Chandigarh May 13: Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the true face of Pakistan has been exposed to the world as a country that sponsors terrorism and fosters its growth. He emphasized that India has taken strong action against terrorism. Our armed forces have systematically destroyed terrorist hideouts first through surgical strikes, then through airstrikes, and now with Operation Sindoor.

 The Chief Minister was interacting with media persons after the Tiranga Yatra in Panchkula today.

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that in the tragic incident in Pahalgam, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists destroyed the sindoor of our sisters and daughters in front of their eyes. At that moment, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi had vowed to eliminate terrorism, and through Operation Sindoor, the army has taken significant steps to eradicate it. The Chief Minister further highlighted that in his address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi made it clear that terrorism will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Following the success of Operation Sindoor, the Tiranga Yatra is being organized across the country to honor the Indian Army. In this series, Tiranga Yatra was organized in Panchkula, igniting a spirit of patriotism among the people.

The Chief Minister said that our brave soldiers, demonstrating unmatched valor and determination, have not only eliminated hundreds of terrorists but have also destroyed their training camps. These camps, where terrorists were trained, had been used to send militants into India.

In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said that today the opposition has no real issues and has lost its footing. He said that the opposition initially raised questions over the surgical strikes and airstrikes, and now they are demanding a special session of the Lok Sabha after Operation Sindoor. However, he clarified that during the all-party meeting; the opposition was provided with full information about Operation Sindoor.

Chandigarh, May 13 – The Haryana Government has rolled out a series of amendments to the ‘Deployment of Contractual Persons Policy, 2022,’ signaling a renewed focus on improving service delivery, ensuring timely wage payments, and fostering entrepreneurship among contractual workers. A notification to this effect was issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi here today.

The notification states that the revised policy expands its objectives to not only strengthen the delivery of auxiliary and supporting services but also provide quality and skilled manpower to government organizations, private sectors (both in India and abroad), and encourage self-employment through entrepreneurship. This broader vision reflects the government’s commitment to aligning contractual employment with economic growth and skill development initiatives. The amendments cover various aspects of the policy, from payment timelines to training programmes, age criteria, and compassionate deployment.

Timely Payment of Wages

To ensure financial stability for contractual workers, the policy now mandates that indenting organizations make timely payments to HKRNL for deployed manpower. If wages are not disbursed by the 7th of each month, HKRNL reserves the right to withdraw the deployed workforce. Additionally, organizations must comply with GST and Income Tax Act, 1961 provisions for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) when making payments.

Enhanced Training and Entrepreneurship Opportunities

HKRNL will now arrange suitable training and skilling programs for shortlisted candidates to equip them for their assigned roles. Furthermore, the policy encourages entrepreneurship by linking registered candidates with state and central government-sponsored entrepreneurship programs, fostering self-employment and economic independence.

Age Criteria for Deployment

The revised policy introduces clear age criteria for contractual engagement to ensure consistency and fairness in deployment. The minimum age for eligibility has been set at 18 years, allowing young individuals to enter the workforce. The upper age limit for initial engagement is fixed at 42 years, with applicable relaxations for candidates belonging to reserved categories, as per existing government instructions. Additionally, the policy specifies the maximum age up to which a contractual employee can be retained—60 years for those working in Job Level-I roles, and 58 years for employees in all other job levels. Employment will automatically terminate on the last day of the month in which the individual attains the respective maximum age limit. This framework is intended to balance opportunity with organizational efficiency.

Merit-Based Selection Criteria

The merit-based selection criteria under the revised policy have been streamlined through a well-defined scoring system, with a total of 80 points assigned across key parameters. A major component of the score—up to 40 points—is based on the candidate’s annual family income, with higher scores awarded to those from lower income brackets. Families earning up to ₹1,00,000 annually are eligible for the full 40 points. Age is another determining factor, with candidates aged between 24 and 36 years receiving 10 points, while those aged 36 to 42 years are awarded 5 points. To promote skill enhancement, 5 points are allocated for relevant skill certifications or higher academic qualifications. Additionally, candidates who have cleared the Common Eligibility Test (CET) will receive 10 points. Finally, the policy encourages local employment by giving 10 points to candidates residing in the same or nearby Block or Municipal Corporation where the job is located.

Consent of Candidates

Before recommending any candidate for deployment, HKRNL will obtain the candidate’s consent through SMS or email. If the candidate fails to respond within the stipulated time period, they will face temporary debarment from the merit list. On the first instance of non-response, the candidate will be debarred for one month. A second non-response will result in a three-month debarment, and a third instance will lead to debarment for one year. This mechanism is intended to ensure prompt communication and serious participation by shortlisted candidates in the deployment process.

 Reservation Policy

The amended policy aligns the reservation framework with direct recruitment norms, applying both vertical and horizontal reservations at the state level for each job role. If the representation of reserved categories falls below the mandated limit, the backlog will be prioritized in the following year’s indents. In the absence of suitable reserved category candidates, merit-based candidates from other categories may be deployed.

Compassionate Deployment and Financial Assistance

In the unfortunate event of a contractual worker’s death during service, their family is entitled to choose between two forms of assistance. The first option is compassionate financial assistance, which involves a one-time payment of ₹3,00,000 to the family. Alternatively, the family can opt for compassionate appointment, which allows for the deployment of a family member to a job role that is equivalent to or lower than the position held by the deceased worker. Additionally, up to 10% of requisitions in a calendar year may be filled on a compassionate basis in urgent situations, provided the request is verified and approved by the Chief Secretary.

 Deployment to Private Sector

The policy now allows HKRNL to deploy manpower to private sector organizations in India and abroad, with terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon between HKRNL and the organizations.

