IEP Chandigarh, August

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, who was sworn in on October 26, 2014, embarked on a path for the welfare of the people and society. He emphasized that politics is about serving the people, and not for personal gain. The CM Window system, initiated on December 25, 2014, garnered significant appreciation from the public. Over the last 8 and a half years, 11,50,958 complaints were received through CM Window, out of which 10,58,996 complaints were resolved. Building on this success, the Chief Minister in the first week of April had started the Jan Samvad programme to bridge the gap between the government and the common man from the Bhiwani district. Continuing the same, the Chief Minister will again hold a direct interaction with the people in Umri village, Kurukshetra district from August 11 to 13, 2023.In the Jan Samvad, the Chief Minister is not only seeking public feedback on the work done by his government but is also actively asking for the blueprint of the future developmental works to be executed in the villages from the Panches and Sarpanches.The radical changes introduced by Sh. Manohar Lal to ensure maximum governance and minimum government not only highlights his commitment towards fulfilling his promises but also shows his determination of not hesitating from taking any decision which is of utmost priority to him. The introduction of literate panchayats system in the state despite the legal battles, is one of the biggest examples to support this. The victory of 42 percent of the women in Panchayats elections is a live example of how the decision of having literate panchayats have borne fruitful results. These bold decisions have not only gained popularity among the common man but have also set an example for the other states that are now following Haryana’s footsteps.On August 11, 2023, the Chief Minister will address the people of Ladwa constituency in the Kurukshetra district, including Umrai, Ram Saran Majra, and Gudda villages. Similarly, on August 12, 2023, the samvad will be held in Bakana, Damla, and Alahar villages in the Radaur constituency of Yamunanagar district. On August 13, 2023, it will conclude in the Indri constituency of Karnal district, covering Jainpur Sadhan, Dabkoli Kalan, and Daniyalpur villages.Notably, the Jan Samvad entails hours-long sessions, with the Chief Minister, officers of the level of Divisional Commissioner, Director General of Police, and Deputy Commissioner, engaging with citizens to address their concerns and provide on-the-spot solutions.

IEP Chandigarh, August 9

Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal paid a courtesy call to the Union, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Narendra Tomar in New Delhi late evening on August 7, 2023. During the meeting, Sh. Manohar Lal apprised the Union Minister about the welfare schemes being run by the Haryana Government for the farmers.Sh. Narendra Tomar praised the working style of the Chief Minister and said that the schemes launched by the state government for the welfare of the farmers are yielding positive results. He also praised Mera Pani-Meri Virasat, a scheme launched for water conservation and crop diversification. Apart from this, Sh. Narendra Tomar also appreciated the initiative taken by the farmers of the state to adopt crop diversification during the year.Sh. Manohar Lal said that Haryana is an agrarian state and on the strength of its hardworking farmers, Haryana is achieving new heights in the agriculture sector. In the last almost 9 years, the present state government has started new schemes for the welfare of the farmers and has also meticulously implemented the schemes of the central government in the state.“The state government is also making farmers aware to adopt natural farming so that minimum use of pesticides can be ensured in food grain production,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.The Chief Minister said that apart from the cultivation of traditional crops in the agriculture sector, shifting towards horticulture crops is also equally important and acknowledging the same, the state government is making dedicated efforts to encourage the farmers to adopt horticulture crops instead of traditional crops.“For this, the state government has set a target of increasing the horticulture area to 22 lakh acres and tripling the production by the year 2030. Along with this, while moving in the direction of water conservation, a call has been given to adopt micro-irrigation instead of flood irrigation and farmers are being given subsidies for adopting micro-irrigation systems. Farmers are also supporting the government in this initiative and are now adopting micro-irrigation, which saves water and doubles production,” said the Chief Minister.

