Haryana Gears Up for Grand Celebration of International Yoga Day 2025

Over 70,000 Citizens Register for Statewide Yoga Mahotsav in Haryana

Chandigarh, June 5 – The Haryana AYUSH Department has announced a grand celebration of International Yoga Day 2025, to be observed across the state on 21st June. This year’s event is being organized on a big scale, reflecting a wave of public enthusiasm and a growing commitment to wellness among citizens.

Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao, this year’s International Yoga Day is being celebrated not merely as a one-day event but as a state-wide wellness movement.

A government spokesperson said the celebrations are centred around the theme ‘Yoga Yukt, Nasha Mukt’, reinforcing the dual objectives of promoting holistic health and creating an addiction-free society. The slogan also aligns with the government’s broader vision of encouraging a healthy, mindful, and environmentally conscious lifestyle.

As of now, more than 70,000 people across all districts of Haryana have registered to participate in the Yoga Mahotsav, making it one of the largest Yoga Day celebrations in the country. This year’s programme includes mass yoga sessions, awareness drives under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, and the Harit Yoga Plantation Drive, a special initiative that links physical health with environmental responsibility by encouraging tree plantation during yoga events.

Citizens are urged to actively participate and make this celebration a people’s movement. Registrations for the event are open through the official website www.internationalyogadayhry.in, and interested participants can also register by giving a missed call on +91-9501131800.

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On World Environment Day, Chief Minister appeals to citizens to plant trees

Creating a plastic-free environment for nature conservation is our top priority: Chief Minister

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launches second phase of Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign, Green Aravali Action Plan and Miyawaki Plantation Drive

Five Electric Buses flagged off to promote Clean Air Initiatives

Chandigarh, June 5 – On the occasion of World Environment Day, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini urged the people of the state to plant a tree as a step towards environmental conservation and a cleaner, greener future. He also called on citizens to pledge to stop using plastic, with the aim of making Haryana a plastic-free state.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function held in Charkhi Dadri to mark World Environment Day. During the event, he launched the second phase of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, the Green Aravali Action Plan, and the Miyawaki Plantation Campaign. In addition, he flagged off five electric buses, symbolizing the state’s commitment to combating air pollution.

He said that the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative was first launched by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi on World Environment Day last year. Emphasizing the importance of nature, he said, “Just as we honor the mother who gives us birth, we must also show the same reverence to Mother Earth.”

He highlighted that the Green Aravali Action Plan, developed with support from both the Central and State Governments, aims to rejuvenate and green the Aravali region, which spans four states. The plan covers 29 districts in total, including five in Haryana.

The Chief Minister said that the primary objective of observing World Environment Day is to raise awareness about the various forms of pollution—air, water, and soil—and their harmful impacts. The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is "Plastic-Free Earth." He said that plastic pollution is causing significant harm to the environment, and its effects will pose serious risks to future generations. “It is our collective responsibility to keep the environment clean,” he said.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini underlined that as India and Haryana progress on the path of becoming developed, a clean and healthy environment is essential to sustain this growth. To achieve this, we must prevent deforestation and put an end to the use of plastic, he added.

He further said that unless people understand the global consequences of plastic waste, meaningful solutions for its disposal will remain out of reach. With this in mind, the government is focusing on creating a plastic-free natural environment and is implementing various measures to eliminate plastic pollution. In Haryana, the state government has already imposed a ban on single-use plastic. Also, plastic bags below 120 microns have also been prohibited as part of the broader strategy to reduce plastic waste.

Target to include about 30 percent electric buses in the Roadways fleet

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that five new electric buses flagged off today. He highlighted that the government had committed in its Sankalp Patra to provide 375 electric buses across 11 municipal corporations, a goal that is constantly being achieved. Prior to this, around 45 electric buses had already been deployed under the city bus service across nine cities. Additionally, approximately 450 more electric buses are planned to be procured under the Pradhan Mantri E-Bus Seva Yojana by 2026 and will be integrated into the Roadways fleet. These buses will be allocated to cities including Gurugram, Faridabad, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Rohtak, and Hisar.

The Chief Minister said that over the next five years, the government aims to have around 30 percent of the Roadways fleet composed of electric buses. This initiative will significantly reduce diesel consumption and curb air pollution. To further encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, the government has introduced subsidies for the purchase of battery-operated vehicles.

Supreme Court praises Haryana on stubble management, advises Punjab to learn

Referring to the government’s efforts towards environmental protection, the Chief Minister said that the Haryana government has taken significant measures to reduce incidents of stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution. The government is actively working to ensure proper management and disposal of crop residue. He said that previous Delhi government used to blame farmers in Punjab and Haryana for stubble burning and the resulting pollution in Delhi. However, the Supreme Court has commended Haryana for its effective stubble management initiatives, noting that Haryana has set a commendable example that Punjab could learn from.

