IEP Chandigarh, January 24

Garima of Mahendergarh district, Haryana, a visually impaired girl, was given the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ by President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu in the social service category in New Delhi for her gallant initiative of “Sakshar Pathshala” in which over 1000 students were connected for education by her. The award was presented to 19 youngsters from throughout the country, including Haryana’s Garima.

Garima, along with all of these children, will participate in the national Republic Day Parade on January 26th. This year, Garima is the only girl from Haryana to receive this honour.

Education is the key to success, Garima  

Garima, a nine-year-old girl with visual impairment, is a resident of Navdi village, Mahendergarh through her “Sakshar Pathshala” encourages and inspires the slum people and children the importance of education in one’s life and how it leads the path to progress. Garima had faced challenges in her early days of education and then only decided to help those children who do not have any support. She, like her father, wants to be a teacher and contribute to society. 

Garima’s courage and astounding efforts at such a young age propelled her to great heights.

‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’ is given to children between the age of 5 to 18 years who have shown outstanding performance in categories such as bravery, culture, environment, art, science and technology, social service and sports. Total 19 children were selected for the award out of which 4 were in the social service category, Garima is one of them receiving certificate, medal and a citation booklet. 

Garima believes that education is a fundamental right and a vital component of a child’s life as it even allows them to contribute to the progress of the country. With this goal in mind, the Haryana government has implemented many initiatives to ensure that no child is excluded from education.

IEP Chandigarh, January 24

Haryana Home and Health Minister Sh Anil Vij said that Ambala Cantonment has witnessed remarkable development over the past nine and a half years, setting new records for progress and growth. In alignment with this progress, an embankment along the Tangri River near Brahman Majra will be expeditiously constructed to fortify flood protection. The inauguration ceremony for this crucial project is slated to take place soon.

Sh Vij was addressing the gathering as the chief guest during the event organized under the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra,’ held in the vicinity of the Parshuram Temple and Tangri Dam in Ambala Cantonment today.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, the nation is consistently progressing on the development trajectory. Commending the effective actions taken by Prime Minister, such as the abrogation of Article 370, the abolition of Triple Talaq, and the historic installation of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he noted these accomplishments as key milestones. Following the consecration of the Ram Temple, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi has further pledged to gift solar panels for the homes of one crore people.

Many welfare schemes were implemented for the upliftment of society and common people – Vij

He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal, numerous welfare schemes have been implemented for the betterment of society and the common people. Efforts are underway to ensure the transparent and accessible delivery of the benefits associated with these schemes. The information dissemination vehicle, often referred to as “Modi’s Guarantee,” is effectively reaching people everywhere, providing details about these initiatives and delivering their benefits to eligible individuals. Notably, people are seamlessly availing the advantages of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and others. Emphasizing their dedication to the welfare of the people, he emphasized the collaborative effort needed to transform India into a developed nation and realize Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s vision for a prosperous and developed India.

We have to make our country a developed nation – Vij

The Home Minister said that there are three types of nations on this planet, underdeveloped nations with minimal progress, developing countries like India witnessing continuous growth, and developed countries where all facilities are readily available, numbering 37. We have to resolve to join the ranks of those 37 countries and make our nation a developed nation. While administering the oath of ‘Our resolve for a developed India’ to all attendees, Sh Vij emphasized the multitude of development projects accomplished in the Ambala Cantonment Assembly constituency over the past nine years. The momentum of this developmental wheel remains unwavering. Ongoing efforts to construct ring roads surrounding Ambala Cantonment are expected to further enhance the city’s development. Simultaneously, initiatives like road construction on Tangri Dam and the installation of street lights signify the comprehensive scope of these endeavors.