IEP Chandigar

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the amount of compensation will be sent to the farmers’ bank accounts by September 7, 2023, after assessing the damage to crops caused due to floods and incessant rains recently.The Deputy CM, who also holds the portfolio of Revenue and Disaster Management, gave this information while addressing a press conference at Haryana-Niwas here today.He said that this is unprecedented when the government has declared floods for the first time in the state. He informed that during the recent floods, massive water logging was reported in about 1,475 villages and 47 people have also lost their lives in the state. He further informed that Rs. 1.60 crore has been given to the next of kin of the 40 deceased. Soon the assistance amount will be sent to the other 7 deceased as well.Sh. Dushyant Chautala informed that crops in about 4.08 lakh acres have been affected due to floods in the state. If a farmer has not yet uploaded the report of his crop damage on the e-Kshatipurti portal, then he must upload it upto August 18. He further informed that once the reports are received, assessment will be done and by September 7, the amount of compensation will be transferred to the bank account of the affected farmers.The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has taken three new decisions in the interest of the farmers. First, ‘Khsatipurti sahayak’ are being appointed to meet the shortage of patwaris (so that the loss of crops can be assessed on time). Second, Girdawar-assistants will be appointed as per the requirement to assist the Girdawars to assess crop loss caused in heavy rainfall or non-flood areas.Giving information about the third important decision, he said that due to the heavy flow of water in the Yamuna river during floods, the areas of Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat and Palwal, Faridabad districts adjoining the Yamuna have been badly affected especially the fields around that area. Due to erosion of the land, the crops of the farmers are not only damaged, but also a large amount of silt has been accumulated in their fields.In the interest of such affected farmers, the state government is preparing a new policy, under which the silt collected in the farmer’s field will be auctioned, in which one-third of the amount received from the auction up to Rs. 10 lakhs will be given to farmer and two-third will be deposited in the government’s account. This policy will benefit both the farmer and the government. He informed that Haryana will be the first state to implement this unique policy in the country.Sh. Dushyant Chautala further informed that 475 houses have been completely damaged in the state due to floods, out of which claims for 108 houses have been ensured to the affected. He informed that more than 1,324 roads have been damaged in the state, in which a total loss of Rs. 338 crore is expected.He informed that most of the roads which were damaged and blocked due to floods have been re-opened. In order to get the work of repairing the roads done as soon as possible, the government will delegate small works costing up to Rs. 20 lakhs at XEN-SDO level committees. He said that joint tenders will be called for works ranging from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore. Apart from these, road works costing more than Rs. 1 crore will be carried out by inviting tenders through the engineering portal of the PWD department.The Deputy Chief Minister said for the convenience in future, the government has decided that pipes will be laid under the roads at the places of such erosion, so that if there is a need to drain water in future, water can pass through these pipes and traffic movement will not hamper .

