Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini marked the auspicious festival of Hariyali Teej by unveiling a comprehensive bouquet of new and strengthened welfare initiatives aimed at empowering women socially, economically, and culturally. Describing these announcements as a symbolic “koathli”—a traditional gift presented by brothers to their sisters during Teej—he celebrated the festival by extending the spirit of love, care, and responsibility towards every woman of the state. The announcements were made during a vibrant state-level Teej Mahotsav held in Ambala district on Monday, where the Chief Minister launched several major initiatives, including the ‘Lado Sakhi Yojana’ and a Digital Learning Ecosystem for children.
Launching the ‘Lado Sakhi Yojana’, Chief Minister Saini announced that trained women from among Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and ANMs would be designated as ‘Lado Sakhis’. These caregivers will be responsible for monitoring and supporting the maternal healthcare needs of pregnant women, ensuring their well-being during childbirth. As a gesture of encouragement, every ‘Lado Sakhi’ will receive an incentive of ₹1,000 upon the birth of a girl child under this scheme. This effort aligns with Haryana’s flagship campaign ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing the status of girls from birth.
Complementing this, the Chief Minister also unveiled the ‘Badte Kadam: Digital Bal Karyakram’ to be launched across Anganwadi centres in the state. This initiative is designed to equip Anganwadi workers with digital tools and techniques to improve early childhood care and education, helping children access a more engaging and formative learning environment.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to women-led entrepreneurship, CM Saini stated that Haryana has already achieved 50 percent representation of women in startup initiatives. Building on this momentum, he introduced a plan to provide direct financial assistance between ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh to women-led startups, especially those working in traditional crafts, eco-friendly rural products, health and wellness, indigenous foods, and other handmade sectors. To foster entrepreneurship among young girls, 10,000 ‘Do-It-Yourself’ kits will be distributed in schools to develop a creative and innovative mindset from an early age.
The Chief Minister also announced that every development block in the state will host a fair price ration depot managed by women self-help group (SHG) members. This decision is expected to not only ensure livelihoods for women but also deepen their engagement in the governance and economic functioning of their villages. Further, he declared that the Haryana government, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, would launch the Haryana State Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform. Through this, women entrepreneurs in the state will gain access to over 700 expert mentors, sector-specific training, financial assistance, market linkages, and incubation support.
In a significant move to encourage women’s employment, the Chief Minister said that Haryana’s upcoming industrial and regional policies will include provisions for offering additional subsidies to industries employing women from the state. Additionally, public procurement norms will be relaxed to ensure wider participation of women entrepreneurs in government supply chains and tenders.
As part of the celebration, CM Saini also inaugurated 131 Women Cultural Centres across the state through video conferencing. These centres will serve as platforms for women to participate in cultural activities such as bhajans, folk songs, and dances, thereby strengthening community ties and preserving Haryana’s rich traditions. The government also distributed revolving funds and community investment cheques worth ₹14.26 crore to SHGs across the state and handed over the keys to rural marts in six districts to women-led SHGs, expanding market access for their products.
Artisanship received special attention during the event. Women excelling in handicrafts were honoured with State Handicraft Awards worth ₹3 lakh, Outstanding Women Artisan Awards of ₹3 lakh, and 12 consolation prizes of ₹51,000 each. Additionally, the best-performing SHGs in each district received cash rewards, with ₹1 lakh for first place, ₹50,000 for second, and ₹25,000 for third.
CM Saini emphasized that Teej is not just a festival but a celebration of India’s rich culture, tradition, and deeply rooted social values. It represents a symbolic harmony between nature, womanhood, and familial love. Festivals like Teej, he said, remind us of our duties towards our relationships, culture, and the environment. He called upon the people of Haryana to join the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting at least one tree, further underlining the environmental aspect of Teej as a festival celebrating greenery and rejuvenation.
Addressing the broader context of women’s development, the Chief Minister reiterated that Haryana is working tirelessly on the five key pillars for women—education, health, safety, economic self-reliance, and empowerment. Under the ‘Aapki Beti Hamari Beti’ scheme, over 5.36 lakh girls have benefitted so far, receiving ₹21,000 at birth under various eligibility conditions. The state currently has over 66,000 active SHGs, which are exempt from stamp duty on loans up to ₹5 lakh. One-third of all fair price shops in Haryana are now operated by women, with 252 already allotted. Additionally, the ‘Har Ghar-Har Grihini’ scheme is benefitting 18 lakh women by providing LPG cylinders at just ₹500.
The government has set an ambitious target to make 5 lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didis’, and already 2.10 lakh women have achieved this milestone. Women also enjoy 50% reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions in Haryana. Health schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Mukhyamantri Matritva Sahayata Yojana, Mukhyamantri Doodh Uphaar Yojana, and Mahila Evam Kishori Samman Yojana are working in tandem to improve the well-being of women and children.
On the front of women’s safety, the state has established a dedicated helpline (1091) and 33 all-women police stations. In the education sector, the state has opened 80 new government colleges in the past 10.5 years, including 30 exclusively for girls, significantly improving access to higher education for young women.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s announcements on the occasion of Teej reflect a deep and holistic commitment to women’s empowerment. With a vision that interweaves culture, tradition, welfare, and innovation, the state is working towards building a Haryana where women are not just recipients of aid but leaders of transformation.
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