Chandigarh, June 9:- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced major relief for rural families, stating that those who have been residing in houses built on village common (Shamlat) land for the past 20 years can now apply for ownership rights until January 16, 2027, as per the prescribed rules. He said that eligible families would be required to deposit the land cost at one-and-a-half times the collector rate of 2004.
Addressing the State-Level Empowered Panchayat Ceremony at Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said the government has extended the application deadline as many eligible beneficiaries were unable to apply earlier due to documentation-related issues.
He also announced that to strengthen waste management in rural areas, the government will provide electric tractor-trolleys, drivers, and sanitation workers for garbage collection. The state is also working on waste-to-energy projects to improve environmental sustainability.
During the event, the Chief Minister inaugurated LED street lights installed on village peripheral roads (Phirnis) in 179 villages across 17 districts at a cost of ?23.21 crore. He also dedicated 350 Atal Libraries built in 17 districts at a cost of ?44 crore. Additionally, ?1,056.75 crore was directly transferred to Panchayati Raj Institutions for development works.
### Awards for Model Panchayats
Under the Jagrit Gram Awards, six Gram Panchayats were honoured for setting new benchmarks in development, cleanliness, and good governance. Prize money worth ?1.66 crore was distributed among the award-winning panchayats.
The Chief Minister also released the book *“Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra”*, highlighting the cultural and religious significance of Kurukshetra.
### Villages Are the Foundation of Development
In his address, Saini said that India’s real strength lies in its villages and panchayats, and that the Panch Parmeshwar tradition has kept democracy alive at the grassroots level. He noted that Haryana is continuously taking historic steps to make villages active partners in development and announced that more than ?2,697 crore had been released under various schemes during the event.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that villages should not be viewed as the last mile of governance but as the first centre of development.
### DBT Benefits Released
The Chief Minister also released monthly Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) installments under various welfare schemes. These included:
* ?207.75 crore as the 8th installment under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana.
* ?19.75 crore under the Har Ghar-Har Grihini Scheme.
* ?1,151.51 crore transferred directly to beneficiaries of social security pensions.
* ?23.17 crore in scholarships for OBC and DNT category students.
* ?169.50 crore in financial assistance under the Dayalu Yojana.
### Strong Panchayats Key to Strong Democracy
Saini emphasized that solving village-level issues is a shared responsibility of both the government and elected panchayat representatives. He stated that over 98 percent of villages in Haryana have already achieved ODF Plus status, and the government aims to make all villages ODF Plus Model Villages by October 2, 2026.
He informed that more than 2,100 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed in the state. The financial limit for development works executed by Gram Panchayats has also been increased from ?5 lakh to ?21 lakh.
### Transparent Recruitment Boosting Youth Confidence
The Chief Minister said that the present government has eliminated the culture of recommendations and bribery in recruitment. He stated that over 3,000 youths were recently selected through a completely transparent process. Recruitment for Haryana Police is also underway, with plans to recruit 5,600 more personnel in the coming period.
### Call for Drug-Free Villages and Sports Promotion
Highlighting the government's anti-drug campaign, Saini urged village heads to make their villages drug-free and assist the administration in identifying drug traffickers. He mentioned that information related to drug abuse can be shared through the MANAS portal, where the identity of informants will remain confidential.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to promote sports among rural youth and said the Sports Department would provide assistance wherever sports equipment is required. He added that Haryana is strengthening its sports culture with a long-term vision for the 2036 Olympics.
### Focus on Rural Development and Natural Farming
The Chief Minister called upon panchayat representatives to help identify economically weaker families so that they can benefit from government welfare schemes. He also encouraged farmers to adopt natural farming practices, citing benefits such as water conservation, pollution control, and improved public health.
He announced that farmers cultivating turmeric and ginger would receive assistance of up to ?45,000 per acre. The government is also promoting crop diversification and indigenous cattle rearing.
### Panchayats Applaud Government Initiatives
Several sarpanches from across Haryana shared their experiences and appreciated the state's transparent governance model, digital monitoring of development works, and women empowerment initiatives. Women representatives particularly praised the 50 percent reservation for women in Panchayats, describing it as a historic step toward inclusive leadership.
###Rural Development Getting New Direction: Krishna Lal Panwar
Addressing the gathering, Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said that the state government is continuously working to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions and transform villages into self-reliant and modern communities.
He announced plans to establish indoor gyms, modern libraries, and women cultural centres in all 6,225 Gram Panchayats across Haryana. He added that over 633 women cultural centres have already been established to promote social, cultural, and skill-development activities among women.
###Avoid Polythene Use: Rao Narbir Singh
Haryana Industries, Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh urged sarpanches to eliminate the use of polythene and single-use plastic and make environmental protection a people's movement.
The ceremony was attended by several ministers, MPs, senior officials, and Panchayat representatives from across the state.