Krishan Kumar Bedi, Haryana Minister of State for Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare for SC/BC classes says that welfare schemes which were launched by the Central and State governments in the last five years have been implemented with honesty and unbiased manner in the State.
The eligible beneficiaries especially those are belonging to SC/BCs have been benefited of schemes being run by the departments like Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, Dr BR Ambedkar Awas Yojana, Inter-caste Marriage Scheme, Legal Aid Scheme, scheme to encourage Panchayati Raj, Dr BR Ambedkar Medhavi Chhatra Yojana, Post-matric scholarship scheme for the students of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, incentive scheme for higher education for Scheduled Castes students, pre-matric scholarship scheme for the children of those involved in sanitation and life threatening jobs, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, skill training in typing and data entry for unemployed youth of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.
He says that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Haryana government under the leadership of Manohar Lal Khattar, while following the principle of Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas and Antyodaya, have been working for the welfare of all the people including poor. The concerns of Guest teachers, Anganwadi workers, rural and urban sanitation workers in the State have been redressed by the chief minister.
Bedi who won the 13th Vidhan Sabha election by a margin of merely 562 votes from the Shahabad (Reserved) constituency first time in 2014 was made Minister of State for Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare for SC/BC classes by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, Bedi reveals his government’s achievement in five years, his political journey as well as his strategy for the upcoming assembly polls. Excerpts from the interview:
It is said that one should have a political background or have at least a monetary backup to join big political parties. How did you secure ticket from BJP? Have you been associated with RSS or ABVP before joining the BJP? How has been your political journey so far?
I was born in a non-political family on June 15 1967 in Kurukshetra. Despite adverse economic conditions, I did schooling from Government Senior Model School, Kurkshetra. I took my graduation degree from University College of Kurukshetra. After the completion of graduation, I did my Post Graduation in 1992 from the Kurukshetra University. I took part in students’ union election in 1989. Then I fought Municipal Corporation election in Kurukshetra in 1994. That time, I was the youngest councillor of Municipal Corporation of Kurukshetra. In 1996, I became a secretary in BJP Mandal Thanesar. In 1998, I was the general secretary in BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and later I became the district President in BJYM, Kurkshetra. Then in 2002, I touched the new heights by becoming State General Secretary in SC Morcha in Haryana. In 2011, I became a member of National Council BJP. In 2013, I became State President of SC Morcha Haryana and I was the member of National Council BJP. In 2004, I fought my first MLA election as BJP candidate in (Radour) Constituency, district Yamuna Nagar.
I too had heard before joining the politics that one should have a political background or have atleast a monetary backup to join any political parties. BJP is a party wherein one does not need to have a political background or monetary backup. But one should be dedicated to public works.
You won assembly election first time by a margin of merely 562 votes in 2014. But you were made Minister of State for Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare for SC/BC classes. How was your experience as a Minister?
In 2004, I fought my first MLA election in (Radour) Constituency, district Yamuna Nagar but lost the election. Again in 2009, I fought my second MLA election from Shahbad Markanda Constituency Kurukshetra and lost the election. In 2014, I got elected as an MLA on October 19 in Shahbad Constituency and on October 26, 2014, I became State Minister under Manohar Lal Khattar Government Haryana. As a Minister, I got a chance to work for the people of the State. Several steps were been taken for the upliftment of the people belonging to SC/BC.
What are the steps you have taken for SC and OBC?
Several steps were taken for the welfare of the SC/OBC people of the State. During the financial year 2019-20, Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation has provided financial assistance of over Rs 872.01 lakh to 967 beneficiaries with a subsidy of Rs 54.99 lakh, till August 2019, under various schemes. SC and other backward classes (OBC) people can apply for loans for self-employment from various corporations, along with other welfare schemes being run by the department, to make their family prosperous.
The Corporation provides loans to people belonging to Scheduled Castes under various categories so that they could establish their business or become self-employed.
