Haryana doubles chowkidars' allowance

The Haryana government has decided to double the monthly allowance for chowkidars (watchmen), from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 to be effective from April 1, 2018.

Making the announcement at a state-level Chowkidar meet in Hisar today, Chief Minister Lal Manohar Khattar said that from now onwards, the chowkidars would get uniform allowance of Rs 2,500 instead of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 750 earlier for stick, battery, whistle and umbrella.

He also announced that they would be provided bicycles within three months.

The chief minister also announced that those chowkidars who were removed from the services during the period from 2014 to 2017 but kept on discharging their services during these years would be provided their full salaries.

Referring to future recruitment, Khattar said the state government was soon going to advertise the posts of group D category in which there would be no interview and selection would be made on the basis of written examination.

Addressing the chowkidars, Khattar said his tenure had been free of any charges of corruption.

"We have been doing 'chowkidari' of the state for the past three-and-a-half years but have you heard any scam? Contrary to this, there are lists of CBI cases into the wrongdoings committed during the tenure of previous governments," said Khattar.

Equating corruption to cancer, he said that the BJP government in the state has streamlined the system by making effective use of Information Technology (IT).

"After the concept of educated panchayats, now the state government has decided to implement e-Panchayat," he said, while assuring all support and cooperation to the village panchayats in implementing this system.

The chief minister said that requisite training would also be provided to the panchayats.

Khattar described 'chowkidars' as 'the real vigilantes of villages', and said his government was committed to restoring their status.