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Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Shruti Choudhry inspects crèche at Haryana Civil Secretariat

Chandigarh, January 23- Haryana Women and Child Development Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry today inspected the crèche at Haryana Civil Secretariat Chandigarh. She interacted with the staff and mothers of children to review the arrangements at the crèche.

Smt. Shruti Choudhry directed the crèche staff to maintain a clean and pleasant environment in the crèche. She emphasised the need to enhance play facilities for children and directed them to ensure that children are never left unattended. She said that children should be well cared for so their mothers can perform their duties without any worries. For the holistic development of the child ensure a nurturing environment. She advised the staff to speak to the children gently, avoiding loud or harsh tones that might scare them.

During her visit, Smt. Choudhry also interacted with the children. Addressing the mothers, she assured them of her support and encouraged them to contact her directly in case of any issues. Some mothers shared some issues to which the Minister directed the present officers to resolve the issue promptly.

Smt. Choudhry placed special emphasis on maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen, drinking water, and toilets, and said that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard. She also directed departmental officers to conduct surprise inspections occasionally to ensure that standards are maintained.

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Haryana expands Haryana Divyang Pension Scheme, Adding 10 more Categories

Cabinet gives nod to the amendment of the Haryana Divyang Pension Rules, 2016

32,000 PwDs to benefit from New Pension Rules

The said amendments reflect Nayab Sarkar’s continued commitment to the welfare and empowerment of PWDs

Chandigarh, January 23- In a significant move towards inclusivity and support for Persons With Disabilities (PwDs), the Haryana Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, has approved amendments to the Haryana Disabled Pension Rules, 2016. As per the decision, 10 additional categories of PwDs in Haryana will now be eligible for pension benefits.

The move aligns with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, under which the Central Government has included 21 disability categories. Until now, the Haryana Government has been providing pension benefits to individuals with 11 categories of disabilities. With the approval of the recent amendments in the rules, 32,000 more PwDs will be eligible to receive monthly pension benefits.

The newly included categories are, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Speech and Language Disability, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Sickle Cell Disease, Multiple Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Chronic Neurological Conditions.

Notably, according to the UDID portal, presently, there are 2,08,071 beneficiaries in Haryana receiving a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 under the Haryana Divyang Pension scheme. With the inclusion of these 10 new categories, approximately 32,000 more PwDs will be benefited.

The Cabinet has also removed the age limit for individuals suffering from Hemophilia and Thalassemia to qualify for financial assistance. Previously, patients had to be at least 18 years old to receive financial support. Under the new rules, assistance will be provided to these individuals regardless of age. Furthermore, the financial assistance for Hemophilia, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia will be provided in addition to any other social security pension the beneficiaries may already be receiving.

The said amendments reflect Nayab Sarkar’s continued commitment to the welfare and empowerment of PwDs, ensuring that they receive the necessary support to lead dignified lives.

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Nayab Sarkar reiterates its commitment to supporting small traders, formulates the Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues-2025

Over 2 lakh taxpayers are expected to benefit from this scheme

The Scheme aims to provide practical solutions that support the economic growth of small taxpayers as promised by the government in its Sankalp Patra

The New settlement scheme also aims to move ahead in the GST regime with lesser baggage of arrears, litigations and to expedite the recovery of outstanding dues and give relief to small taxpayers

Chandigarh, January 23- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has once again reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment for empowering small traders and fostering a business-friendly environment in the state. In line with the promises made in the Sankalp Patra, the government has introduced the Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues 2025 aimed at moving ahead in the GST regime with lesser baggage of arrears, litigations and to expedite the recovery of outstanding dues and give relief to small taxpayers.

The State Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today approved the said scheme.

Over 2 lakh taxpayers are expected to benefit from this scheme

In the New Scheme formulated for the settlement of outstanding tax liabilities under seven pre-GST Acts, Taxpayers with outstanding liabilities of up to Rs. 10 lakh under any single Act will be granted a concession of up to Rs. 1 lakh. Additionally, 60% of the remaining principal tax amount will also be waived.

Furthermore, Taxpayers with outstanding liabilities of more than Rs. 10 lakh and upto Rs. 10 crore will also receive a 50% concession on their tax amount. Over 2 lakh taxpayers are expected to benefit from this scheme.

Notably, all taxpayers availing of this scheme will have their interest and penalty amounts completely waived. The taxpayers with settlement amounts exceeding Rs. 10 lakh will be allowed to pay their principal amount in two installments.

