KHATIK SAMAJ HAS ESTABLISHED A DISTINCT IDENTITY IN THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY THROUGH VALOUR, COURAGE AND SACRIFICE, SAYS CHIEF MINISTER AT ‘KHATIK GARJANA SAMMELAN’ ORGANISED IN PANIPAT TO MARK THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SANT DURBAL NATH JI, GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN SEVERAL HISTORIC STEPS FOR THE WELFARE OF SANITATION WORKERS, DECISION TO INCREASE ACCIDENTAL INSURANCE COVER FOR SANITATION WORKERS AND SEWER MEN DYING WHILE ON DUTY FROM RS. 5 LAKH TO RS. 10 LAKH, CHIEF MINISTER CALLS UPON THE COMMUNITY TO PROGRESS THROUGH EDUCATION, ORGANISATION AND CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES
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Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government, guided by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’, is continuously working for the welfare and upliftment of all sections of society. The government’s objective is to ensure that the benefits of public welfare schemes reach the person standing at the last rung of society, thereby empowering them socially and economically.
The Chief Minister was addressing the ‘Khatik Garjana Sammelan’, organised in Panipat on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of Sant Durbal Nath Ji. He announced that all demands submitted by the Khatiq community through its memorandum would be taken up with the concerned departments for fulfilment. He also announced financial assistance of Rs. 21 lakh for public welfare activities of the community. He informed that financial assistance of Rs. 1 crore had been provided for the construction of a dharamshala in the name of Sant Durbal Nath. In addition, the Chief Minister announced that the birth anniversary of Sant Durbal Nath would be celebrated by the state government as a state-level function next year.
Paying his respects to Sant Shiromani Sh. Durbal Nath Ji, the Chief Minister said that following his teachings by strengthening social service, education and organisation would be the true tribute to the saint. He said that the conference organised to mark Sant Durbal Nath Ji’s birth anniversary symbolised unity and awareness within the community.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Khatik community had maintained its courage and self-respect even in adverse circumstances. During the freedom struggle of 1857, brave members of the community were among those who fought the British resolutely in Meerut and adjoining areas. The community faced numerous hardships but never compromised on its identity and values.
Government Committed to Protecting the Interests of Sanitation Workers
The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to the dignity, safety and welfare of sanitation workers. In this direction, the Haryana State Safai Karamchari Aayog has been constituted. In addition, the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes has been established to safeguard the welfare and rights of Scheduled Castes.
He informed that more than 5,000 sanitation workers employed through agencies had been brought onto the rolls of the respective municipal bodies. The government had decided to increase the accidental insurance amount from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh in cases where sanitation workers and sewer men die while performing their duties. It had also decided to provide employment to a family member of the deceased and pay gratuity.
The Chief Minister said that of the 5,500 personnel recruited into the Haryana Police, 604 belonged to the DSC community. The Haryana government had digitised the scholarship system, following which pending scholarships were transferred directly into students’ bank accounts with a single click. In addition, crores of rupees are being transferred every month to eligible beneficiaries under various schemes.
He said that women were being provided Rs. 2,100 per month under the Lado Lakshmi Scheme, and Rs. 2,500 crore had been disbursed under the scheme so far. He added that the annual family income eligibility limit for the scheme had been increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.80 lakh. Following this revision, an additional four lakh women in Haryana had registered for the scheme, and they would begin receiving its benefits from November 1.
Special Schemes for the Education of Scheduled Caste Students
The Chief Minister said that education was the most effective means of social and economic empowerment. The state government was implementing several schemes to provide quality education to Scheduled Caste students.
He informed that under the Dr. Ambedkar Meritorious Scholarship Scheme, Scheduled Caste students pursuing higher education after matriculation were provided annual scholarships ranging from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000, depending on their class of study.
Similarly, Scheduled Caste students whose family’s annual income was up to Rs. 2.50 lakh were being provided free coaching, up to two times, through private institutions to prepare for various higher competitive and entrance examinations.
The Chief Minister said that under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, Scheduled Caste students were being provided an academic allowance ranging from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 13,500 per year. In addition, all compulsory non-refundable fees were also being reimbursed.
Several Schemes for the Social and Economic Upliftment of Poor Families
The Chief Minister said that the state government was continuously working to ensure a dignified life for poor and disadvantaged families.He informed that under the Chief Minister’s Vivah Shagun Yojana, financial assistance of up to Rs. 71,000 was being provided for the marriage of daughters belonging to poor Scheduled Caste families.
Similarly, under the Dr. Ambedkar Awas Navinikaran Yojana, financial assistance of Rs. 80,000 was being provided for house repairs to people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Vimukt Jatis and Tapriwas communities who were living below the poverty line. So far, 76,985 beneficiaries had received assistance amounting to Rs. 416 crore under the scheme.
Housing for Every Family
The Chief Minister informed that 1.60 lakh houses had been constructed and allotted to poor families in Haryana under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. In addition, plots had been allotted to 24,000 families, while flats had also been constructed and handed over to eligible families through programmes organised in different districts. He said that providing a roof over every family’s head was among the Haryana government’s priorities.
Education and Organisation Are the Keys to Social Progress
Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the Khatik community had earned a distinguished place through its constructive contributions to society. Several administrative officers, educationists, doctors, scientists, soldiers and entrepreneurs from the community had set inspiring examples for the younger generation through their outstanding work.
He said that the Khatik community had also made an important contribution to politics, with several of its representatives establishing their identity through public service at various levels.
The Chief Minister urged members of the community to make maximum use of the government’s public welfare schemes and ensure that their children received higher education, acquired skills and became self-reliant.
He said that Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, had described education as the most effective means of social transformation. Faith in education, organisation and constitutional values could lead society towards lasting progress.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was moving forward by taking all sections of society along, guided by the spirit of ‘Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek’. The government was committed to ensuring that no section of society remained deprived of the mainstream of development and that every individual received equal opportunities to progress.
Among those present on the occasion were Development and Panchayats Minister Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar; All India Khatik Samaj President and Member of Parliament Sh. Anil Firojiya; former Member of Parliament Sh. Vinod Sonkar; MLA Sh. Pramod Vij; Mayor Komal Saini; Uttarakhand Minister of State Sh. Surendra Monga; District President Sh. Dushyant Bhatt; Sh. Harpal Dhanda; Dr. Sippy Mahendra; spokesperson Sh. Rajkumar Kataria; office-bearers of the organisation; and prominent members of the Khatiq community.
