Chandigarh, July 2- In a first, two-day National Conference on the theme ‘The Strong Role of Urban Local Bodies in Constitutional Democracy and Nation Building’ is scheduled to be held on July 3 and 4 at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Gurugram district. The arrangements for the successful hosting of the event have been completed. Haryana, with its rich cultural heritage, is fully prepared to extend a grand welcome to delegates from across the country.

Divulging more details in this regard, Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Ajay Kumar said that the conference will be inaugurated on Thursday, July 3, by Lok Sabha Speaker Sh. Om Birla. Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan has been consistently reviewing the preparations.

The Secretary General, Lok Sabha, Sh. Utpal Kumar Singh will also be present during the inaugural session. The session will also be graced by the presence of Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal, and Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Sh. Vipul Goel.

The Deputy Commissioner further informed that Mayors, Commissioners, and other representatives from Municipal Corporations nationwide will participate in the conference. The objective of the event is to make urban governance more effective, inclusive, and innovation-driven, thereby contributing to the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.”

On the first day of the conference, best practices adopted by leading Indian cities- Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Indore, Lucknow, Pune, Surat, and Visakhapatnam will be presented. Following this, five workshops will be held on different sub-themes, including, the role of Urban Local Bodies as the foundation of democracy, Developing ideal practices and codes of conduct for council meetings, Local bodies as engines of inclusive development, Strengthening municipal governance, Innovation hubs to improve citizen quality of life and public service delivery, Empowering women, preparing them for leadership roles in society and politics as builders of 21st century India.

Sh. Ajay Kumar further stated that on Friday, July 4, the programme will include group presentations on sub-themes, an informal dialogue with the Lok Sabha Speaker, and a concluding session. The closing session will be attended by Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Sh. Harivansh, Haryana Governor, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya, and Deputy Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Dr. Krishan Lal Middha.

He said that this conference will not only define the future direction of urban governance in India but also strengthen the country’s democratic and developmental journey.

Chandigarh, July 2– A delegation of the Khatik community from Haryana, led by the Social Justice and Empowerment, Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Welfare, and Antyodaya (Sewa) Minister, Sh.  Krishan Kumar Bedi, paid a courtesy visit to Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini in Chandigarh here today. On this occasion, the delegation extended a formal invitation to the Chief Minister for the state-level birth anniversary celebration of Sant Shiromani Durbal Nath Maharaj Ji, scheduled to be held on September 6, 2025, in Hisar.

Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, the delegation shared that under the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” the Haryana Government has allotted 781.82 square meters of land at PLA Sector, Hisar to the Sant Durbal Nath Shiksha Samiti Khatik Samaj for conducting social, religious, and educational activities, at official government rates.

The delegation requested the Chief Minister to attend this historic event on September 6 as the Chief Guest and also lay the foundation stone for the construction work on the allotted land.

The Chief Minister lauded the efforts made by the Khatik community for the upliftment and unity of society. He said that to promote social harmony and brotherhood, the Haryana Government has launched the “Sant-Mahapurush Samman Vichar evam Prasar Yojana” to disseminate the teachings and messages of saints and great personalities to the masses. Under this scheme, the birth anniversaries and special days of saints and revered figures from all communities are celebrated at the state level. He assured that the Haryana Government remains committed to fostering social harmony and uplifting all sections of society.

The delegation included Sh. Raghubir Singh Badgujar, President, Sant Durbal Nath Shiksha Samiti, Hisar, Sh. Pooran Chand Panwar, Sh. Ramesh Ratvaya, Sh. Thakar Dutt Panwar, Sh. Nekram Baswala, Sh. Saliram Chandel, Sh. Sher Singh Khanna, Dr. Satpal Chawla, Prof. Surender Badgujar, Advocate Sumit Meni, Sh. Pravesh Kumar, and other office bearers.

Chandigarh, July 2 – Haryana’s Development and Panchayat Minister Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar, who is also the President of Haryana Amateur Kabaddi Association, congratulated and wished the players for winning medals in both the categories of the First U-18 National Kabaddi Championship held in Uttarakhand from 28th June to 1st July. In this competition, Haryana’s daughters won gold medals and sons won silver medals.

He said Haryana’s girls’ team won the gold medal by defeating Rajasthan 39-35 in the final match, while the boys’ team had a tough match with Chandigarh in the final, remaining tied throughout the time and then tied at five raids each and tied at the golden raid. They had to settle for the silver medal with a margin of 44-43 on the second golden raid.

He said as a result of the sports policy of the Haryana Government, today the players of Haryana are making the country and the state proud in the Olympics, Asia, Commonwealth and national and international-level sports competitions of every level. Kabaddi has been the traditional game of Haryana. Even before this, the players of Haryana have left a mark in the game of Kabaddi at the national and international level and now after the players of Haryana getting the first and second place in the youth category.

Sh. Panwar said this historic victory has proved the hard work and dedication of the players. He also congratulated and wished Kabaddi Association Chairman Kuldeep Dalal, Secretary Naseeb Janghu, coaches of boys and girls team and all the officials.

He said today, the players of Haryana are making their mark in the country and abroad. To promote sportspersons, the Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini is also giving the highest prize money to the medal winners in Olympics and Paralympics, which is giving more encouragement to the players.

Chandigarh, July 2 – In a significant move to support the aspirations of daughters and bring joy to families from backward classes, the Haryana government has enhanced the financial assistance being provided to eligible families of backward classes under the Mukhyamantri Vivaah Shagun Yojana. The amount of shagun has been increased by Rs 10,000 for eligible families, ensuring that financial constraints do not stand in the way of a joyous and dignified wedding. The state government is committed to enabling every backward class family to celebrate their daughters’ marriages with pride. This increase will bring smiles to thousands of families and foster greater social harmony across the state.

