Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal has urged the Central Government to give special heritage status to Palwal railway station to commemorate the memory of an historic event associated with Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle, and set up a Statue of Harmony at Ghasera in Nuh district to immortalise his footprints on the soil of Haryana.
Speaking at the 4th meeting of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council, he said that Haryana had been blessed by the presence of Mahatma Gandhi all through the Independence Movement. In fact, in his crusade against the British, Mahatma Gandhi was arrested for the first time by the British on April 10, 1919 at Palwal railway station, inspiring millions of people to join the freedom struggle, he said.
Manohar lal also urged the Central Government to establish a Statue of Harmony at Ghasera in Nuh in the memory of the Mahatma’s visit on December 19, 1947 where he successfully convinced Meo community not to migrate from India.
We will celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as “Jan Andolan”, in the spirit of “Sarv Bharat, Garv Bharat and Parv Bharat”. Swachh Bharat is the best tribute the nation can pay to this noble son of India, who taught us the values of Swaraj and non-violence, the Chief Minister added.
Manohar lal also urged all states to lay down the condition of educational qualification and mandatory toilet in every home for those wanting to contest elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urbal local Bodies (UlBs). This would lend meaning and substance to the thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, he said.
In October 2016, Haryana had fixed five eligibility conditions for candidates contesting the elections to PRIs and UlBs through an Act. The Act was challenged in the Supreme Court.
But after continuous hearing for 48 days, the Supreme Court accepted our five eligibility conditions and declared the Act constitutional. Resultantly, in Haryana 42 per cent women were elected panches or sarpanches, and their average age is 35 years, he said.
Now, every panch, sarpanch, member of Block Samiti and Zila Parishad in Haryana is educated, the Chief Minister added.
During the meeting, Manohar lal informed that the Haryana Government has taken two initiatives. Firstly, Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran has been set up to undertake measures to make agriculture remunerative, and secondly, Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana has been launched for four crops to ensure the farmers fair prices for their produce.
During the last three years, the State Government has distributed Rs 3,000 crore to the farmers to make good their losses on account of loss of crops, he said.
Manohar lal said, under MNREGA, emphasis was being laid on maximum works of water conservation and water management in the months of April to June. last week only, we have set up Haryana Ponds Authority through an Ordinance. The authority would develop, protect and conservation of 14,000 ponds, he added.
He said, Haryana Government has decided to adopt Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission. An MoU was signed with Government of India in Shimla for implementing Ayushman Bharat, National Health Mission in the state. A day before, we have constituted State Health Authority for this purpose, he said.
The Chief Minister further said that the State Government has initiated the process to roll out National Nutrition Mission, now named Poshan Abhiyan, to improve the nutritional status of children between the age of 0 and 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers in a time-bound manner. All districts of the state would be covered in a phased manner by 2019-20, he said.
In the aspirational district of Nuh, our government is carrying out equitable development on a par with other districts. The State Government has allotted Rs 40 crore to Mewat Development Board for various development schemes. Also, we have made special provision in the online transfer policy and if any teacher from anywhere in the state opts for Mewat, he or she would be given additional 10 per cent salary, said the Chief Minister.
In Haryana, all students up to class VIII are provided with free books, school bags and school uniform. These facilities are proposed to be extended up to class XII, he added.