Civil Hospital of Ambala Cantonment is the best hospital of North India- Vij

Sh Anil Vij said that the Civil Hospital in Ambala Cantonment stands as the premier healthcare facility in North India, witnessing a daily influx of over 3000 individuals seeking medical treatment. The hospital boasts state-of-the-art medical amenities, some of which rival or surpass those found in institutions like PGI. Notable services include MRI, Ultrasound, Plastic Surgery, and advanced Heart Treatment, among others. The hospital has also successfully conducted life-saving interventions, providing stents to approximately 14000 individuals. The Atal Cancer Care Centre is extending its benefits to people from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. Previously, individuals sought medical treatment in Chandigarh or other locations, but the hospital has become a preferred destination for healthcare services. Moreover, dialysis facilities have been established not only in Ambala but also in all 22 civil hospitals, ensuring widespread access to this critical medical service.

Own electricity will be generated through cow dung plant/solar panel in dairy complex in Brahman Majra – Vij

He shared that a comprehensive array of developmental projects has been established in Ambala Cantonment, featuring an international-level grand martyrdom memorial dedicated to the heroes of the first war of independence. Additionally, noteworthy facilities include the Arya Bhatt Science Centre, an international-level football stadium, an all-weather swimming pool, a gymnastics hall, a government college, a bus stand, a mini-secretariat, and a multi-level car parking facility. The ongoing construction encompasses Dharamshalas, Yoga Shalas, and various other infrastructure developments. Along with this, Dairy Complex in Brahman Majra, which includes fodder market for animals, hospital, rest house for animal farmers along with all other facilities. Here electricity will be generated by itself through cow dung plant/solar panel, thus eliminating the need for an external electricity connection. The construction of the domestic airport is progressing rapidly, promising an elevated status for the city and a boost in trade activities. Additionally, swift developments are underway, including the establishment of the NCDC Center at Naggal-Kardhan-Khojkipur, the Homeopathic College at Chandpura, and various other developmental projects.

IEP Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has extended bonanza of Rs. 15.42 crores to the residents of Yamunanagar through virtual mode. School Education Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal laid the foundation stone of two projects and inaugurated two projects in the auditorium of the District Secretariat. He said that the Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone of development works worth Rs. 5.34 crore and inaugurated development works worth about Rs. 10.08 crore in the district.

He further mentioned that the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, has announced the bonanza of 153 projects amounting to a total of Rs. 2,024 crores across the state. Four projects from Yamunanagar district are included in this gift which include construction of a new road from Firozpur to Rasulpur with a cost of Rs. 2.62 crores and approximately Rs. 2.72 crores for the construction of multi-purpose hall, basketball court, toilets for boys and girls, and 4 Sai Centres at the Government Senior Secondary School in Jagadhri.

Similarly, the Chief Minister inaugurated 33 KV substation in Ismailpur of Jagadhri assembly built at a cost of about Rs. 6 crore and 33 KV substation in Ranipur built at a cost of about Rs. 4.08 crore.

IEP Chandigarh, January 24

In a proactive drive against corruption in government departments, Haryana Anti Corruption Bureau in line with the zero-tolerance policy of the State Government, has registered a record number of cases related to graft in the previous year which enabled the state government to put a check on the corrupt practices in the government offices. The Bureau registered 205 cases (including 152 traps) in 2023 which is the second-highest number during the last 10 years.

The Bureau has conducted 152 raids in the year 2023 & recovered Rs. 86,12,300/- on the spot and arrested 186 government servants, including 30 gazetted officer, 156 non-gazetted officials and 40 private individuals, during the year 2023.

Sharing the information here today, Director General, Anti Corruption Bureau, Haryana, said that out of the 205 cases, 152 were registered on raid/trap and 53 cases were registered on complaints/enquiries. On average, 16 public servants were arrested on corruption charges every month.

Informing how the Bureau has been able to crack down on such a large number of corrupt officials in the past year, Sh. Kapur said that the Anti Corruption Bureau has shifted its focus from junior-level staff to also include senior ranks, who are often the kingpins in running organised corruption rackets. The remarkable spurt in the number of raids and arrests of senior officials is being seen as a clean-up act by the Bureau under the directives of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal as part of his zero-tolerance policy towards rooting out corruption at all levels.

