Govt concerned about poor peoples' debt : Hooda

Narnaund (Hisar), Feb 15 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced that having waived off interest on cooperative loans of small farmers, petty shopkeepers and artisans, the State Government was now considering on how to waive off the remaining debt of these poor people.

The Chief Minister who was addressing a largely attended public meeting at Narnaund in Hisar district said that the scheme to waive off interest on cooperative loans aimed at benefitting the poor to the tune of Rs 830 crore and so far they have been benefited by Rs 400 crore.

While referring to the implementation of the scheme under which arrears of electricity bills to the tune of Rs 1600 crore were waived off by the present government, he said never in the history of independent India had any state Government ever waived off arrears to this extent.

Mr Hooda also announced that the budget of the State for the next financial year, to be presented in the budget of the State Assembly during next month, would be of not less than Rs 6600 crore whereas when the present Government assumed office three years ago, the planned budget of the State was merely Rs 2200 crore and the then State Government could not spent even this small amount.

While referring to the issue of power, Mr. Hooda said that only a couple of days ago the Government has decided to purchase power at a rate of Rs 8.25 paise per unit from Karnataka and other states so as to supply it to the consumers in the State.

He said that under the Indira Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme, which aimed at giving free connections of drinking water, a water tank of 200 litre capacity fitted with a tap to eight lakh households of Scheduled Castes, two lakh have already been benefited. While signifying the necessity of literacy, he said that incentive based scheme had been introduced for the wards of poor sections of the society so that they start getting incentives right from joining a school. This, he said would help them to continue their education.

Mr Hooda announced to set up an Industrial Training Institute and a sports stadium at Narnaund provided the land is given by the people of area. He appreciated the demand for an ITI and said that the number of seats in technical engineering institutes would be raised to one lakh in two years. The Government has already increased the intake capacity from 23000 to 53000.

He also announced to set up a 33 KV substation at Budana after getting its feasibility study conducted. While assuring all assistance of the government for the development of Narnaund, Mr Hooda also announced to sanction Rs 50 lakh for each of the ten villages in Narnaund Assembly Constituency for construction of pucca streets. He also announced similar grant for some villages of Barwala Constituency.

He also announced that a rest house would be constructed at Narnaund and the extension in minors would be made to cover more areas.

While referring to other demands like upgradation of schools, construction of a large numbers of roads and a veterinary hospital would be got examined and those fulfilling norms would be met with.

Earlier, Mr Hooda inaugurated a Bus Stand constructed at a cost of Rs 56 lakh and a building of Tehsil office constructed at a cost of Rs 58 lakh in Narnaund.

President of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Phool Chand Mullana appreciated the State Government for ushering of new era of prosperity and acting fast to check atrocities against Scheduled Castes, if any. He announced that enrollment to the Congress party would commence soon.

UNI JN MMS1912