Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya emphasized the state government’s steadfast dedication to the ‘Viksit Haryana-Viksit Bharat’ initiative while addressing the assembly on the inaugural day of the budget session on Friday. He called on all assembly members to unite in efforts towards the holistic development of Haryana.

Dattatraya underscored that no barriers should deter the realization of the ‘Viksit Haryana-Viksit Bharat’ goal. He expressed confidence that each member would utilize their time in the assembly effectively and prioritize the welfare of the public.

The governor pointed out a favorable atmosphere for the continuous development of the state, noting that the entire state would be observing how decisions and policies are made in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in the days ahead.

He was optimistic that a new chapter of public welfare would be written during this assembly session, urging members to contribute with full commitment towards the ‘Viksit Haryana-Viksit Bharat’ vision.

Over the past nine seasons, the governor reported that Rs 1.25 lakh crore has been deposited into the accounts of 12 lakh farmers for crop purchases at Minimum Support Price (MSP) via the e-Kharid portal, aimed at streamlining procurement and providing direct financial aid to the farming community.

He further highlighted the success of the ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi’ scheme, which has disbursed Rs 6,563 crore to 20.24 lakh farmers in Haryana across 19 installments, significantly aiding in managing agricultural costs.

Additionally, claims amounting to Rs 8,732.76 crore have been paid to 34.57 lakh farmers under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’, while farmers have received Rs 4,872 crore in compensation from the government treasury over the last ten years.

Dattatraya noted Haryana’s unique status as the only state in India where all 24 crops are procured at MSP and announced the abolition of the historic ‘Abiyana’ practice that has been in place since the British era.

Recognizing the challenges posed by the delayed monsoon last year, he mentioned a bonus of Rs 1,345 crore has been granted to farmers at Rs 2,000 per acre to alleviate difficulties during the Kharif crop sowing season.

The governor updated the assembly on the passing of the Agricultural Land Lease Act, aimed at resolving longstanding issues between landowners and farmers over land possession and compensation.

The state government is also advocating for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables as alternatives to traditional crops, emphasizing horticulture. As part of this effort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University in Uchani, Karnal, on December 9, 2024.

Furthermore, the government is promoting organic farming, with approximately 24,000 farmers registered on the ‘Natural Farming Portal’. Currently, 9,910 farmers are practicing natural farming on 15,170 acres. The Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana is also being implemented to protect horticultural farmers from market price fluctuations, while the ‘Mukhyamantri Bagwani Bima Yojana’ covers 46 horticultural crops, providing compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre for vegetable and spice crops and up to Rs 40,000 per acre for fruit crops.

Under the ‘Mera Pani-Meri Virasat’ scheme, farmers receive financial assistance of Rs 7,000 per acre for sowing alternative crops instead of paddy, with a total of Rs 147.50 crore disbursed to date for 1,28,605 farmers.

The governor elaborated on the construction of the Renuka, Kishau, and Lakhwar Vyasi dams, aimed at ensuring consistent water flow from the Yamuna and its tributaries, Giri and Tons. Upon completion, these dams are expected to supply 47.81% of the total stored water for Haryana, greatly enhancing the state’s water security.

He announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Government of Himachal Pradesh for the construction of the Adi Badri Dam, expected to be completed by June 2027, further improving water availability for Haryana.

Governor Dattatraya also highlighted Haryana as the first state to introduce a comprehensive crèche policy to ensure children’s well-being and promote women’s economic empowerment. Currently, 572 Anganwadi cum crèches and 273 standalone crèches are operational in the state.

Empowering women remains a priority for the state government, with a goal to enable 5 lakh women to become ‘Lakhpati Didi’, of which 2 lakh have already achieved this status.

Under the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ initiative, the aim is to provide drone pilot training for 5,000 women, with 100 women having already been trained and provided with drones worth up to Rs 8 lakh at no cost.

The governor mentioned that over 1,75,000 youth have successfully secured government jobs in the past ten years through merit, marking a new era of transparency in government operations. Furthermore, about 1,20,000 contractual employees have secured their positions until retirement.

He noted that the National Education Policy-2020 focuses on enhancing qualitative, employment-driven, and research-based education statewide, with implementation starting at all universities and affiliated colleges from the 2024-25 academic session.

In addition, a total of 250 PM Shri Vidyalayas have been established statewide under the PM Shri Vidyalaya Yojana. This financial year, a cash incentive scheme has been introduced for Scheduled Caste students who achieve 90% or more marks in 12th grade, providing Rs 1,11,000 per student, with Rs 7.81 crore already distributed to 704 students.

The ‘Super-100’ program, initiated in 2018, offers meritorious students from government schools admissions to coaching centers for competitive exams like IIT, JEE, and NEET. So far, 190 students have qualified for IIT Advance and 333 for NEET through this initiative.