STRONG GOVERNANCE must for sustainable growth: Hooda

New Delhi, March 25, 2013  :Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that strong governance is must for sustainable growth.  Participating in a panel discussion on Driving Growth of the North: Good Governance, Sustainability and Social Inclusivity organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Northern Region in New Delhi today, Hooda said that commitment and political will is basic to strong governance.

Hooda said that there are four basic parameters for growth. These are – per capita investment, per capita income, expenditure and resource mobilisation. In per capita investment, Haryana was at 14^th position in 2005, when he became the Chief Minister and today it is at number one position in the country. The per capita income of Haryana is highest amongst the bigger states. As for the per capita expenditure, Haryana is the leading state amongst big states, the per capita plan expenditure being Rs. 10,700. In resource mobilization Haryana has outperformed all other states during 11th Plan. Haryana mopped up resources upto 192 per cent of the projected mobilisation, which is much ahead of 96 per cent in Gujrat and national average.

Hooda said that after taking over as Chief Minister of Haryana in 2005. “My government set its priorities of improving education, providing better health services, industrialization for increasing employment and improving basic infrastructure”, he added.

Hooda said that my government is well aware that 21^st century is the knowledge century and education is the key to knowledge. During last 8 years, education infrastructure has been expanded. Number of technical institutions has gone up from 161 to 643 and the annual intake of student has gone up from 28,445 students to about 1,43,000 during this period. Steps are being taken to create a sizeable pool of technical and skilled manpower. With the setting up of Institutes like IIM, NIFTEM, Footwear Design and Development, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology, Defence University, Central University, Women University, National Institutes of Fashion Technology and Design and the establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Education City, the Haryana is emerging as an Education Hub of international standard.    

For accelerating the pace of industrialization, the Government brought a new Industrial and Investment Policy, under which clearances are being quickly processed and a favourable atmosphere has been created. The government has  worked as facilitator, leading to large scale investments in the state. This has resulted in enhancing the number of employment opportunities.

In healthcare, State Government has framed policies to provide better healthcare facilities to the people. Till 2005, there was only one medical college in the State, but now four new medical colleges are being set up.

In sports, Haryana today has become a sports power. In the new Sports Policy, efforts have been made to provide better infrastructure, training and job security to the promising players. Stadiums are being constructed in villages. Under SPAT programme, children are selected and given scholarships and training, so that they shine in sports and win medals for the country.  Haryana players won 22 out of 38 gold medals won by India in Commonwealth Games. In London Olympics also, Haryana players got four medals out of six medals won by India.

In Agriculture, Haryana is the second largest contributor of foodgrains to the Central Pool. Wheat productivity is highest in Haryana and the State has been awarded “Krishi Karman Award” for two consecutive years.

Hooda said that our emphasis is on inclusive growth, which means that benefits of growth must reach all sections of the society. To provide education to all, the state government has started giving scholarships to the children from 1^st standard to 12^th standard. About 19.70 lakh poor children are being covered in this scheme.  This has brought down the dropout rate considerably.

In social sector, the Government is providing highest old age pension of Rs. 700 per month and has covered 81 per cent of the old age population. Freedom fighters are also being given highest pension. Schemes for empowerment of women are also being implemented.

Later, replying to a question, Hooda said that communication skills of youth are being now sharpened by giving them proper grooming in English language at the school stage. Special schools like Arohi Schools, Kisan Schools, Model Schools have been opened. Language labs have been opened in colleges. BPS University at Khanpur has special language lab.