*With opportunity and trust, Every person can become extraordinary: CM*

*Special stadium for PwD athletes to be built in Haryana: Chief Minister*

*CM attends inauguration of National Athletics Championship in Rohtak*

Chandigarh, February 3-Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that athletes participating in the ‘Special Olympics’ are sending a strong message by overcoming challenges that if given opportunity, proper training and confidence, every individual can achieve extraordinary success.

The Chief Minister was addressing the inaugural function of the Special Olympics Bharat Athletics National Championship held on Tuesday at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. More than 500 athletes, along with their coaches and support staff from 26 states, are participating in this championship.

During the programme, the Chief Minister said that following the vision of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi of the “Accessible India” initiative, a special stadium will be constructed in Haryana for persons with disabilities (PwDs) athletes. The stadium will also include residential facilities for the athletes. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs. 31 lakh to Special Olympics Bharat, while Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam announced an additional grant of Rs. 21 lakh.

Earlier, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Girls’ Sports Hostel at the Abhilasha Girls’ Hostel complex of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak. The proposed hostel will have a capacity to accommodate 150 girl students. This multi-storey structure (ground plus three floors) will have a total covered area of approximately 2,374 square metres and will be constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs. 5 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the true essence of the Special Olympics lies in viewing sports not merely as a competition for medals, but as a reflection of the power and potential of the human spirit. The athletes running, jumping and competing on the field teach us that limitations exist not in the body, but in the mindset. Along with the national championship, initiatives such as health and medical camps, youth activation programmes and athlete leadership training are also being organised. These efforts aim not only at physical fitness but also at mental empowerment and leadership development. This is true inclusion, where athletes emerge not just as medal winners but as active citizens, role models and sources of inspiration for society.

The Chief Minister further said that often Paralympics and Special Olympics are considered the same, whereas both are different but equally important. Paralympics are organised for athletes with physical disabilities, while Special Olympics is a global movement for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It focuses not only on competition but also on training, participation, confidence building and lifelong development. He said that Special Olympics Bharat is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and stands as a strong example of the country’s inclusive sports policy. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Italy, a 49-member Indian contingent participated, and 28 athletes won 33 medals, making the entire country proud. These medals reflect stories of discipline, struggle and self-belief, he added.

*Haryana: The Powerhouse of Sports*

The Chief Minister said that Haryana is a powerhouse of sports and has produced numerous Olympians and world champions. He specially mentioned Special Olympics athlete Keshav from Haryana and praised his achievements.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country is moving rapidly towards a developed and inclusive India. Events like the Special Olympics remind us that true development is measured by how empowered the weakest section of society feels. The Haryana Government remains committed to empowerment of persons with disabilities (PwD), development of sports and inclusive policies.

*Haryana doubles its budget for sports*

The Chief Minister said that over the last 11 years, Rs. 989 crore has been spent on developing sports infrastructure in the state. The sports budget has been increased from Rs. 275 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 602.18 crore in the current financial year.

He said that Olympic, Paralympic and other international medal winners are being awarded cash prizes of up to Rs. 6 crore. A Sports University has been established in Rai, Sonipat. At present, the state has 3 state-level sports complexes, 21 district-level sports stadiums, 25 sub-divisional stadiums, 163 Rajiv Gandhi Rural Sports Complexes, 245 rural stadiums and 382 indoor gyms in villages. Besides this, 10 swimming pools, 11 synthetic athletic tracks, 14 hockey astroturf grounds, 2 synthetic football grounds and 9 multipurpose halls have been developed. Sports facilitation centres have also been established in 16 districts at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

The Chief Minister said that sports equipment is being provided under the Haryana Sports Equipment Scheme, benefiting over 15,634 athletes. At present, 1,472 sports nurseries are operational, where more than 37,000 children receive regular training. Financial assistance of Rs. 1,500 per month is given to athletes aged 8–14 years and Rs. 2,000 per month to those aged 15–19 years.

To ensure a secure future for athletes, the Haryana Outstanding Sportsperson Service Rules-2021 have been implemented, under which 550 new posts have been created and 231 athletes have been provided government jobs. A rehabilitation centre for players has also been started at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Panchkula.

*North India's model sports center to be built in Haryana: Minister of State for Sports, Gaurav Gautam*

Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that sports facilities for PwD athletes are being developed at Daulatabad in Gurugram. Along with this, a model sports centre for North India will also be established in the state.

He said that this championship is a celebration of inclusive India and human values, which will boost the confidence of special athletes and help them become self-reliant and part of the mainstream. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the Union Budget has increased sports allocation by 33 percent, he added.

Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that athletes from the state have brought glory to both the state and the nation by winning nearly one-third of the medals at the national and international levels. The state government provides cash incentives of Rs. 6 crore for gold medalists, Rs. 4 crore for silver medalists, and Rs. 2.5 crore for bronze medalists in the Olympic Games. The government has also made provisions for reservation in government jobs from Group A to Group D categories to ensure a secure and bright future for sportspersons. Besides this, three Centres of Excellence for sports have been established at the local Maharshi Dayanand University.