All citizens should take a pledge to plant a tree in their home or public places

The Chief Minister highlighted that the state has implemented various policies to control biomedical waste, regulate plastic use, and ensure the proper disposal of harmful substances and solid waste. To raise environmental awareness among the youth, 5,250 eco clubs have been established across all districts in Haryana.

He also informed that a new initiative to create Oxyvan, green spaces ranging from five to 100 acres, at district headquarters throughout the state. An Oxyvan was successfully established in Karnal last year, and work is currently underway in Panchkula.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister urged all citizens to take a pledge to plant a tree whether in their home courtyards, public spaces, or open fields and contribute towards a greener Haryana.

During the program, he also released booklets prepared by the Department of Environment, Forest and Wildlife titled Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Nursery and Harit Aravali Action Plan. Apart from this, jute bags were also promoted to encourage the use of jute bags with the aim of giving the message of plastic free environment.

Every person should take a pledge to plant as many trees as possible and to abandon the use of polythene - Rao Narbir Singh

Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh emphasized the significance of World Environment Day, adding that it was established in 1972 and first celebrated in 1973. He highlighted this year’s theme, “Plastic Free Earth,” as highly relevant given that plastic pollution is one of today’s biggest environmental challenges.

The Minister appealed to citizens to completely stop using plastic and take proactive steps toward creating a clean and safe environment, ensuring that future generations can breathe fresh air. Referring to the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, he urged everyone to take a pledge during its second phase to plant as many trees as possible and to eliminate the use of polythene.

Member of Parliament Dharambir Singh, MLAs Sunil Sangwan, Randir Panihar and dignitaries were also present on this occasion.

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Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi Issues Revised Notification for Timely HUDA Services

Chandigarh, June 5 - The Haryana Government has brought various services of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) under the purview of Right to Service Act, 2014 and has fixed their time limit. Along with this, to ensure timely delivery of these services, designated officer, first grievance redressal authority and second grievance redressal authority have also been notified.

According to a revised notification issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, the possession certificate will now be issued within 3 days. A time limit of 4 days has been set for site demarcation and 5 days for DPC certification. The Junior Engineer has been named as designated officer for these services while Sub-Divisional Engineer (Survey) has been made the first grievance redressal authority and Estate Officer has been made the second grievance redressal authority.

A time limit of 5 days has been set for repairing water supply line, low water pressure, removing blockage of sewer line, repairing sewerage manhole, removing blockage of SWD line, repairing SWD manhole and cleaning of road/berm. Similarly, a time limit of 10 days has been set for repairing pot hole (road), 3 days for repairing street light and 7 days for park (horticulture) and green belt and roadside plantation (horticulture).

The Junior engineer has been named as designated officer for these services while sub-divisional engineer has been made first grievance redressal authority and executive engineer has been made second grievance redressal authority.

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Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announces major initiatives to promote natural farming in Haryana

Natural and Organic Mandis to be established in Gurugram and Hisar

Haryana to form committee to determine fair price for Natural and Organic Farmers

Rs 20,000 per farmer to be provided for branding and packaging of natural farming products

Chandigarh, June 5 - In a major push to promote natural farming on a large scale in Haryana and raise awareness among farmers, Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce grown using natural and organic farming practices.

The Chief Miniser made these announcements while addressing the Natural Farming Conference, organized on the occasion of World Environment Day at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar today.

He further announced financial support of Rs 20,000 per farmer for branding and packaging of natural farming products. Dedicated laboratories will also be established to test produce from natural and organic farming. These labs will offer testing services free of cost to farmers.

The Chief Minister also announced that 53 acres of land belonging to the Agriculture Department in Block Pundri, district Kaithal, will be leased to farmers engaged in natural farming through an auction process. Furthermore, he said that in every panchayat, 10% of panchayat land or at least one acre will be reserved exclusively for natural farming. This land will be allotted only to landless farmers via auction.

As an additional incentive, those who will practice natural farming on government or panchayat land will also receive Rs 3,000 per farmer for purchasing four drums used in storing and processing raw materials under the Natural Farming Scheme. A subsidy of Rs 30,000 will also be provided for the purchase of a desi cow.

Natural farming will not only redefine agriculture in Haryana but also serve as a beacon of inspiration for the entire country

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that on the occasion of World Environment Day, people across the globe are pledging to conserve air, water and soil, and exploring ways to make them pollution-free. In this context, he emphasized that natural farming offers a sustainable solution to these pressing environmental challenges. He added that natural farming will not only provide a new direction to agriculture in Haryana but also serve as an inspiration for the entire country.

