Lifetime pension for Hindi 'satyagrahis' in Haryana

The Haryana government on Tuesday announced lifetime monthly pension for Hindi "satyagrahis" and those from the state who were jailed during the Emergency, and an increase in financial assistance to the veterans of the Second World War and their widows.

The state would also ensure 10-hour power supply to the agriculture sector from Wednesday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said while speaking at the closing ceremony of the year-long "Swarna Jayanti" (golden jubilee) celebrations of the state at the Mahabir Stadium in Hisar.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

Naidu lauded the rapid strides made by Haryana, the sacred land of Upanishads and Bhagvad Gita, in various fields, especially agriculture, sports and information technology.

"It is no mean achievement for a state having mere 1.5 per cent of the country's population producing 15 per cent of total foodgrain in the country," Naidu said in his address.

Welcoming the Vice President, Khattar said from Wednesday, the agriculture sector in the state would start getting 10 hours of electricity daily.

He said Faridabad had become the fourth district in the state to get 24-hour electricity supply in its rural areas.

The Chief Minister also announced a raise in the monthly financial assistance from Rs 4,500 to Rs 10,000 for soldiers from Haryana who took part in the Second World War and their widows.

Khattar said government jobs had been provided to 156 next-of-kin of those from the state who had laid down their lives in post-Independence wars and while fighting against terrorists.

Haryana was created on November 1, 1966, as a separate state after bifurcation of areas from Punjab.

--IANS

js/nir/vm