Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said that the state budget for the year 2025-26 will be growth-oriented, with a special focus on sectors such as agriculture, education, health, sports, infrastructure, and women empowerment.
Presiding over a meeting of pre-budget consultations with the Administrative Secretaries of various departments in Panchkula, the Chief Minister said that several new initiatives focused on the welfare of all sections of society would be introduced in the upcoming budget. He sought suggestions from the Administrative Secretaries to be incorporated into the State Budget and emphasized the crucial role of Administrative Secretaries in the budget formulation process.
Saini said that the present state government is working to improve the lives of people through various reforms. The state government has brought about a revolutionary change in governance over the past ten years, marking the most significant transformation in over a decade. As a result, citizens are now able to benefit from various government welfare schemes from the comfort of their homes, without the need for frequent visits to offices. He said that upon reaching the age of 60, people start receiving the old age allowance by sitting at home, benefiting senior citizens in a big way.
He said that Haryana has emerged as a sports powerhouse and State players have proven their mettle at various national and international sports competitions, bringing glory to both the country and the state. He attributed this success to the hard work of the players and the state government's sports policy. Saini added that Haryana's sports policy is being widely appreciated across the country. The state government has supported the efforts of players by providing robust sports infrastructure and top-notch coaching facilities. Haryana has also taken significant strides in the Health sector. The bed capacity of various government hospitals has been increased with test facilities and medicines available free of cost. He said that while fulfilling the promise made in the Sankalp Patra, the State present Government has started a dialysis facility to kidney patients free of cost in government hospitals across the State.
The Chief Minister stated that he has been holding pre-budget consultations with various groups to gather their suggestions for the upcoming budget. So far, he has met with industry associations, chartered accountants, agricultural scientists, FPOs, progressive farmers, startups, youth, women entrepreneurs, women representatives, self-help groups, Namo Drone Didi, and representatives from the textile industry, all with the aim of preparing an inclusive budget.
He said that for the first time, suggestions have been invited from the state's citizens through an online portal, which has already received about 10,000 submissions. As part of this process, he also sought suggestions from MPs and MLAs of the state in a two-day pre-budget consultation held in Panchkula on March 3 and 4. He assured that the best suggestions from various stakeholders would be incorporated into the state’s budget, which will serve the interests of Haryana's 2.80 crore citizens.
Best suggestions from various stakeholders would be incorporated into State’s budget
Addressing the State legislators on the concluding day of the two-day "Pre-Budget Consultation" meeting, Saini said that everyone provided valuable suggestions to help realize the vision of an inclusive budget. He expressed gratitude for the important suggestions shared by the Ministers and MLAs aimed at the welfare of the state and its people and said that all suggestions will be carefully considered and incorporated into the forthcoming state budget to further accelerate Haryana's continuous development. "Our goal is to present a budget that drives prosperity for every citizen of the state," he added.
The Chief Minister also encouraged MLAs to submit their suggestions in writing to ensure that all perspectives are captured. "We are committed to creating a budget that reflects the needs and aspirations of our people," he further added.
During the meeting, the key areas highlighted during the meeting included improvements in road infrastructure, sports facilities, water supply, electricity, transport, industrial development, the optimal utilization of government properties, promoting natural farming practices, eradicating the drug network, rehabilitating addicts, equitable irrigation water distribution, digitization of government departments, accommodation facility for officers, addressing cybercrime, capacity building, and traffic management. This year, the state government has launched another innovative initiative, allowing the citizens of the state to submit their budget suggestions online. To date, over 10,000 suggestions have been received from the public through the online portal.