The scheme is applicable for quantified outstanding dues under the 7 Acts

The scheme is applicable for quantified outstanding dues under the seven acts namely The Haryana Value Added Tax Act, 2003 (6 of 2003), The Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 (Central Act 74 of 1956), The Haryana Local Area Development Tax Act, 2000 (13 of 2000), The Haryana Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2008 (8 of 2008), The Haryana Tax on Luxuries Act, 2007 (23 of 2007), The Punjab Entertainment Duty Act, 1955 (Punjab Act 16 of 1955), The Haryana General Sales Tax Act, 1973 (20 of 1973).

Key features of the Scheme

It is a simplified scheme. There is no categorization of tax unlike the old scheme; such as Admitted tax, disputed tax, Undisputed tax or Differential tax. Besides this, interest and all types of penalties are waived in the new Scheme.

The small taxpayers having cumulative quantified tax dues up to 10 lakh have to pay only 40% after deducting tax of Rs. 1 lakh out of their cumulative tax dues, and others whose cumulative arrears are upto Rs. 10 crores have to pay 50% of the cumulative tax dues.

The scheme shall be open for 120 days from the appointed day. The taxpayer whose settlement amount comes to more than 10 lakh, may pay the settlement amount in two installments.

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Haryana will become pollution free by 2030

Cabinet approved the DPR of Haryana Clean Air Project to make Haryana pollution free

Chandigarh January 23: The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today, approved the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development for the period spanning from the financial year 2024-25 to 2029-30. The project aims to improve air quality and reduce emissions across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a region that spans multiple state boundaries.

The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD) is a Haryana government initiative supported by the World Bank. The total proposed budget for the project is Rs 3,647 crore. The project will be financed through the World Bank’s Program for Results (PforR) mechanism.

The project will support the strengthening of air quality management systems in the state, while synergizing efforts being undertaken by the Government of India. It will focus on designing and implementing sector-specific air pollution abatement measures and facilitating coordination among Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) states to reduce cross-border emissions. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the 'ease of living' for citizens across Haryana's cities.

The potential benefits of the project include supporting the piloting and scaling up of state-of-the-art pollution control technologies, which could serve as a model for the rest of India. It will also enable air-shed management through the expansion of the air quality monitoring network, capturing statewide sources of pollution, and the development of a state-level emission inventory. The project is expected to lead to improved air quality in Haryana through emission reductions and positive spillover effects. The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development is a multi-sector initiative led by the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Haryana Pollution Control Board.

The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development will be jointly implemented by various departments, including Departments of Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Transport, Industries and Commerce, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Town and Country Planning, Haryana State Industrial and infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), Haryana Pollution Control Board, Rural Development , Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Development and Panchayats , Food and Civil Supplies , Gurugram Metropolitan City Bus Limited, Faridabad Metropolitan City Bus Limited, Haryana City Bus Service Limited and Directorate of MSME.

The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development will have a three-tier governing structure to review and monitor the progress of the project. In the top tier, the Governing Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, will review the progress of the project on a quarterly basis. In the second tier, the steering committee will be led by the Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, with directors of implementing departments as members. The steering committee will review progress under the project on a monthly basis. The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development Implementation Cell (HCAPSD cell) will be created to drive the implementation of the project as the third tier. The cell will be headed by the Project Director, that is Member Secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), or by any other officer appointed by the government.

For effective and timely implementation of the project the Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar will review the progress of the project from time to time.

An additional Project Director will be an HCS rank officer or any other officer appointed by the government for the day to-day implementation of initiatives. For the implementation of sector wise initiatives, the HCAPSD Implementation Cell will coordinate with the concerned deputy coordinating officers of the designated departments. The Department of Environment will hire a full-time program management unit (PMU) to support all departments in driving the implementation of the project. In addition to the above, a state-wide fellowship program will be rolled out and 24 'Clean Air Ambassadors (one each in all districts and two each in Gurugram and Faridabad) will be onboarded to create capacity at the district level to drive project implementation.

Haryana is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh in the east, Punjab in the west, Himachal Pradesh in the north, and Rajasthan in the south. It is one of the states in the Indo Gangetic Plain that comprises Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, NCT of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

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Cabinet took decision in the interest of ex-employees

Relief given to ex-employees of CONFED, Haryana Minerals Limited (HML) and Handloom and Export Corporation

Chandigarh January 23: The Haryana Government has decided to waive off recoverable amounts from ex-employees of CONFED, Haryana Minerals Limited (HML), and Handloom and Export Corporation, in line with the Haryana State Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation (HSMITC), who had availed benefits under the Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of State Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today.

As per the decision, the total principal amount paid for the period before October 1, 2020, will be recovered, without interest, from the ex-employees of CONFED, Haryana Minerals Limited (HML), and Handloom and Export Corporation. The recovery will be limited to one year, specifically from October 2019 to September 2020. Additionally, the total principal amount paid after October 1, 2020, will also be recovered without interest, following the same lines.

