Chandigarh, July 11: As governance increasingly shifts to digital platforms and government services become more technology-driven, the Haryana Government has launched a comprehensive effort to strengthen the cyber security architecture protecting public data and critical digital infrastructure.

In line with the Haryana Digital Kavach initiative announced by Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini in the 2026-27 State Budget, the state has initiated an institutional push to enhance cyber resilience and prepare government systems to counter evolving digital threats.

As part of the initiative, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (DITEC), in association with the Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID) and with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, organised a State-level consultation workshop in Chandigarh to deliberate on strengthening the cyber security framework for State data.

Addressing the workshop, DITEC Director, Sh. Samwartak Singh  Khangwal said cyber security has evolved far beyond a technical function and is now central to good governance, public trust and efficient delivery of citizen services. As digital governance expands rapidly, protecting government digital infrastructure and citizens’ data has become a shared institutional responsibility, he said, stressing the need for stronger inter-departmental coordination, adoption of emerging technologies, continuous capacity building and proactive cyber security practices.

Sh. Samwartak Singh Khangwal said that the Haryana Digital Kavach initiative envisages a comprehensive security framework for all government departments, incorporating 24×7 threat intelligence, swift response to cyber incidents, mandatory compliance with prescribed security standards and periodic security audits. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the security of government networks while ensuring stronger protection of citizens’ digital information, he said.

Sh. Samwartak Singh Khangwal further shared that the deliberations and recommendations emerging from the consultation would help reinforce Haryana’s cyber security ecosystem and also contribute to strengthening the country’s broader cyber security framework.

The workshop witnessed detailed discussions on a wide spectrum of issues shaping the future of cyber security, including emerging cyber threats, data governance, cyber security for government institutions, protection of the power sector’s digital infrastructure, cyber crime prevention, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) framework, security standards and the development of secure artificial intelligence-enabled IT infrastructure. Participants also underscored the importance of specialised training and continuous awareness programmes to build a cyber-ready government workforce.

The consultation brought together senior officers from various State Government departments, boards and corporations, along with experts and representatives from MeitY, NeGD, CERT-In, NIC, Haryana Police, the Power Department, and leading cyber security professionals from the private sector.

With digital governance becoming the backbone of public administration, Haryana’s latest initiative reflects a strategic shift from responding to cyber threats to building a resilient digital ecosystem capable of anticipating and preventing them. The proposed cyber security measures under ‘Haryana Digital Kavach’ are expected to strengthen the security of government services while enhancing citizens’ confidence in the State’s expanding digital governance framework.

Chandigarh, July 11- Haryana Sports Minister, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country, and under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana, is making rapid strides in the field of sports.

He said that the state’s progressive sports policy, coupled with the talent, dedication and enthusiasm of its athletes, has enabled Haryana to emerge as the country’s leading sporting state, with its players winning the highest number of medals in national and international competitions and bringing laurels to both the state and the nation.

Addressing athletes and officers at the inauguration of the Under-23 Senior National Wrestling Championship at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, the Sports Minister said it was a matter of pride for both Haryana and Rohtak that such a prestigious national championship was being hosted here.

Expressing confidence,  Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that many wrestlers competing in the championship would go on to represent India in major international events, including the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games, and bring glory to the nation.

The Sports Minister said the championship was being organised with complete transparency and excellent arrangements. Thanking the Wrestling Federation of India and the organising committee for entrusting Haryana and Rohtak with the responsibility of hosting the event, he said the championship would further strengthen the state’s sporting culture and enhance its reputation. He particularly appreciated the Wrestling Association, Haryana  President, Sh. Ramesh Bohar and the entire organising committee for providing athletes with a dignified environment and an excellent competitive platform.

Later interacting with the mediapersons, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that young wrestlers from across the country were participating in the three-day national championship. He expressed confidence that several participants would eventually represent India at the international level.

He said the Haryana Government was continuously working to provide athletes with better sporting facilities. The government has ensured the  timely disbursement of incentive awards to athletes and is undertaking extensive efforts to further strengthen sports infrastructure across the state. As part of these initiatives, 42 new stadiums are being constructed at a cost of Rs. 114 crore, which will provide world-class facilities to sportspersons, said Sh. Gaurav Gautam.

 He further said that maintenance and air-conditioning works underway at various stadiums would also be completed at the earliest to ensure that athletes do not face any inconvenience.

Replying to a question, the Sports Minister said there has been no place for politics in sports. The government’s sole objective, he said, is to provide athletes with a conducive environment and modern facilities so that they could deliver their best performances.

Responding  to a question on law and order, he said that those found guilty of heinous crimes would be awarded the strictest punishment in accordance with the law. The government, he added, was dealing with such cases with utmost seriousness, while the law was taking its own course.

