Haryana Cabinet Approves Comprehensive Policy Reforms for Healthcare and Infrastructure
The Haryana cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, has taken significant steps to align with the Union Budget's focus on health and infrastructure development. In a series of decisions announced on Monday, the state government approved multiple policies aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and improving urban infrastructure across Haryana.
New Nursing Home Policy for Residential Areas
In a major move to address healthcare deficiencies, the cabinet approved a comprehensive policy for establishing nursing homes in licensed residential plot colonies. This initiative is designed to ensure residents have access to essential medical services near their homes, particularly with the growing elderly population and increasing demand for specialized care.
Under the new policy, permission to establish nursing homes on residential plots will be granted only after payment of necessary conversion charges. Such permissions will be exclusively available to qualified doctors (allopathic/AYUSH) who meet specific criteria:
- Must own the residential plot where the nursing home is proposed
- Must possess a valid registration number with the Medical Council or AYUSH Council
- Must be currently practicing medicine
- Must be registered with the local branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Must submit an affidavit confirming these qualifications along with the application
An official spokesperson explained that while 2018 guidelines provided for two nursing homes of 1,000 square metres per 50 acres, reducing area norms from 100 to 25 acres for colonies with residential plots made allocation difficult, even in hyper-potential zones. The new policy addresses this by allowing nursing homes on residential plots in licensed colonies within residential zones, as per approved development plans.
Rationalization of Infrastructure Fees and Charges
The cabinet approved a proposal from the town and country planning department to amend various statutory fees and charges prescribed under key urban development rules. This decision paves the way for amendments to relevant schedules of both the Haryana Urban Areas Development and Regulation Rules, 1976, and the Haryana Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Rules, 1965.
The approved changes aim to rationalize and update the existing fee structure in line with current economic conditions and urban development needs. Specific amendments include:
- Scrutiny fees, licence fees, State Infrastructure Development Charge (SIDC)
- Infrastructure Augmentation Charge (IAC), and IAC-TOD under the 1976 rules
- Examination fees and conversion charges under the 1965 rules
MSME Promotion and Industrial Regularization
The cabinet approved significant amendments to the Haryana Enterprise and Employment Policy (HEEP) - 2020 and related 16 incentive schemes. This decision represents a substantial step toward facilitating existing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the state, particularly those outside notified industrial areas.
Key provisions include:
- Exemption from Change of Land Use (CLU)/No Objection Certificate (NOC) for existing industrial units meeting prescribed conditions
- A provision allowing at least 50 entrepreneurs with industrial units on minimum 10 acres of contiguous land to collectively apply for regularization through a designated government portal
- Temporary regularization status for such units while their applications are being processed, enabling them to avail benefits of various government schemes
- Extension of CLU/NOC exemption benefits to eligible existing MSME clusters and rural micro enterprises operating under the Haryana Rural Industrial Development Scheme
- Elimination of mandatory CLU/NOC condition for existing MSMEs in 16 major incentive schemes
- Categorization of units commencing production between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025, as new micro enterprises
The cabinet also approved amendments to the Haryana Enterprise Promotion Rules 2016, now including joint director/deputy director, district MSME centre, as a member of the district level clearance committee (DLCC). This change aims to enhance the ease of doing business ecosystem established under the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Act, 2016.
Group D Recruitment Criteria Revised
In response to recent judicial decisions, the cabinet approved amendments to the Second Schedule of the Haryana Group D Employees (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2018. This action follows the Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court striking down the earlier provision of 5% weightage for socio-economic criteria in Group D employee selection.
The revised criteria now mandate that selection for Group D posts (except those requiring less than matriculation qualification) will be entirely based on the Common Eligibility Test (CET), with CET marks receiving 100% weightage. This amendment ensures legal continuity and aims to prevent future litigation regarding recruitment processes.
These comprehensive policy decisions demonstrate the Haryana government's commitment to addressing practical challenges in healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, industrial growth, and employment processes across the state.
