*Players should aim to win medals in the Olympic Games- Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini*

*Chief Minister inaugurates Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025 in Panchkula*

*Around 2,000 participants from different states are taking part*

*Chief Minister announces Rs 11 lakh for Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula*

Chandigarh, September 13: Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that players should set their goal of winning medals at the Olympic Games. He said that Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has set a target of establishing India as a sports superpower in the 2036 Olympic Games, and the state government has already begun preparations in this direction.

The Chief Minister was addressing players from across the country at the inaugural ceremony of Yonex-Sunrise Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025 in Panchkula today. On this occasion, the Chief Minister declared the Badminton Tournament open and announced to give Rs 11 lakh to the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula from this discretionary fund.

Former Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula, Sh Gian Chand Gupta; Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Sh Alok Mittal; Commissioner and Secretary, Finance Department, Mohammed Shayin ; Deputy Commissioner, Sh Satpal Sharma, Joint Secretary, Haryana Badminton Association Sh Jatinder Kumar Mahajan, Vice President of Badminton Association of India Sh Ajay Kumar Singhania, President, Sports Promotion Society Panchkula Sh D.P Soni were also present.

Welcoming around 2,000 players from different states to Haryana, Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that victory and defeat are part of the game, but your passion and sportsmanship are what makes you a great player. He added that the players’ goal should not be limited to the Asian Junior Badminton Tournament, but should extend to winning medals for India at the Olympic Games.

Describing Haryana as a sports hub, the Chief Minister said that players from the state have brought laurels to both the country and Haryana by winning medals at international competitions. He said that about 11 years ago, a vision for sports was formulated in Haryana, under which players have been encouraged with the mantra ‘Khele Haryana–Badhe Haryana’ and extensive sports infrastructure has been developed. Whether it is stadiums, indoor halls, or residential sports academies, the government has ensured the establishment of modern sports facilities in every district of the state.

He informed that the state government has set up sports nurseries to nurture talent from an early age, due to which Haryana is known as the ‘nursery of sports. Financial assistance and professional training are being provided to budding players through these nurseries. At present, 1,489 sports nurseries are operational in the state, where 37,225 players are receiving training. In these nurseries Players aged 8 to 14 years are given Rs 1,500 per month, while those between 15 and 19 years receive Rs 2,000 per month.

Referring to the achievements of Haryana’s sportspersons, the Chief Minister said that whether it is the Olympic Games, Asian Games, or Commonwealth Games, players from Haryana have made the nation proud by raising the tricolor on every stage. He highlighted that out of the six medals won by India at the Paris Olympics 2024, five were secured by Haryana’s players. Similarly, in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, four out of the seven medals for India came from Haryana. He added that the state’s performance in the Asian Games has also been highly commendable.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has implemented the ‘Haryana Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam, 2021’ to ensure secure employment for outstanding sportspersons. Under this, 550 new posts have been created in the Sports Department. In addition, 224 players with commendable performances at the international level have been provided government jobs. Provision of reservation for sportspersons has been made in direct recruitment to posts from Class I to Class III.

Congratulating and extending his best wishes to all the badminton players, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that badminton is a sport which not only sharpens physical skills and technical proficiency, but also reflects mental toughness, discipline, and dedication. He described badminton as a unique blend of speed, strategy, and stamina. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also motivated the players by playing badminton himself.

He said that badminton has gained unprecedented popularity in India over the last few decades, credit for which goes to the legendary players who have made the nation proud on the world stage. These include stalwarts like Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Lakshya Sen, who have also inspired lakhs of young people to take up the sport.

The Chief Minister urged all players to play as a team, support one another, and learn from each other, emphasizing that their unity is their greatest strength.

Addressing the gathering, former Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula, Sh Gian Chand Gupta said that the Society was established 15 years ago to promote sports among youth and steer them away from drug addiction. He informed that since its inception, the Society has been organizing annual sports competitions such as Kabaddi, Badminton, and Cricket in the district, while also felicitating medal winners to recognize and encourage their achievements.

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Yamuna river embankments should be further strengthened: V. Somanna

Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti inspects Yamuna water flow at Hathnikund Barrage

Chandigarh, September 13 –Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, Sh. V. Somanna inspected the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar district on Saturday along with officers from the Irrigation Department to assess the current waterflow of Yamuna River.

The Union Minister said that due to recent heavy rainfall, there has been significant land erosion and waterlogging at several locations near the embankments of the Yamuna River. He directed officers to further strengthen the river embankments to prevent any future damage. He emphasised that the safety and welfare of villagers and farmers are the government’s top priority, and both the central and state governments will work together to provide all possible assistance.

While interacting with the villagers, the Minister assured that those who have suffered damage to their crops or property due to excessive rainfall will not be denied assistance. The Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, is fully committed to delivering timely relief materials and financial assistance to every flood-affected family. The Prime Minister has himself assigned ministers to duty in flood-affected areas, and in this effort, he visited Yamunanagar to directly assess the situation and understand the problems faced by affected residents, he added.