The total Principal amount to the tune of Rs 1,46,89,690, pending recovery from the ex-employees of CONFED, Haryana Minerals Limited and Haryana Handloom and Export Corporation, relates to the period before October 1, 2019, will be waived off.

The eligibility of honorarium of any of the ex-employees of these three corporations will be with effect from October 1, 2020 only subject to the recovery of outstanding principal amount and after obtaining the No Dues Certificate from the concerned District Social Welfare Officer in the district.

Any amount of Social Security Pension, which has already been recovered from/deposited by any of the ex-employees of these three corporations against the pension paid for the period, will only be adjusted against their recoverable amount. However, any excess amount already recovered from/deposited by any of the ex-employees, irrespective of the period, will not be refunded.

According to the scheme guidelines issued under Old Age Allowance, in case the person is receiving pension from any government or local/statutory body or any organization substantially financed by any government or local/ statutory body, he or she will not be eligible to receive allowance under the scheme. As a result, ex-employees of CONFED, Haryana Minerals Limited (HML), and Handloom and Export Corporation were ineligible to avail benefit under the Old Age Samman Allowance since they were already receiving a monthly pension under the Employees Pension Scheme, 1995. Additionally, they had already benefited from the Gratuity and Leave Encashment.

The State Government has approved a fixed monthly honorarium, in place of pension for ex-employees of these three corporations, which ranges from Rs 6000 to Rs 20,000 per month, depending on the employees classification, and is effective from October 1, 2020 on the same pattern as was given to the employees of HSMITC.

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Haryana Cabinet pays tribute to Netaji Subha Chandra Bose on Parakram Diwas

Chandigarh, January 23 – The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini today, began with floral tributes being paid to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on the occasion of Parakram Diwas.

While interacting with the media persons soon after presiding over the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Netaji was a great freedom fighter who made a significant contribution to India's independence.

Responding to a question, the Chief Minister stated that the promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Sankalp Patra are being fulfilled one by one. He added that the framework for the Lado Lakshmi Yojana for women is being prepared, and full details will be provided in the upcoming state budget, with the necessary budget provisions included.

They (Aam Aadmi Party) have a liquor policy; we have a development policy

Responding to a question about the Delhi Assembly elections, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that those who once called themselves the common man have now built their own Sheesh Mahal. He stated that there is growing anger among the people of Delhi towards the Aam Aadmi Party government. The Chief Minister further emphasized that while Delhi's Ministers talked about the liquor policy, the Haryana government is committed to a policy of development. He highlighted that in Haryana, children from poor families are being appointed as HCS officers without any Kharchi-Parchi.

Cooperation Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Sh Rajesh Nagar, Minister of State for Sports Sh Gaurav Gautam, Director General Information, Public Relations, Languages and Culture Department Sh K Makarand Pandurang and Media Secretary Sh Praveen Atrey were also present.

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Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini conducts a surprise inspection to review cleanliness efforts at Haryana Civil Secretariat

Also issues directives to ensure cleanliness in offices

Chandigarh, January 23 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini today conducted a surprise inspection to assess the ongoing cleanliness efforts at the Haryana Civil Secretariat. The inspection is part of the state government's special cleanliness campaign under the 'Swachh Haryana Mission,' aimed at promoting cleanliness in public spaces and government offices across the state. The campaign, which will run until January 31, 2025, seeks to foster a cleaner and healthier environment.

During the inspection, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary Dr. Vivek Joshi, Director General of Information, Public Relations, Language, and Culture Department K. Makrand Pandurang, Special Secretary Monitoring and Coordination Priyanka Soni, and Special Secretary Secretariat Establishment Samvartak Singh Khangwal.

Speaking to the media persons, the Chief Minister said that the state government had initiated a special campaign to ensure a clean and tidy Haryana. He said that all district officers have been instructed to prioritize cleanliness in their offices, as a clean work environment would contribute to greater efficiency and faster work processes.

The Chief Minister also acknowledged Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi's continued efforts to promote cleanliness nationwide. He said that the Prime Minister also called for citizens to work together to create a Swacch Bharat-Swasth Bharat. The Chief Minister pointed out the significant progress made since 2014 when open defecation was common. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, the government has successfully made the country open defecation-free through the Har Ghar Shauchalay Yojana. In addition, the Prime Minister has launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, which has led to the planting of lakhs of trees as part of a broader environmental cleanliness initiative.

The Chief Minister stressed that personal hygiene and cleanliness are individual responsibilities, but maintaining a clean environment around us is equally important. He said that a clean environment is key to ensuring good health.