He said that while India is now self-sufficient in food grain production, this achievement has come at a significant cost. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to the pollution of land, water and air. To ensure a healthier and more empowered future for the coming generations, he stressed the need to transition towards natural farming practices.

Highlighting government efforts, the Chief Minister said the Natural Farming Scheme was launched in Haryana in 2022, with an initial allocation of Rs 97 crore, which is being progressively increased each year. A dedicated portal for natural farming has also been developed. As of now, around 1,84,665 farmers have registered 2,73,955 acres of land on the portal. Of these, 10,550 farmers have been verified for practicing natural farming on 17,087 acres.

Target set to bring one lakh acres under natural farming in Haryana by 2025-26

The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to bring one lakh acres of land under natural farming in Haryana during the 2025–26 financial year. He shared that since the launch of the initiative in 2022, the state has organized 720 farmer seminars, 22 workshops, and one state-level fair, with the participation of over 35,000 farmers. To support the adoption of natural farming, training centers have been established at Gurukul in Kurukshetra, Hameti in Jind, Mangiana in Sirsa, and Gharaunda in Karnal. A state advisor has also been appointed to provide training to progressive farmers at the Gurukul Kurukshetra center.

The Chief Minister said that under the subsidy being given on the purchase of indigenous cow for natural farming, so far, Rs 1.23 crore has been disbursed directly to farmers. In addition, Rs 75 lakh has been provided to 2,500 farmers for the procurement of storage drums.

He also informed about the Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, launched under the guidance of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi. This campaign, which began in Kurukshetra on May 29 and will run until June 12, aims to raise awareness about natural farming, introduce farmers to new technologies, and bring systematic reforms to the agriculture sector through innovation and planning. Natural farming, he said, will play a pivotal role in driving these reforms.

Chief Minister urges farmers to pledge making Haryana a Model State for Natural Farming

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that Governor Acharya Devvrat has been consistently promoting natural farming, and the Haryana government is fully supporting his efforts by actively raising awareness among farmers. The Chief Minister urged farmers to take a pledge to make Haryana a model state for natural farming.

During the program, the Chief Minister also released two publications prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Acharya Devvrat calls natural farming the need of the hour, Highlights rising health risks from chemical farming

Governor of Gujarat and a strong proponent of natural farming Acharya Devvrat while addressing the farmers said that adopting natural farming is now the need of the hour to steer the country towards sustainable agriculture. Highlighting the adverse effects of chemical farming, he said that the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is degrading soil fertility and severely impacting human health, contributing to the rising incidence of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart ailments.

Sharing his personal experience, Acharya Devvrat said that he has made dedicated efforts to practice natural farming and has witnessed highly positive results. He explained that natural farming not only yields nutritious and chemical-free crops but also preserves soil health, supports water conservation, and significantly reduces input costs. He assured the farmers that contrary to popular belief, crop production does not decline under natural farming methods. Instead, it leads to higher income for farmers while ensuring that consumers receive safe and healthy food.

The Governor also spoke about the National Natural Farming Mission, launched by Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, which aims to bring one crore farmers across the country into the fold of natural farming. He informed that a budget of Rs 1,481 crore has been allocated for this mission for the year 2025–26. He encouraged farmers to take full advantage of this initiative and participate in the various training programs being offered under it.

Acharya Devvrat said that natural farming is not merely an alternative, rather it is the future. He called for a collective and strategic approach to break free from the harmful cycle of chemical farming and to build a healthier, more prosperous India for future generations. He urged farmers to protect their health and the environment by embracing natural farming and moving away from chemical-based agricultural practices.

Farmers urged to embrace natural farming and contribute to building a healthy nation – Shyam Singh Rana

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh Shyam Singh Rana said that Acharya Devvrat is playing a pivotal role in promoting natural farming by sharing his personal experiences to inspire other farmers. He also praised Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, describing him as diligent, hardworking, and honest, and expressed confidence that his leadership will significantly boost the natural farming movement in the state.

He said that the excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to a decline in soil fertility and is contributing to the rise of various health-related issues. He urged farmers to draw inspiration from the conference and take a firm resolve to embrace natural farming, thereby playing their part in building a healthier and more sustainable nation.

Cabinet Minister Ranbir Gangwa, MLA Savitri Jindal, Randhir Panihar, Vinod Bhyana, former Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Dr. Raja Shekhar Vundru, Director Agriculure Rajnarayan Kaushik and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.

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CM Nayab Singh Saini Makes Surprise Stop at Bhaini Maharajpur Village in Rohtak

Chief Minister Interacts with Villagers, Inquires About Their Well-being

Chandigarh, June 5 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini made a surprise stop at Bhaini Maharajpur village in Rohtak district while en route to Hisar today. The villagers were pleasantly surprised and delighted to find the Chief Minister in their midst.

