Days after the Union Cabinet approved a Bill to repeal the three controversial farm laws, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to welcome the decision and discuss the current situation regarding farmers’ agitation.

The meeting was held in New Delhi on the day when the farmers marked one year of the protest against the three farm laws at Delhi-Haryana borders. This was the first meeting of Khattar with the Prime Minister after the announcement was made by the latter regarding repealing farm laws.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister inquired about the current situation related to farmers’ agitation at the border and expressed hope that the farmers would return to their homes after the Bill is passed to repeal the farm laws in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

The Prime Minister also expressed concerns about the rising pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and inquired about the status of stubble burning in Haryana.

After the meeting which lasted for more than half an hour, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told the mediapersons, “The matter of farmers’ agitation was discussed with the Prime Minister. I have welcomed the decision of repealing the agriculture laws. The announcement of withdrawing the Agriculture related Acts have sent a good message and we are hopeful that farmers will definitely return to their homes after the laws are repealed in the Winter Session of Parliament.”

He said the Haryana Government is continuously working in the interest of farmers. Haryana is the only State which is procuring 11 crops at MSP. Not only this, the State Government has also compensated damaged bajra at the rate of Rs 600 per quintal, which has benefited the millet growers, Khattar said.

After PM’s announcement to repeal the laws, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to continue the agitation and also demanded a discussion over Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of cases registered against farmers and compensation for deceased farmers’ kin.

With farmers camping at border points of Delhi - Singhu, Tikri (along Haryana) since a year, Haryana has been badly hit due to the protest. Apart from the daily commutes, the local traders have faced consequences of the road blockades due to the agitation since last year.

The Chief Minister also said the Prime Minister inquired about the issue of pollution and stubble burning and has asked to prepare new schemes with the Departments concerned to deal with the issue.

He said Haryana has achieved a good ranking in Swachh Survekshan-2021. The PM has asked to focus on cleanliness in rural areas as well, Khattar said. Responding to a question on investigation into the HPSC job scam, the Chief Minister said a fair investigation is going on and the culprits will not be spared.

PM invited for Gita

Jayanto, inauguration of orbit corridor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited for the International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav to be held in Kurukshetra from December 9-14. The CM said that the Prime Minister may connect on the occasion of Gita Jayanti through virtual medium. He said the subject of Orbital Rail Corridor was also placed before the Prime Minister again.

During his previous meeting with the PM in September also, the Chief Minister had invited PM Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5,600 crore.

PM apprised about welfare schemes

The Chief Minister said he apprised the Prime Minister about the welfare schemes being run by the Haryana Government.

He informed that the Prime Minister was apprised about the ambitious Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana launched by the State Government. Antyodaya Gram Uday Melas will be organised in Haryana from November 29 to December 16, in which very poor families verified under the Parivar Pehchan Patra will be called and will be given detailed information about the scheme so a frame work for upliftment of 1 lakh families whose family income is less than Rs. 1.8 lakh can be made.

He also apprised the PM about the AAS-Auto Appeal software. This software has been launched with the objective of providing benefits of government services and schemes to the last person standing in line at their doorstep by ensuring transparency and accountability.

Khattar said Haryana has also formed Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA) to do drone mapping. With this, mapping can be done twice a year through drones. Survey for Meri Fasal Mera Byora and surveys related to mining can be done with drones. Apart from this, Svamitva Yojana, a large-scale mapping project is also being implemented. Under this, the entire land of Haryana will be mapped. The entire revenue estate is being mapped as well, he added.

He added there was also a discussion with the Prime Minister about the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign. This is the first time that the number of girls is more than the boys in the gender ratio which is a matter of happiness and pride. 

The sex ratio has also improved in Haryana, he added. Notably, a 57-point rise in the sex-ratio at birth in last five years (females per 1,000 males) has been recorded in Haryana, as per the National Family Health Survey-5 (2020-2021). The sex ratio has witnessed an increase from 876 (NFHS-4 2015-16) to 926 in NFHS-5 while the sex ratio at birth recorded an increase from 836 to 893 (2020-21).