Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that the decentralization of powers of the members of Panchyati Raj Institutions (PRI) has been done to give impetus to the development works in the rural areas and now the newly elected members do not have to wait to get the approvals, as they can utilize the money for any developmental works from their own funds.
Furthermore, now the budget of PRIs is fixed and at the beginning of the year only it will be decided in which quarter, how much funds are to be allocated, said the Chief Minister. He said Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti, and Zila Parishad will automatically give administrative approval after passing the resolution, and the state government will not have any interference.
Talking to reporters after attending the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive meeting held in New Delhi, Khattar said that the State Government has already released an amount of Rs.1100 crore to the PRIs for executing the desired development works in the villages.
He said that during the meeting, information regarding the system change and public welfare schemes implemented in Haryana in the last 8 years were also shared. Responding to another question, he said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally will be organized in Haryana.
Khattar said that detailed discussions were also held regarding G-20 meetings under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Some G-20 meetings will also be organized in Gurugram, for which the state government has made all required preparations, he added.
Responding to a question, Khattar said that the process of making automated ration cards for BPL families through Parivar Pehchan Patra is going on. Ration cards have been made automatically for those whose annual income is less than Rs 1.80 lakh. This digital step has not only given a big relief to all such families but has also saved them from making several rounds to the offices, he added. Khattar said that complaints were received from time to time that many people who have risen above the BPL slab are still availing of ration benefits, while the actual ones are still waiting to get these benefits.
On the BJP meeting held in Delhi, Khattar informed that during the meeting, the strategy for upcoming elections and how India can become a world leader were discussed in detail. "Our target is to win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. Our government has always focused on the upliftment of Antyodaya. Through PPP, we will continue to extend the reach of public welfare scheme benefits to the last-mile citizen," said Khattar.
AAP Govt trying to building bridges with farmers
Monika Malik/Chandigarh
On a collision course with the farmers over various issues over the past few months, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government is now trying to build bridges with the state’s farming community.
Days after sending across a clear message that they would be consulted for decisions related to agriculture, the state government on Tuesday not only announced the closure of the controversial private distillery at Zira, but has also set up an 11-member agricultural experts committee to prepare a new agricultural policy.
That was not all! The State Government is also going to organize a one-of-its-kind ‘Sarkar-Kisan Milini’ on February 12 at Ludhiana’s Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) where the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would give patient hearing to the farmers’ issues and an effort would be made to redress the same right then.
In another pro-farmers move, the state government has also launched a Seed Production portal and app — providing an online facility to the farmers. “The need for this app arose after the state’s cotton growers suffered huge losses by buying unapproved seeds,” said the state’s Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Tuesday, while launching the portal and app.
Notably, the state’s farmers have come face to face with the AAP-led State Government during its 10-month tenure at several instances, including protest outside Zira factory, over the issue of stubble burning, laying siege to toll plazas, massive protest outside the Chief Minister’s private residence in Sangrur, among others.
Now in an apparent attempt to improve the relationship between the government and the farmers, the state government has now initiated several pro-farmers decisions and initiatives. “Punjab Government has been making continuous efforts to improve the welfare of the farmers and the agricultural system of the state,” said the Agriculture Minister Dhaliwal.
Govt-Farmer Meeting on Feb 12
He added, “The first government-farmer meeting would be held on February 12...This meeting would be held at Agricultural University Ludhiana, and the Chief Minister would be the chief guest. More than 2500 progressive farmers from every corner of Punjab would participate in this meeting. And they will discuss agricultural policy and their valuable suggestions will be taken,”
To formulate the agenda for the meeting, the government has been holding meetings with the farmers. The first in the series was held on January 6, and another round of meeting would be held on January 20.
Apart from the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister, other Cabinet Ministers and legislators will also be invited for the government-farmer meeting, other than the agriculture subject experts. Experts from PAU, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), and the representatives of the state’s various departments.
It has been learnt that the government has planned to invite over 100 farmers from each district.
11-Member Panel to Formulate Agri Policy
The state government has notified the constitution of an 11-member committee of agricultural experts. Dhaliwal said that the state’s new agricultural policy will be prepared by March 31. The 11-member committee comprise state’s Agriculture Secretary Rahul Tiwari as member, Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers Commission chairman Dr Sukhpal Singh as convener, PAU Vice Chancellor Dr SS Gosal, GADVASU VC Dr Inderjit Singh, Economist Dr Sucha Singh Gill, Punjabi University Patiala former VC Dr BS Ghuman, Former Director Horticulture Punjab Dr Gurkanwal Singh, Punjab Water Control and Development Authority advisor Rajesh Vashisht, Former Director Agriculture Punjab Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu, PAU Kisan Club president Amarinder Singh, and Punseed chairman Mahinder Singh Sidhu as members.
The Minister said that the government has been drafting the new agricultural policy keeping in mind the natural resources of Punjab such as groundwater, soil health, and geographical conditions.
“To improve the farmers’ economic condition in the new agricultural policy, special attention will be given to aspects such as valuation of agricultural produce, export and agricultural diversification. The new agricultural policy will also include a proposal to adopt basmati as a substitute for parmal paddy and promote basmati exports,” he added.
Dhaliwal emphasized that Punjab has been facing an environmental and health crisis, in which fertile land has been turning into non-fertile land and the amount of poisons in ground water is increasing day by day.
The Minister further said that under the new agricultural policy, the surplus water of the rivers is being considered to be delivered to every farm in Punjab.
Seed Production Portal and App
Dhaliwal also released the seed production portal and app, providing an online facility to the farmers. “Through this, the state’s farmers will be able to get online information about the availability and varieties of seeds. The purpose of this app is to make the Punjab State Seed Certification Organization online and paperless and to implement the annual calendar for seed certification,” he said.
The Minister said that through this app, seed tracking, quality authentication, seeds complete information regarding the production, certification and sampling will be available.