Hooda announces bonanza for SC students

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 14

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced a bonanza of incentives for students belonging to Scheduled Castes studying in classes from I to XII, which included increase in the amount of monthly incentive ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 200 thus benefiting 11 lakh such students, both boys and girls, to the tune of additional   Rs 150 crore.

          The Chief Minister was addressing a state level function organized to commemorate the 122^nd birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Jhajjar today.

          While announcing the hike in monthly incentives, Mr. Hooda said that the Scheduled Castes boys studying in classes XI and XII would now get Rs 400 instead of Rs 300 and for girls of the same classes it would be Rs 600 instead of Rs 400 earlier. Similarly, he said that the SC boys studying in classes IX and X would now get Rs 250 instead of Rs 200 earlier whereas for girls, it would be Rs 400 instead of Rs 300 earlier.

          Mr. Hooda also announced that boys studying in classes VI to VIII would get an incentive of Rs 200 instead of Rs 150 and for girls of the same classes it would be Rs 300 instead of Rs 200 earlier. He said that the boys of classes I to V would now get an incentive of Rs 150 instead of Rs 100 and for girls of the same classes it would be Rs 225 instead of Rs 150 earlier.

          It may be recalled that the State Government led by Mr. Hooda had started this scheme in financial year 2008-09 to check dropout rate among the weaker sections of the society. Rs 300 Crore were spent by the state government to give monthly incentives to 10.72 lakh SC school going students during last financial year.

While paying rich tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar, Mr Hooda described him as great scholar, patriot, economist, jurist and historian, who rendered right of franchise to every person. All his life, Dr Ambedkar struggled to promote self respect among the poorest of the poor. In the history of India, his name will always be written in golden letters, he added.

Launching a scathing attack on the INLD, Mr Hooda said that some opposition leaders were accusing him of putting INLD leaders in Jail but the people cannot be fooled by false propaganda. “Public Bahut Samajhdar Hai; Yeh Public Hai, Public Sub Janti Hai”, he added amidst loud cheers from the responsive crowd. “I do not do such things. Had I done so, there would not have been development. My focus is on development only. Had I to do it, I would have not waited for eight years” added Mr Hooda saying as you sow, so shall you reap.He said that instead of blaming him, they (the INLD)should focus on hiring good advocates.

While alleging Chautalas and Badals being hand in glove for trying to stall the Hansi-BML canal, Mr Hooda said that the canal has been completed. The canal would also bring just share of water for all the areas of the state. He said that during the six year rule of INLD-BJP government, Rs 621.02 crore were spent in distict Jhajjar, whereas Rs 3135.36 crore have been incurred on the development works in Jhajjar during the last eight years of Congress Government. The Central schemes are not included in it, he added.  

Mr. Hooda said that in Haryana, the labourers were getting the highest wage of Rs 214 per day under MANREGA. The Government waived off arrears of electricity bills amounting to Rs 1600 crore and the rate of interest on loans of Cooperative Banks has been reduced from 11 to four per cent. The farmers are given remunerative price for their produce. He said that 10.5 lakh families belonging to Scheduled Castes have been given free water connections and water storage tanks of 200 litres free of cost. He said that 2.80 lakh poor families have already been allotted residential plots of 100 sq. Yard each and the remaining beneficiaries would also get such plots. He said that in next two years, two lakh houses would be constructed in rural areas and 1.5 lakh in urban areas for the poor.

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President, Mr. Phool Chand Mullana also paid rich tribute to Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. He said that he strived hard to uplift the socioeconomic status of the poor. Now the congress government is following the foot steps of Dr. Ambedkar and implementing a number of schemes for the welfare of all sections of the society.

Education Minister, Mrs. Geeta Bhukkal said that Dr. Ambedkar ensured that all get right to vote and stressed on promotion of education. She said that the weaker sections of the society are supporting the congress party and with their support, the Congress would win all the ten Lok Sabha seats in the State and under the leadership of Mr. Hooda, the Congress would form government in the State for the third consecutive term.

Earlier, Accompanied by Haryana Congress President Mr Phool Chand Mullana and Social Welfare Minister Mrs Geeta Bhukkal, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to the Architect of Indian Constitution, Dr Ambedkar at the Dr Ambedkar Chowk in Jhajjar.

          Others present on the occasion included senior Congress leader, Mr. Raj Singh Jakhar, Advocate, former Minister, Mr. Banta Ram Balmiki, former MLA, Dr. Virender Pal, Daryao Singh Rajaoura and other prominent personalities of the area.