Gram sabhas accorded power to ban liquor sale within village

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana cabinet on Monday allowed panchayats to pass resolutions against opening of liquor vends up to December 31 and submit resolution in the office of excise and taxation department by January 15.

Until now, the time period for passing the resolution to stop opening of liquor vend in the local area within panchayat limits was from April 1 to September 30 and the last date for submission of the resolution was October 31. The cabinet also decided that the quorum of the gram sabha meeting for passing such a resolution will be one-tenth of its members.

The cabinet met under the chairmanship of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and in-principle decided to amend Section 31 of Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, allowing devolution of powers to gram sabha to ban sale of intoxicating liquor within the local area of the panchayat.

“As per the decision, a gram sabha may, at any time, between April 1 and December 31— instead of previous September-30 deadline — pass a resolution banning the opening of a liquor vend in the panchayat area from April 1, 2020,” an official spokesperson said.

CREATION OF ‘FOREIGN COOPERATION’ DEPT

Haryana government has decided to create a department of ‘foreign cooperation’, a new dedicated arm that will streamline and provide focus to initiatives of the state government aimed at promotion of investment, employment for Haryana youth and welfare of non-resident Indian (Nri)/person of Indian origin (PIO).

A decision to this effect was taken in the cabinet meeting.

This department will work to enhance international cooperation with provinces of foreign countries and engagement with cities under the sister provinces and twin-cities programmes of the Union ministry of external affairs.

The new department will deal in formulation of country-wise strategies for promotion of investment, employment in the state, education and skill development.

The department will also maintain liaison with Indian missions abroad/ministry of external affairs/foreign missions at New Delhi on matters pertaining to Haryana with regard to investment, employment, education, skill development, and culture and NRI/PIO affairs. Besides this, it will also work for development of global country-wise marketing and communication strategies to ensure strong links with Haryanavi diaspora.