Chandigarh, February 3 – Haryana Tourism Corporation’s Principal Secretary Smt. Kala Ramachandran said the 38th International Surajkund Crafts Fair will be organized in a grand manner. All the preparations are in full swing for this fair, which will be organised from February 7 to February 23.

Smt. Kala Ramachandran today held a meeting with the administrative officers regarding the preparations of the 38th Surajkund International Crafts Fair. Deputy Commissioner Sh. Vikram Singh was also present on the occasion.

The Principal Secretary said the Surajkund Fair has been digitized. For the first time, the booking of stalls has been done online. While maintaining complete transparency, the crafts fair of Surajkund is getting ready to welcome the general public through a digital platform. Information about every aspect of the fair will be available on surajkundmela.co.in.

This time, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh are the theme states and BIMSTEC-Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the partners while North East Handloom and Handicraft Association is the cultural partner for the fair. The Delhi Metro will be the ticketing partner. Artists, weavers, craftsmen from theme states, BIMSTEC countries as well as other countries will participate in the fair, while the common people will be able to enjoy the traditional dishes of many states of the country.

Smt. Kala Ramachandran visited the fair premises along with administrative officials, took stock of the preparations and gave instructions to complete the work on time.

Chandigarh, February 3

With a focus on improving facilities for working women, the Haryana government is set to construct women’s hostels in Faridabad Sector-78 and Gurugram Sector-9 under the Sakhi Niwas Yojana. This initiative aims to address the accommodation needs of working women by providing them with safe and convenient housing options at Sakhi Niwas.

Haryana Mahila Vikas Nigam is currently preparing an action plan for the project. Women residing in Sakhi Niwas will have access to a range of facilities, including daycare services. They will also be able to bring their children with them. The accommodation facility will be available for boys up to 12 years old and girls up to 18 years old.

The scheme will benefit all types of working women, including unmarried, married, and divorced individuals. Special priority will be given to women from underprivileged backgrounds and those with physical disabilities. To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of Haryana and possess a Haryana Parivar Pehchan Patra. The woman’s monthly income must not exceed Rs 50,000 in metropolitan areas or Rs 35,000 in other locations. If the woman’s income exceeds these limits, she will be required to vacate the hostel within three months. Applicants will also need to submit their Aadhar card, a police verification report, and an employee salary certificate along with the application.

The hostels will be built on approximately one acre of land, with capacity for 200 women. The construction cost is estimated at Rs 65.30 crore, which will be funded by the Government of India.

Chandigarh, February 3 – Haryana’s Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said in the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman for the financial year 2025-26, many visionary and inclusive policies have been announced, which are important for the development of not only Haryana but also for every other state. This is a development-oriented and balanced Budget. It is an important step towards realizing the vision of self-reliant India under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.

The minister said the Budget is a very beneficial for the well-being of every section like farmers, youth, women, employees and businessmen, in which the all-round development of every section and every person has been taken care of.

He said a huge relief has been given to the middle class in the Budget and now, no tax will have to be paid up to Rs 12.75 lakh. There are 11 lakh income tax payers in Haryana alone and this Budget will take about 5 lakh people out of the scope of income tax. People from every section of society have praised this Budget because it reflects the government’s commitment to prioritize the needs of the common man. With this Budget, the country will move forward rapidly on the path of development.

Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said the Budget is an unprecedented step for rapid improvement in the agriculture sector. It will increase the income of farmers, reduce dependence on imports and farmers will get direct benefit from this. Now, farmers will be able to take loan up to Rs 5 lakh on subsidy cards. With the aim of promoting cotton cultivation, farmers of Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Kaithal and other districts will get a lot of benefits. A 6-year mission will be started for self-sufficiency in the production of pulses.

He said under the package of five schemes of the Prime Minister, employment and skill development opportunities will be provided to more than 3 crore youth in the next 5 years, which will also benefit the youth of Haryana. Not only this, a provision of more than Rs 500 crore has been made to promote education in Artificial Intelligence.

The Public Works Minister said there is also a proposal to approve 100 per cent foreign investment in the insurance sector. Customs duty on EV battery manufacturing material has been abolished. Women of SC/ST category will get a loan of up to Rs 2 crore without guarantee. This will benefit those women who want to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. The state of Haryana produces about 65 per cent of the country’s automobiles. Hence, there will be further growth in this sector. He said the government has removed customs duty from 36 life-saving medicines. The credit guarantee cover for MSMEs will be increased from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. All government secondary schools will be connected with broadband connectivity.

Chandigarh, February 3: Haryana Mines and Geology Minister, Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar, said that currently, no mining activities or water exploitation are taking place in Ramalwas village, in the Charkhi Dadri district. He further said that instructions have been issued to the concerned officials to prioritize and address any issues raised by the local villagers without delay. The Minister assured that villagers can directly communicate with him or department officials at any time regarding their concerns, and these issues will be resolved promptly.

The Minister said that villagers have been protesting for several days at the closed mine in Ramalwas village. They had complained that the mine owner was conducting illegal mining activities and exploiting water resources, which led to a decrease in the groundwater level in the area. Taking cognizance of the complaint, the department took immediate action and suspended operations at the mine on October 28, 2024. Furthermore, the lease for the mine was also terminated on December 11, 2024.

Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar said that currently, no mining activities or water exploitation are taking place in Ramalwas village. He assured that if the villagers have any other concerns or demands; they are welcome to meet with him or the department officials.

He emphasized that there is a complete ban on illegal mining in the state, and strict action is taken immediately against anyone involved in such activities.