Memory gates, chowks to be named after Udham Singh: Khattar

One of the 28 'memory gates' being constructed to mark the golden jubilee of Haryana and one chowk in every town of the northern and western part would be named after legendary martyr Udham Singh, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said.
Adoya Chowk in Shahbad Markanda would be renamed as Udham Singh Chowk. Besides, one chowk of every town in northern and western part of the state would be named after Udham Singh, he said while addressing a public meet at new grain market here to mark the freedom fighter's 76th death anniversary.
Udham Singh was a revolutionary known for assassinating Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in British India, to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

"People should shun their narrow outlook and come out unitedly to remember the sacrifices of these brave men," Khattar said.
The event was organised by Haryana Kamboj Sabha and Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Karandev Kamboj.
Khattar announced a grant of Rs 21 lakh for the local Kambhoj Dharmsala and appreciated the members of the Haryana Kamboj Sabha for organising the function, saying it would inspire the younger generation to become nationalists.

The Chief Minister said a large number of programmes would be organised to mark the golden jubilee of Haryana and it would help people to understand the culture of the state and participate in its development.

Governor Acharya Dev Vrat also spoke at the programme and narrated how many freedom fighters laid down their lives happily for the sake of freedom of the country.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with officials here today, Khattar directed them to prepare for the International 'Gita Jayanti Samaroh' and the state's Golden Jubilee year celebrations to be held throughout the year, with special emphasis on beautification and cleanliness of the holy city.
For ex-servicemen, Khattar said a Rajya Sainik Board
already exists for their welfare and looks into problems faced by them.
"Still, we felt that since Haryana contributes nearly 10 per cent to the number of defence forces of our country, a decision has been taken to have a separate Department for the ex-servicemen. This Department will have a Minister-incharge as head," he said.

Khattar said Haryana government gives monthly pension to various categories of people including old age, widow pension, pension to physically challenged persons, besides others.
He said that instead of January 1, 2017 as announced earlier, the benefit of enhanced pension of Rs 1600 from present Rs 1400 per month will be given to these people with effect from tomorrow.
Twenty two lakh people of various categories are getting this monthly pension at present, he informed.
Khattar also said that earlier physically challenged people having 70 per cent disability were given pension, now decision has been taken that people having 60 per cent disability too will be entitled to get this pension.

"According to our estimates, 30,000 people fall in this range of 60-70 per cent disability," he said.
Speaking about the destitute children, he said their financial assistance of Rs 500 per month has been enhanced to Rs 700. These children get this assitance till age 21.
Village chowkidars will now get a bicycle and an umbrella in addition to the torch which they used to already get during a five-year period, entailing an expenditure of Rs 2 crore, Khattar further said.
About Gurugram Development Authority, whose announcement was made recently, Khattar said it will start functioning with effect from tomorrow and IAS officer V Umashankar, who was on deputation in Delhi, he has been made OSD of the GDA.

Earlier, Khattar said that during past two years since the first-ever BJP Government was formed in Haryana, "to understand the system, making announcements and preparing schemes, all this has been going on. Works have also been done. Out of 2200 announcements made so far, work on 1300 of these has either been completed or is under progress."
"In addition, 800-900 announcements are in pipeline on which we will work in the coming year," he said.
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Meanwhile, on being asked if honorarium for unemployed post-graduate youths came with a rider that beneficiaries must clear electricity dues to avail the scheme, Khattar, without conforming, said, "There is nothing wrong if people are asked to clear their dues."

"Financial assistance to non-school going differently-abled children will be increased from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 per month," he announced, adding special camps will be held to distribute artificial aids and appliances to one lakh "Divyangs".
"A Rs 3,000 per month financial assistance will be given to ex-servicemen who are 60 years or above, including those who are physically disabled or paraplegic. Their war-widows and orphan children will also benefit. It is also for war-widows of 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars," Khattar announced, adding the assistance is now between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000.
"Scholarship to cadets from Haryana at the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun will be increased from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per year," he said, adding police personnel will wear a 'Haryana Swarna Jayanti Medal' on their uniform.

"Strength of village sanitation workers will be increased from 11,300 and their monthly honorarium from Rs 8,100 to Rs 10,000. It has a financial implication of around Rs 25 crore," he said.
The under construction Haryana Vishwakarma Kaushal Vikas Vishwavidyalaya (HVKVV) at Dudhola will start operating out of a HUDA building tomorrow with Raj Nehru as Vice-Chancellor, he said.
On inter-state water and territory issues with Punjab, Khattar said, "The State has effectively pursued Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue in Supreme Court."
"For the first time in the last five decades water has reached some tail ends of Southern Haryana," he said, adding the State has a Rs 2,000 crore scheme to strengthen irrigation system.

"I have also taken up the construction of Lakhwar dam with the Centre. Some other states are also involved in the national project," he said, adding construction of Renuka and Kishau dams will improve availability of water.
On funds for implementing projects in the Golden Jubilee year and 7th Central Pay Commission, he said,"Steps would be taken to mobilise additional resources."
"With revenue leakage checked, receipts have increased. There is no dearth of funds," he assured, adding "losses of PSUs and Power Utilities will be reduced."
Khattar said the Golden Jubilee celebration's inaugural function at Gurugram tomorrow will not cost Rs 1,700 crore as projected in "some media reports".

"The amount is for various projects and schemes during the year-long celebrations. However, this amount could exceed the announced funds," he said.