Chandigarh, August 20: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated that the BJP government is exploiting the youth through the HKRN (Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam). Therefore, the Congress demands that all HKRN employees be regularized and granted the same pay scales, Dearness Allowance (DA), promotion avenues, reservation benefits, and retirement benefits as permanent employees.
Hooda said the system operating under the Kaushal Nigam is not only exploitative but also unconstitutional. The Congress will also meet the Governor to submit a memorandum regarding this issue.
Commenting on the plight of the ‘Kaushal’ (skill-based) workers, Hooda remarked that they are neither truly unemployed nor do they hold standard salaried positions, the youth have been reduced to daily wagers. “Educated young people are left helpless and are facing repeated exploitation. The practice of deploying youth under the HKRN system and jeopardizing their futures must stop. Young people need dignified salaries and regular employment, not mere daily wages,” he said.
“Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees equal opportunity in employment. Why, then, is a permanent employee paid ₹80,000 for the same work while an HKRN employee receives only ₹20,000? Equal pay for equal work and the right to permanent employment are the entitlements of the youth. The HKRN system should be abolished by absorbing all employees into permanent roles, and transparent, regular recruitment should be conducted for sanctioned posts,” he questioned.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Hooda noted that the Congress had organized a massive protest in Panchkula in support of these skill-based workers. “Despite rain and inclement weather, a large number of people participated, and the protest garnered support from contractual employees across the state,” he stated.
He stated that a movement by contractual employees is underway across the state. He added that piles of garbage have accumulated throughout the state because the government has ignored the demands of sanitation workers. “During the Congress government’s tenure, 11,000 rural and 14,000 urban sanitation workers were appointed; however, the BJP government has not regularized their employment to date,” he said.
Responding to questions from journalists, he stated that Abhay Chautala had made a false statement against him, and said he intended to drag the INLD leader to court by filing both criminal and civil cases, as Chautala had made two false claims: one regarding a meeting with Amit Shah and the other concerning a partnership in a private company. He clarified that he had neither met Amit Shah nor had any connection with that company.
Responding to the BJP’s remarks on the Congress party’s sports policy, Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated that the policy implemented during the Congress government’s tenure continues to be praised across the country and the world. “This was because, for the first time the Congress government directly appointed 17 medal-winning athletes as DSPs, not just in the country but globally,” he said.
Furthermore, the Congress government formulated a policy offering the world’s highest cash rewards of up to ₹5 crore to medal-winning athletes. They also launched the ‘SPAT’ games competition for 20 lakh children to nurture talent starting at the school level and introduced diet allowances for young athletes at the school and academy levels.
“The result of these initiatives was that out of the 38 gold medals the country won at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, athletes from Haryana alone secured 22,” he stated.
Speaking on the Commonwealth Games, Hooda extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the medal-winning athletes. He also expressed satisfaction that the results of the sports policy, infrastructure strengthening, and sports academies established during the Congress government’s tenure are still evident years later. However, he noted that the BJP government had altered the Congress-era sports policy, thereby depriving athletes of their rewards, recognition, and appointments.
Meanwhile, MLA Bharat Bhushan Batra mentioned that the Congress party had submitted its grievances regarding the state’s SIR (Special Investment Region) policy to the Election Commission and had requested an additional month for the SIR process.
