Haryana

• 03 Feb 2023

New Guidelines Issued for Enhancement in Contract Agreements for Projects in Haryana

Why In News?

On February 1, 2023, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal informed that the state government has issued new guidelines for enhancement in contract agreements for projects in a transparent and uniform manner.

Key points

• Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said that now the competent authority will take a decision in the matter of structural design and modification of scope of work. If the cost of the allotted work is less than Rs 1 crore, then up to 30 percent of the engineer-in-chief will take the decision. From 30 percent to 50 percent, the administrative secretaries of the department will take a decision. In case of more than 50 percent, the cabinet sub-committee headed by the chief minister, comprising ministers in charge of the department as members, will take a decision.
• He said that if the cost of the allotted work is more than Rs 1 crore, then in this case, the administrative secretary of the department up to 10 percent, the committee headed by the chief secretary from 10 percent to 20 percent, which includes the administrative secretary of the department as a member, will take a decision.
• Further, in case of more than 20 percent, the cabinet sub-committee headed by the chief minister, comprising the minister in charge of the department as a member, will take a decision.
• Sanjeev Kaushal said that the present system regarding increase in cost of the project will continue due to the tender rates, price adjustment given in the contract agreement and change in supply rates of the Directorate of Supply and Disposal for departmental supplies.
• He said that the above decision has been taken after several cases of irregularities in the enhancement increase came to the notice of the government recently.
• In this regard, letters have been issued to all administrative secretaries, divisional commissioners, heads of departments, boards, corporations, organizations, chief administrators of public undertakings, managing directors, urban local bodies and district deputy commissioners to ensure strict compliance of these instructions with immediate effect.

Women's Ashrams will be Established in Three Districts of Haryana

Why In News?

Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Kamlesh Dhanda said that three women's ashrams will be set up in the state to empower women going through difficult times in life to provide shelter, training, capacity building and self-reliant under one roof. In which arrangements will be made to keep 50 eligible women in each women's ashram.

Key points

• Women and Child Development Minister Kamlesh Dhanda said in a meeting held at the Haryana Secretariat office that instructions were also given to the officers of the department to identify the land of these women's ashrams to be established in Rewari, Sirsa and Narnaul of the state and speed up the process of their construction.
• Sanjeev Kaushal informed that the present system would continue about increase in the cost of the project due to change in the tender rates, price adjustments given in the contract agreement and supply rates of the Directorate of Supply and Disposal for departmental supplies.
• Officials said that the building of Women's Ashrams Karnal will also be rebuilt and arrangements will be made to accommodate 50 eligible women.
• Women and Child Development Minister Kamlesh Dhanda said that it is the responsibility of the state to provide temporary ashrams to women facing adverse circumstances. In this, destitute women will be provided cloth allowance, ration allowance, education and training.

Approval of the Proposal for Amendment in the Rule of Haryana Civil Service (Pay) Rules, 2016

Why In News?

The Cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh on February 2, 2023 under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal approved the proposal to amend the rule of Haryana Civil Services (Pay) Rules, 2016.

Key points

• Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal said that these rules will be called Haryana Civil Services (Pay) Second Amendment Rules, 2022 and they will come into force from the date of their publication in the Gazette.
• Rule 56 amends the fixation of salary on re-employment of a retired employee, including contributory provident fund or defined contributory pension scheme benefits.
• According to the amendment, for the fixation of the salary of a person who has availed benefits under contributory provident fund or defined contributory pension scheme at the time of retirement and is re-employed in any department, 50 per cent of the final drawn salary will be withdrawn and unified in the next rupee. The amount so withdrawn shall be deemed to be a pension for the purpose of fixation of salary of such re-employed person.