During his brief stay of about 10 minutes, the Chief Minister interacted directly with the villagers, inquiring about their well-being, local issues, and the implementation of public welfare schemes. The villagers extended a warm, traditional welcome and expressed appreciation for his simplicity and approachable demeanor.

They praised the government’s efforts, particularly highlighting the transparent and merit-based recruitment process for government jobs. The villagers shared that nearly 50 youth from Bhaini Maharajpur have secured government employment purely on the basis of merit, and expressed gratitude for the same.

Several prominent residents of the village were present on the occasion, including former Sarpanch Mr. Shailendra Dhatrawal, former Mandal President Mr. Charan Singh, Mr. Rohtas Pehlwan, Mr. Rinku Rapadia, Mr. Pradeep Havildar, Mr. Amarjeet Subedar, and Mr. Karmaveer.

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Election Commission streamlining Index Card and Statistical Reports for faster sharing

Chandigarh, June 5- Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said that the Election Commission under the Chairmanship of the Chief Election Commissioner Sh. Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi has streamlined technology-driven systems to generate Index Cards and various statistical reports after the conduct of the elections. This upgraded mechanism replaces the traditional manual methods, which were often time-consuming and prone to delays. By leveraging automation and data integration, the new system ensures faster reporting.

Sh. Pankaj Agarwal said that the Index Card is a non-statutory, post-election Statistical Reporting Format developed as a suo moto initiative by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to promote accessibility of election-related data at the constituency level for all stakeholders, including researchers, academia, policymakers, journalists, and the general public. Designed to disseminate data across multiple dimensions-such as candidates, electors, votes polled, votes counted, party- wise and candidate-wise vote share, gender-based voting patterns, regional variations, and performance of political parties-the Index Card forms the foundation for generating about 35 Statistical Reports for Lok Sabha elections and 14 for State Assembly elections. These reports cover variables like State/PC/AC-wise elector details, number of polling stations, state and constituency-wise voter turnout, participation of women electors, performance of national/state parties and Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs), winning candidates' analysis, detailed constituency-wise results, and summary data reports.

This rich, data-driven resource enhances the capacity for deep electoral research contributing to a stronger democratic discourse. However, these statistical reports are meant solely for academic and research purposes and are based on secondary data from Index Cards, while the primary and final data remains in the statutory forms maintained by the concerned Returning Officers.

He said that earlier, this information was manually filled at the Constituency level using various statutory formats in Physical Index Cards. These physical Index Cards were subsequently used for data entry into the online system to facilitate the generation of statistical reports. This manual, multi-layered process was time-consuming and frequently led to delays in data availability and dissemination.

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Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan Reviews Preparations for National ULB Conference in Gurugram

More than 500 delegates from all states and union territories will participate in conference

Chandigarh, June 5 - Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sh. Harvinder Kalyan held a meeting with senior officials of the state at the PWD Rest House in Gurugram on Thursday regarding the preparations for the National Conference of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to be held in the first week of July. The Lok Sabha has handed over the hosting of this conference to the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Representatives of urban local body institutions from all the states and union territories of the country will participate in the conference.

Sh. Harvinder Kalyan said the conference is proposed to be organized in the first week of July. More than 500 delegates from all the states and union territories of the country will participate in this conference. The main venue of this conference will be Yashobhoomi located in Dwarka adjacent to Gurugram, while the accommodation of all the delegates will be arranged in Gurugram. He said this event has its own national importance. In such a situation, in accordance with India's tradition of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', all the guests will be hosted in Gurugram.

The Assembly Speaker gave necessary instructions to the officials of the District Administration, Gurugram regarding the reception of the delegates, their stay, transportation to the venue, round the clock health facilities, traffic management, security and other arrangements. Also, for the convenience of the delegates, help desks will be set up with the help of the Lok Sabha Secretariat at the airport and railway station in New Delhi. A control room will be set up for this event in the PWD Rest House of Gurugram. At the same time, liaison officers will also be appointed to ensure that the delegates do not face any inconvenience in hotels. The organization and extensive publicity of cultural programmes at the venue will be done by the Department of Information, Public Relations and Languages, Haryana. Director General of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Haryana, Sh. K. Makarand Pandurang also gave necessary suggestions regarding various arrangements.

DC Ajay Kumar said the district administration has started preparations for this event. Arrangements are being made at different places at the local level for the stay of the delegates.

On this occasion, Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Vikas Gupta, Director General Pankaj, DCP Headquarters Dr. Arpit Jain, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya, Secretary of Haryana Legislative Assembly Dr. Satish Kumar, Advisor to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Ram Narayan Yadav, CTM Ravinder Kumar and Director from Lok Sabha Secretariat Dr. Zubi Amar, Y Arun Kumar and other officials were also present.