Cabinet nod to purchase of 10 more crops at MSP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5

The Haryana Government has decided to procure all crops at minimum support price (MSP). Now, 10 crops, namely ragi, soybean, kalatil, safflower, barley, maize, jowar, jute, khopra and moong will be procured at MSP in the state.

Other important approvals

• Haryana Agniveer Policy, 2024, which aims to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to Agniveers
• Draft of Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Amendment Ordinance, 2024 to amend Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Mgmt) Act, 2014
• Discontinuation of ‘abiana’ from farmers w.e.f. April 1, 2024, which will result in a one-time waiver of about ~133.55 crore
• Reservation for Backward Classes-Block B in Panchayati Raj Institutions and municipalities based on panel’s recommendations

The decision was taken by the Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini here today. The Cabinet move follows Saini’s announcement at a rally in Kurukshetra yesterday. Besides, the Cabinet approved the Haryana Agniveer Policy, 2024, which aims to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to Agniveers.

The policy offers benefits in government recruitment, including a 10 per cent horizontal reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment for positions such as constable, mining guard, forest guard, prison warder, and SPOs. Besides, there will be a 5 per cent horizontal reservation for Group C civil posts and a 1 per cent horizontal reservation for Group B posts.

The Cabinet also decided to give the reservation to Backward Classes-Block B in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and municipalities based on the recommendations of the Haryana Backward Classes Commission. The Cabinet also approved the amendments to the New Integrated Licensing Policy-2022 by allowing purchasable development rights (PDR) under residential plotted component in parity with normal residential plotted licenced colonies.

The draft of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Amendment Ordinance, 2024 to amend the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014, was also cleared. Now, the Chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission shall be a High Court judge, and if an HC judge is not appointed then the district judge, and if the district judge is also not appointed, the one of the three selected members of the commission shall be the Chairman.

The revision of pension/family pension (Pre-2016 and Post- 2016) of retired judicial officers of the Haryana Government as per Second National Judicial Pay Commission was also approved. The Cabinet also passed the proposal regarding the grant of challaning powers under Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules,1993. Now, the officers of the Mining Department not below the rank of Mining Officer will also be empowered with challaning powers for the goods vehicles carrying mining material.

The Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to criteria for exclusion of persons within the backward classes from creamy layer. The income limit of creamy layer of backward classes in the state has been increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.

The Cabinet approved the Haryana Registered Vehicle Scrappage and Recycling Facility Incentive Policy 2024 to help promote state-of-the-art recycling facilities and achieve a recyclability level of 85 per cent. It also passed amendments to the policy of ‘Mukhya Mantri Shehri Awas Yojana’ (MMSAY) to address the housing needs of urban families with an annual income up to Rs 1.80 lakh per annum.

The Cabinet approved the Mukhya Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana-Extension (MMGAY-E) to provide one lakh residential plots of 50 square yards in mahagram panchayats and 100 square yards in regular panchayats to economically weaker sections (EWS).

The Cabinet approved amendments to the Haryana Compulsory Registration of Marriages Rules, 2008. Under the new amendments, additional deputy commissioners (ADC)-cum-district citizen resources information officers will now serve as district registrars for marriage registrations. Now, city magistrates, SDMs, joint commissioners, district municipal commissioners, executive officers and BDPOs and gram sachivs have also been granted powers to register marriages.

The Cabinet decided to discontinue ‘abiana’ from farmers with effect from April 1, 2024. This decisive action will result in a substantial one-time waiver of about Rs 133.55 crore. The Cabinet granted approval to provide compassionate appointment to the 14 dependents of “battle casualty” of armed forces personnel or paramilitary personnel. Of the 14 cases, two individuals had been appointed to Group B positions, while 12 have been appointed to Group C posts.

The Cabinet also approved the introduction of the ‘Vivadon Ka Samadhan’ scheme in respect of milk plants. This initiative aims to provide a fair and structured resolution for milk plants that have defaulted on their milk cess payments as on July 31, 2024.