 Re-Deployment and Job Role Changes

Candidates who resign voluntarily or whose contracts end due to regular appointments can be considered for re-deployment on a merit basis. However, those terminated for misconduct or poor performance are ineligible for future deployment. Contractual employees in Level-I roles can apply for higher job roles if they meet the eligibility criteria, with their applications evaluated on merit.

Pre-Departure Orientation

HKRNL will provide pre-departure orientation training in soft skills and specific job roles to ensure candidates are well-prepared before joining indenting organizations.

Chandigarh, May 13 – The weekly meeting of the State Task Force (STF) for Improving Sex Ratio in Haryana was held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal here today. The meeting focused on intensifying efforts to curb illegal abortions and further improve the state’s sex ratio under the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.

During the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary emphasized a zero-tolerance approach toward illegal abortion practices and directed officials to enhance monitoring and supervision at all levels. He warned that strict action would be taken against any official found negligent in enforcing the law. He said the doctors found involved in illegal abortion practices will have their cases referred to the Medical Council of India for cancellation of their licences.

The meeting was informed that in the past week (May 6 to 12, 2025), 19 raids had been conducted across the state over the illegal sale of MTP kits and 17 FIRs were registered. In addition, 13 shops had been sealed for illegal practices and 145 MTP kits were seized. Legal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 shall be launched against the offenders. Notably, after the formation of the STF, total 43 FIRs have been registered, 21 shops sealed and 6200 MTP kits have been seized in the state.

The departments were directed to follow up vigorously on all registered cases and coordinate closely with police authorities to track and trace the persons involved in the illegal practice and take these cases to their logical conclusion. The Additional Chief Secretary also stressed on intensified inspections at MTP centers to prevent unlawful terminations.

To regulate MTP kit sales, the officials were directed to ensure that no MTP kit is sold without Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) identification number. To ensure better accuracy in birth registration figures, the officials were told to visit slum areas every week and organize birth registration camps to ensure that no newborn is left unregistered in the state.

The meeting was informed that the number of abortions at 12 weeks or more dropped from 425 to 226 within a week, marking a major step forward in the fight against female foeticide.

The meeting was also informed that the Women and Child Development Department has started running mobile vans in various districts of the state, promoting the girl child initiative, along with dedicated campaigns on social media. These multifaceted efforts not only promote gender equality but also empower communities to celebrate and support the girl child.

Secretary, Health Department and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Sh. Rippudaman Singh Dhillon, and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, May 13 – Haryana’s Mines and Geology Minister Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar directed the officials to review in detail the activities being done by the department to ensure revenue receipts, progress of mineral exploration, prevention of illegal mining, e-auction and transparency. He directed that the review meeting of the department will be held on the first Tuesday of every month.

Sh. Panwar was chairing a review meeting with the officials of the Mines and Geology Department here today.

He directed that strict action should be taken against illegal mining, adding that equitable and sustainable use of mineral wealth should be ensured. He said to maintain transparency and accountability in departmental work, the officials must ensure maximum use of modern and digital technology.

The minister was informed that only a few people were able to take advantage of the One-Time Settlement Scheme. On this, the minister directed the officials to implement this scheme in a simple manner so that maximum number of people can be benefited and mining work can run smoothly.

During the meeting, Director General of Mines and Geology, Sh. K.M. Pandurang gave a presentation on the activities of the department. He said compliance of court cases and NGT guidelines should be made mandatory. Wherever complaints of illegal mining are received, their information should be immediately brought to the notice of higher officials.

Commissioner and Secretary of the Department, Sh. TL Satyaprakash, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, May 13 – Under the joint initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Developed Agriculture Sankalp Abhiyan will be held in over 700 districts across the country from May 29 to June 12, 2025. In Yamunanagar district, the campaign will be conducted by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Damla. During this period, agricultural scientists will visit villages, directly engaging with farmers to provide information on modern farming techniques and government schemes aimed at improving agriculture.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, emphasized that this campaign is a significant step toward realizing Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s Lab to Land initiative. He stated, “Our vision for a developed India includes developed agriculture and prosperous farmers.”

He said that every day, teams of scientists from the center will visit various villages to share valuable information with farmers. Topics will include soil health cards, balanced nutrition management, direct paddy sowing, crop diversification, drone technology, natural farming practices, and ICT-based solutions.

Chandigarh, May 13 – Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, stated that there is a complete ban on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/Drones till May 25, 2025.

In a letter addressed to all Deputy Commissioners, Police Commissioners, and Superintendents of Police across the State, Dr. Sumita Misra underscored that this preventive ban is a critical step to counter potential threats and to safeguard sensitive areas during heightened security scenarios.

Giving more information in this regard, Dr. Misra stated that the prohibition has been imposed across state, except when used by the Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), State Police, NDRF, and SDRF.

Dr. Misra has advised all police units and local authorities to intensify surveillance and monitoring of drones within their jurisdictions. If any drone or UAV is spotted or found in transit, it must be reported immediately to the nearest police station or official, and swift, appropriate action should be initiated. Authorities have also been directed to involve Bomb Disposal Squads if there is any suspicion about the drone’s contents or origin, she added.

The public is urged to stay vigilant, and report any suspicious flying object or drone to local police or authorities without delay. Awareness will be created through print and electronic media to ensure cooperation from citizens in maintaining security during this sensitive period.

Dr. Misra further emphasized that any state government department requiring drones for official survey purposes during this ban must seek prior approval from the respective Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police. Apart from this, individuals and private companies engaged in drone-related activities are to be briefed about this order and the associated advisory without exception.

Dr. Misra added that the Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) response protocol in collaboration with defence forces must be followed by the police. Further, mock drills by local administration to ensure effective on-ground coordination in case of any emergent situation would be carried.