Haryana cabinet to meet in city for first time on April 22

Gurgaon: In a break from convention, Haryana govt will hold its cabinet meeting in the city for the first time on April 22.An official notification issued by the general administration department’s cabinet wing said the meeting will begin at 9am at the PWD (B&R) rest house. The April 18 notice, signed by Anurag Rastogi, secretary to the Haryana cabinet, was circulated to the chief minister, council of ministers and secretary to the governor.The move is notable because cabinet meetings have traditionally been held in the state capital Chandigarh, with only a handful convened at Haryana Bhavan in New Delhi. Bringing the meeting to Gurgaon signals the city’s rising administrative weight alongside its established economic clout, officials claimed.For Gurgaon, the decision carries clear significance. The NCR city is home to major multinational companies, industries and corporate offices, and contributes nearly 70% of Haryana’s revenue. Officials said holding the meeting there could help place local concerns more directly before the state’s top leadership.Though the official agenda has not been made public, sources said urban development, industry and infrastructure issues linked to the city and nearby areas are likely to figure in the discussions.The timing is also important. The meeting comes close on the heels of labour unrest in Manesar, part of the state’s manufacturing belt, where contractual workers recently protested for higher wages. The govt responded by announcing a 35% rise in minimum wages, but industry bodies have urged it to review the decision and consider a phased rollout, citing economic pressure.Chief secretary Rastogi told TOI the cabinet meeting was scheduled for the same day because the chief minister will anyway be in the city for an industry top leadership meeting. “He has a few other meetings lined up for the day,” he added.