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The Haryana Cabinet accorded ex-post facto approval for providing State Government Guarantee of Rs 401 crore in favour of Punjab National Bank, LCB Branch, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh

Chandigarh, January 23 – The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini here today, accorded ex-post facto approval for providing State Government Guarantee of Rs 401 crore in favour of Punjab National Bank, LCB Branch, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh against renewed Cash Credit Limit/WCDL of Rs 101 crore and fresh limit of Rs 300 crore (total amounting to Rs 401 crore) to meet the working capital requirements and Letter of Credit facility of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (UHBVNL).

The Nigam manages its day to day operations by using fund based and non-fund based working capital limits sanctioned by various banks. Due to increase in power purchase payments and for providing of Letter of Credit (LCs) facility in favour of power suppliers/generators as per Ministry of Power guidelines, the UHBVNL requires the fresh credit facility/ Letter of Credit.

Fund based and Non-fund based requirements of the company are increasing because of increase in Power Purchase Payments and increased requirement of Letters of Credits (LCs) to be given to Power Suppliers/Generators as per Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Notably, the UHBVNL is a state-owned power distribution utility responsible for supply of electricity to the consumers in 10 northern districts of Haryana. The operations of the utility are regulated by Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).

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Baba Shree Khatu Shyam Shrine Board, Chuklana Dham Samalkha in district Panipat to be established

Cabinet gives nod to the draft of the Haryana Baba Shree Khatu Shyam Chuklana Dham Shrine Bill 2025

Chandigarh, January 23- Haryana Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini here today approved the draft of the Haryana Baba Shree Khatu Shyam Chuklana Dham Shrine Bill, 2025. The Bill aims to provide better facilities to the pilgrims/devotees and better management of the assets of the shrine.

Notably, the state government has already taken over the management of Shrines by establishing Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, Shri Mata Sheetla Devi Shrine Board, Gurugram, Shri Kapal Mochan, Shri Badri Narain, Shri Mantra Devi and Shri Kedar Nath Shrine Board, Yamunanagar.

Lakhs of devotees/pilgrims from all over the Haryana and neighbouring states come to the temple every year to pay their obeisance to the deity. Jagran takes place on every Ekadashi and fairs are organized in this Dham of Shree Shyam Baba on Ekadashi and Dwadashi of Shukla Paksha of Phalgun month of every year. Further, thousands of devotees visit this shrine daily to pay obeisance to the deity for happiness and prosperity. Apart from Shree Shyam Baba temple, idols of Lord Hanuman, Lord Krishna, Lord Balram, Lord Shiva Parivar and other Gods & Goddesses are also established in the premises of the Dham.

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Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court releases three seminal legal texts authored by Dr. K.K. Khandelwal

Chandigarh, Jan 23 – The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu today released the texts titled "A Treatise and Commentary on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," "A Treatise and Commentary on the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita," and "A Treatise and Commentary on the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam." These three seminal legal texts authored by Dr. K.K. Khandelwal, IAS (Retd.).

Presided over by Hon'ble Justice Mr. Ajay Kumar Mittal, Former Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh, the ceremony was a beacon of transformative legal discourse, signaling a shift from colonial-era statutes to a framework reflective of contemporary Indian values and realities. The texts, co-authored by Mr. Ravindra Khandelwal, Advocate Mr. Kamaljeet Dahiya, Ms. Anu Singh, and Mr. Varun Chugh, delve deep into the nuances of new criminal laws designed to enhance the efficacy, fairness, and responsiveness of our legal system.

In his speech, Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu emphasized the monumental importance of these new codes as a move towards a justice system that embodies the principles of justice, equality, and rule of law—principles that resonate with the aspirations of a modern, democratic India. He noted that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam represent not just a legislative update, but a complete overhaul of the legal framework to address modern challenges such as cybercrime, mob lynching, and terrorism.

Hon'ble Justice Mr. Ajay Kumar Mittal lauded the legal reforms for their timeliness and relevance, highlighting the pivotal role these texts play in educating and guiding legal professionals through the intricacies of the new laws. His address celebrated the transformation embodied in these laws, which prioritize the rights and protections of individuals while adapting to technological advancements.

The event, eloquently led by Sh. Jasdev Singh Brar, Acting President, and proceedings conducted by Sh. Swarn Singh Tiwana, Honorary Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, was attended by a large number of esteemed members of the Bar Association.

Mr. Khandelwal, a retired IAS officer of the Haryana Cadre (1985 Batch) and current Chief National Commissioner of The Bharat Scouts and Guides, has previously authored over three dozen books on a wide array of subjects including legal, management, and cultural topics. His extensive oeuvre contributes significantly to the understanding and application of the law across various sectors.

This event marks a significant milestone in the legal history of India, as these new texts provide the necessary jurisprudential insight and practical guidance to navigate the evolving landscape of Indian criminal law.