More power to PRIs to accelerate pace of development: Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) will be strengthened and given more financial powers to accelerate the pace of development in the state's villages.
"The state government has decided to give more financial powers to PRIs to accelerate the pace of development in villages," he said at a meeting with officials of the Sirsa district administration.
For the first time, the government has appointed independent chief executive officers (CEOs) in Zila Parishads, Khattar said.
Earlier, additional deputy commissioners used to exercise the powers of the CEO, an official release said quoting the Chief Minister.

The state government is considering a proposal to provide Zila Parishads a budget of Rs 8 to Rs 10 crore, Panchayat Samitis Rs 2 crore and Gram Panchayats up to Rs 30 lakh, Khattar said.
Besides, it has been planned to introduce e-tendering for big projects in Gram Panchayats to maintain transparency in development works, he said.

Directing officials to complete work on the announcements made by him, Khattar said laxity would not be tolerated at the district-level.
Officers should send proposals on developmental works to the government and focus on the completing ongoing projects, he said.
"If officers in the districts face any kind of problem at the headquarter-level, they may contact the Chief Minister's Office," Khattar told them.

He also made it clear that public welfare works should not be delayed unnecessarily.
"If any policy decision is involved, the matter may be forwarded to the state government as a special case," the Chief Minister said.
Khattar congratulated officers on the improvement in sex-ratio across the state under the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme.
He said today Haryana is known for saving and empowering girls.
"Officers in other states are calling their counterparts in Haryana to know the steps that have been taken to improve the sex-ratio. It is a matter of pride that Haryana's sex ratio has touched the figure of 950 females per 1000 male in March," Khattar said.

Meanwhile, he also said the "CM Window", a web portal to redress people's grievances, is being further simplified and columns such as demands, transfers, and suggestions would be created to deal such cases separately.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti Samaroh here, the Chief Minister said a board has been constituted for the development of people belonging to nomadic tribes.
A survey has been undertaken to provide houses to all such families at one place in the state, he said.
The state government has increased the minimum wages of sewage workers from Rs 5,900 to Rs 7,700 per month and for skilled employees to Rs 10,180 a month, Khattar said.

The Chief Minister said various schemes have been launched for the overall development of students and youths of the state.
He said as part of Haryana's Golden Jubilee Year celebrations, various programmes are being organised to promote the ideology 'Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek'.
In this series of programmes, events are also being organised in the state to celebrate Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti from April 7 to 14, Khattar said.
Similarly, a decision has been taken to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Saint Kabir, Maharshi Valmiki and Guru Ravidas every year to spread their ideologies, he said.