Haryana Approves ₹747 Crore Budget for PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme to Boost Schoolchildren’s Nutrition
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi chairs meeting of State-Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee of PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme
Chandigarh, April 3: Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, on Friday, chaired a high-level meeting of the State Level Steering-cum-Monitoring Committee (SLSMC), where the panel approved a budget of ₹747 crore for the Financial Year 2026–27 under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme — a flagship programme aimed at strengthening nutritional support for school children across the state.
The approved outlay comprises a central share of ₹222 crore and a state share of ₹525 crore, underscoring the government's strong financial commitment to expanding the quality and reach of the scheme. The meeting conducted a comprehensive review of the programme's current implementation status, financial performance, and roadmap for the year ahead.
Director, Elementary Education, Manita Malik, informed the meeting that over 14.8 lakh children — from Bal Vatika to upper primary classes — are proposed to be covered under the scheme in the upcoming financial year. The committee reviewed the existing meal menu and nutritional interventions being provided to students, which include supplementary items such as milk, protein-based food products, peanut pinni, and instant kheer. The Chief Secretary called for strict adherence to quality, hygiene, and nutritional standards across all districts, leaving no room for compromise in the delivery of meals.
Sh. Rastogi directed officials to further reinforce monitoring mechanisms at both the district and school levels. He emphasised the need for regular inspections and systematic collection of student feedback to ensure that meals are nutritious, palatable, and consistently served to the required standards. The meeting also deliberated on measures to enhance efficiency in fund utilisation and ensure the timely release of instalments.
Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Sh. Vijay Singh Dahiya, Commissioner & Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi, committee members from various departments and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
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Strengthening rural sanitation and drainage systems is the utmost priority- CM
Ensure time-bound cleaning of ponds, better wastewater management in villages, says CM
Chandigarh, April 3 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday stressed the need to strengthen sanitation and drainage systems in rural areas, directing officers concerned to ensure regular and time-bound cleaning of village ponds and wastewater channels across the state.
Chairing a review meeting of the Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority here today, the Chief Minister said maintaining cleanliness in villages must be a priority to prevent inconvenience to residents. He underlined that village ponds should remain free from foul smell, and waterlogging in residential areas must be avoided at all costs.
The Chief Minister further directed that cleaning, desilting and drainage works be carried out under a structured Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure transparency, quality and accountability. He also called for improved planning and the use of modern technology and scientific design in the construction, reconstruction and modernisation of ponds. He directed officers to undertake beautification works around ponds to create clean and accessible spaces for villagers, including for morning and evening walks.
To enhance efficiency, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini suggested the use of solar pumps for regular cleaning and maintaining water flow. He warned that negligence in sanitation at the village level would invite strict action, with accountability fixed on concerned officials, sarpanches and staff.
Further, he directed that Panchayat Secretaries be assigned responsibility for regular monitoring of ponds in every village and that the number of sanitation workers be increased to strengthen the system.
Highlighting the government’s broader objective, the Chief Minister said efforts are aimed at developing clean, well-maintained and functional water bodies in rural areas, ensuring lasting relief from waterlogging, unhygienic conditions and foul odour.
According to officials, 6,538 ponds have been identified under the state’s action plan, of which 2,758 projects have received administrative approval. So far, 1,718 works have been completed, while 484 are in progress.
Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Dr. Saket Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Yashpal, OSD, Sh. Virender Badhkhalsa, and Executive Vice Chairman of the Authority, Smt. Vimal Goswami were also present at the meeting.
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Building plan approvals to go online in Haryana, CM
No delay in works will be tolerated- Nayab Singh Saini
Chandigarh, April 3 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday directed that the entire process of approving building plans for residential and commercial structures be made fully online, aiming to enhance transparency, improve citizen convenience and reduce processing time.
Chairing a meeting of the Urban Local Bodies Department at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said timelines should be clearly defined, and accountability of officials fixed to ensure timely approvals. During the meeting, he also reviewed various aspects of the Urban Challenge Fund and the plans for works to be undertaken in the state under the scheme.
