Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced extension of payment of all outstanding dues as on March 15 towards all Departments, Boards, Corporations and Authorities of the State Government till May 15.
In a series of concessions, Khattar also announced 50 per cent waiver of interest on all such dues and waiver of rent on buildings and shops belonging to Government, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies for this period, 25 per cent waiver of fixed charges for industrial and commercial electricity consumers, treatment of this period as frozen period in all government contracts and a life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh for various employees working in the containment zones and for all accredited and recognized journalists in the State upto June 30.
The Chief Minister also clarified that the benefit of life cover of Rs 50 lakh against Covid-19 announced by the Government of India will be given to all doctors, nurses and group C and group D employees posted in Covid isolation wards, Covid ICU and Covid OTs across the State.
After addressing the people of the state during the 'Haryana Aaj' program here, Khattar appreciated media persons' passion for reporting factual information to the common man in this hour of crisis. He said that all the media persons, whether accredited or recognized, shall be given the benefit of the life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh against Covid-19 upto June 30.
He said all government employees working in containment zones including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, police personnel and sanitation workers will also be provided a life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh till June 30.
Khattar said all registered farmers, arhtiyas, labourers and employees whether regular, part-time or contractual of all procurement agencies engaged in the procurement process in Mandis will also get the benefit of insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh till June 30.
In particular, all startups working in the Startup Incubator Centre being run by the Information Technology Department would not be charged rent from March 15 to May 15. Similarly, commercial vehicles such as auto, motor cab, maxi cab, bus, and truck will be been given proportionate waiver of Motor vehicle tax for the period from March 15 to May 15. He said that in all contracts of all government departments their period will be considered as frozen or zero period and the timelines for all buildings, projects or equipment supply not related to Covid-19 will be extended till May 15 without any penalty.
The Chief Minister said that previously a discount of upto Rs 10,000 in the fixed charge was extended for the consumers whose consumption of commercial and industrial connections for a period of two months (March and April) is 50 percent less than the average of January and February. Now, it has been decided that a 25 percent discount will be given to those consumers whose monthly fix charge is more than Rs 40,000. The remaining 75 per cent amount of fixed charge will be taken in six equal instalments from July to December 2020. This benefit will be given only to those whose consumption is less than 50 percent of the average of January and February month.
Khattar said on April 9, a notification was issued, in which the payment of any person or institution on behalf of the authority of all the Departments, Boards And Corporations of the Government was due to be paid on March 15, now it has been postponed till April 30. He said that it was also decided that no penalty interest or surcharge would be levied on such dues, only simple interest would be charged for this period.
HARYANA GOVT SENDS 31 BUSES TO BRING BACK STUDENTS FROM KOTA
Haryana Government on Thursday sent 31 state transport buses to bring back over 800 students of the state who are stuck in Rajasthan's Kota due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. The students from Haryana, who were preparing for various competitive examinations, have been stuck at the coaching hub of Kota due to the lockdown.
Thirty one Haryana Roadways buses have gone to Kota to bring back the students, Transport Minister Mool Chand Sharma said, adding that buses from Rewari and Narnaul depots of Haryana Roadways have been sent to bring back the students. Nearly 850 students are expected to travel back to their homes in the buses, officials said.
SELF HELP GROUPS IN HRY MAKE OVER 17 LAKH MASKS
Women Self-Help Groups in Haryana have made over 17 lakh protective face covers and masks, lending a help hand to the administration and NGOs trying to stop the spread of coronavirus.
In addition to the face covers and masks, they have prepared nearly 13,000 Personal Protection Equipment kits and 35,000 sanitizers of 100 ml each.
Their initiative has not only helped in boosting supply of these items but has also generated income for the SGHs, officials said.
There are over 40,000 SGHs in the State.
Through the district administration and NGOs these items are provided to various categories of workers engaged in the fight against Covid-19 as also to needy persons. As many as 113 Women Self-Help Groups from 34 cities of the state have prepared 3,26,013 protective face covers and 225 protective kits.
These groups have been formed under the Haryana State Urban Livelihood Mission.