Wednesday, February 21, 2018
- Chandigarh Feb 21: Forty six top most bureaucrats sang in sync with Mr Manohar Lal, Chief Minister, Haryana today morning even as most of them were supporting black badges to protest against yesterday assault on Chief Secretary of Delhi at the residence of Chief Minister Delhi.
- This curious scene was witnessed in Haryana Civil Secretariat at 10 am today when in keeping with the promise made during the Chintan Shivir on December 17, 2017, an innovative scheme called Parivartan was launched. It aims at unleashing the energy of Team Haryana for making lives better in 46 developmental blocks of the State.
- After launching the scheme, Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal said that under this scheme, each of 46 top most IAS, IPS and IFS officers have been allocated one block in which they will undertake works in 10 selected common fields and one field of their choice. The ten fields included Facilitation of Financing, Making Agriculture Profitable and Sustainable, Improved Delivery of Health Services, Swachh Bharat, Congestion Free Bazars, Youth Engagement, Reduction in Air Pollution, Availability of Identity Related Services, Effective Policing and Road Order and Road Conduct.
- Mr Manohar Lal said that that for each of the ten fields there are three to seven parameters on which the performance of officers would be measured in an objective manner. Some of these parameters include making a 10 kilometer long stretch accident free, one town or Mahagram stray cattle free, ensuring delievery of caste certificates to all school students and ensuring chargesheets are filed in all FIRs of heinous crime.
- A maximum of 39 marks would be available for 38 parameters covering these ten fields and scoring would be done by individual officers themselves. A maximum of four marks have been kept for ‘Any Field of Officers Choice. Another seven marks would be given on the basis of social audit by Haryana Governance Reforms Authority (HGRA).
- The Chief Minister said that the State has a strong work force of about three lakh employees directing the administrative secretaries to utilize their services for ensuring the benefit of various government schemes and programmes to the people in these 46 blocks which comprised of more than one-third of the total area of the State. This would not only help in achieving the objective of the government but also provide practical training to the employees thus lead to raising a strong trained workforce in the state, he added.
- He directed the Administrative Secretaries to personally visit the blocks allocated to them atleast once and apprise the concerned block and district officers about the scheme and infuse a sense of competition among them. He promised to review the experience of the officers on April 21, the Civil Service Day.
- While referring to the three day Chintan Shivar (brainstorming session) organized at Timber Trail, Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh from December 15 to December 17, 2017, the Chief Minister described it as a unique experiment which aimed at the welfare of people of the State. He said during the last more than three years; the State Government has taken various steps for providing good governance in the State. Under the Ek Aur Sudhar Programme we are rolling out one reform every month after massive public consultations. In the same series, the State Government has constituted Ponds Management Authority and Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran. For the next month, he has invited suggestions of public on Antyodya, so as to ensure that the benefit of various governments schemes and programmes reach to the deserving people.
- He said that the present State Government has hit hard at the corruption and enabled an atmosphere free from corruption in the State. Transparency has been ensured and jobs are being given purely on the merit basis. He said that the State Government has done a lot for the welfare of people in the Stat but there is a need to infuse more enthusiasm among the government employees so that they could work with dedicatedly in the interest of the society.
- Earlier, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr Rajesh Khullar gave a detailed presentation on Parivartan and the spirit of team Haryana. He said that during a two-month long exercise, parameters for various development works under the scheme have been extremely carefully thought out to leave no scope for ambiguity in measuring performance.
- While referring to the parameter for reduction in air pollution, Mr Khullar said it is a matter of pride that Haryana is still the only state in the country which is kerosene-free. Apart from this, the Saksham Yuva Scheme to provide 100 hour of guaranteed work to educated unemployed youth is the first-of-its-kind scheme in the world.
- Among those present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mr D.S Dhesi, Principal OSD to Chief Minister Mr Neeraj Daftuar and Administrative Secretaries of various departments, five senior most Director General of Police and senior most PCCF .
- Chandigarh, Feb 21 – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal today said that keeping in view the scope of tourism, State government will develop entire Shivalik belt as a tourist destination of international standard including Lohgarh, Adibadri and other places of religious and cultural importance. He also announced that road from Shahabad to Lohgarh via Barara-Dosadka- Sadhaura-Bhagwanpur will be named after Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Besides, a big entry gate in the name of Baba Banda Singh Badadur will also be constructed at Shahbad.
- The Chief Minister was speaking after releasing a book ‘Lohgarh Sikh State Capital’ (World’s Largest Fort) authored by S.Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, S. Gagandeep Singh and S. Gurvinder Singh here today. This book published by Haryana Academy of History and Culture, Kurukshetra, contains 17 chapters on Lohgarh and epilogue containing illustrations of pictures and maps.
