Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda began his press conference with his favourite one-liner that of making Haryana the number one state in the country.
Visibly elated at the Haryana Governor's address to mark the inauguration of the budget session here today, Hooda said the Congress government had completed three years in power and that he was satisfied with the way things were progressing.
"We are heading towards our goal of becoming number one in the country," he stated while addressing mediapersons after the day's proceedings ended.
Referring to the Governor's address, he said it was a reflection of the new vision for Haryana. As an example, he said as much as 19.35 per cent Scheduled Caste population had got 21.55 per cent allocation in the budget plan, the highest ever.
He added that the SC population was provided drinking water under the Indira Gandhi Paye Jal Yojna, besides other initiatives undertaken for their welfare.
Lending credence to his claim of taking Haryana to the number one position, he said the per capita income was highest in Haryana.
He said his government had increased the number of seats in technical education institutions from 23,000 to 53,000 and would take it to one lakh in the next two years.
On the investment front, the Chief Minister said an investment of Rs 33,000 crore had been made in the past three years and about Rs 68,000 crore was in the pipeline whereas during the past 40 years only an investment of Rs 40,000 crore was made.
Hooda also seemed upbeat about his forthcoming trip to Mauritius where Hooda has been invited by Prime Minister Naveen Chandra Ramgoolam on the occasion of their national day.
Chipping in about the honour given to Hooda, Haryana parliamentary affairs minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said the invitation had been extended to the CM in view of the buoyant state economy and the glorious development saga that had unfolded in the past three years. "Haryana is a landmark state. It is not only talked about in the country but abroad as well," Surjewala said.
Describing the increased annual plan outlay of Rs 6,650 crore for the next financial year by the Planning Commission as the biggest achievement of the state, the Chief Minister said this increase was three times more as compared to state plan outlay of Rs 2,200 crore during 2005-06 when the Congress came to power.
He ended on a happy note that Haryana's plan outlay had surpassed that of Punjab this year that was Rs 6,224 crore.
Source: Tribune News Service By Geetanjali Gayatri March-08-08
