Saini unveils schemes for girl-child welfare and women entrepreneurs

At the state-level Teej festival celebration in Ambala City on Monday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched several new schemes focusing on women empowerment, girl-child welfare, and environmental protection. The announcements were made in the presence of Transport Minister Anil Vij and other officials during the colourful cultural celebration.

One of the major announcements was the Lado Sakhi Yojana, aimed at encouraging the birth and care of girl children. Under this scheme, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and ANM staff—called ‘Lado Sakhis’—will receive ₹1,000 as an incentive for every girl child they support during birth. These workers will also help pregnant women in their care, strengthening the ongoing Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign in the state.

In addition to this, the chief minister launched the Badhte Kadam Digital Bal Programme, which will support Anganwadi workers in improving early childhood care and education using digital tools.

Boost for women entrepreneurs and students

To support women's participation in the economy, Saini made several key announcements. He said that one ration depot in every block would now be run by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) led by women. This will not only provide jobs but also improve their involvement in community development and governance.

He also said that 50% of the beneficiaries of the Haryana Startup Policy will now be women. To help school girls become interested in entrepreneurship, 10,000 do-it-yourself (DIY) kits will be distributed to them. These kits will contain simple business tools to help girls learn how to create and manage products or services on their own.

A new scheme will also provide financial aid between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh to women-led startups, especially those working in traditional textile arts, eco-friendly crafts, Ayurveda-based wellness products, and local food industries.

In partnership with NITI Aayog, the state will launch the Mahila Udyamita Manch, a platform to provide mentorship and guidance to women entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, over 700 advisors will offer training, funding support, and access to business markets and incubation centres.

Saini also inaugurated 131 women cultural centres across Haryana. These centres will be used for organising bhajan programs, folk dances, and other cultural activities, promoting women’s engagement in arts and social interaction.

As part of the event, the chief minister distributed ₹14.26 crore in the form of revolving funds and investments to various women’s SHGs. He also honoured students and teachers during the Utkrishta Shiksha Puraskar Samaroh held at Police DAV School in Ambala, recognising excellence in education.

Focus on environment and new projects in Ambala

Later in the day, at the Van Mahotsav event in Yamunanagar, CM Saini highlighted Haryana's green achievements. He announced that 18 crore saplings have been planted in the state since 2014. To ensure the trees are properly maintained, the government will use drone-based geo-tagging to monitor their growth over the next five years.

He also spoke about the Pranavayu Devta scheme, under which any citizen who takes care of a tree over 75 years old will receive ₹3,000 per year. This scheme encourages people to protect old trees and promote a greener environment.

The Green Aravalli Action Plan, created in collaboration with the central government, was also discussed. The plan aims to increase forest cover and conserve water in the Aravalli and Shivalik hill regions of Haryana.

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Alongside these announcements, the CM also revealed several new infrastructure projects for Ambala. These include:

• ₹145 crore for expanding the city’s water supply system

• ₹40 crore for a new water treatment plant in Sector 24

• ₹60 crore for repairing the SYL canal

• A synthetic athletics track at the Sector 10 stadium

• A new healthcare block at Naggal Primary Health Centre

• Plans to relocate the city’s motor market to ease congestion

• Inauguration and foundation laying of nine projects worth ₹73 crore

In conclusion, CM Saini’s announcements at the Teej event reflect the government’s commitment to empowering women, improving education, supporting entrepreneurship, and protecting the environment. These steps are expected to bring long-term benefits to both urban and rural communities in Haryana.