"The committee responsible for drafting the policy has been instructed to finalize it for presentation in the assembly, though no specific deadline has been set,” stated a senior UDH official.

Originally initiated on February 20, the policy drafting committee gathered public objections and suggestions, with UDH Minister Jhabar Singh Khara personally inviting feedback from state ministers, MLAs, and MPs. The government extended the feedback deadline twice—first to July 31 and then to August 20. However, the process had stalled until the recent Diwali directive.

The new policy is intended to replace the current 2010 township policy, incorporating updated laws and guidelines from both state and central governments. A UDH committee also visited other states to study their township policies to ensure the new framework addresses contemporary needs effectively. (ET)