Other States - Haryana   

Hooda announces bonanza

Rajesh Ahuja

Insurance cover for people, more employment opportunities

HISAR: Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on Sunday announced a virtual bonanza for the people to mark the completion of one year of his rule. These included an insurance scheme named after Rajiv Gandhi, enhancement in wages of village chowkidars and priority in giving employment to those employees who were retrenched by the previous Chautala government. He also announced that farmers and labourers would not be arrested for recovery of cooperative loans.

Political observers said that the impressive turn-out at the `Nav-Nirman' Rally here clearly reflected that the people of the State had endorsed Mr. Hooda's style of functioning and his policies. Interestingly, the rally was organised by the Haryana unit of the Congress but it was Mr. Hooda's show all the way.

Even though the President of the Haryana unit and former Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, was not present, his son and Deputy Chief Minister, Chander Mohan, shared the dais with the AICC General Secretary, Janardhan Dwivedi, the Union Ministers Selja and Inderjit Singh, and the Cabinet Ministers thus sending a clear message of "unity'' within the party and the Government.

Roads leading to Hisar were virtually blocked with vehicles of party workers who came from all over the State. There was a general complaint that the police did not allow several workers to reach the venue.

Mr. Hooda said that he was pained at the sudden death of 14 persons belonging to Scheduled Castes in a road accident recently as all of them were earning members of their respective families. Therefore, he had decided to introduce an insurance scheme covering those aged between 18 and 60. If they lose their lives in an accident, they would be given a compensation of Rs. one lakh.

He said that the wages of village chowkidars would be enhanced from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1000 per month and Rs. 250 would also be given annually for torch, stick and uniform.

He reiterated that his regime was taking several steps to check the problem of unemployment and at least one job per family would be ensured in five years.

Lambasting his political opponents for demanding resignation of the State Government, Mr. Hooda asserted that the Congress would continue to rule the State up to the year 2020 by when the vision of a new Haryana would be implemented in letter and spirit.

He announced that a similar rally would be held next year at Panipat on March 5. While admitting that there was a power shortage in the State, he blamed the previous governments for the malaise. Even though Haryana was created four decades ago, it had a total generation capacity of 4,000 MW only as against a demand for 9,000 MW.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Hooda announces bonanza

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu