CM Saini rolls out Rs 368-cr panchayat package, adds 41,000 to pension list
On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini unveiled a massive development package worth Rs 368 crore for panchayats across the state. Speaking at the state-level Gram Utthan Samaroh held in Panchkula, Saini inaugurated 923 development projects worth Rs 233 crore and laid the foundation stones for another 413 works valued at Rs 135 crore.
Reinforcing grassroots governance, the Chief Minister also transferred Rs 573 crore as stamp duty revenue share to 22 Zila Parishads, 142 Panchayat Samitis, and 5,388 Gram Panchayats.
Furthering women-centric infrastructure, Saini announced the release of Rs 18.28 crore for the construction of Mahila Chaupals in 511 Gram Panchayats. He also disbursed Rs 1.45 crore as honorarium to 411 Zila Parishad members and 3,081 Panchayat Samiti members.
At the event, Saini launched the Mukhyamantri Jagrit Gram Puraskar Yojana, a performance-based incentive scheme for Gram Panchayats. Panchayats excelling in areas such as education, healthcare, sanitation, women’s empowerment, agricultural output, digital access, and sustainable infrastructure will be eligible for cash rewards — Rs 51 lakh for first position, Rs 31 lakh for second, and Rs 21 lakh for third. The funds must be used for local development.
“To strengthen democratic governance at the grassroots, it’s important to motivate and equip our Panchayati Raj Institutions,” said Saini.
He also launched the distribution of training kits under the National Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, with plans to provide refresher training for all 71,000 elected PRI representatives across Haryana this year.
A major highlight of the event was the disbursement of social security pension benefits to 41,591 new beneficiaries under various schemes. A total of Rs 12.59 crore was directly credited to their bank accounts from the venue itself.
Earlier, the Chief Minister and attendees observed a two-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Haryana Tribune