Haryana

• 25 Oct 2022

Haryana's industrial units using natural gas to get 50% VAT exemption

Why in news?

• On October 22, 2022, a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee was held under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal in which it has been decided that those industrial units in the state will get 50 percent exemption in Value Added Tax (VAT), which will meet their energy requirement with natural gas instead of diesel-powered generator sets.

Why in news?

• This scheme will be applicable to the entire industries including MSMEs and will be effective for 2 years from the date of its notification.
• The use of diesel-powered generator sets is prohibited in the National Capital Region. Now the industries which meet their energy requirement with CNG, PNG will get 50 percent exemption in VAT.
• Similarly, the committee also approved a subsidy of Rs 164.66 crore per year to electric vehicle manufacturers under various heads under the Haryana Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2022.
• It was informed in the meeting that the objective of ev policy is to preserve the environment, reduce carbon footprint, make Haryana an EV manufacturing hub, ensure skill development in EV sector, encourage EV vehicles to grow, provide EV charging infrastructure and encourage R&D in EV technology.
• The policy encourages new manufacturing in EV technology and also encourages existing automobile manufacturers to diversify the EV manufacturing sector.
• The policy covers various financial incentives to EV manufacturers by giving them fixed capital investment (FCI), total SGST, incentives on stamp duty, employment generation etc.
• The policy encourages R&D in educational or research institutions. By 2030, efforts will be made to convert the bus fleet owned by Haryana state transport undertakings into 100 per cent electric buses or fuel cell vehicles or other non-fossil fuel based technologies.
• Further, the government has set phased targets for Gurugram and Faridabad cities to adopt charging infrastructure to achieve 100 per cent electric vehicles (EVs), e-mobility in Model Electric Mobility (EM) cities.

Kurukshetra Darshan Mobile App

Why in news?

• On October 23, 2022, a spokesperson of the Haryana government informed that all the important aspects of the upcoming Solar Eclipse Mela-2022 will be able to see on the Kurukshetra Darshan mobile app of the Kurukshetra administration.

Imp points

• All the important information related to the solar eclipse fair has been uploaded on this mobile app. On this app, how to reach Kurukshetra, history of Kurukshetra, tourist places and complete history of pilgrimages of 48 kos will be seen.
• It is noteworthy that in the Solar Eclipse Fair-2022, lakhs of people of the country and the state have reached Kurukshetra to bathe in Brahmasarovar, Sannihit Sarovar as well as nearby lakes.
• Kurukshetra Darshan Mobile App has been prepared by the administration for the importance of this solar eclipse and the reverence of the people and the convenience of devotees coming from far and wide.
• This mobile app has also been linked to Kurukshetra NIC Inn. After visiting this site, kurukshetra darshan mobile app can be seen. This app is an Android app.
• The complete details of all the tourist places of Kurukshetra can be read and seen on the Kurukshetra Darshan mobile app. Details of all the routes and resources to kurukshetra have also been recorded on this app. Apart from this, details of 48 Kos pilgrims located in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat districts will also be available on the app.
• Information centers, women helpline numbers, control rooms, health services as well as all important telephone numbers have also been marked on this app. Along with this, information about all the ghats located on Brahmasarovar during the solar eclipse fair has also been uploaded along with the map. The schedule of International Gita Mahotsav-2022 and other information have also been put on this mobile app.

Haryana government devises a new mechanism to provide education and employment to children

Why in news?

• On October 23, 2022, a spokesperson of the Haryana government said that the state government has devised a new mechanism from providing education to providing employment opportunities to children.

Imp points

• Under this, the data of citizens collected in the family identity card has been divided into 6 classes according to the age group.
• Each category has been entrusted to a department. Each department will provide benefits of all the schemes and services like education, health and employment etc. according to the age group as well as keep a complete record of them.
• The state government has prepared this mechanism to ensure all-round development and welfare of every citizen with emphasis on education, health, security, self-respect and self-reliance.
• According to the action plan, the responsibility of children up to the age of 6 years has been entrusted to the Women and Child Development Department. The department will pay special attention to the elementary education and nutrition of these children.
• Also, the department will also keep tracking of every child whether that child is going home, anganwadi or school till the age of 6 years and whether he is getting the necessary nutritious food.
• Apart from this, the state government is also constantly emphasizing on setting up crutches for the day-care of children.
• If children get good nutrition and education in the beginning, then their foundation will be strong and they will move forward in a positive direction in life.
• School education is more important than elementary education. Therefore, with the vision that no child should be deprived of education, now the School Education Department will take care of children in the age group of 6 years to 18 years.
• As per the instructions of Chief Minister Manohar Lal, the School Education Department is preparing a dropout policy to reduce the dropout rate, under which the department will provide education to every child as well as keep special tracking of the children dropping out of school, so that the dropout rate can be reduced.
• The department will have data of each child whether he is studying in school or ITI or any other institution.
• With this strategy, the state government will have complete information about each child and if for any reason a child is dropped out of the educational institution, then the government will try to bring that child back to the educational institution.
• At the same time, after getting education, there is a big problem of employment in front of the youth. The state government has now entrusted the responsibility to the departments to help the youth in this direction.
• Children in the age group of 18 years to 24 years have been entrusted with the responsibility of the Higher Education Department and the employment department has been entrusted with the responsibility of the age group above 25 years. These departments will also emphasize on the employment of the youth as well as their skill development.
• By providing skill training along with education, the department will not only make the youth employable, but will also be a coordinator in providing employment to the youth in the private sector by establishing contact with industrial units.
• For all these activities, the family identity card authority will send data to these departments every month.
• It is noteworthy that the data of 70 lakh families and 2.80 crore members of the state has been updated on the Family Identity Card portal. Verification of caste, date of birth, income of maximum families has been completed.