IEP Chandigarh, August 9

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that in the current excise year so far, despite reducing 100 liquor vends , the Excise Department has collected 26 percent more revenue as compared to last year, which is a record in itself.While addressing a press conference here today, Deputy CM said that last year 2,500 liquor vends were auctioned in 1,250 zones and a revenue of Rs. 5,047 crore as license fees was received from them. This year 100 liquor vends have been reduced and auction of some liquor vends is yet to be done, yet till date Rs. 6,362 crore license fees has been collected as revenue which is 26 percent more than last year. He described this revenue as a record for the first time in the history of Haryana.He said that for the current excise year, auctioning of all liquor vends have been completed, only five zones were pending. It is expected that their auction will also be held today through which additional Rs. 20- 30 crores will be received as revenue. After this, the increase is likely to be 27 percent as compared to last year.Giving more information about the revenue collected by the Excise and Taxation Department in the first quarter, Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that due to the untiring efforts of the officers, the revenue is continuously increasing, in the first quarter of this year the revenue is almost equal to that of last year. There has been a significant increase of 21 percent.Sh. Dushyant Chautala, who also holds the portfolio of Excise and Taxation Department, said that in the first 4 months (April-July 2023) of this fiscal year of the Excise and Taxation Department, the state’s tax collection has surged to an impressive Rs. 23,108 crores, a substantial growth of 20.8 percent compared to the corresponding period last year when it stood at Rs. 19,133 crores.He informed that several initiatives have been taken by the Excise and Taxation Department to maximize revenue and reduce leakages.He further said that the collection from Value Added Tax (VAT) has reached Rs. 3,819 crores. While SGST collection (including IGST settlement and SGST compensation) was Rs. 15,229 crore, reflecting an exceptional growth rate of 31.7 percent.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the reach of tele-consultation services in the state of Haryana has been appreciated by the Union Health Minister, Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya. This has resulted from his direct experience with the pioneering tele-consultation model during a visit to a Health and Wellness Center (HWC) in Haryana.Sh. Anil Vij said that Union Health Minister Sh. Mansukh Mandaviya while addressing in the Lok Sabha referred to his visit to HWCs in Haryana, where he saw the tele-consultation model during his visit to AIIMS, Jhajjar. Impressed by the seamless and efficient service, he appreciated the efforts of the state in ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every nook and corner of the region.Sh. Anil Vij said that Haryana has taken healthcare innovation to new heights with its tele-consultation services, which effectively bridged the gap between medical experts and patients, cutting across geographical barriers. The services have brought specialized care within reach of the most remote areas, bringing not only convenience but also a significant reduction in cost for both the government and the patients. Haryana’s unprecedented tele-consultation approach comprises 23 centres, strategically located to serve every district of the state. These centers include one specialist center at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh and one center in each district civil hospital in 22 districts of the state. The system enables direct tele-consultation connections between the centers and specialists at Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Sub Centers (SCs), thereby ensuring seamless healthcare delivery.The Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. G. Anupama, reported rapid growth in the tele-consultation model. Within just a year, the daily average call volume increased from 0.13 calls per day to an impressive 500 calls per day. The Hubs have collectively conducted about 2.5 lakh tele-consultations, of which about 50 percent have been received by the specialist Hub at PGIMER Chandigarh. The specialist tele-consultation calls received at the PGIMER Hub have covered a wide range of medical specialties including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, Eye, Ear Nose Throat (ENT), Pediatrics, and Dermatology. Each Consultant handle 50 daily consultations, with durations ranging from 7 to 12 minutes.Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Sh. Rajanarayan Kaushik, mentioned that the tele-consultation model has achieved a remarkable patient satisfaction rate of 96.3 percent. This underscores the effectiveness and convenience of the service. Additionally, nearly 10,000 cases have been referred to specialists and healthcare facilities in a timely manner, contributing to saving numerous lives.Haryana’s tele-consultation services stand as a symbol of progress in the realm of healthcare access. Leveraging technology to connect patients with specialists and provide quality care where it’s needed most has not only improved healthcare outcomes but also transformed lives by making quality medical care a reality for all, irrespective of distance.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Government has extended the temporary suspension of mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of District Nuh. The suspension shall be in force upto August 11, 2023 (23:59 hrs).The said suspension has been ordered under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to be read along with Rule (2) of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.Sharing more details in this regard an official spokesperson said that temporary suspension has been imposed to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, such as Whatsapp, Facebook Twitter, etc. on mobile phones and SMS.All telecom service providers of Haryana have been directed to ensure the compliance of this order and any person found guilty of the violation of the aforesaid order will be liable for legal action under relevant provisions.