On Hariyali Teej, CM Nayab Singh Saini Gifts ‘Welfare Bundle’ to Women, Launches New Schemes

Chandigarh, July 28 – The sacred festival of Hariyali Teej brought a wave of new hope for women in Haryana, as Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini marked the occasion by announcing a series of women-centric welfare schemes, symbolically presented as a ‘koathli’ (traditional gift bundle) a customary token given by brothers to sisters on this festive day.

During a state-level celebration held in Ambala, CM Saini launched the ‘Laado Sakhi Yojana’ and ‘Digital Learning Ecosystem’ to strengthen the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ movement. Under the Laado Sakhi scheme, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and ANMs will be appointed as “Laado Sakhis” to support and care for pregnant women. Each Laado Sakhi will receive an incentive of ₹1,000 upon the birth of a girl child.

The Chief Minister also announced the ‘Badhte Kadam: Digital Bal Program’, aimed at aiding early childhood education and care through Anganwadi centers using digital tools.

Emphasizing the increasing role of women in entrepreneurship, he revealed that 50% of startups under Haryana’s startup policy are now women-led. To foster this trend further, CM Saini declared the distribution of 10,000 ‘Do-It-Yourself’ kits to schoolgirls to nurture entrepreneurial interest from a young age. A new scheme will also be launched to support women-led startups engaged in hand-crafted and eco-friendly products, with financial aid ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.

Additionally, the ‘Haryana State Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform’ will be established in collaboration with NITI Aayog to provide personalized mentoring, domain-specific training, funding, market access, and incubation support to women entrepreneurs.

To encourage women’s employment, he announced that under new industrial and regional policies, units that employ local women will be eligible for additional subsidies. Relaxation in public procurement norms will also be offered to ensure higher participation of women entrepreneurs.

In a major employment initiative, every development block in the state will have one ration depot operated by a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG).

The CM also inaugurated 131 women cultural centers via video conferencing, providing spaces for women to engage in music, dance, and other cultural activities.

Financially, SHGs were granted revolving and community investment funds totaling ₹14.26 crore, valid till July 2025. Six districts received keys to ‘Rural Marts’, and outstanding women artisans were honored with state handicraft awards of ₹3 lakh each, along with 12 consolation prizes of ₹51,000 each.

CM Saini also presented ‘Best Self-Help Group Awards’, offering ₹1 lakh, ₹50,000, and ₹25,000 for the first, second, and third-place groups, respectively, from each district.

The Chief Minister emphasized the cultural and social significance of Teej, calling it a symbol of our rich traditions, nature’s celebration, and female empowerment. He called on the people of Haryana to take part in the ‘One Tree in Mother’s Name’ campaign and plant trees to honor nature and motherhood.

Women’s Welfare Initiatives So Far:
CM Saini detailed that over 66,000 SHGs are active in Haryana, with interest-free loans and stamp duty waivers for loans up to ₹5 lakh. Currently, 33% of ration depots are allocated to women; 252 depots have already been distributed. Under the ‘Har Ghar-Har Grihini’ scheme, 18 lakh families receive gas cylinders for just ₹500 per month.

The state aims to create 5 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (women earning ₹1 lakh annually); 2.10 lakh women have already achieved this milestone. Women have also been granted 50% reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions.

Numerous health and welfare schemes are in place, including PM Matru Vandana Yojana, CM Maternity Aid Scheme, Milk Gift Scheme, and Women and Adolescent Dignity Scheme. 33 women police stations and a women’s helpline (1091) have been established for their safety. For education, 80 new government colleges have been opened in the past decade, including 30 exclusively for girls.

Transport and Energy Projects to Be Fast-tracked:
Transport and Energy Minister Anil Vij praised the CM’s leadership and assured that he will ensure the timely completion of all transport and energy-related projects. Recalling contributions of former CM Bansi Lal, he shared past achievements in Ambala’s water supply and industrial growth.

Women’s Minister Urges for Collective Commitment:
Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Choudhary stressed that Teej should be an occasion to reaffirm collective commitments to women’s safety, dignity, and opportunity. She credited Haryana as the birthplace of the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign and highlighted the remarkable improvement in the sex ratio since 2015.

She urged the public to make education a priority for every child and ensure that every daughter and mother receives the respect they deserve, enabling Haryana to become a symbol of female strength and innovation.

Former Minister Aseem Goyal welcomed the CM and acknowledged his inclusive leadership. The event concluded with cultural performances, presentation of traditional gift bundles (koathli) to women, and a commemorative token given to the CM by Information, Public Relations, and Culture Director General Makarand Pandurang.