On being asked about the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to Jind,  Sh. Gaurav Gautam said the visit would be historic and would give fresh momentum to Haryana’s development. He expressed confidence that the state would benefit from several major development projects as a result of the visit.

Chandigarh, July 10:
The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, today launched Van Mahotsav 2026 by participating in a series of plantation programmes at multiple locations across Chandigarh, reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to environmental conservation and increasing the city’s green cover. As part of the campaign, the Governor personally planted saplings at all seven locations, encouraging citizens to actively participate in protecting and preserving the environment.

The Administrator formally inaugurated the plantation drive at the Daddu Majra Dumping Ground, where he released the Department of Forests and Wildlife’s Greening Chandigarh Action Plan (GCAP) booklet. He also flagged off three vehicles under the ‘Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar’ initiative for distributing saplings of different plant species among citizens, besides flagging off 11 vehicles deployed under the National Clean Air Programme (N-CAP), including water sprinklers, jetting machines and other equipment for effective air quality management.

Addressing the public at Daddu Majra, the Administrator said that India’s cultural ethos has always regarded the Earth as Mother, making it the collective responsibility of every citizen to protect and nurture nature. He emphasized that trees are the foundation of life, providing oxygen, maintaining ecological balance and sustaining biodiversity, and urged every citizen to plant and nurture at least one tree.

Highlighting Chandigarh’s environmental initiatives, Shri Kataria termed the transformation of the Daddu Majra Dumping Ground into a green plantation zone as a remarkable example of scientific planning and sustained efforts. He said the project demonstrates how degraded land can be converted into a valuable green asset for future generations. Stressing that the success of plantation drives should be measured by the survival rate of trees rather than merely the number planted, he called for scientific plantation, regular monitoring and long-term maintenance.

The Administrator appreciated Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi and the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh for preparing a scientific plantation action plan and lauded the collective efforts of government departments, NSS volunteers, Resident Welfare Associations, voluntary organisations and citizens in making the Van Mahotsav campaign a success. He expressed confidence that Chandigarh’s environmental initiatives would inspire similar efforts across the country.

Later the Administrator, accompanied by his wife, Smt. Anita Kataria planted a Kalpvriksha (Adansonia digitata) sapling during a plantation drive at Lake Beat of Department of Forests and Wildlife.

Addressing the gathering, Mayor Shri Saurabh Joshi said the reclaimed Daddu Majra site has been transformed into a beautiful green landscape where residents can now breathe fresh, fragrant air instead of enduring the foul smell that once emanated from the towering mountain of garbage. Recalling the challenging conditions that existed earlier, he said the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh successfully completed the legacy waste remediation with the unwavering support of the Administrator, public representatives, local residents and all stakeholders. He expressed gratitude to the Administrator Shri Gulab Chand Kataria for his constant guidance, timely reviews and continuous support throughout the project.

The Mayor further said that the successful remediation of the legacy waste site marks the end of one of Chandigarh’s biggest environmental challenges. He informed that all major litigations and statutory hurdles related to the dumping ground have been resolved, paving the way for comprehensive ecological restoration and sustainable development of the reclaimed land. He added that the project reflects the Corporation’s commitment to scientific waste management and environmental conservation.

Home Secretary-cum-Secretary, Local Government, Shri Mandip Singh Brar, IAS, highlighted the Administrator’s sustained commitment to environmental conservation, noting that since Van Mahotsav 2025, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria has consistently emphasised not just plantation but also the survival and maintenance of saplings. He said this vision has strengthened Chandigarh’s efforts to enhance its green cover. Referring to the successful legacy waste remediation project, he said the city is now moving towards scientific waste management with the establishment of a Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant by Indian Oil Corporation Limited for sustainable processing of municipal solid waste. He also appreciated the Municipal Corporation, technical agencies and local residents for their collective efforts in achieving this environmental milestone.

Earlier, Shri Saurabh Kumar, IFS, briefed the gathering about the Van Mahotsav programme and the plantation schedule planned across Chandigarh during this year’s campaign. He emphasized that extensive plantation drives with indigenous species will be undertaken to further strengthen the city’s green cover and ecological balance.

The Administrator also participated in plantation programmes at IRB Battalion, Sarangpur, organised by the Chandigarh Police, and at the nearby plantation site developed by the Engineering Department. He later participated in the plantation programme organised by the Department of School Education and planted a sapling at Government Model High School, Sector 25. Thereafter, at the Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest, Daria, Shri Kataria inaugurated a High-Tech Nursery and participated in a plantation drive organised by the Department of Forests and Wildlife.

The Administrator also participated in a plantation programme at Sector 28-B organised by the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. He later planted a sapling at the Lily Garden (Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Garden) in Sector 9 as part of the Van Mahotsav celebrations.

