Empowering the Poor: Haryana Government’s Priority, Says Chief Minister

Empowering the Poor: Haryana Government’s Priority, Says Chief Minister

In a landmark move, Haryana’s Chief Minister, Shri Nayab Singh, emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering the poor by leveraging online services to deliver benefits directly to their homes. This announcement was made at the state-level event held in Dr. Mangal Sen Auditorium in Karnal, marking the launch of the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY) from 35 locations across the state.

Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY)

Under the HAPPY scheme, families with an annual income of less than ₹1 lakh will receive 1,000 kilometers of free travel on Haryana Transport buses each year. This initiative aims to alleviate transportation costs for the economically weaker sections, ensuring greater mobility and access to resources.

Chief Minister’s Vision for Empowerment

Chief Minister Nayab Singh highlighted the state’s efforts in adopting and implementing various online schemes studied from other states. He recalled the challenges faced by poor families in acquiring gas cylinders before 2014, which led to the launch of the Ujjwala Yojana under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. This scheme provided 9.5 crore free LPG cylinders across India, including 12 lakh in Haryana.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which offers ₹5 lakh in medical treatment to beneficiaries. Haryana expanded this initiative with the Ayushman Bharat Chirayu Haryana scheme, benefiting 1.25 crore people. Such efforts exemplify the government’s focus on ensuring the poor receive the benefits of every scheme first.

Housing and Financial Support Initiatives

Reflecting on the achievements under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Chief Minister stated that 4 crore houses have been built for the poor in the last decade. Prime Minister Modi aims to build another 3 crore houses by 2029. Haryana’s BR Ambedkar Renewal Scheme supports house repairs with grants of ₹80,000, while interest-free loans of ₹10,000 were provided to street vendors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana offers ₹71,000 for the marriage of daughters from poor families. Haryana is also the first state to provide ₹3,000 monthly assistance under the Old Age Samman Allowance scheme. These benefits are now accessible online, reducing the need for office visits and ensuring timely support.

Economic and Social Initiatives

The Chief Minister emphasized the significant progress made by the central and state governments over the past decade in creating schemes to empower the poor. He praised the pace of national development under Prime Minister Modi and anticipated even greater achievements in the next five years. The NDA coalition has re-elected Modi as its leader, and he will soon take the oath for a third term as Prime Minister.

 Implementation and Impact of HAPPY Scheme

The HAPPY scheme, announced at the Antyodaya Summit in Karnal on November 2, 2023, and budgeted during the February 2024 Assembly session, has already started benefitting families with an annual income of ₹1 lakh or less since March 7, 2024. Approximately 85 lakh beneficiaries will receive cards under this scheme, with 59,708 already distributed, enabling travel of 37.88 lakh kilometers.

The Chief Minister distributed HAPPY cards to 20 beneficiaries in Karnal and interacted with others via video conferencing from districts like Kaithal, Hisar, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Bhiwani, and Kurukshetra. He announced that all beneficiaries would receive smart cards linked to an e-ticketing system for free travel, with the government allocating around ₹600 crore for this initiative.

Additional Developments and Initiatives

State Transport Minister Aseem Goyal praised the HAPPY scheme as a unique national initiative and congratulated transport officials for its implementation. He stressed the importance of cleanliness at bus stands, drawing a parallel with railway station sanitation improvements, and announced plans to construct better bus stands across Haryana.

Principal Secretary of the Transport Department, Navdeep Virk, provided details on the scheme, noting that the current fleet of 4,200 buses would increase to 5,300 in the next two years. The government plans to purchase 1,800 BS-6 buses, 150 AC buses, and an additional 500 buses under the kilometer scheme. Furthermore, 36 citizen services have been digitized, simplifying processes like vehicle registration.

A short film on the Haryana HAPPY scheme was shown, and the Chief Minister interacted with beneficiaries from various districts. Key attendees included MLA Harvinder Kalyan, MLA Ramkumar Kashyap, BJP District President Yogendra Rana, and other notable figures.

the Haryana government’s initiatives reflect a comprehensive approach to uplift the economically weaker sections through transportation benefits, housing support, and financial aid, aligning with the broader national agenda of inclusive development under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.

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