The Minister further said that the Central Government is coordinating closely with the State Government to speed up relief work. He directed officers to ensure immediate delivery of relief materials and compensation to affected families, and to develop a concrete plan for permanent solutions in areas suffering from land erosion. He reaffirmed that both the central and state governments are committed to supporting villagers during this difficult time.

Sh.Somanna also listened to the problems of villagers in Nathanpur and gave necessary directions to officers for their resolution.

Former Haryana Cabinet Minister, Sh. Kanwar Pal, Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, Sh. Parth Gupta were also present during the inspection.

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Health infrastructure to be strengthened in the state: Arti Singh Rao

Administrative approval given for construction of 135 health institutions

Rs.74.43 crore to be spent on these projects

Chandigarh, September 13– Haryana Health Minister, Ms. Arti Singh Rao said that the government is continuously working to strengthen the health infrastructure in the state and provide better medical facilities to the general public. The state government has taken a major step towards strengthening the health system by giving administrative approval for the construction of 135 new health institutions. Approximately Rs. 74.43 crore will be spent on these projects.

The Health Minister said that out of these, 126 “Sub Health Centers” will be established at a total cost of Rs. 6993 lakh. In addition, approval has been given for the construction of 9 “Block Public Health Units,” with a total estimated cost of Rs. 450 lakh. The Sub Health Centers will be set up in the districts of Mahendragarh, Rewari, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Gurugram, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Palwal, Panipat, and Sonipat. The Block Public Health Units will be constructed in Sirsa, Bhiwani, Rewari, Jhajjar, and Panipat districts.

Ms. Arti Singh Rao said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is making continuous efforts to upgrade health services. The government’s goal is to ensure that no citizen of the state remains deprived of basic healthcare services. In this direction, priority is being given to increasing the number of doctors, providing modern medical equipment, and constructing new health institutions. She also assured that wherever there is a need for a health institution – in villages or towns, the construction of a new institution will be ensured as soon as possible.

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Resolve is to make Haryana drug-free through ‘Seva Pakhwada’ and ‘Namo Yuva Run’– State Minister Gaurav Gautam

‘Seva Pakhwada’ to begin on September 17 on PM’s birthday and Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti

CM Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Manohar Lal to lead ‘Namo Yuva Run’ on September 21 in Kurukshetra and Gurugram

Chandigarh, September 13 – Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship and Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that the ‘Seva Pakhwada’ will begin across the state on September 17, on the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi and Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti. This Pakhwada will conclude on October 2, 2025 commemorating the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam was addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that during the ‘Seva Pakhwada’, various programmes related to social service and public awareness will be organised. These include the ‘Namo Yuva Run’, blood donation camps, health check-up camps, and campaigns like ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’. He emphasised that environmental pollution is a serious global challenge that can only be solved through public participation. Therefore, plantation drives will be organised across the state during this period, with active involvement of the people of Haryana.

The Minister further said that on September 21, the ‘Namo Yuva Run’ programme against drug abuse will be organised in Kurukshetra and Gurugram. Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini will attend the event in Kurukshetra, while former Chief Minister and Union Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal will be the Chief Guest in Gurugram. Around 7,500 youth from across the state will participate in the run, spreading the message of a drug-free society. He said that Sh. Nayab Singh Saini’s dream is to make Haryana completely drug-free, and the ‘Namo Yuva Run’ is a significant step in that direction.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam also said that the state government has launched a Kshatipurti portal for flood-affected farmers, which will ensure quick disbursement of crop damage compensation upon application. He said that flood-affected sports grounds will also be repaired soon so that the preparation of athletes is not hampered.To nurture sports talent in Haryana, 1500 sports nurseries have been established so far, and another 500 new nurseries will also be started soon, he added.

The Minister further said that the purpose of the ‘Seva Pakhwada’ is not limited to formal events, but to actively engage the public in service, cleanliness, environmental protection, and drug-free campaigns. The Haryana Government is committed to making this initiative successful so that every citizen understands the importance of social service and the youth are inspired to move in a positive direction.

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*Departments must install signboards and construct berms on all roads: CM*

*Work on roads with allotted tenders must start immediately, all projects to be completed within set timelines: CM*

Chandigarh, September 13 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the DPR of the roads to be constructed in the state must ensure quality and the DPR should also include a proper drainage plan. Apart from this, every site must be inspected, samples should be collected, tested in the lab, and their reports should be preserved.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini gave these directions today while presiding over a review meeting regarding the road repair works of various departments. During this, all Deputy Commissioners and DMCs also joined the meeting through video conferencing.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini directed the officers that all concerned departments must ensure installation of sign boards on the roads. Along with this, berms should also be constructed on the roads. He also directed that in areas where road works are in progress, feedback should be taken from local residents, inter-state connecting roads should be improved, and beautification should be done by planting trees.

