Geeta Bhukkal
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Geeta Bhukkal
| native name =
| image = DAUGHTERS-GALLERY-4 650 101514104312.jpg
| caption =
| office = Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
| termstart = 2009
| termend = Incumbent
| predecessor = Hari Ram
| successor =
| constituency = Jhajjar
| term_start1 = 2005
| term_end1 = 2009
| predecessor1 = Deena Ram
| successor1 = Rampal Majra
| constituency1 = Kalayat
| office2 = Cabinet Minister
Government of Haryana
| term_start2 = 2009
| term_end2 = 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|8|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Matanhail, Haryana, India
| party = Indian National Congress
| residence = Jhajjar
| education = M.A., LL.B., P.G. Diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations, B.Ed.
| spouse = Dalbir Singh Bhukkal
| children = 3
}}
Smt. Geeta Bhukkal (born 16 August 1968) is an Indian National Congress politician representing the Jhajjar constituency in the Haryana Legislative Assembly, India.{{cite web | url=http://haryanaassembly.gov.in/MLADetails.aspx?MLAID=774 | title=Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA | publisher=haryanaassembly.gov.in | access-date=2017-04-23}}
She held Education, Health, Women & Child Development, Social Justice & Empowerment, Welfare of SCs & BCs, Industrial Training and Printing & Stationery as a Minister in the Haryana Cabinet.{{cite web | url=http://infoelections.com/infoelection/index.php/haryana-news/502-haryana-council-of-ministers.html | title=Council of Ministers, Government of Haryana (2009) | access-date=2017-04-24}}
Early life
After completing her B.A. from Panjab University, Chandigarh, she did her post-graduate diploma in personnel management and industrial relations from D.A.V Management College, Chandigarh. Bhukkal also completed her bachelor of law degree from the University of Delhi and her bachelor in education from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak and after that she went for an M.A. in political science.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Political career
Bhukkal was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly for the first time from Kalayat Assembly Segment in 2005. She won this seat for the Indian National Congress for the first time in 37 years.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/haryana-assembly-polls-geeta-bhukkal-jhajjar-mla/story-v7Vd16SLzcdjuBUAIHT32H_amp.html | title= Haryana Assembly Polls: Geeta Bhukkal, Jhajjar MLA
| publisher=hindustantimes.com | access-date=2024-10-21}}
Following delimitation before the 2009 Assembly elections, she contested from the Jhajjar Assembly Segment in 2009, winning the election with a margin of over 28,000 votes. She was made the Cabinet Minister for Education & Languages, Social Justice & Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes, Women & Child Development, Industrial Training, Archaeology & Museums, Archives, Health & Medical Education, and Printing & Stationery.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/haryana-assembly-polls-geeta-bhukkal-jhajjar-mla/story-v7Vd16SLzcdjuBUAIHT32H_amp.html | title= Haryana Assembly Polls: Geeta Bhukkal, Jhajjar MLA
| publisher=hindustantimes.com | access-date=2024-10-21}}
She won the 2014 Assembly election from the Jhajjar Assembly Segment with a margin of over 26,000 votes becoming the first M.L.A. from Jhajjar to have won a consecutive term and she even became first Education Minister to have won an election.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/haryana-assembly-polls-geeta-bhukkal-jhajjar-mla/story-v7Vd16SLzcdjuBUAIHT32H_amp.html | title= Haryana Assembly Polls: Geeta Bhukkal, Jhajjar MLA
| publisher=hindustantimes.com | access-date=2024-10-21}}
She won the 2019 Assembly election from the Jhajjar Assembly Segment with a margin of over 15,000 votes becoming the first M.L.A. from Jhajjar to have won the seat three times in a row in the Jhajjar Assembly Segment and also creating a streak of wins in the State Assembly elections by winning for the fourth time in a row since 2005.{{cite web | url=https://www.indiaspend.com/amp/haryana-elects-fewest-women-mlas-in-10-years/ | title= Haryana Elects Fewest Women MLAs In 10 Years | publisher=indiaspend.com | access-date=2017-04-23}}
She won the 2024 Assembly election from the Jhajjar Assembly Segment with a margin of 13555 votes and also created a record by winning five consecutive assembly polls and she is the first woman from the state of Haryana to achieve this feat.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/haryana-verdict-women-count-goes-up-in-state-assembly-101728410541330-amp.html | title= Haryana verdict: Women count goes up in state assembly | publisher=hindustantimes.com | access-date=2024-10-21}}
Bhukkal is also member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).{{cite web | url=http://www.elections.in/haryana/assembly-constituencies/jhajjar.html | title=Sitting and Previous MLAs from Jhajjar Assembly Constituency | publisher=elections.in | access-date=2017-04-23}}
Personal life
Bhukkal is married to Dalbir Singh Bhukkal, and they have 3 children.{{cite web | url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/congress-bjp-nominees-confident-of-win/amp | title= Congress, BJP nominees confident of win
| publisher=tribuneindia.com | access-date=2024-10-21}}
Positions held
- Ex-Member, Executive Committee, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee
- Ex-General Secretary, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (Legal Cell)
- Ex-Organizing Secretary, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee
- Nominated Member of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (India Branch) 24.10.2008
- Member, State Vigilance & Monitoring Committee, Haryana; Member, State Environment & Pollution Control Committee, Haryana (07.06.2006 to 06.06.2008)
- Member, Manifesto Committee, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee
- Chairperson, Sub-Committee (National Level), Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) for Extension of Right to Education Act to 10th & 10+2
- Chairperson, Sub-Committee (National Level), Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) for Assessment & Implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) in the Context of the No Detention Provision in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009{{cite web | url=http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/document-reports/AssmntCCE.pdf |title=Geeta Bhukkal Committee Report |publisher=CABE Sub-Committee |access-date=2017-02-17}}
- Ex-Chairperson, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (Scheduled Castes Department)
- Member, All India Congress Committee