Chandigarh, July 28 – The sacred Teej festival in Haryana this year became a symbol of new opportunities for women. Upholding the tradition of brothers presenting gifts to sisters on Teej, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini presented a symbolic ‘Kothli’ full of welfare measures for women.
At the state-level celebration held in Ambala district on Monday, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Lado Sakhi Yojana’ to further strengthen the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign. Under this initiative, a ‘Lado Sakhi’, an Anganwadi worker, ASHA worker, or ANM nurse will take care of pregnant women during childbirth. For every girl child born, the designated ‘Lado Sakhi’ will receive an incentive of Rs. 1,000.
The Chief Minister also launched the ‘Badhte Kadam: Digital Bal Programme’ in Anganwadis, which will help Anganwadi workers provide better care and early education to young children.
Highlighting that new initiatives have already successfully helped women-led startups to account for 50 percent in Haryana, the Chief Minister announced more such steps to encourage women entrepreneurs. Under the state startup policy, half of all beneficiaries will be women-led ventures. To encourage entrepreneurial skills from a young age, 10,000 ‘Do-It-Yourself’ kits will be distributed to girl students.
A separate scheme will be formulated to support women-led startups engaged in handmade and traditional items, such as ethnic fabrics, eco-friendly rural crafts, Ayurveda-based health and wellness products, and indigenous food products, with financial aid between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 1 lakh.
He further informed that in partnership with NITI Aayog, Haryana will establish a ‘State Chapter’ of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, giving women entrepreneurs access to over 700 mentors, sector-specific training, funding opportunities, market access, and incubation support.
The Chief Minister announced that under new industrial and sectoral policies, businesses employing Haryana’s women will receive additional subsidies, and public procurement norms will be relaxed to boost women entrepreneurs’ participation.
Additionally, one ration depot in every development block will be allotted to women from self-help groups, providing them with livelihood opportunities while also increasing their participation in local governance.
Chief Minister virtually inaugurates 131 Mahila Sanskriti Kendras across Haryana
At the event, the Chief Minister virtually inaugurated 131 Mahila Sanskriti Kendras across Haryana. These centres will serve as platforms for women to engage in cultural activities such as singing, dancing, and devotional performances.
He also handed over cheques worth Rs. 14.26 crore to self-help groups (SHGs) as part of revolving and community investment funds, and keys to newly established ‘Rural Harts’ in six districts were given to SHGs. Women artisans excelling in handicrafts were awarded Rs. 3 lakh each for the State Handicraft Award and the Outstanding Woman Artisan Award, along with 12 consolation prizes of Rs. 51,000 each.
Awards were also presented to high-performing SHGs at the district level, with cash prizes of Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 50,000, and Rs. 25,000 for the first, second, and third positions, respectively.
Teej celebrates our rich heritage and strong social bonds
Extending wishes on the occasion of Teej, he said the festival reflects India’s cultural roots, traditions, and family values. It symbolises respect for women, love within families, and harmony with nature. He emphasised the importance of nurturing relationships, preserving culture, and protecting the environment for a happy life.
He added that the state government is committed to celebrating traditional festivals with greater enthusiasm so that the younger generation remains connected to its heritage.
Empowering women through education, health, and self-reliance
Highlighting women’s empowerment as a key focus, he said Haryana has worked to improve the status of women through schemes like Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, which has helped raise the state’s gender ratio from 871 to 906 since 2014. The Aapki Beti-Hamari Beti Yojana has benefitted over 5.36 lakh girls by providing Rs. 21,000 to eligible families on the birth of daughters, said the Chief Minister.
He said that over 66,000 SHGs are active in the state, with stamp duty waivers on loans up to Rs. 5 lakh. About 33 percent of ration depots are now run by women, and under the Har Ghar-Har Grihini Yojana, 18 lakh families receive LPG cylinders at Rs. 500 per month. The government aims to make five lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didis,’ with over two lakh already achieving this milestone.
The Chief Minister said women also have 50 percent reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Several schemes for maternal and child health, as well as 33 all-women police stations and a dedicated helpline (1091), have been established to ensure their safety. In the past decade, 80 new government colleges have opened, 30 of which are exclusively for girls.
Calling Teej a festival of greenery, he urged citizens to plant trees under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyan and contribute to environmental conservation.
Anil Vij assures On-Time Execution of Transport and Energy Schemes
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Transport and Energy Minister, Sh. Anil Vij appreciated the state government’s focus on development and lauded the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Saini. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of several projects in Ambala.
Paying tribute to former Chief Minister late Chaudhary Bansi Lal, Sh. Anil Vij recalled working with him between 1996 and 2000. He shared that with Chaudhary Bansi Lal’s support, a canal water-based drinking water scheme was implemented in Ambala Cantonment, which brought much-needed relief to residents suffering from water shortages for years. He also remembered that the establishment of the Saha Industrial Growth Centre became possible due to Chaudhary Bansi Lal’s backing.
Sh. Anil Vij highlighted that during his tenure as Health Minister, he had taken several significant initiatives for Ambala.
Talking about the importance of the monsoon month of Sawan, he said it represents the vibrancy of nature. When the surroundings turn green, people’s hearts are filled with joy, and festivals like Teej are celebrated in this cheerful spirit, reflecting social and cultural unity, said Sh. Anil Vij.
He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that all development projects are completed within set timelines and assured that he would personally see to it that the schemes of the Transport and Energy Departments are executed on time.
Hariyali Teej: A Day to Pledge Respect and Safety for Women – Shruti Choudhry
During the celebration, the Women and Child Development Minister, Smt. Shruti Choudhry said that the festival of Teej reminds us to reaffirm our commitment to women’s empowerment. She emphasized that every daughter deserves respect, every mother should feel safe, and every child must have equal opportunities to grow and succeed.
She shared with pride that the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi had launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign from Haryana. Back in 2015, the state’s gender ratio was alarming, but consistent efforts and welfare initiatives have led to remarkable improvement over the years.
The Minister said that various schemes such as the ‘Mukhyamantri Doodh Uphaar Yojana’, Protein Bar Scheme, transforming Anganwadi centres into smart classrooms, and nutrition programmes are strengthening the health and education of women and children.
Appealing to the public, she urged everyone to work together to ensure that education becomes every child’s identity and dignity becomes the pride of every mother and daughter, making Haryana a true example of women’s empowerment through technology and innovation.
During the ceremony, former Minister, Sh. Aseem Goel welcomed Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and said that the Chief Minister works considering every citizen of Haryana as his family. He said that the Teej festival is a symbol of greenery, prosperity, and cultural unity.
During the programme, Director General, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, Sh. K. M. Pandurang presented a memento to Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini. Besides this, the Chief Minister gifted the ‘Kothli’ to the women.
Minister of State, Sh. Rajesh Nagar, BJP State President Sh Mohan Lal Kaushik, a large number of women and other dignitaries were present.
