by Haryananewswire (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, SEPT 28
The Haryana Government will soon announce its new Agricultural
Policy which would be farmer friendly. This was stated by Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder
Singh Hooda while talking to media persons at Meet-the-Press programme at
Chandigarh Press Club here today. Mr Hooda said that the state government has already
constituted Farmers’ Commission in the larger interest of the farming community
in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has hailed
the decision of the Central Government to implement Foreign Direct Investment
in the retail sector as it would benefit both the farmers and consumers and
quality products would be made available to the consumers. Small shopkeepers
would not be adversely affected, he added.
He said that opposition parties and their leaders were
opposing the FDI in retail sector. He reminded that such parties had themselves
declared introduction of FDI as one of the agenda items in their election
manifesto. He said that initially it would be implemented in the towns having
population of 10 lakh like Faridabad and Gurgaon. He said that the Central
Government had allowed investment under FDI upto 51 per cent in the country,
but in countries like China, Thailand, Brazil and Argentina there was no
such limitation. He said that FDI would prove very useful for agriculture
producers as it would attract investment in infrastructure. It would also
reduce post harvest losses in agriculture. He said that those who were
opposing FDI in retail, were the well wishers of those indulged in hoarding.
The FDI would minimize the difference in prices between sale and purchase
of commodities. He quoted an example saying that potatoes were being
purchased by traders at a rate of Rs.two per kg from farmers but consumers were
getting these at the rate of Rs.14 per kg. FDI would bridge this gap, he added.
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana has witnessed all round growth
in the all spheres including per capita investment, per capita income,
financial management has improved, industrial exports have increased,
industrial investment has also increased. There has also been significant
achievements in areas of agriculture, power, infrastructure, education, health
and sports. He said that Haryana has achieved industrial export to the tune of
Rs.48,530 crore during year 2010-11. Besides, Haryana has catalysed an investment
of about Rs 61,000 crore since 2005 and an investment of Rs 97,000 crore is in
pipeline. Contrary to it, upto 2005, since the formation of Haryana in 1966,
the state had attracted investment of Rs.41,000 crore. As per ASSOCHAM report,
Haryana achieved 81 per cent implementation rate of pledged investments, which
is the highest in the country and is ahead of states like Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The Chief Minister said that state government had also
implemented industrial friendly Industrial Policy in year 2005 which had been
reviewed and now we have a new policy in 2011 which also benefited industries
in backward areas. He also highlighted the various decisions of the state
government taken for the welfare of farming community during last seven-and-a-
half years including reducing interest on crop loans of cooperative banks from
11 per cent to four per cent, abolishing black law of arresting farmers for non
- payment of agricultural loans, exemption of stamp duty on loan, waiving of
arrears of electricity bills amounting to Rs.1600 crore, abolishing black
law of auction of land for non-payment of loans of land mortgage banks. He said
that interest on cooperative loans to the tune of Rs. 445 crore had been waived
off. This step benefited 3.92 lakh farmers of the state. As a result of
the farmer friendly policy of the government, out of 12 lakh tubewell operator
farmers, nine lakh were regular paying their electricity bills.
He said that as land holdings are shrinking, in such a situation
the farmers would have to adopt vertical farming. He said that Israeli
technique of farming is considered as best in the world. A Centre of
excellence for vegetable had been set up on the same technique at Gharaunda and
a similar centre of excellence for fruits was being set up in Sirsa.
He said that Haryana is the first State to implement land
acquisition policy under which there was a provision of giving an annuity for
33 years besides compensation. Now the government has come up with land pooling
scheme in which participation of farmers had been ensured in the process of
development.
Mr. Hooda said that the State has also witnessed a
substantial growth in the power sector. He said that from the year 1966 to
2005, the installed power generation capacity of the State was only 1587 MW.
But with the setting up of four new thermal power plants, the power
generation capacity of the State has increased to 5050 MW. Besides, Rs.
4290 crore had been spent on setting up of 1314 new sub-stations, augmentation
of existing 543 sub-stations and laying of 4530 km long electricity lines.
The Chief Minister said that during the tenure of the
present government, the road network in the State had been strengthened. He
said that Rs. 12,750 crore had been spent on the construction of roads and
bridges. Apart from this, 815 km long roads had been constructed and 26,000 km
long roads were repaired. In addition, 3908 km long roads had been constructed
in rural areas and 5689 km long road had been repaired. He said that from the
year 1966 to 2005, there were only 16 Railway Over Bridges in the State and
since the year 2005 till date, 29 RoBs have been completed whereas work on six
RoBs was in progress. Also, three new railway lines have been approved for the
State, he added.