Focus on wastewater reuse
The Chief Minister stressed the need to strengthen wastewater reuse systems in urban areas. He directed officers to ensure maximum utilisation of treated water from sewage treatment plants (STPs), including its use for irrigation of parks, industrial purposes and agriculture. He called for the development of the necessary infrastructure to facilitate reuse, including laying durable pipelines from STPs to parks and other end-use points. Special emphasis should be laid on utilising treated water in parks and green belts, he said. Officers informed that all upcoming STPs in Haryana will mandatorily include provisions for reuse systems to promote water conservation and balanced use of natural resources.
Sewerage mapping, future planning
Saini also directed preparation of detailed data on the existing sewerage network across the state. He said an assessment should be carried out on when and on what population basis sewerage systems were laid in different areas. Acknowledging the fact that the population in several areas has increased significantly—up to three times in some cases—he stressed the need to redesign infrastructure, keeping future requirements in mind.
No delay in development works
Taking a firm stand on delays, the Chief Minister said any lag in development works would not be tolerated as the state moves forward in line with the vision of a “Viksit Bharat”. He directed that all Urban Local Bodies projects be completed within stipulated timelines and warned against delays after tender allotment. Contractors must be clearly instructed to deliver quality work within deadlines, and additional manpower and machinery should be deployed wherever required to speed up execution.
Road infrastructure in focus
The Chief Minister was apprised that GIS mapping of about 16,000 km of roads has been completed, and complaints are being addressed through the ‘Mhari Sadak’ app. He directed strict compliance with instructions to make roads pothole-free and warned of action against officials showing negligence. The department has identified 2,276 roads across urban local body areas in Haryana. Of these, 1,144 roads will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 510.34 crore, including some previously rural roads now falling under municipal limits. In addition, 1,083 roads, covering 591.51 km, will be reconstructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 594.91 crore. Another 49 roads, spanning 18.25 km, have been identified for patchwork at a cost of Rs. 10.33 crore.
Strengthening infrastructure
The Chief Minister said the state government is continuously working to strengthen infrastructure and ensure that all development works are completed on time with high quality, so that citizens can benefit from improved living standards and services.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Arun Gupta, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr Saket Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, and Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) Mission, Sh. Shashvat Sangwan were also present at the meeting.
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Proposals for new drainage projects to be prepared based on urban population- Chief Minister
Cleaning of drains, canals, and water channels to be completed before the monsoon- Nayab Singh Saini
Trees to be planted along embankments to make them environmentally sustainable and green
Chandigarh, April 3 — Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the cleaning of all drains, canals, and water channels must be completed before the onset of the monsoon. He emphasised that, especially in populated areas, strong berms should be constructed along drains and canals, and the work should be monitored regularly.
The Chief Minister was chairing a review meeting on the cleaning of drains, canals, and water channels with officers of the Irrigation, Public Health, and Local Bodies Departments here on Friday. He directed that a proposal be prepared for a drainage system up to the Rajasthan border in Fatehabad for the disposal of rainwater, so that farmers in the area can utilise the water for irrigation purposes. He further said that urban populations are increasing, and the natural flow of water is being obstructed in inhabited areas, leading to waterlogging. Therefore, proposals for new drainage projects should be prepared for such areas to prevent waterlogging in the future.
No negligence in the cleaning of drains and canals
The Chief Minister directed that the cleaning of rainwater and drainage-related drains and canals should be completed promptly, and no negligence should be tolerated in this work. He further directed that embankments in weak or vulnerable areas should be inspected in advance and strengthened in time. In addition, embankments in low-lying areas should also be reinforced to prevent overflow. He also stressed that trees should be planted along these embankments to make them environmentally sustainable and green.
The Chief Minister directed that special attention be given to the cleaning of the Ghaggar, Markanda, and Tangri rivers, along with the strengthening of embankments. He also directed that the flow of the Saraswati River near Cheeka in Kurukshetra be straightened. Additionally, he directed that a proposal be prepared for the drainage of industrial water in Bawal.
Officers of the Irrigation Department informed the Chief Minister that out of 825 identified drain and channel works, work has been completed on 713, and the remaining will be completed by June. They further stated that out of 425 short-term flood protection works, tenders for 250 have been finalised, and the remaining will be completed by the end of the month.
Additionally, the department has readied 839 diesel pumps with a capacity of 1,678 cusecs, 1,389 electric pumps with a capacity of 4,466 cusecs, and 495 mobile pumps with a capacity of 3,465 cusecs. In total, 2,723 pumps with a capacity of 9,609 cusecs have been prepared across the state.
The Chief Minister further informed that in 87 urban local bodies, out of 2,382 drains with a total length of 2,655 kilometers, cleaning of 1,116 kilometers has been completed, and the remaining work will be finished by June. Similarly, the Public Health Department will complete the cleaning of 100 kilometers of drains across 85 cities by the end of May.
Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Saket Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, Director, Land Consolidation, Sh. Yashpal, Engineer-in-Chief (Public Health) Sh. Devender Singh, Engineer in Chief, Irrigation Department, Dr. Satbir Singh, OSD to Chief Minister, Sh. Rakesh Sandhu and other senior officers were present during the meeting.
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*Haryana Strengthens Lifeline for Patients: HSBTC meeting approves proposal for Rs. 54 Crores for Blood Transfusion Services; State Wins National Excellence Award for Second Consecutive Year*
Chandigarh, April 3 - Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra presided over the 21st Executive Body Meeting of the Haryana State Blood Transfusion Council (HSBTC) on Wednesday, where a series of landmark decisions were approved to expand and modernize blood transfusion services across the state.
The Council approved a comprehensive Annual Action Plan for 2026–27 with a total proposed outlay of Rs. 11.60 crore under the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) component. It earmarked budget for procurement of blood bags and testing kits, ensuring a steady and uninterrupted supply chain across all blood centres and allocation for mobile blood collection and transportation vans, reinforcing the state's outreach capacity in remote and underserved areas. The plan also includes expansion of 19 Govt Blood Component Separation Units (BCSUs), along with investment in staff salaries, IEC material development, training of blood bank personnel, and monitoring visits.
Under the state component of HSBTC grant-in-aid, a proposal to be sent to the Government for a total outlay of Rs. 54.14 crores, which includes additional budget allocation for Anti-Haemophilia Therapy and Iron chelation medicines, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring uninterrupted, life-saving treatment for patients with these chronic blood disorders.
The meeting highlighted encouraging progress in blood collection through the technology-enabled e-RaktKosh digital platform, which allows monitoring of blood availability and utilisation across the state. Blood collection has risen consistently — from 5,50,480 units in 2023–24 to 5,82,738 units in 2024–25, and further to 5,92,136 units in 2025–26. This upward trend reflects growing public awareness, improved institutional coordination, and stronger outreach through voluntary blood donation camps.
Haryana has secured the first position in the "Excellence in Blood Donation Award" conferred by the Government of India for two consecutive years — 2023–24 and 2024–25 — a testament to the state's sustained efforts in voluntary blood donation and service delivery. Adding to this distinction, the Government Blood Centre at LNJP District Civil Hospital, Kurukshetra, has been recognised as the Best Blood Centre in Haryana at a National Conclave held in February 2025.
Haryana currently operates a strong network of 154 blood centres — 34 government and 120 private — spread across the state. Of these, 138 are equipped with Blood Component Separation Units (BCSUs), and 65 have platelet apheresis facilities, enabling advanced blood services for critically ill patients. All patients admitted in government health facilities receive free blood and blood components; additionally, free platelets are available for BPL, cancer, and dengue patients. It was directed by Dr. Misra to upgrade remaining government and private Blood Centres with Blood Component Separation facility (BCSUs) in phasic manner.