CM Shri Manohar Lal has approved various initiatives of ACB like setting up a revolving fund to provide ‘trap money’ to the aggrieved people lodging complaints against government officials demanding bribes. With this, complainants no longer have to worry about arranging the trap money from their own pockets, he added. The government has also sanctioned 809 additional posts to strengthen ACB, changed the system of appointment of independent witnesses to check leakage of information, and created six Divisional Anti-Corruption Bureaus amongst others. Further, Rs. 100 crores have been allocated to strengthen Anti-Corruption related initiatives in Haryana for the financial year 2023-2024.

Highlighting the arrests of some high-ranking officials/big raids, he informed that (i) two Medical Officers in separate incidents were caught red-handed taking Rs. 5,00,000/- & 1,52,000/- respectively as bribe. (ii) A private person was caught red-handed taking Rs. 10,00,000/- as bribe and co-accused in this case – an Assistant Town Planner – was also arrested. (ii) Two private persons were caught red-handed taking Rs. 3,00,000/- each as bribe in separate incidents and their co-accused two All India Service officers  were also arrested in these cases. (iv) A Deputy Forest Ranger was caught red-handed taking Rs. 3,00,000/- as bribe & co-accused one HFS officer was arrested. (v) One HCS and an HPS officer were also arrested in two separate corruption cases. (vi) An Enforcement Officer of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation & a private person were caught red-handed taking Rs. 7,00,000/- as bribe. (vii) A Patwari of Revenue Department was caught red-handed taking Rs. 5,00,000/- as bribe and co-accused one Patwari & one Section officer were arrested in this case. (viii) A General Manager, Field Inspector & Accountant of HAFED were caught red-handed taking Rs. 3,50,000/- as bribe. (ix) An Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Department was caught red-handed taking Rs. 1,00,000/-. (x) A Sub Divisional Officer of Public Health Engineering department & co-accused one Junior Engineer were caught accepting Rs. 1,20,000/- bribe. (xi) A Manager of Haryana Forest Development alongwith two co-accused persons were caught accepting Rs. 1,00,000/- bribe.

He further revealed that 49 police personnel, 21 officers/officials of the Revenue Department, 10 of Power Utilities, 7 of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumers Affairs, 6 of Urban Local Bodies, 5 of Health Services, 4 of Cooperation, 4 of Education Department, 4 of Excise & Taxation, 4 of Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board, 4 of Public Health Engineering, 2 of Development & Panchayats Department, 2 of Forest Department, 2 of Home Guards, 2 of Irrigation Department, 2 of Justice of Administration Department, 2 of Land records & Consolidation, 2 of Prisons and 14 of other departments like Accounts & Treasury, Employees State Insurance Corporation, HAFED, Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, Home, HSIIDC, HSVP, Labour & Employment, Mining & Geology, Panchayati Raj, SC & BC Welfare, Skill Development and Industrial Training & Transport, were nabbed red-handed while taking bribes ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10 lakh in separate cases.

Apart from conducting enquiries referred by the government, the Bureau also collects information available in the public domain and various other sources to identify potential cases from time to time. This helps the Bureau in laying traps and nabbing those who are demanding and accepting bribes.

He informed that fully functional ACB offices have been made operational upto the district level. In yet another initiative, the complainants who play a proactive role in realizing the state government’s drive to make Haryana corruption-free, are honoured with ‘Samman Patras’. The Bureau also facilitates the complainants post-raid regarding their pending issues with the offices concerned.

During the year 2023, the Bureau has also initiated proposals for the attachment of property of tainted public servants involved in corruption cases. After obtaining the concurrence of the government, petitions have been filed for attaching property earned out of proceeds of crime in 6 cases, which are at advanced stage.

During its ongoing crusade against corruption in 2023, the Bureau has registered 31 enquiries against 12 gazetted officers, 10 non-gazetted officials & 7 private persons on the direction of the state government. During the year, 82 enquiries were finalised.

Out of 82 enquiries completed during 2023, the Bureau has recommended registration of criminal case against 34 gazetted officers, 10 non-gazetted officials and 47 private persons in 14 enquiries. In 22 enquires, departmental action against 12 gazetted officers and 27 non-gazetted officials has been recommended and in yet another 9 enquiries, registration of criminal cases alongwith departmental action against 19 gazetted officers, 32 non-gazetted officials & 66 private persons. Thus, in all action has been recommended against 65 gazetted officers, 69 non-gazetted officials & 113 private persons in 45 enquiries and the remaining 37 enquiries were closed as the allegations were not proved.