Present during the occasion were Councillor (Daddu Majra) and Former Mayor Shri Kuldeep Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab Shri Vivek Pratap Singh, Shri Amit Kumar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shri Saurabh Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, and other officers of the Chandigarh Administration.

Chandigarh, July 9: The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Chandigarh Chapter of the Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP), organized a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on the occasion of ISSP Foundation Day on the theme “Contemporary Pain Management: Challenges and Innovations.”

The programme was inaugurated by Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean, PGIMER, as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Y. K. Batra, Past President of ISSP Chandigarh, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. In his inaugural address, Prof. Sanjay Jain underscored the importance of continuing medical education in strengthening quality healthcare, while Prof. Y. K. Batra encouraged clinicians to embrace recent advances in pain medicine and adopt patient-centred approaches.

Welcoming the delegates, Prof. Neerja Bharti, Organizing Secretary, emphasized the importance of continuous academic learning and multidisciplinary collaboration in advancing pain medicine and improving patient care. Prof. Sukanya Mitra, President ISSP Chandigarh,highlighted the growing burden of chronic pain and stressed the need for innovation, evidence-based practice, and capacity building among young healthcare professionals.

The scientific programme included an expert lecture by Prof. Deepak Thapa, video demonstrations of ultrasound-guided pain interventions and an interactive discussion on the management of challenging chronic pain patients.The programme concluded with a sonoanatomy quiz for postgraduate residents.

About 100 doctors from tricity participated in the program. The CME witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty members, residents, and healthcare professionals from various specialties, reaffirming PGIMER’s commitment to excellence in education, research, and patient care. 

Chandigarh, July 10- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday released Rs. 1,582.14 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the bank accounts of 50,20,442 eligible beneficiaries under 19 welfare schemes.  The disbursed amount covers a range of welfare initiatives for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, poor and other deserving families. These include the 9th instalment of the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, social security pensions, the Dayalu Scheme, Har Ghar-Har Grihini Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, among other schemes.

The Chief Minister shared this while addressing a press conference here today at Haryana Niwas.

9th instalment of Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana released

The Chief Minister said that the 9th instalment of the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana has been released today. Under the scheme, Rs. 209.69 crore has been transferred into the bank accounts of 9.98 lakh women beneficiaries. With this instalment, a total of Rs. 1,832.69 crore has been disbursed through nine instalments so far.

He said that the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi App was launched on September 25 last year,  on the occasion of the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

A budgetary provision of Rs. 6,500 crore has been made for the scheme in the current financial year.

 Social security pensions released to 34.83 lakh beneficiaries

The Chief Minister said that Rs. 1,121.39 crore has been directly transferred into the bank accounts of 34.83 lakh beneficiaries under 15 social security pension schemes. These include the Old Age Samman Allowance, Disability Allowance and other social security pension schemes.

He said that the State Government has brought about a systemic change by adopting the Proactive Model. Under this model, eligibility is automatically determined on the basis of the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) database, enabling eligible citizens to receive pension benefits at home without visiting government offices or submitting applications.

The Chief Minister said that payments through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism reflect the Government’s unwavering commitment to transparency and good governance, while ensuring that financial assistance reaches every deserving beneficiary in a timely manner.

Financial assistance to 3,295 families under the Dayalu Scheme

The Chief Minister said that financial assistance amounting to Rs. 125.11 crore is being provided today to 3,295 families under the Dayalu Scheme. With today’s disbursement, financial assistance amounting to Rs. 2,925.49 crore has so far been released to 77,590 families under the scheme.

He further said that Dayalu Scheme-2 has been implemented in the State since September 11 last year to provide financial assistance in cases of accidental death, disability or injury caused by dog bites or attacks by stray animals such as cows, bulls, oxen, donkeys, dogs, nilgai and buffaloes.

Subsidy released under Har Ghar-Har Grihini Yojana

The Chief Minister said that a subsidy amounting to Rs. 18.97 crore for the month of May has been transferred into the bank accounts of 5.16 lakh women who got their LPG cylinders refilled.

He further shared that under the scheme, eligible women are being provided an LPG cylinder every month at Rs. 500.

The Chief Minister said that with today’s release, a total of Rs. 320.97 crore has so far been transferred into the bank accounts of 14.43 lakh eligible women under the scheme.

Financial assistance released under PMAY-Gramin

The Chief Minister said that Rs. 107 crore has been released for house construction into the bank accounts of 20,165 eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

He said that financial assistance amounting to Rs. 827.22 crore has so far been provided under the scheme. A total of 76,466 houses have been sanctioned under PMAY-Gramin in the State. Of these, 41,260 houses have already been completed, while construction of 35,206 houses is currently underway.

Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department, Sh. Anurag Agrawal, Director General, Housing for All Department, Sh. J. Ganesan, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department Sh. K.Makarand Pandurang, Media Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Praveen Attreya and others remained present during the press conference.