Chandigarh– Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, on Thursday, said that the biggest change brought about under Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s leadership has been in the delivery of governance, with welfare benefits now reaching eligible beneficiaries directly instead of people having to make repeated rounds of government offices.
Referring to Congress leaders entering the State Assembly wearing black clothes, the Chief Minister said they may have forgotten the shortcomings of their tenure, but the people of Haryana still remember the difficulties they faced under the previous system. He said that during the Congress regime, people had to make repeated rounds of government offices to avail themselves of welfare schemes, senior citizens faced difficulties in getting pensions, people had to wait for days to obtain LPG cylinders, and youth faced challenges in securing jobs.
He said that over the past 12 years, the double-engine governments at the Centre and in Haryana, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, have transformed the delivery mechanism and ensured that government schemes and services reach eligible beneficiaries directly and transparently.
The Chief Minister stated this while responding to questions from media persons during a press conference held at Haryana Niwas on Thursday. Referring to the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana and Punjab, he advised opposition parties to introspect before questioning the policies of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Sh. Krishan Kumar Bedi, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Gupta, Commissioner and Secretary, Information, Public Relations, Languages and Culture Department, Sh. K. Makrand Pandurang, Director, Information, Public Relations, Languages and Culture Department, Dr Aditya Dahiya, OSD to Chief Minister, Sh. Vivek Kalia, Additional Director, Information, Public Relations, Languages Department, Capt. Manish Kumar Lohan and other senior officers also remained present on this occasion.
The Chief Minister said it seems that Congress leaders in Haryana had worn black clothes following Rahul Gandhi’s call and added that Congress leaders, particularly Bhupinder Singh Hooda, should tell the people about the system that prevailed for the poor, youth, women, senior citizens and the common man during their tenure. He said that BJP-led double-engine governments are working to fulfil the commitments made to the people in a time-bound manner.
*Congress Focused on Announcements; We Focused on Delivering Benefits- Nayab Singh Saini*
The Chief Minister said that governments led by Congress and other opposition parties made several announcements to attract voters but often failed to translate them into benefits on the ground. As elections approached, fresh announcements were made, while earlier commitments remained unfulfilled.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the system has undergone a significant transformation. Today, financial assistance under various welfare schemes is being transferred directly into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. He said the government is working to strengthen the poor, empower women, ensure dignity for senior citizens and provide greater opportunities to youth.
*Lado Lakshmi Yojana Providing Financial Support to Women*
The Chief Minister said that in keeping with the promise made to the women of Haryana before the elections, financial assistance of Rs. 2,100 per month is being transferred directly into their bank accounts under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana.
At present, women belonging to families with an annual income of up to Rs. 1 lakh are covered under the scheme. Its ambit will subsequently be expanded to include women from families with an annual income of up to Rs. 1.80 lakh. Registration for the expanded coverage will commence on September 17, observed as ‘Seva Diwas’.
Similarly, the State Government has adopted a proactive model under which eligible senior citizens receive pensions directly into their accounts. Recalling the earlier system, the Chief Minister said that during the Congress regime, senior citizens had to make repeated visits to government offices to get their pensions sanctioned and also faced difficulties in accessing their rightful benefits.
*Government Has Made LPG Cylinders More Accessible to Poor Families*
The Chief Minister said that during the Congress regime, people often had to wait in long queues for LPG cylinders, and the difficulties were even greater for poor families. He said that the situation has changed significantly under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. Through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the government has made LPG cylinders available to poor women at Rs. 500, providing significant relief to families.
Responding to a question regarding the anti-drug campaign in Punjab, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the situation in the neighbouring State raises questions about the effectiveness of its campaign against drugs. He said that Haryana, on the other hand, is working with a clear resolve to keep youth away from drugs by connecting them with sports and education.
He said lakhs of youth participate in various initiatives every month as part of the State Government’s efforts towards a drug-free Haryana. Sports infrastructure is also being strengthened at the grassroots level to provide young people better opportunities to develop their talent and move forward.
*Opposition Resorting to Politics over Development Works-CM*
The Chief Minister said that the opposition has been unable to raise substantive issues against the government. He said opposition leaders visit places where tenders for development works have already been issued by the government, get photographs clicked and subsequently raise the matter on social media.
He said that while the government is focused on implementing development works on the ground, opposition parties are increasingly relying on social media politics. Referring to the protest outside the HKRN office, the Chief Minister said that the present government has introduced a system aimed at protecting youth from exploitation through contractors and bringing greater transparency to employment arrangements.
*Haryana Has Made Governance More Accessible to Citizens*
The Chief Minister said that during the Congress regime, government offices generally became inaccessible to the public after working hours. Referring to Punjab, he said that extensive barricading has created a sense of distance between the government and ordinary citizens. In contrast, the Haryana Government has worked to make governance and public services more accessible to the people.
He said that farmers, youth, women and other sections of society had faced several challenges under previous governments. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the government has brought about systemic changes by placing the poor, women, farmers, youth and senior citizens at the centre of its welfare policies and translating its commitments into action on the ground.
Responding to a question regarding the strike by sanitation workers in Haryana, the Chief Minister said that every member of the Valmiki community is like a member of the government’s own family and their concerns and demands are considered on priority. He said that employees should not be misled by those seeking to create misunderstandings and should continue to cooperate with the government in resolving their concerns.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that a large number of people in Punjab are joining the BJP after leaving the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress. Recently, more than 1,000 prominent persons from various sections of Punjab joined the BJP. He said they want to see Punjab emerge stronger and believe that this can be achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi.
The Chief Minister said that if a BJP government is formed in Punjab, public welfare initiatives on the lines of Haryana will also be implemented there and the State will be taken forward on the path of development while upholding the teachings and values of the Gurus.