*Haemophilia and Thalassaemia Patients Get Comprehensive Support*
The number of patients with haemophilia registered in Haryana has grown from 560 in 2018 to 1,019 in 2025, reflecting both improved diagnosis and greater patient reach. All registered patients receive free Anti-Haemophilia Factors (AHF — Factors VIII, IX, VII, and FEIBA), free blood components, free transport and ambulance services, etc. Additionally, 232 haemophilia patients and 605 thalassaemia patients receive monthly financial support of Rs. 3,000 each through the SEWA department.
A total of 2,443 thalassaemia patients are currently registered and receiving comprehensive support, including cascade screening, genetic counselling, prenatal diagnosis, free blood transfusions, free iron chelation medicines, and ambulance services — with the goal of preventing new thalassaemia births through proactive intervention.
The meeting approved in principle a proposal to upgrade the Blood Centre at DCH Panipat into a fully automated, paperless Blood component separation unit on the lines of the AIIMS Jhajjar model — a pilot project that could serve as a blueprint for modernising blood services across the state.
New guidelines for blood centre establishment were also ratified, mandating at least one blood centre per district and linking new centre approvals to population-based norms, ensuring equitable geographic distribution of services.
The refreshment support for voluntary blood donors at donation camps has been proposed to be doubled, from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 per donor — under the state Health Department's grant-in-aid, to further encourage participation. CSR partnerships have also contributed meaningfully: Intas Pharma has provided a Blood Mobile at PGIMS Rohtak, while Kotak Bank has donated a blood donation van to DCH Rewari. Financial performance for 2025–26 was reviewed positively, with an expenditure of Rs. 400.93 lakh against a total available budget of Rs. 435.74 lakh — reflecting approximately 92 per cent fund utilisation and efficient programme management.
Dr. Misra appealed to all citizens to volunteer for blood donation, emphasizing that blood is a vital, life-saving resource. She further urged the corporate sector to support the strengthening of blood services through CSR initiatives, specifically focusing on the procurement of high-end machinery and advanced testing methods to enhance service quality.
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Strengthening rural sanitation and drainage systems is the utmost priority- CM
Ensure time-bound cleaning of ponds, better wastewater management in villages, says CM
Chandigarh, April 3 – Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday stressed the need to strengthen sanitation and drainage systems in rural areas, directing officers concerned to ensure regular and time-bound cleaning of village ponds and wastewater channels across the state.
Chairing a review meeting of the Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority here today, the Chief Minister said maintaining cleanliness in villages must be a priority to prevent inconvenience to residents. He underlined that village ponds should remain free from foul smell, and waterlogging in residential areas must be avoided at all costs.
The Chief Minister further directed that cleaning, desilting and drainage works be carried out under a structured Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure transparency, quality and accountability. He also called for improved planning and the use of modern technology and scientific design in the construction, reconstruction and modernisation of ponds. He directed officers to undertake beautification works around ponds to create clean and accessible spaces for villagers, including for morning and evening walks.
To enhance efficiency, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini suggested the use of solar pumps for regular cleaning and maintaining water flow. He warned that negligence in sanitation at the village level would invite strict action, with accountability fixed on concerned officials, sarpanches and staff.
Further, he directed that Panchayat Secretaries be assigned responsibility for regular monitoring of ponds in every village and that the number of sanitation workers be increased to strengthen the system.
Highlighting the government’s broader objective, the Chief Minister said efforts are aimed at developing clean, well-maintained and functional water bodies in rural areas, ensuring lasting relief from waterlogging, unhygienic conditions and foul odour.
According to officials, 6,538 ponds have been identified under the state’s action plan, of which 2,758 projects have received administrative approval. So far, 1,718 works have been completed, while 484 are in progress.
Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Sh. Vijayendra Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Dr. Saket Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Ashok Kumar Meena, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Yashpal, OSD, Sh. Virender Badhkhalsa, and Executive Vice Chairman of the Authority, Smt. Vimal Goswami were also present at the meeting.