Initialy, I was doubtful of winning the election but won by 21881 votes. This happened due to the wave in favour of BJP and PM Modi in 2014.
What are the major work and achievements in five years of your tenure as a Minister in Haryana?
Haryana is the first State in the country to become ‘Kerosene Mukt, LPG Yukt’ under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana under which 5.12 lakh gas connections have so far been issued to people of the state at a cost of Rs 81.89 crore.
The Government has been providing one kg sugar at Rs 13.50 per kg and two litres of mustard oil at Rs 20 per litre every month to about 11.33 lakh BPL and AAY families in the state. After the
implementation of National Food Security Scheme, the number of beneficiaries has reached 1.37 crore in the State.
Large number of fake ration cards made during previous Governments was cancelled after conducting thorough verification. To ensure providing timely ration to consumers in the state, they have been linked with Aadhaar which has resulted in ousting of 25 lakh fake beneficiaries that has saved Rs 400 crore annually to the State exchequer.
At present 9353 ration depots are functional in the State and POS machines have been installed at these depots. The present Government has taken significant step of full automation of department under which beneficiaries and depot holders get SMS of challan generation right from truck carrying ration from godown and upto delivery. Ration was being provided to beneficiaries through biometric.
If beneficiaries face any inconvenience in getting ration from one shop, they have been given the facility of portability of their ration depots.
Around 20 per cent beneficiaries have availed benefit of portability so far. Apart from this, if any person is unable to visit ration shop, the beneficiary has the right to send his certified representative.
After winning assembly election, what were your priorities? Whether your Government has fulfilled the promises made during the Assembly election-2014? Your comment.
The successful implementation of portability in Haryana was one of the big achievements of the BJP led- Government. After assuming charge of food and civil supply, my first priority was to provide food to all the people of the state.
Ration is being provided to the card holders on time. Haryana has sufficient food stocks and no one including those have migrated from their native place and settled in Haryana, sleeps without food. Sufficient and nutritious food grains are being provided under various schemes being operational in the State for the weaker sections of the society. Almost all the promises made in the assembly election were fulfilled.
You had introduced fortified flour distribution scheme in two districts. Whether your department has been able to implement this scheme successfully? Please elaborate.
Fortified flour distribution scheme which is being implemented in Ambala and Karnal districts on pilot project basis since February this year, will be rolled out in more districts in Haryana after successful execution. Fortified flour is good for children and expecting mothers.
The consumption of fortified flour also helps in reducing anaemia and brings down maternal and infant mortality rates. Some complaints were received regarding this scheme.
Taking note of it, the food and civil supply officers have been asked to review the scheme and quality of fortified flour being provided to the beneficiaries under National Food Security Act. Once this fortification programme has been successfully implemented in Ambala and Karnal, it will soon be rolled out in the rest of 20 districts of the state.
What are the major steps you have taken to save food grains from rotting owing to rain?
During the tenure of previous Governments, it was learnt that tonnes of wheat, rice and other food grains being stored in the open in various parts of the State, got damaged and rotted owing to rains.
Under BJP- led Government in the State, no such report has come from any part of the State. After assuming charge, I have taken several measures and a proper arrangement has been made to preserve or store the food grains in the State. The officers have been strictly directed to ensure that food grains are not get rotted at any cost.
What are the future plans in Food and Civil supply department?
The Government will procure bajra and other food grains at minimum support price from the farmers on time. The food grains will be distributed to the consumers under public distribution system (PDS).
The procurement of bajra was introduced in the state during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003. It was stopped in 2012 during the UPA regime. The present Central Government again started procurement of bajra in 2015. Moreover, CNG gas will be provided to vehicles as it has started on national and State highways now.
I have planned to provide tea, gram masala, iodine salts through public distribution system to the intended beneficiaries. Gas is being supplied through pipes in Gurugram and Faridabad and now it will be implemented in Karnal and Yamunanagar.
You are vocal on reservation policy. Is it time to review India’s reservation policy? Please comment
Many people are having different opinions over this issue. But I believe that caste should not be made the only criteria to give reservation for admission in colleges and universities and in Government jobs.
Reservation should be implemented based on economic status of the people also. Time has come to review reservation policy.
Time limit should be fixed for giving reservation to people of different categories. Moreover, all should work together for the upliftment of the people belonging to SC/ST.
Your party has set a target of 75+ seats. How will you achieve the set target?
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state is on the path of fast progress. The BJP-led Government in the state has succeeded in meeting people’s expectation which was reflected in Parliamentary election. In my constituency, Indri, lot of work has been done for the betterment of the people of the constituency in the last five years.
Though the party high command will decide from where I will contest election, now I do not have any problems contesting from Indri. I am confident of winning the election from Indri.
All party members are confident of achieving the set target of 75+. Moreover, due to involvement of their leaders in corruption, the opposition parties have lost people’s faith.
They have nothing to do with the concerns of the people. In BJP, we all are working selflessly for the betterment of the people.
The party will conveniently form the Government in the State by winning majority of the seats in Assembly polls.