Sharing details in this regard here today, an official spokesperson informed that following the approval of the proposal by Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the financial assistance under the Mukhyamantri Vivaah Shagun Yojan for eligible backward class families in the state has been increased from Rs 41,000 to Rs 51,000 on the occasion of a daughter’s marriage.

Describing the decision as a significant relief for economically weaker sections, the spokesperson said that this move ensures direct financial support from the government for the marriage of daughters belonging to disadvantaged communities. This assistance is not merely financial aid, it stands as a symbol of dignity and social inclusion, ensuring that no poor family feels helpless during their daughter’s marriage due to financial hardship.

With the increase in the shagun amount approved by Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the scheme marks a major milestone in the welfare of backward classes. It will directly benefit thousands of eligible families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.80 lakh.

Now these eligible beneficiaries will receive Rs 51,000 as shagun

The spokesperson further said that the objective of the scheme is to provide social dignity and security to girls from economically weaker and backward sections by offering financial assistance for their marriages. Under the revised provisions, backward class families living below the poverty line will now receive Rs 51,000 as shagun for the marriage of their daughters. In addition, female sportspersons from any category will be eligible for a grant of Rs 51,000 as a social incentive at the time of their own marriage. The same amount will also be extended to divyang couples, where either the bride or the groom is a person with a disability, to support them on the occasion of their marriage.

These beneficiaries are already getting the benefit of the scheme

The spokesperson also highlighted that under the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, financial assistance in the form of a shagun amount is being extended not only to backward classes but also to other deprived and socially weaker sections of society. Eligible families belonging to Scheduled Castes, Vimukta Castes and the Tapriwas community are provided Rs 71,000 as shagun on the occasion of a daughter’s marriage. In addition, widows, divorced women, orphans, or destitute women are also being provided financial assistance of Rs 51,000 upon their remarriage provided they did not avail the benefit of the scheme during their first marriage. Furthermore, if both partners in a newly married couple are divyang, they are also getting Rs 51,000 under the scheme.

He said that ensuring inclusive and equal opportunities for the welfare of backward classes remains a top priority for the state government. The aim is to enable every individual to lead a life of dignity and self-reliance. The enhancement of the shagun amount reflects this commitment and is part of the government’s broader vision to empower deprived communities by providing them with equal opportunities and the means to live with pride.

Application process is simple and transparent

The spokesperson further informed that to avail the benefits of the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, it is mandatory to register the marriage within six months from the date of the wedding. The application process has been made extremely simple, user-friendly to ensure that eligible families from both rural and urban areas can access the scheme without difficulty. Beneficiaries can apply online by visiting the official portal shadi.edisha.gov.in.

Chandigarh, June 30 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini directed that untapped sewerage or industrial effluent should not be discharged into drains anywhere in the state. He directed the concerned departments to identify all such locations and take effective measures to completely prevent the inflow of polluted water into the drains. In the initial phase, action should be taken in Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Yamunanagar districts, with significant improvements achieved within the next three months.

The Chief Minister gave these and other directions while chairing a review meeting to assess the progress of the announcements made in the budget speech here today.

Addressing the officials, he stressed that all commitments made in the budget speech must be fulfilled promptly so that the people of the state can benefit at the earliest.

It is noteworthy that Sh Nayab Singh Saini, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, had made several important announcements in the state budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 during the assembly session held in March this year.

While reviewing the progress of the Jungle Safari to be developed in the Aravalli region, the Chief Minister said that animals that are harmless to humans should be housed there. He instructed that the Jungle Safari must be established in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. Considering the monsoon season, seeds of plants that can naturally grow and stabilize in the environment should also be sown. He also reviewed other announcements of Environment and Forests Department and provided necessary directions to the officials.

During the review of the progress of the Tourism and Heritage Department’s announcements, the Chief Minister said that Rs 100 crore has been allocated in this year’s budget to enhance public participation in festivals, fairs, and celebrations across the state. He asked the Tourism and Heritage Department to coordinate with the Information and Public Relations Department to ensure the successful organization of these events, fostering enthusiasm and joy among all sections of the population.

He further stressed the importance of preserving and beautifying the heritage of Yadavendra Garden in Pinjore, so that tourists from across the country can visit and enjoy the site. It was also informed in the meeting that the Central Government has sanctioned over Rs 90 crore for the redevelopment of Yadavendra Garden and Tikkartal in Morni.

*International Surajkund Crafts Fair to be organized between Dussehra and Deepawali festival*

It was also informed in the meeting that this year International Surajkund Crafts Fair will also be organized for the second time between Dussehra and Deepawali festival, so that a strong platform can be provided to the public and they can enjoy this cultural festival to the fullest.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini also reviewed the progress of budget announcements made for the Sports Department and directed to complete them on time.

Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department Anand Mohan Sharan, Chairman of Haryana State Pollution Control Board Vineet Garg, Principal Secretary, Sports Department Navdeep Virk, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Heritage Department Kala Ramachandran, Commissioner and Secretary, Finance Department Mohammad Shayin, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Yashpal Yadav and other officers were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, June 30: Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Nayab Singh Saini has taken decisive action in the fight against corruption by suspending Tehsildar Bhavnesh Kumar, posted in Sirsa district, with immediate effect.

As per the official order issued by the government, Bhavnesh Kumar’s headquarters during the suspension period will be the office of the Director, Land Records, Panchkula. This step has been taken under the state government’s strict ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption.

Chief Minister Mr. Naib Singh Saini said that corruption, in any form and at any level, will not be tolerated.

This action reflects the government’s firm resolve to promote honest and transparent administration across the state.