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Central grant for construction of sanitation complexes in Haryana

Special Correspondent

Union Rural Development Minister addresses State-level Panchayati Raj meeting

The Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, addressing a State-level `Panchayati Raj Sammelan' at Rai in Sonepat district on Sunday.

CHANDIGARH: The Union Rural Development Minister, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, on Sunday announced to sanction a Rs.239.52 crore special scheme to construct individual latrines, community sanitation complexes for women and Anganwari complexes in Haryana.

Addressing the State- Level Panchayati Raj Sammelan at Rai in Sonipat district, he assured all assistance for undertaking developmental projects in rural areas of the State. He appreciated that the Haryana Government, led by the Chief Minister,Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had implemented several developmental programmes within a short span of one year. He also praised Mr.Hooda for abrogating the draconian law under which the defaulting farmers used to be imprisoned for not repaying their cooperative loans. He hoped that other Chief Ministers would also follow suit and replace such `black' law.

Impressed by the large gathering, he further appreciated the personal endeavour of Mr.Hooda to fully empower the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State.

He pointed out that the UPA Government had increased the budget for rural development by 53 per cent as compared to that of the previous regime. Also, Rural Employment Guarantee Law had been enacted to provide assured employment of 100 days during the lean period when people would not have work in the fields.

Dr. Singh said that the Bharat Nirman Programme would cover six basic points. He said that Rs. 4,800 crores would be spent on development of network of roads in rural areas in four years. Under the 12th Finance Commission, Rs. 20,000 crores would be pumped in rural areas for developmental works and this money would directly go to the panchayats. Striking a political note and referring to the resignation by the All India Congress Committee President, Sonia Gandhi, from the post of Chairperson of National Advisory Council and from Lok Sabha, he said that she had quit the two posts even before the BJP and other opposition parties carried out their threat that they would complain to the President that she was holding office of profit.

Mr. Hooda thanked the Union Minister for sanctioning the project of construction of sanitary complexes for women in rural areas.

He criticised the previous Government for adversely affecting the institution of PRIs by setting up Gram Vikas Samitis. He charged that the former Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, used to exercise even those powers which were meant for PRIs.

Describing the panchayati raj institutions as the backbone of democracy, he said that the Government had decided to fix floor rates to acquire land.

As compared to the compensation of Rs.160 crores which the farmers were given by the previous government for acquiring about 2,200 acres of land for the construction of an express way from Palwal to Kundli, a compensation of Rs. 650 crores would be provided to the farmers. He urged the Union Minister to include more districts of Haryana under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as it had been implemented in only two districts of the State.

Announcing sops to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions and accelerate the pace of development in rural areas of the State, Mr.Hooda said that the limit of cash-in-hand for Sarpanches would be enhanced from Rs.5,000 to Rs.10,000. The honorarium of Chairman of Zila Parishad would be enhanced from Rs.3,000 to Rs.4,000 and that of Vice Chairman from Rs.2,500 to Rs.3,000. The honorarium of Chairman, Panchayat Samiti would be raised from Rs.2,000 to Rs.3,000. The Sarpanches would get Rs.1,000 per month as honorarium in future.

He said that 2,700 posts of Gram Sachives had been created and these would be filled up shortly. JE or other officials would be deputed as per the requirement of PRIs to undertake the developmental works of Panchayats in a proper manner.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Dharamvir,said that the integral development of rural areas was imperative as 70 per cent of the population resided in villages. Others who spoke included Lok Sabha MPs, Jai Parkash and Arvind Sharma, besides the Working President of State unit of the Congress, Ram Parkash.

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