Focus on bringing school dropouts back into the mainstream, directs CM
Emphasis on strengthening health services to make the state TB-free, CM
Chandigarh, February 11- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has directed the Education Department to conduct a survey for opening new schools in urban areas, keeping in view the rising population and expanding localities. The objective is to ensure that children have access to nearby schools and do not have to travel long distances for education.
The Chief Minister gave these directions while presiding over a meeting of the State-Level DISHA Committee held on Wednesday. Development and Panchayat Minister, Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar, MPs, Sh. Dharambir Singh, Sh. Naveen Jindal and several MLAs were present at the meeting, while officers from all districts joined virtually.
The Chief Minister said that out of 34,000 students who had dropped out last year, 18,796 were provided six months of training, and 15,386 of them have been reintegrated into the mainstream education system. He further said that the construction of a school building in Sector-37, Faridabad, will commence soon. Model Sanskriti Schools are being opened in every district to provide quality education to students.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed that a special awareness campaign be launched to ensure that the benefits of the Har Ghar Grihini Yojana reach all eligible women. Additionally, people, especially those living in ‘Dhanis’, should be made aware of solar subsidy schemes to facilitate access to electricity.
The Chief Minister said that the officers must intensify the efforts to make the state TB-free and anaemia-free. Under the National Deworming programme, the state has achieved 98 percent coverage. He also called for the expansion of naturopathy facilities and greater emphasis on opening Jan Aushadhi Kendras to ensure affordable medicines for citizens.
While reviewing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), the Chief Minister said that against the target of 98,726 houses in the state, 76,275 houses have been approved with an outlay of Rs. 652 crore, out of which 41,491 have been completed and the rest are under construction. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), 67,649 houses are to be constructed, of which 33,690 have already been built at a cost of Rs. 703 crore.
He further directed that the application process for Scheduled Caste families under the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Awas Yojana must be completed at the earliest so that eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance soon. Construction of a State Central Library in Ambala and a district library in Narnaul is also underway for the benefit of the youth.
Reviewing the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the Chief Minister directed the officers concerned that plans be prepared for creating water bodies in waterlogged areas to enable better water utilisation, and proposals be sought from gram panchayats. He said that the Hisar and Bhiwani drains will be deepened and widened soon.
The Chief Minister said that under AMRUT 2.0, 27 water supply and 9 sewerage projects are underway and will be completed shortly. Sewerage facilities are also being developed in around 59 large villages under the Mahagram Yojana and in newly formed municipalities, along with drinking water projects. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, 66,000 toilets have been constructed and special focus is being placed on cleanliness in both urban and rural areas.
The Chief Minister said an amount of Rs. 314 crore is being spent on the renovation of 257 sports stadiums, while 1,025 gyms and Vyayamshalas have been developed in rural areas. Priority is being given to the construction of tracks in these Vyayamshalas so that women in rural areas can access safe and better spaces for walking and exercise. He also reviewed the work of other departments in detail and issued necessary directions to the officers concerned.
Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretaries, Sh. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Sh. Vineet Garg, Smt. G. Anupama, Sh. Anurag Agarwal and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, were present on the occasion.