While giving a bonanza to the labourers in the State on the occasion of Haryana Day on Sunday, Haryana Government has increased the monthly minimum wages of unskilled labourers from `5,900 to `7,600 and that of skilled labourers from `6,536 to `9,699.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal while addressing the gathering at a function organised in Yamunanagar on Sunday said that the State Social Welfare Department would set up its centres at block and sub-divisional level so that the people do not have to visit the district headquarters to get themselves, enrolled for various social security pension schemes.
While greeting the people of the State on the occasion of ‘Haryana Day’ on November 1, the Chief Minister announced that a new scheme of social audit would be implemented at village level to ensure transparency in the development works and keep a check on corruption.
Under the Social Audit Scheme, village level Social Audit Committees would be set up in the State. He said that payment of only those bills would be made which would be approved by these committees. This system would help in eradicating the menace of corruption and discourage the commission agents.
He said that the State Government is committed towards the welfare of Government employees and their salaries would be increased.
The Chief Minister said that during the previous Government, the beneficiaries of various social security pensions did not get their pension on time. During an audit in Karnal alone, a scam of `5 crore in the distribution of old age allowance had been unearthed.
He said that in order to streamline the pension distribution system, the present State Government has decided to disburse the social security pensions through banks and post offices and in some cases through Business Correspondents of banks. This would save `24 crore of the Government at the rate of `1,200 per month. A survey has been conducted in which about two lakh accounts in the State have been found to be fake.
Conceding almost all the demands of Yamunanagar MlA, Ghanshyam Dass Arora, the Chief Minister announced a slew of incentives to the tune of `129 crore for the people of Yamunanagar assembly constituency. These include construction of an underpass from Kail to Kalanaur at a cost of `15 crore, construction of bypass from village Fatehpur to Yamunanagar at a cost of `20 crore, extension of Kail-Chachrauli road alongwith Dadupur Nalvi at a cost of ` 16 crore, `20 crore for the building of Municipal Corporation among other projects.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also announced that a memorial of Banda Bairagi would be constructed at village lohgarh near Bhagwanpur. Besides, Adi Badri, the origin point of sacred river Saraswati would be developed as huge centre of cultural tourism.
He said that the State Government has prepared a comprehensive plan for the development of Shivalik foothills which have abundance of natural resources. If these resources are exploited properly, districts Yamunanagar, Ambala and Panchkula would benefit greatly terms of tourism and generation of employment opportunities for the local youth.
He said to ensure the optimum utilization of water during the rainy season, the Departments of Forest and Irrigation have been asked to prepare a plan to store water at the Shivalik foothills by constructing check dams so that the stored water could be utilized for irrigation purposes.
While giving assurance to the sugarcane growers in the State, he said that sugarcane of each and every farmer would be purchased. The Saraswati Sugar Mill, Yamunanagar would be operational from December 1.
Congratulating the people of the state on the occasion of Haryana Day, the Chief Minister said that from today we are entering into the 50th year of the state’s existence and the State Government has decided to observe this year as the Golden Jubilee year. With the end of this golden jubilee year on November 1, 2016, the present State Government would be completing its second year in the office, he added.
On the occasion, he also listed various welfare and developmental schemes launched by the government during its first year.