Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini stated that social harmony is a way of life and the govt is working towards 'Antyodaya'. Speaking at an event, he honored 411 achievers and detailed various educational and welfare schemes for the underprivileged.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that social harmony should be a way of life and its true meaning is not to erase one's identity, but to strengthen the unity of society and the nation while ensuring equal respect for every person. He said that carrying forward the spirit of social harmony, mutual goodwill and social unity, and drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guiding principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas," the Haryana Government is continuously moving forward with the goal of Antyodaya.

According to a release, the Chief Minister said that the government is firmly committed to ensuring that development schemes and their benefits reach first those who are standing at the last rung of society. The Chief Minister was addressing the Samrasta Sammelan and Pratibha Samman Samaroh, organised by the Meghwal Utthan Samiti in Bawal Assembly constituency of Rewari district on Sunday. On the occasion, Saini honoured 411 young achievers.

Inspiration from Social Reformers

The Chief Minister said that Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas envisioned a society where there was no place for any form of discrimination, fear or injustice. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Mata Savitribai Phule challenged social orthodoxies, opened the doors of education for all and made historic efforts, particularly for women's education. Similarly, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar regarded education as the most powerful instrument of social transformation and fought for the rights of deprived sections and equal opportunities. The Chief Minister said that although the paths followed by these great personalities may have been different, their destination was the same -- knowledge, dignity, equality and equal opportunities for every individual to progress.

Government Initiatives for Education and Empowerment

The Chief Minister said that the government is making every effort to ensure that financial constraints do not become an obstacle to a child's dreams. With this objective, free coaching for competitive examinations is being provided to Scheduled Caste students whose annual family income is up to Rs. 2.50 lakh. Under the Dr. Ambedkar Meritorious Students Scholarship Scheme, annual scholarships ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 are being provided, while post-matric students are being given educational allowances ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 13,500, along with mandatory fee support.

Students of Classes 9 and 10 are provided an annual scholarship of Rs. 3,500, while those residing in hostels receive Rs 7,000 annually. Free bicycles have been provided to 9,090 students at a cost of Rs. 3 crore, while 4.02 lakh students from Classes 1 to 8 have received incentive assistance amounting to Rs. 44.18 crore.

He said that under Mission Buniyaad, around 400 children received digital coaching, of whom 272 students were selected for institutions such as the IITs, while 61 students qualified for NEET. He said that when talented youth receive the right platform, they are bound to demonstrate their potential.

Welfare Schemes for Self-Reliance

The Chief Minister said that the government's objective is not merely to provide financial assistance to needy sections, but to empower them to become self-reliant with dignity. Under the Mukhyamantri Vivah Shagun Yojana, Scheduled Caste families are provided Rs. 71,000 for the marriage of their daughters. Over the past 11 years, Rs. 1,200 crore has been distributed under the scheme. Similarly, during the last 18 months, Rs. 2,042 crore has been transferred to the accounts of 10 lakh women under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana. To expand the scheme, the registration portal will be opened in September, enabling women from families with an annual income of up to Rs. 1.80 lakh to apply.

Commitments to the Community

Saini accepted all 10 demands put forward by the Meghwal Utthan Samiti and said that these would be forwarded to the concerned departments for necessary approval. Regarding the demand for construction of Dharamshalas in Rewari and Bawal, the Chief Minister said that once the committee identifies the locations, the government would initiate the process of making land available as per the prescribed rules.

The Chief Minister said that the government has set a target of establishing libraries in every panchayat. Around 1,000 libraries have already been opened across the state, and the initiative would soon be expanded to all villages so that children do not have to travel long distances for studies and preparation for competitive examinations.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs. 31 lakh for the Meghwal Utthan Samiti. (ANI)

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