*Haryana leading the way in sports: Dr. Mallika Nadda*

President, Special Olympics Bharat, Dr. Mallika Nadda, said that Haryana is playing a leading role in the field of sports, with its athletes bringing glory to the state and the nation at national and international levels. She said that the increase in the sports budget reflects the Prime Minister’s sensitivity towards PwD athletes.

She said that the main objective of these games is to integrate special athletes into the mainstream so that they can make meaningful contributions to a developed India. The slogan of the championship, “Kranti, Khelon Se Hai”, highlights the power of sports in bringing positive change.

BJP National Secretary and former Minister, Sh. Omparkash Dhankhar, BJP State President, Sh. Mohan Lal Kaushik, former Minister Sh. Manish Grover, Mayor, Sh. Ramavatar Valmiki, Vice-Chancellor, Maharshi Dayanand University Prof Rajbir Singh, Vice-Chancellor, DLCSUPVA, Dr. Amit Arya, Vice-Chancellor, SGT University, Dr. Hemant Verma and other dignitaries were also present during the programme.

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*After Paperless Registry Success, Haryana to Launch Faceless Property Registration Pilot from Faridabad by End of March*

*Three-Month Pilot to Usher in New Era of Digital, Citizen-Centric Land Administration*

Chandigarh, February 3 - After the successful implementation of paperless property registration across the state, Haryana is now set to take the next major leap in land administration by launching a pilot Faceless Property Registration System from Faridabad, scheduled to begin by the end of March, Financial Commissioner Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra informed here today.

The Faridabad pilot marks the state's ambitious move towards a fully digital, faceless and citizen-centric property registration process, aimed at further enhancing transparency, minimising physical interface and improving ease of service delivery. Dr. Misra emphasized that this initiative represents a significant governance reform that will transform how citizens interact with the land administration system.

*Three-Month Pilot with Close Monitoring*

The pilot project will be implemented for a period of three months in one of the tehsils of Faridabad district and will be closely monitored before any decision is taken on its expansion to other districts of Haryana.

The initiative is designed to digitally streamline the entire property registration workflow, ensuring faster processing, improved efficiency and a significant reduction in human discretion. This technological advancement promises to make property transactions more transparent and hassle-free for citizens while maintaining the highest standards of security and data protection.

*Secure Hosting on Government of India's MeitY Cloud*

According to Dr. Misra, the Faceless Property Registration System will be securely hosted on the Government of India's MeitY Cloud, providing enterprise-grade security, robust data protection and scalability. All approved features and functionalities will be deployed during the pilot phase, while certain non-critical features may be incorporated at a later stage based on user feedback and operational requirements.

Dedicated nodal officers will be appointed by both the Revenue Department and the implementing agency to ensure seamless coordination and effective execution of the pilot. This dual oversight mechanism will help identify challenges early and ensure smooth implementation of the system.

*Implementation Timeline and Technical Support*

Dr. Misra clarified that the three-month pilot period will commence after completion of the technical work by the project team and successful User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sign-off by the concerned Sub-Registrar. Server hosting support will be provided by the Revenue Department's IT team, demonstrating the government's commitment to leveraging in-house technical expertise.

She added that no financial assistance—other than hosting—will be extended by the government to the implementing agency, ensuring cost-effective implementation while maintaining quality standards.

*Strengthening Transparency and Public Trust*

Terming the initiative a significant governance reform, Dr. Misra said the faceless registration system is expected to further strengthen transparency, reduce procedural delays and enhance public trust in property transactions. The elimination of face-to-face interactions will minimize opportunities for corruption and ensure that services are delivered uniformly to all citizens.

Citizens will benefit from faster processing times, reduced documentation requirements, and the convenience of completing property registration from the comfort of their homes. The digital system will also create a comprehensive audit trail, making the entire process more accountable and transparent.

Dr. Misra added that based on the outcomes and feedback from the Faridabad pilot, the system may be rolled out across other districts of Haryana in a phased manner, reinforcing the state's commitment to technology-driven and citizen-friendly governance. This measured approach ensures that lessons learned from the pilot can be incorporated before wider implementation.

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*Encourage farmers to sow crops based on soil testing: Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana*

*Agriculture Minister chairs meeting of Agriculture and Horticulture Department officers*

Chandigarh, February 3 – Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana, directed officers to encourage farmers to sow crops based on soil testing so that they can achieve better yields.

The Minister was chairing a meeting of officers of the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments here today. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Pankaj Aggarwal, Director, Sh. Rajnarayan Kaushik, Director General, Horticulture Directorate, Sh. Ranbir Singh, Mission Director, Sh. Joginder Singh, and other senior officers.

The Agriculture Minister said that officers should ensure maximum soil testing of farmers’ fields. Based on the report, farmers should be advised about the nutrients required and guided to sow crops accordingly. He added repeated cultivation of the same crop leads to depletion of specific nutrients in the soil and increases the risk of land becoming barren. He directed officers to alert such farmers after soil testing by sending messages on their mobile phones and advising them on suitable crops.

Sh. Rana also suggested that farmers be encouraged to adopt new crop rotation patterns so that crops requiring less water can be grown, while also ensuring good income for farmers.

The Minister also held detailed discussions on the Bima Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, and directed officers to resolve farmers’ issues at the earliest.

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