Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Friday announced to revise the honorarium being given to members, vice-chairmen and chairmen of panchayat samitis and zila parishads in the State.
The Chief Minister while speaking at the State level oath taking ceremony of newly elected members of zila parishads and panchayat samitis in Karnal said that honorarium of member panchayat samiti has been increased from Rs 1250 to Rs 1600 per month. Similarly, the honorarium of vice-chairman, panchayat samiti has been increased from Rs 2500 to Rs 3500 and that of chairman from Rs 6000 to Rs 7500.
He said that the honorarium being given to member zila parishad has been increased from Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 per month, that of vice-chairman from Rs 6000 to Rs 7500 and of chairman from Rs 7500 to Rs 10,000 per month.
The elections to PRIs concluded peacefully in the state and many candidates had contested election for the first time. This time, 56 per cent candidates were elected unanimously, said the Chief Minister.
He said that as per the State Government’s announcement, a sum of Rs 210 crore would be given away to the unanimously elected panchayats.
Manohar lal said that even he himself had contested elections for the first time and won. He said that today he and the newly elected representatives were all standing at the same platform. Those who get elected for the first time have to face many difficulties, therefore, they all should gear up to face the challenges.
He assured that the State Government would play its role in development of the state and urged them to play their role with dedication. The State Government has been working with the slogan of ‘Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek’ for the all round development of the state and urged the newly elected representatives to work under slogan of ‘Gaon Ek-Gaonwasi Ek’, added he.
The Chief Minister said that if the Central Government passes any Bill regarding putting such condition of educational qualification for contesting Vidhan Sabha and lok Sabha elections, Haryana would support it.
The Supreme Court had also upheld the condition of educational qualification and other conditions for contesting elections to PRIs which has helped in bringing candidates with clean image for contesting elections. This step has not only been appreciated in the country, but in other countries also, he added.
He administered oath to all members of zila parishads and panchayat Samitis and urged them to act as role models because whatever they will do, people would follow. He also urged them to make the state an ideal state so as to carve a niche for it in the entire world.
Manohar lal asked them to think of other sources of generating income apart from the Government funds and make proper utilization of sources available with the panchayats. He said that social audit system would be implemented in villages by constituting a committee of five to 11 members to monitor the development works.
Speaking at the oath ceremony, Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister, OP Dhankar said that after introducing the new law, there has been a great change in results of elections to PRIs as more than 10 per cent of women, candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes have been elected against the reserved seats.
He said that this time, daughters of 333 villages have also been elected in the election which is a matter of great pride for the state. This time the average age of elected representatives was between 34 and 36 years, he added.
The Minister also urged the newly elected representatives to publicise the crops insurance and life insurance schemes among masses. Dhankar announced that the State Government would give the responsibility of setting up Gau Abhyaranyas to the Zila Parishads.