Mr. Hooda said the State was fast emerging as an education
hub of international standard. A number of new institutes have been set up
whereas many institutes have been upgraded to the level of university. Rajiv
Gandhi Education City would cater to the education need of 1.5 lakh students
under one roof. This would be the biggest hub of education in the world, added
Mr. Hooda. First Women University of north India had been set up at Khanpur
Kalan in district Sonipat. National Institute of Design is being set up in
Kurukshetra, Sainik School had been set up in Rewari, a Central University at
Mahendergarh. Extension centre of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is
coming up and first Defense University is also being set up at Gurgaon. Another
university would also be set up in Gurgaon. In addition, private universities
were also being set up in the state.
The Chief Minister said that the Sports Policy of the State
Government is being appreciated all over the world. Our players have brought
laurels not only to the State but also to the country. It is clearly evident
from the performance of State players in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and
recently concluded Olympic Games. He said that out of Indian contingent of 83
players, 19 players were from Haryana which was a big achievement. Mr. Hooda
said that to ensure a secure future to the players, the State Government has
implemented ‘Padak Lao Pad Pao’ scheme in its sports policy. He said
apart from Government Jobs to the level upto Deputy Superintendent of Police,
the State Government had give cash awards of Rs. 50.85 crore to the outstanding
players of the State. The State Government has so far provided jobs to 424
players in recognition of their performance. Mr. Hooda said that the State
Government has already increased the amount of cash prizes for the
winners of 2016 Rio Olympics. He said that the gold, silver and bronze medal
winner would get Rs. 5 crore, Rs. 3 crore and Rs. 2 crore respectively.
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana is the first State where after
the independence in the year 1947, first women medical college in Government
Sector had been set up at Khanpur Kalan in district Sonipat. Apart from this
two more medical colleges was being set up in the State. He said that Haryana
is the first State where free medicines and economical surgery package was
being provided to the patients in all government hospitals. He said that
special emphasis was also being laid on rural development. A sum of Rs.500
crore had been spent on rural development. Under Mahatma Gandhi Grameen Basti
Yojna, free residential plots of 100 square yards had already been given to
3.85 lakh beneficiaries. Social security pensions and allowances of more than
Rs.1500 crore per year were disbursed among 20.63 crore beneficiaries.
Mr. Hooda said that Haryana is first state in the country
where the children belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and those
living below poverty line were given regular scholarship. About 20 lakh such
children were being given scholarship ranging from Rs.75 to Rs.400 per month.
He said that during last seven year, drinking water supply
schemes had been augmented in 6110 villages and 28 cities. Besides sewerage
facility had also been provided in 24 towns. As many as 9.85 lakh families had
been given free connection under Indira Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme.
The Chief Minister said that state government was observing
year 2012 as ‘Year of the Youth’ under which special emphasis was being laid to
ensure all round development of youth and make them more employable. In this
direction, intake capacity of technical institutes had been increased from
23,000 to more than 1.25 lakh.
Mr. Hooda said that senior officers of Railways, who met him
during the inauguration of Lakhanmajra halt recently, had also appreciated
unprecedented development taken place in the state and said that they had never
seen such development like Haryana in the country.
In reply to a question concerning provision of six LPG
cylinders, Mr. Hooda said that Haryana would provide three more LPG cylinders
on subsidized rates on the pattern of Delhi Government.
On being asked to comment on the issue of recent rape case
in Hisar, Mr. Hooda said that crime against woman is a heinous crime and nobody
would be spared. He said that some of the accused in this case have been
arrested and the remaining would soon be arrested. He said that law and order
situation is better in Haryana and as a result of this, investment in the state
had increased. Some untoward incident could happen anywhere and prompt
action was taken by police in such cases. The moment any incident
is brought to the notice of police, First Information Report (FIR) is
registered and action is taken accordingly. The law and order situation had
improved in the state. Criminals have no caste and every criminal, who
so ever he might be would get punished, he added.
He made it clear that the police had been taking prompt
action against criminals, especially in Hisar and Jind rape cases and law would
take its own course.
In reply to a query regarding separate Shiromani Gurudwara
Prabandhak Committee in the state, Mr. Hooda said that Chattha Committee had
already submitted its report which was being legally examined.When his
attention was drawn towards the transfer of land under Consolidation Act by two
senior officers of state government, Mr. Hooda said that whosoever committed
this and whatever action is required, would be taken.
On the issue of separate High Court for Haryana, Mr. Hooda
said that he was trying to get the same for the state.
Earlier, Mr. Hooda also greeted the people on the birth
anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and paid rich tributes to the great martyr.
He recalled Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s contribution to the freedom
struggle. He said that his family and that of Shaheed Bhagat Singh had close
bonds.
He also announced to give discretionary grant of Rs.31 lakh
to Chandigarh Press Club.
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