Chandigarh, January 6 - Since 2104, the Haryana Chief Minister, while rising above regionalism, casteism, and nepotism has been constantly ensuring the holistic development of the State. This optimistic approach has not only changed the political scenario but has also raised the trust of people in their government. Carrying forward this league, Sh. Manohar Lal today dedicated as many as 167 projects worth Rs 1882 crore to the people of the State.
While virtually inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of these projects during a state-level function held at village Dhanwapur, Gurugram, the Chief Minister said that it has always been his endeavour to empower the public representatives.
“As Finance Minister, we have done budget allocation very carefully. I can proudly say that today 34.5 percent of our budget is being spent on infrastructure in the form of capital expenditure,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
He said that every department has a fixed budget. However, sometimes at the end of the financial year, the budget of some departments is left and we have taken a new initiative to ensure that there is no shortage of budget for development works. For this, a Medium Term Expenditure Framework Reserve Fund has been created.
Similarly, taking another new initiative, Gram Darshan and Nagar Darshan portals have been started to speed up development works in villages and cities as well, on which citizens can raise their demands related to development works in their area on the portal, said the Chief Minister.
He said that newly elected public representatives can also put forth the development demand as raised by the citizens to the government on a priority basis. “Panchayat elections were held recently and new representatives have been elected. Now the Sarpanch will be able to get the work done at his level based on quotation up to Rs. 2 lakhs,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
The state government has been successful in curbing corruption to a large extent
The Chief Minister said that in the year 1990, the former Congress Prime Minister used to say that out of the one rupee, only 15 paisa reaches the people. But we are ensuring that not only a hundred percent of funds reach the people but it is fully utilized for the State's development. For this, every welfare scheme has been brought on the IT platform. Equitable development of all the 90 Assembly Constituencies have been done while believing in the mantra of 'Haryana Ek Haryanvi Ek', he said.
“After the launch of various IT-based reforms, the menace of corruption has been curbed to a large extent. Working in the spirit of Antyodaya, we have moved ahead and also tightened the noose around middlemen running their commission business. Now everyone can take advantage of government schemes through various portals launched by the State Government,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Uplifting Antyodaya is the topmost priority of Our Government
The Chief Minister said while realizing that every needy has the first right to the Government, every welfare scheme is being implemented while focusing on reaching out to the last mile citizen.
“We have changed the systems using IT and now the citizens are getting the benefits of government schemes while sitting at home. The State Government has done the work of providing benefits to eligible persons through Parivar Pehchan Patra. These radical IT changes have certainly dented the age-old business of commission agents,” said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Taking a dig at the Congress and other party leaders, the Chief Minister said that they may call my government a ‘government of portals’, but through these portals, we have not only ensured easy access to governance for the citizens but have also introduced ‘paperless’ and ‘faceless’ governance in Haryana, said the Chief Minister.
He said that to provide health benefits to poor people, treatment facility up to Rs 5 lakh is being provided through ‘CHIRAYU Haryana’. Under this scheme, the state government will bear an additional expenditure of Rs 500 crore.
PPP becoming a pivotal document to avail benefits of welfare schemes
The Chief Minister said that 12 lahks new BPL ration cards have been made through Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and the names of some people have also been deleted after income verification. After 2011, in these 11 years, people have got government or private jobs and their lives have improved financially. More than 1 lakh such persons who were BPL ration card holders have been traced and their names have been deducted from the beneficiary list because they have risen above the poverty line and are filing income tax returns. Thus all such beneficiaries should be proud that they are leaving their card benefits for someone who needs them the most, said the Chief Minister.
Haryana is taken significant steps for water conservation
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is battling water crisis. Many blocks have also come in the dark zone. 1100 BCM of water is available in the country while the consumption is 800 BCM. Talking about Haryana, there is a demand of 32 MAF water in Haryana while 16 MAF water is available. Due to this, a large part of agricultural land remains deprived of irrigation due to water scarcity, informed Sh. Manohar Lal.
He said that 40 percent of the agricultural land is irrigated through canal irrigation systems, 30 percent is irrigated through tubewells, and the remaining 30 percent is dependent on rainwater. For this, there is a need to promote micro irrigation. Along with this, water will also have to be reused through wastewater management. He said that there are 207 STP projects in the state, after completion of which 4 lakh acres of land will be irrigated.
The Chief Minister thanked the farmers who have opted for crop diversification under the 'Mera Pani-Meri Virasat' scheme and reduced paddy sowing in more than 1 lakh acres of land.
Badshahpur MLA, Sh. Rakesh Daultabad, Pataudi MLA Sh. Satyaprakash Jaravata, CEO, GMDA Sh. Sudhir Rajpal and other officers also remained present on the occasion.