CM interacts with educationists and women representatives during pre-Budget consultation in Gurugram
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh—
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said the State Government remains firmly committed to strengthening education and advancing women empowerment. Aligned with the PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 Haryana is moving forward with renewed resolve to actively contribute to the nation’s progress.
The Chief Minister was addressing a pre-Budget consultation meeting with educationists and women representatives in Gurugram on Monday. Industries and Commerce Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, Education Minister, Mahipal Dhanda, Women and Child Development Minister, Shruti Choudhry, and Gurugram MLA, Mukesh Sharma were present on the occasion. Paying tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, the Chief Minister also extended greetings to the participants on the festivals of Lohri and Makar Sankranti.
Saini, the confluence of the power of knowledge and women power is guiding focused initiatives in the forthcoming Budget aimed at bringing positive social transformation. He emphasised that education is the soul of society and the foundation of character, skills, confidence, and the spirit of nation-building among future generations. Strengthening educational reforms, he said, will give a lasting shape to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The Chief Minister recalled that in the previous Budget, the State Government allocated Rs. 21,893 crore for the education sector by incorporating 63 key suggestions received during pre-Budget consultations. These included the concept of modern Model Sanskriti Schools, running schools in two shifts, establishment of STEM labs, and linking students with premier national institutions such as ISRO and DRDO. Initiatives such as programmes to strengthen foundational education, the Haryana State Research Fund, the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship Scheme, and enhanced industry–academia collaboration were also outcomes of this participatory approach.
Research and innovation are the core of higher education
The Chief Minister said that research and innovation form the very essence of higher education. Keeping this in view, the State Government has created a Rs. 20 crore Haryana State Research Fund in the current financial year. He said the government had resolved to develop one government college in each district as a Model Sanskriti College, and these 22 colleges will fully implement all provisions of the National Education Policy by 2026–27. Referring to the National Education Policy–2020, he said it provides a clear roadmap to align India’s education system with 21st-century needs. In this direction, the NEEV Portal was launched in Panchkula on January 8, which serves as an intelligent, data-driven decision support system bridging the gap between policy formulation and institutional implementation.
Priority to be given to women welfare in the Budget
Saini said that women welfare will be accorded priority in the Budget. He said the government is making determined efforts to integrate the voice of Haryana’s women, who constitute half the State’s population into policy and budgeting processes. Focused initiatives in education, health, safety, employment, and self-reliance are creating better opportunities for women, thereby accelerating the State’s overall progress.
He said that an allocation of Rs. 2,101.55 crore was made for the Women and Child Development Department in the previous Budget, out of which Rs. 975.15 crore has already been utilised. The government has launched the Lado Lakshmi Yojana and expanded the Kishori Yojana across all districts. To address the needs of women’s education and safe accommodation, women hostels are being constructed in six districts.
The Chief Minister further said the government is committed to the economic empowerment of women self-help groups, with one-third of canteen tenders in government institutions being allotted to SHGs. Additionally, 2,000 Anganwadi centres are being upgraded into Saksham Anganwadi Centres to provide improved nutrition, health, and care facilities to mothers and children.
The Chief Minister assured that all positive and meaningful suggestions related to education and women welfare received for the Budget 2026–27 would be earnestly considered for inclusion.