Gurugram: The Haryana government will ask Olympian Vinesh Phogat, now a Congress MLA, to choose from the various benefits accorded by the state to silver medallists. These include a Rs 4 crore cash reward, a Group-A job and a Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran plot.
Last August, the Nayab Saini government had announced that it would treat wrestler Phogat on a par with an Olympic silver medallist after she was disqualified from the Paris Olympics for being 100 gm overweight in her 50-kg category.
On her way to the final, she had secured the most significant victory of her career by defeating Japan’s defending Olympic champion, Yui Susaki, in the opening round.
Chief Minister Saini Tuesday chaired a state cabinet meeting and addressed key matters, including the benefits for Phogat, extension of the Haryana AatmaNirbhar Textile Policy 2022-2025, and financial reforms for urban local bodies.
Speaking on the Phogat issue, Saini reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honouring athletes and clarified that Phogat, despite not participating in the Paris Olympics finals because of her disqualification, would receive benefits equivalent to a silver medallist under the state’s sports policy.
“However, since Phogat is now an MLA, she has been asked to choose which benefits she needs from these three. The government respects her achievements and we await her decision,” Saini stated.
Among the other key decisions, the state government has extended the textile policy until 18 December, 2026. Additionally, the cap of 86 projects for the Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme has been removed, allowing unlimited project approvals to boost the textiles sector.
The Haryana One-Time Settlement Scheme 2025 was approved with modifications to benefit small taxpayers. The scheme, valid for 180 days, provides a Rs 1 lakh waiver on outstanding tax dues up to Rs 10 lakh. The CM noted that the changes were based on stakeholder feedback received after initial approval this January.
Municipal body posts will now be classified on a par with government departments: Group A&B positions will be filled through Haryana Public Service Commission, and Group C&D positions will be filled through Haryana Staff Selection Commission.
The move aims to provide municipal employees equal benefits, including reservation in promotions.
The government has reduced the penalty on delayed dairy cess payments from 24 percent (2 percent per month) to 12 percent simple interest per annum after requests from milk plant associations.
During the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected urban local representatives in Panchkula, the government announced a Rs 587 crore fund under the State Finance Commission for urban development projects. CM Saini also launched various online platforms for urban governance and emphasised the government’s commitment to faster development.
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‘Salary hikes’
According to Saini, the government also approved salary hikes for urban representatives: a mayor will draw Rs 30,000, a senior deputy mayor Rs 25,000, deputy mayor Rs 20,000 and councillors Rs 15,000.
However, going by media reports, the hikes were announced by former CM Manohar Lal Khattar in November 2023.
A former BJP mayor who didn’t want to be named confirmed to ThePrint that the hiked emoluments were given out during the previous term of municipal corporations and he had been receiving hiked salary for the last three months.
Praveen Attrey, media secretary to the Haryana government, said he was unable to comment on the subject as he didn’t have any knowledge of the hike during the previous government.
CM Saini reiterated that the 2025-2026 state budget, presented on 17 March, aims to make local governments financially independent by empowering them to create new revenue models.
With these major policy changes, the Haryana government seeks to strengthen its economic policies, enhance infrastructure, and maintain its pro-athlete stance while ensuring effective governance at the municipal level, he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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