The Chief Minister also directed the officers that the work of the roads whose tenders have already been allotted in the state must be started immediately. Also, officers of the concerned departments in the districts should have complete information about the works being carried out there. Apart from this, development works should be completed within the stipulated time frame, and special attention should be given to quality, with no compromise whatsoever.

*Before Gita Jayanti, various chowks in Kurukshetra will be beautified on the theme of Mahabharata*

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also directed that in areas where rainwater was flowing over the roads, such locations should be identified and pipes should be laid for water drainage. In addition, various chowks in Kurukshetra should be beautified on the theme of Mahabharata. This work should be completed before Gita Jayanti, he directed. He also said that in the hilly areas of Morni, where kutcha paths have been damaged due to rain, they should be repaired under MGNREGA.

*CM directes collection of road samples for testing*

The Chief Minister directed the concerned Deputy Commissioners to collect samples of various roads and get them tested. These roads include the road in front of PM Shree Girls Senior Secondary School and Bhirdana road in district Fatehabad, the road in Sector 14 in district Hisar, the road of village Samastpur Majra and village Marout in district Jhajjar, and the road constructed from village Mouli to village Pyarewala in district Panchkula. Samples of these roads should be collected and tested.

In the meeting, officers informed the Chief Minister that due to rains in the state, 1107 kilometers length of roads of the Public Works Department have been damaged. An estimated amount of Rs. 287 crore will be spent on their repair, work for which will start soon. Apart from this, tenders have been issued for 240 kilometers length of roads of Haryana Urban Development Authority, whose work will start soon. At the same time, the tender process is going on for 208 kilometers length of roads. They informed the Chief Minister that 209 roads of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board have been completed at a cost of Rs. 89 crore, while work is in progress on 236 roads at a cost of Rs. 140 crore. The tender process is underway for 38 roads.

On this occasion, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary of Energy Department Sh. AK Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, along with senior officers of various departments were present.

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*Gita's message now part of India’s cultural relations with Indonesia: CM Nayab Singh Saini*

*Indonesia releases a postage stamp on the Gita during the International Gita Mahotsav in Bali*

Chandigarh, September 13 – Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the divine message given by Lord Shri Krishna to Arjun in Kurukshetra, Haryana, is being spread across the world. India already had old cultural relations with Indonesia and now, Gita's message has also become a part of these relations.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini was giving his video message on Saturday evening on the occasion of the three-day Sixth International Gita Mahotsav being held at the Bali Parliament auditorium in Indonesia. During this, Indonesia also released a postage stamp on the Gita.

The Chief Minister said that the International Gita Mahotsav has been organized in Indonesia under the guidance of Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj. The citizens here will also receive the knowledge of the Gita and further spread it so that the world may benefit from it. He said that Swami Gyananand Ji has inspired the citizens of Indonesia to imbibe the Gita in their lives. This will strengthen the relations between Indonesia and India.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that now, Gita Mahotsav is being organized abroad outside Kurukshetra also. So far, International Gita Mahotsav has been organized in Mauritius, London, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka and UK. In the coming time, International Gita Mahotsav will also be organized in other countries. The Chief Minister appealed to the citizens of Indonesia to imbibe the divine message of the Gita in their lives.

Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj said that from the Gita the world receives the art of living and the mantra of harmony and peace. The welfare of the world possible only from the core mantras of the Gita. If even one minute of Gita recitation is done, it makes a person strong in thought and mind. There is full enthusiasm and energy in Bali, Indonesia, regarding the International Gita Mahotsav. The citizens of Indonesia will imbibe the Gita in their lives and also spread this knowledge further.

On this occasion, Haryana Tourism Minister Dr. Arvind Sharma said that in Haryana a grand statue of Lord Shri Krishna should be built which the whole world should recognize. For this, every support will be given by the Tourism Department of the state.

Wedakarna MWS III Bali Senator Dr. I. Gusti Ngura Arya said that people in Indonesia already have great respect for the Gita but now with the organization of International Gita Mahotsav, the common people will be even more connected with the Gita. He said that Bali is the younger brother of India. He will continue to organize programmes related to the Gita in the future as well.

On this occasion, Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, South Region, Dr. Neena Malhotra, Bali MLA Professor Somveer, India’s CGI in Bali Shashank Vikram, MLA Buddhi Uttama, MLA Raki, MLA Medu Parta, Haryana Women Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia, Chairperson Sushma Gupta, Mayor of Karnal Renu Bala Gupta, Honorary Secretary Upendra Singhal, 48 Kos Monitoring Committee Chairman Madan Mohan Chhabra along with other dignitaries were present.