The Haryana Cabinet on Monday gave approval to the proposal of buying 10 more crops at the Minimum Support Price. This came a day after Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced at ‘Vijay Shankhnad’ rally in Kurukshetra that the State Government would buy all crops at MSP. Besides this, he had also announced waiving outstanding canal water irrigation charges. These announcements came ahead of the Haryana Assembly polls due later this year.
While interacting with the journalists after chairing a Cabinet meeting, Saini said the Cabinet has given its nod to the proposal of buying crops at the MSP. The State Government is already buying 14 crops at the MSP. 10 more crops, including ‘ragi’, soybean, ‘jowar’, and ‘moong’, will be bought by the State Government at the MSP. This move will boost crop diversification, he said. With this, the State Government will buy a total 24 crops in Haryana at the MSP. Haryana will become the first state in the country to buy all crops at the MSP, said Saini.
The Chief Minister further said that the objective of increasing the scope of MSP for these crops is to stabilize market prices, ensure constant income for farmers and promote the cultivation of diverse crops. This decision of the government will also promote crop diversification, he added.
Replying to a question, Saini asked the Punjab Government to buy some crops at the MSP. He also asked the Congress-ruled States of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka to purchase crops from farmers at the MSP. He further said the Cabinet also gave approval to the proposal of abolishing ‘abiana’ (canal water irrigation charges). With effect from April 1, 2024, ‘abiana’ will not be charged from farmers. This move will benefit farmers to the tune of Rs 54 crore per year, he said. Notices for collection of ‘abiana’, which were issued after April 1, 2024, will be withdrawn, Saini had said on Sunday, adding if any farmer has paid the charges after April 1, then that amount will be refunded.
Approves Haryana Agniveer Policy, 2024 to provide employment & entrepreneurship opportunities
The Cabinet has also approved the Haryana Agniveer Policy, 2024, which aims to provide comprehensive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to Agniveers after their completion of service in the Armed Forces. The Haryana Agniveer Policy, 2024, offers significant benefits in government recruitment, including a 10% horizontal reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment for positions such as Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Guard, Prison Warder, and SPOs. The Agniveer shall be exempted from the written exam in case of these posts. Apart from this, there will be a 5% horizontal reservation for Group C civil posts and a 1% horizontal reservation for Group B posts related to the Agniveers' skill specializations. The policy also includes age relaxation of three years for Group B and C posts, with a five-year age relaxation for the first batch of Agniveers. Furthermore, Agniveers will be exempted from the Common Eligibility Test requirement for Group C posts. They shall be exempt from both written test and skill test in case they have been awarded the requisite skill certificate.
For self-employment and entrepreneurship, the policy provides a subsidy of Rs. 60,000 annually to industries employing Agniveers, provided they are paid a salary exceeding Rs. 30,000 per month, including the subsidy amount. Agniveers will receive priority for gun licenses provided they fulfil conditions set out in Arms Act, preference in deployment through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited (HKRNL), and interest-free loans for up to three years for principal amount up to Rs. 5 lakhs to start their own businesses.
The Cabinet has approved significant amendments in the policy of ‘Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana’ (MMSAY). This amendment aimed at addressing the housing needs of urban families with an annual income up to Rs. 1.80 lakhs as verified by the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP).
The Cabinet has approved the Haryana Registered Vehicle Scrappage and Recycling Facility Incentive Policy 2024. Recognizing the growing emphasis on minimizing the use of non-renewable resources in the automotive industry, the new policy aims to significantly enhance the sector's circularity.
Backward Class-B to get Reservations for Municipalities and PRIs
For the upliftment of Backward Classes and promote their participation in the democratic process, the Cabinet has decided to give reservations for Backward Classes of Citizens Block B (Schedule-II) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Municipalities across the state. The reservation for Backward Classes Block-B will be implemented based on the recommendations of the Haryana Backward Classes Commission. Presently the BC-A population in the state is 18.93 percent and the BC-B population in the state is 15.05 percent. The Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to criteria for exclusion of persons within the Backward classes from Creamy Layer in Haryana State. As per the announcement of the Chief Minister, the annual income limit of creamy layer of backward classes in the state has been increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh and the criteria for assessment will be in accordance with Central Government norms. The notification was issued by the State Government on July 16, 2024.
Haryana set to bring Ordinance to amend Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014
The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Amendment Ordinance, 2024 to amend the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014. As per the proposed draft ordinance, now the Chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission shall be Judge of High Court, if so appointed, and if a judge of the High Court is not appointed, then the District Judge if so appointed and if the District Judge is also not appointed, the one of the three selected members of the Commission shall be the Chairman in the order of their seniority either in service or at Bar, as the case may be and the term of the Chairman or the Member shall be five years from the date he assumes charge. The Cabinet has also approved the revision of pension/family pension (Pre-2016 and Post- 2016) of Retired Judicial Officers of Government of Haryana as per Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC).