IEP Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, while stressing the need for government resources to prioritize the well-being of underprivileged communities, said that the more schemes the government implements for the economically disadvantaged, the greater the well-being of society will become. The government is committed to the welfare and development of poor and deprived communities.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a Jan Samvad program held at Karnal late last evening.
This event marked the 19th Jan Samvad program within the Karnal assembly constituency, with seven more scheduled to take place in the coming month. During the event, he attentively listened to the concerns of individuals from various segments of society and directed the relevant officials to address these issues promptly.
Highlighting initiatives aimed at transforming the system, Sh Manohar Lal mentioned the introduction of a Parivar Pahchan Patra (PPP) for every household—an unprecedented step by the government. The data recorded in the PPP is exceptionally accurate, encompassing information about births and deaths. This data forms the basis for determining the precise population of any city. Furthermore, the government has initiated the practice of sending birthday wishes to every citizen. In a heart-warming gesture, the Chief Minister called Praveen Beniwal, born on September 25, and another person on the stage and congratulated them spreading smiles on their faces.
The Chief Minister affirmed that the state’s 2.8 crore people are like his own family and their well-being is his foremost concern. The government has implemented various measures to ensure the education and healthcare of underprivileged children and to augment the income of economically disadvantaged individuals. He mentioned the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which provides health insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh to citizens. The Central government had initially set an annual income threshold of Rs 1.20 lakh for eligibility. However, the Haryana government has expanded this limit to Rs 1.80 lakh, benefiting approximately 29 lakh families under the Ayushman/Chirayu Yojana. To further extend the reach of the Chirayu Yojana, the government has raised the annual income limit to Rs 3 lakh for eligible individuals within this income bracket, with beneficiaries required to pay an annual premium of Rs 1500. This scheme enables beneficiaries to access medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh at government or approved private hospitals.
Referring to the provision of an old age pension of Rs 2750 for individuals with an annual income up to Rs 3 lakh, Sh Manohar Lal highlighted that, based on income records in the PPP, pensions have now been automatically extended to approximately 80,000 residents of the state, eliminating the need for them to visit government offices. He said that Haryana is leading the way as the first state to grant widowers a monthly pension of Rs 2750 after reaching the age of 40. In addition, the government has also decided to provide pensions to unmarried individuals aged 45 to 60.
During his interaction with the people, the Chief Minister inquired about those who had not yet received their old age pensions or PPP and promptly instructed concerned officials to ensure that their pensions and PPP records are processed by Tuesday. Furthermore, he instructed the power corporation officials to resolve the electricity bill issue of Rs 1.90 lakh for a widow residence.
Responding to a request from OP Garg of the Senior Citizens Forum to install an umbrella over the statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the Chief Minister assured a comprehensive assessment of the proposal. BK Nirmala requested land in Sector 9 for a community center, on this, the Chief Minister directed the EO of HSVP to investigate available space in the sector for social and religious institutions and communicate with the local Councillor. Subsequent steps, including advertising and further actions, will be carried out in accordance with established regulations. If no suitable space is found in Sector 9, efforts will extend to exploring options in surrounding sectors.
Gharaunda MLA Mr. Harivandra Kalyan, Municipal Corporation Mayor Mrs. Renu Bala Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Anish Yadav, SP Mr. Shashank Kumar Sawan, and officials from various government departments were also present on this occasion.