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Haryana Home Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that a proposal would soon be sent to the state government to honour home guard volunteers with medals in recognition of their outstanding services. Besides, he also directed to ensure that duty allowances are disbursed to all Home Guards by the 7th of each month.Sh Vij was presiding over a review meeting of senior officers of the Home Guards and Civil Defense Department here today.Sh. Vij directed that a proposal should be sent to the State Government to provide risk allowance to Home Guards for policing duties at par with police personnel. He also directed the officers to prepare a proposal for using postal ballots by volunteers and submit it to the Election Commission.The Home Minister highlighted that at present , Haryana has a strength of 14,000 Home Guards, of which 9,050 are actively involved in law enforcement, traffic management, and related duties. He directed officials to provide Employees Provident Fund (EPF) benefits to Home Guards. He said that the accidental death claim for Home Guards has been increased from Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh, with an additional provision of Rs. 3.25 lakh for natural deaths.During the meeting, officers informed the Home Minister about the ongoing training of Haryana Home Guard volunteers. Currently, these volunteers are being given training in various areas like traffic management, flood disaster response, and first aid at the Joint Training Institute in Panchkula. The Minister was also informed that the Home Guards will be given training at the training centre which is going to be set up in Karnal soon.The identity cards have already been issued to home guard volunteers from 14 districts, while work is in progress for the remaining districts. Apart from this, applications would be invited from volunteers interested in serving in Gurugram and Faridabad. Thereafter, these volunteers would be posted in these districts.Director General, Home Guards and Civil Defense Department Sh. Desh Raj Singh, and Additional Director General of Police, Sh. S.K. Jain, along with other officials remained present in the meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is organizing a Punjab Tourism Summit soon for the first time in the history of Punjab to promote the tourism sector in the state and to make the world aware of its culture and rich heritage. Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Investment Promotion, Labor and Hospitality Minister Anmol Gagan Mann held a meeting with officials of the concerned department at Punjab Bhavan Chandigarh on Tuesday regarding the preparations to be made for the summit. Giving information, she said that in the Punjab Tourism Summit, which is going to be held for the first time in the state, apart from others, NRIs sitting abroad will also be invited. The Minister said that the main objective of the Punjab Tourism Summit is to promote tourism and large-scale investment in Punjab. She said that exhibitions, seminars and various events depicting various aspects related to the history of the state will be organized in the summit. She said that the Punjab government is making continuous efforts to keep the priceless and unique history of the state alive and to give its information to the next generations. On this occasion, Principal Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Rakhi Gupta Bhandari, CEO Investment Promotion KK Yadav, Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Amrit Singh and other officials were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Continue to crack the whip against wrongdoings in the department, the Minister’s Flying Squad constituted by Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, has caught a driver red-handed pilfering five litres of diesel and two conductors embezzling ticket money besides reporting five buses plying on unscheduled routes during past week-long checking and raids. Disclosing this here on Tuesday, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that Minister’s Flying Squad has apprehended driver Charanjit Singh of Bus No. PB-10-DM 8073 of Ludhiana Depot from Sri Jhar Sahib red-handed for pilfering diesel from his bus. Five litres of diesel was recovered from him during the raid. He said that similarly, the flying squad conducted checking at Kairana (Uttar Pradesh) and held Lakhwinder Singh, conductor of Bus No. PB-65-BB 8852 of Chandigarh depot for not issuing tickets to the passengers despite collecting Rs.845 from them. Likewise, driver Lakhwinder Singh and conductor Satnam Singh of Bus No. PB-02-EG 4398 of Punjab Roadways/Punbus Patti Depot have also been reported for not stopping bus at Khamanon bus stand leaving behind eight passengers at bus stand and causing financial loss of Rs.510 to the department. The Cabinet Minister said that apart from this, during checking, buses no. PB-06-BB 3756 and PB-06 BB 5356 at Khanna, bus no. PB-02-EG 1037 at Sirhind, bus no. PB-06 BC 0206 at Goraya and bus no. PB-46M 9304 at Uccha Pind found plying on unscheduled routes during checking. Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar instructed the officials of the department to take disciplinary action against the drivers and conductors causing loss to the state exchequer.

IEP Chandigarh, August 8

Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday nabbed an Attendant, Imran, posted at Government Hospital Malerkotla, for accepting a bribe of Rs 6000. The accused has been arrested on the complaint of Nazim resident Mohalla Khushal Basti, Maletkotla. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the VB said that the complainant had approached the VB and lodged a complaint that the accused Imran, who is deployed with Dr. Chamanjot Singh as an Attendant, demanded a bribe of Rs 6000 to prepone the date of gall bladder operation of his wife. After preliminary investigation of the complaint, he said that a team of VB laid a trap and arrested the Attendant while accepting Rs 6000 from the complainant in the presence of official witnesses. In this regard, an FIR no 12 dated 08-08-2023 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against Imran at the Police Station of Economic Offences Wing (EoW) VB, Ludhiana. Further investigation is under progress, he added.