These categories include agriculture and allied sectors, industrial, trade, business, professional and self-employment sectors. The officers of the department concerned have been directed to take the initiative of making maximum youth belonging to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes employable especially through the medium of computer training centres being run in all districts under various schemes of the State Government.
What are the works done in five years as a Minister in the State?
Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Haryana Government under the leadership of Manohar Lal, while following the principle of Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas and Antyodaya, are working for the welfare of poor. Online working system was being implemented in government departments by adopting zero tolerance policy towards corruption. The eligible beneficiaries get the benefit of schemes being run by the department, like Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Awas Yojana, Inter-caste Marriage Scheme, Legal Aid Scheme, scheme to encourage Panchayati Raj, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Medhavi Chhatra Yojana, Post-matric scholarship scheme for the students of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, incentive scheme for higher education for Scheduled Castes students, pre-matric scholarship scheme for the children of those involved in sanitation and life threatening jobs, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana, skill training in typing and data entry for unemployed youth of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. In 2014, the people of Haryana had blessed us for five years. We have never looked back and have served the entire Haryana state as a family in these five years. Many historical decisions were taken for the welfare of the People. In five years of BJP-led government, not a single case of nepotism, corruption, casteism, regionalism has been reported from any parts of the state.
You were with the chief minister during Jan Ashirwad Yatra. Do you think Jan Ashirwad yatra will help the BJP to form the government?
Jan Ashirwad yatra carried out by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been a huge success. Wherever the yatra went, from villages to cities, the CM was warmly welcomed by the people in all the 90 Assembly constituencies. Local residents, party supporters and public representatives welcomed the yatra at their respective areas. The popularity of the Chief Minister among all the section of society, be it farmers, traders, labourers, youths and women has been witnessed at the top during the yatra. Developmental works done by the BJP-led government under the leadership of CM Khattar in five years were appreciated by the people.
The party leaders and members have already started door to door campaign at booth levels and the target of 75+ seats set by the Party will be achieved. People of the state had shown faith on the party and its leadership and during Lok Sabha election, the party had secured victory on all the 10 parliamentary seats.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had recently addressed a huge public rally in Rohtak and Jind respectively. Will it convert into votes?
Our party is a national party. Central leadership helps the state unit to win the election. Our party has focused only on development in five years. Thousands of people attended both the rallies as they want to hear our PM and Home Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the rally in Rohtak on September 8. Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah had addressed a public rally in Jind on August 16. These rallies had attracted youth and energised party leaders and workers. Both the rallies were historic and successful.
Apart from Congress party, do you think parties like INLD, JJP, AAP and Swaraj Party will give your party strong fight in some constituencies?
Congress Party leaders are fighting over leadership issue. The organisational changes in Haryana made by the Congress will not help them at all. As Congress had lost all the Lok Sabha seats recently, similarly the results of the Congress in Haryana will be the same in the assembly elections. There is no opposition party which can give big fight to the BJP in the assembly election.
What are the works you done for your constituency?
Being a Minister, I got a chance to work for the people of my constituency as well as various parts of the State. I was connected with the people of the constituency and their concerns were redressed. I was always available for them. All round development has been taken place in my constituency.
Has your government addressed the issue of unemployed?
Our government has done several works to generate employment to youth. The data of the last five years reveals that our government has succeeded in providing job to the youths. Party has made a vision document drive. We will make Haryana exactly as the people of the state want. The party will prepare its manifesto for the assembly elections on the basis of people’s expectations.
What are the other steps taken for the welfare of SC/BC people?
For the welfare of Vimukt Ghumantu Jati, our government has not only set up Haryana Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vikas Board but will also constitute a Vimukt Ghumantu Jati Vitt Evam Vikas Nigam soon.
As per the vision of Prime Minister to provide housing for all by 2022 (Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna), applications have been invited from the people of these tribes so as to enable them to avail the benefits of housing. Under this, as many as 5913 application have been received so far. To encourage the children of these tribes for higher education and other competitive examinations, hostels would be set up in two districts in the next five years. Land for these hostels has already been allocated. By that time, these hostels would be made operational from the rented building.