In addition to this, during the year, 10 technical reports have been sent to the Govt., in which the Bureau has recommended departmental action against 9 gazetted officers, 5 non-gazetted officers and to recover Rs. 9,20,466/- from the concerned agencies.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau is committed to intensifying the drive against corruption and all cases of bribery have been dealt with strictly and more crackdowns will follow in the coming days. The Bureau has also urged the people to fight against corruption and report complaints of bribery on its Toll-free numbers 1800-180-2022 and 1064 and WhatsApp number 094178-91064.

IEP Chandigarh, January 24

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has urged the citizens of the state to use water judiciously and avoid wastage. Emphasizing that water is precious, he encouraged people to develop the habit of using available water wisely and reusing it.

The Chief Minister was virtually addressing the people of the state after inaugurating 60 Amrit+ Sarovar across the state from Dult village in the Tohana assembly constituency of the Fatehabad district. Out of the 60 Sarovars that are inaugurated today, 31 are located in the Fatehabad district.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi initiated the Amrit Sarovar Mission in 2022 to rejuvenate the country’s ponds. Under this mission, the goal was to rejuvenate 1650 ponds in every district of Haryana, as per the plan of having 75 ponds in each district from May 1, 2002. Due to the efforts made by the state government and local levels, Haryana has successfully constructed 2078 Amrit Sarovars. An additional 200 Amrit Sarovars will be constructed in the upcoming month, he shared.

Haryana Pond Authority constituted for the Rejuvenation of Ponds

The Chief Minister shared that to rejuvenate ponds in the State, the Haryana Pond and Wastewater Management Authority has been established, and the Authority has been directed to survey the ponds available in the state. According to the survey, a total of 19,649 ponds have been identified in the state, with approximately 18,000 ponds in rural areas and 900 ponds in urban areas. Out of these ponds, about 11,000 are polluted, and efforts are being made for their rejuvenation, he informed.

Sh. Manohar Lal further shared that scientific studies highlight a water demand of approximately 35 lakh crore liters in the state, while the available water resources amount to around 21 lakh crore liters. Therefore, there is a shortage of about 14 lakh crore liters of water. Apart from groundwater, water is sourced from rainfall and mountains, he shared.

The Chief Minister further stated that Haryana used to receive water from Punjab through the SYL canal as per agreement, but currently, it is not happening due to an interstate dispute. The matter is under consideration in the Supreme Court. Despite the ongoing dispute, the Haryana government has implemented effective water management. Approximately 300 tailes in South Haryana have been supplied with water, he said.

Sh. Manohar Lal also shared that the Central Pollution Control Board has acknowledged and appreciated the initiatives taken by Haryana for the purification of polluted water, water conservation, and water management, considering Haryana as a model for other states.

The present government has increased the amount for the rejuvenation and beautification of ponds to Rs. 7 lakh

The Chief Minister said that before the present state government came into power, the designated amount for the cleaning and beautification of ponds was only Rs. 50,000 per pond. However, our government has increased this amount to Rs. 7 lakh per pond, leading to the rejuvenation of ponds across the state, he said.

Sh. Manohar Lal further shared that by cleaning and filling ponds with treated water, it can be utilized for irrigation, drinking water for livestock, and other essential needs.

Addressing the issue of waterlogging, the promotion of natural farming is being done towards resolving the problem

The Chief Minister said that farmers have excessively used chemical fertilizers, resulting in increased crop yield but deteriorating soil quality. He said that due to the formation of a compact layer in the soil due to chemicals, rainwater is not seeping into the ground, causing waterlogging and marshy conditions in many areas. Not only that, but the excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to serious diseases like cancer today. To overcome this problem, there is a need to shift towards natural farming, said Sh. Manohar Lal.

The Chief Minister appealed to farmers to opt for alternative crops instead of paddy for water conservation and solving waterlogging issues. For this, the government has implemented the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, providing an incentive of Rs. 7,000 per acre to farmers who refrain from cultivating paddy. So far, farmers have left paddy cultivation on 1,74,000 acres of land.

