Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, in his first media interaction of the new year, laid out an ambitious roadmap to propel the state to the forefront of national development. Accompanied by Cooperation Minister Arvind Sharma, Saini declared that the state government is launching a renewed campaign with focused attention on three core objectives rooted in the principle of Antyodaya, or the upliftment of the last person.
Three Pillars of Haryana's Development Push
The government's strategy is built on three primary goals: empowering women, generating employment for the youth, and promoting eco-friendly agriculture. Saini emphasized that these areas will receive concentrated efforts to ensure holistic and inclusive growth across Haryana.
Women Empowerment Through Financial Inclusion
The first and top priority, according to the Chief Minister, is women's empowerment. A key instrument for this is the Pandit Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana. Under this scheme, the state government has already disbursed a significant sum of Rs 250 crore in two instalments to approximately 8 lakh eligible women. Saini urged all qualified women in Haryana to register on the designated portal to avail themselves of the scheme's benefits, stating that providing financial assistance to all eligible beneficiaries remains a paramount objective.
Creating Future-Ready Employment for Youth
The second core objective is to maximize employment opportunities for the state's youth. Saini revealed a forward-looking plan to establish Haryana AI Mission Centres in Gurugram and Panchkula. These centres will train young people in cutting-edge future technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced robotics. In a more immediate move, the government has also taken a step towards conventional job creation by issuing an advertisement today for the recruitment of 5,500 constables in the police department.
Promoting Nature-Friendly Farming Practices
The third pillar of the government's plan focuses on sustainable agriculture. To promote nature-friendly farming, farmers will be encouraged to shift from water-intensive paddy cultivation to alternative crops. The state has set an ambitious target of bringing 1 lakh acres of land under natural farming through this initiative, aiming to balance agricultural productivity with environmental conservation.
Infrastructure and Civic Development
Beyond the three main objectives, CM Saini highlighted other critical infrastructure projects. He stressed that the accelerated completion of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor within this year is a key goal. This project is expected to establish new benchmarks in connectivity, ease traffic pressure around Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), and give a substantial boost to industrial development in the state.
Furthermore, to ensure balanced regional development and improved civic amenities, the government has upgraded three towns to Municipal Committee status. Kunjpura in Karnal, Matlauda in Panipat, and Shahzadpur in Ambala have been granted this new status, which is likely to enhance local governance and infrastructure funding.
Chief Minister Saini concluded by affirming that the state government is committed to injecting fresh momentum into this comprehensive development campaign throughout 2024, with the ultimate aim of making Haryana a leading state in the country.
