Make functioning more transparent, public-oriented: Haryana CM to officers
Chandigarh, Dec 5
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday directed officers to make departmental functioning more transparent and public-oriented.
He said whenever a tender related to development works in rural areas is issued on the Haryana Engineering Works (HEW) portal by any department, the information should be immediately shared with the sarpanches concerned through SMS. This will ensure that rural representatives receive timely, accurate, and complete information about development works.
"It will also improve monitoring and the quality of implementation. The portal will also provide tender information to the public, further enhancing transparency in works," he added.
The Chief Minister was chairing a review meeting at the Civil Secretariat here regarding the progress of budget announcements of the Development and Panchayat Department for 2025-26.
He directed officers to ensure the timely completion of all schemes aimed at strengthening infrastructure in rural areas. He said the government aims to concretise the 'kachha phirnis' of villages with a population of more than 1,000 to provide smooth movement for people. It was informed in the meeting that 639 'phirnis' have already been completed, while work on 303 is in progress.
The Chief Minister said that in order to increase the participation of women and provide them a suitable place for meetings and other activities, the government is constructing 'Mahila Chaupals' in every village. In the first phase, 754 villages have been identified, out of which construction of 480 'Mahila Chaupals' has been completed, while work on the remaining 274 is underway.
It was informed that under the first phase in rural areas, 994 e-libraries have been renovated and furnished. Books and computers will soon be made available in these libraries. Besides, 415 indoor gyms have been set up so far in rural areas across the state.
Similarly, the construction of community halls for various Scheduled Castes is progressing rapidly in every district. So far, 202 out of 366 panchayats have been completed, while construction of 140 halls is ongoing.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Mahila Chaupals are a fantastic initiative. Women in villages need dedicated spaces for meetings and skill development. Hope they are maintained well and not just built for show. The focus on e-libraries and gyms is also promising for youth.
Good direction from CM, but the real test is implementation. Officers need to be held accountable. We've seen many announcements before. Let's see if the SMS system actually works on the ground and if the 'phirni' concretisation is of good quality.
As someone who has worked in rural development, the portal making tender info public is a major step forward. It allows for social audit by citizens. The numbers shared (639 phirnis, 480 Chaupals) seem positive. Hope the momentum continues.
Concretising village approach roads ('phirnis') is a basic but crucial need. Dust and mud during rains make life difficult. Timely completion is the challenge. Officers should visit sites regularly, not just sit in Chandigarh secretariat.
The focus on SC community halls is important for social inclusion. Development should reach all sections. Along with infrastructure, hope there are schemes for skill training and employment linked to these new facilities.
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