- He assured that government would provide all support for overall development of Lohgarh. A Trust for the same has already been formed and a Martial Art School and Museum would also be established.
- The Chief Minister also lauded the contribution of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who had fought three battles against Mughals for freedom of the nation.
- Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Kanwar Pal, Finance Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mrs Kavita Jain, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr Karan Dev Kamboj, MLAs S Bakhshish Singh Virk and Mr Ghanshayam Dass Arora, Chairman Haryana Tourism Corporation, Mr Jagdish Chopra, Chairman Mati Kala Board, Mr Gurdev Rahi, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Mr Sameer Pal Srow and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.
- About the Book:
- Lohgarh Khalsa Rajdhani came into limelight in 2016. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur declared Lohgarh as the Sikh State Capital. The Hon’ble Chief Minister Haryana Sh. Manohar Lal Khattar, declared 300th Martyrdom anniversary yatra of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as state guest and a great function was organized at Lohgarh to pay tribute to Great Sikh General Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. The Chief Minister made several announcements such as construction of roads from village Bhagwanpur to Lohgarh, Martial Art School, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial, Community Centres etc. for the overall development of Lohgarh. He also announced the formation of trust for the comprehensive development of Lohgarh.
- Thereafter this place was highlighted and curiosity among the Sikh community worldwide increased regarding Khalsa Rajdhani. Accordingly the Sikh Community of Yamuna Nagar, constituted a Lohgarh Trust for making necessary research on the said project. MOU with Delhi based Heritage Revival Company named Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development, was made in 2016. After Archeological intervention, Archival intervention and Historical intervention, astonishing facts were uncovered and the research stated that the epicenter of the fort is spread in almost 7000 acres, making it the largest Fort in the world (The known largest fort in the world is in Ranikot Sind Pakistan in 3000 acres and the largest fort in India is at Chitorgarh spreaded in 595 acres). The bastions of these forts are spread from Yamuna River to Ghaggar River. Kafi Khan, states that there were 52 bastions of Lohgarh fort, but he does not give the description of the locations of these bastions. After intensive research the locations of 52 bastions were traced and it was found that these bastions are located from Karnal to Panchkula District. The 22 bastions are still present at various locations. After the research new facts have been unveiled and it took almost 70 to 80 years for making of construction of such a huge fortification . The trust worthy population of Vanjaras, Labanas and Siklighars Sikhs were inhabited in the vicinity of Lohgarh to accomplish the secret mission. As per the new research the construction of Lohgarh fort, Yamuna Nagar was started by the 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib and first of all he (6th Guru) constructed Lohgarh fort at Amritsar for the protection of Darbar Sahib and later on the request of Hill Chieftains the fortifications in the shivalik hills was started. 7th Sikh Guru Har Rai Sahib stayed in Lohgarh Zone from 1645 to 1658 alongwith 2200 cavalry and his 13 years stay in the said area is attributed to the construction of fort Lohgarh. Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara played a significant role in the construction of fort Lohgarh under the leadership of Sikh Guru Sahibans. In 1652, the 8th Sikh Guru Har Krishan Sahib was born in Lohgarh Zone. The 10th Sikh Master Guru Gobind Singh Sahib stayed at Poanta Sahib from 1685 to 1688 and his stay is also attributed to construction of fort Lohgarh. In December 1709, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur declared Lohgarh as Sikh State Capital and issued coins on the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. On the back side of the coin, he inscribed Lohgarh as Khalsa Takth. From 1710 to 1716, three major battles were fought here between Sikhs and the Mughals. The fort Lohgarh remained invincible and after arrest of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the fort was captured by the Mughals and finally they demolished the fort. This place is not only important for the Sikh history perspective , but it is a subject of National importance. The slavery of 1000 years of Indian subcontinent was uprooted from Lohgarh. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur became the first ruler of the world to abolish feudal system and made tillers as the owner of the land. This was done first time in the world history and much earlier than the French Revolution. It is the place where the concept of social, political and economic equality was implemented first time in the world history.
- Today a book on Lohgarh has been released by Chief Minister, Haryana Sh. Manohar Lal Khattar. This book has been published by Haryana Academy of History and Culture, Kurukshetra and authored by renowned historian S. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer, S. Gagandeep Singh, District Development & Panchayat Officer, Yamuna Nagar and S. Gurvinder Singh, Chairman of Lohgarh Trust. The book contains 17 chapters on Lohgarh and epilogue containing illustrations of pictures and maps.
- Now the Lohgarh Trust, for construction of Gurudwara Sahib at Lohgarh and the Sikh Sangat has started the construction of Gurudwara Sahib, exhibition hall and living rooms. Haryana Govt. is making special endeavor to promote Lohgarh as international tourist destination.