For groundwater recharging in the state, 1000 more recharge wells will be constructed, CM

The Chief Minister said that with a focus on groundwater recharging, 1000 recharge wells have already been constructed in the state. The target for the next year is also set to construct 1000 more recharge wells. The construction of these wells will make it possible to irrigate an additional approximately 8000 acres of land each year, he said.

Sh Manohar Lal shared that out of the total 95 lakh acres of land suitable for agriculture in Haryana, irrigation is possible on 45 lakh acres through canal water. The remaining land is irrigated through rainfall or tube wells.

He further informed that 200 treatment plants have been installed in the state to purify water, providing 700 cusecs of treated water. This treated water is being utilized for horticulture, irrigation, and industrial purposes, he said.

The Chief Minister urged the use of water flow meters, manual rainfall measurement devices, and piezometers to determine the rainfall and groundwater levels in villages. He emphasized giving importance to rainwater harvesting and appealed to the people not to waste water as it is invaluable, encouraging recycling and reuse.

Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, continuous development is progressing towards the Tohana region, Devender Babli

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli said that Tohana is not just a city of canals but also a land of religious cities and warriors. The development that is happening in this region today has never happened before. Tohana’s neglect was a persistent issue, and politics was dominated by those seeking power and votes. However, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, continuous development is happening in this region, he said.

The Minister further said that the vision of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal is dedicatedly working to promote urbanization in our villages. This vision has been practically applied in this region, he said.

Sh. Devender Singh Babli said the construction of the Tohana bypass, the gift of a medical college in Fatehabad, and the inauguration of 31 Amrit Sarovars as special acknowledgments to the Chief Minister. He said that under the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal’s leadership, there is all-round development happening in every sector of the state.

MP, Smt. Sunita Duggal, MLA, Sh. Dura Ram, Deputy Commissioner, Sh.  Ajay Tomer, and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.

IEP Chandigarh, January 24

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal will inaugurate the City Bus Service featuring electric buses from Siwah, Panipat on January 29, 2024. This initiative aims to not only benefit residents in nine cities but also contribute to environmental sustainability by ensuring zero pollution. 

While stating this here today, Transport Minister, Sh. Mool Chand Sharma said that Haryana City Bus Service Limited, a Government Corporation formed under the Transport Department to provide local city bus services in nine cities across Haryana including Panipat, Yamunanagar, Panchkula, Ambala, Karnal, Sonepat, Rewari, Rohtak, and Hisar. This marks a unique and pioneering project of any state in the country. 

Sh. Mool Chand Sharma further mentioned that separate City Bus Service Depots are under construction in all nine cities, with an estimated cost of Rs 115 crore. To facilitate bus operations, 375 buses have already been ordered. In the first phase, the Chief Minister will inaugurate the city bus service at the new bus stand in Siwah, Panipat. This initiative marks a significant milestone in Haryana’s commitment to green and modern public transportation, reflecting the state’s vision for a sustainable and eco-friendly future, he added. 

IEP Chandigarh

The Haryana Government has launched ‘Mission Karmayogi Haryana,’ a pioneering initiative aimed at training all three lakh government employees to foster greater citizen-centricity and ethical outlook in their roles.

Giving this information here today, Chief Secretary Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal said that as part of this ambitious program, Ethics Conclaves (‘Naitikata Shivirs’) will be held at Karnal and Panchkula on January 31 and February 06 respectively. These sessions, designed to be a special platform for the Karmayogi Haryana Project, target all IAS/IPS/IFS/Other Services/HCS Officers of the State Government.”

The Naitikata Shivirs will emphasize the significance of workplace ethics, integrity, and cultivating a culture of making the right decisions in the face of challenges, temptations, and adversity. Eminent dignitaries and experts have been invited to share insights and showcase practical examples. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the Karmayogi Modules will be presented, providing participants with a bird’s eye view of the training program. In a unique approach, Mr. Kaushal further said that the Officers of the have been categorized into two groups.