Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini Stresses Public Participation in Budget Formulation
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini declared on Tuesday that all recommendations gathered from the public and legislators will be earnestly evaluated to craft a budget that instills confidence and optimism among every resident of the state. The announcement was made during a pre-budget consultation meeting focused on the Haryana Vision 2047 Action Plan in Panchkula, with Haryana MLAs and MPs in attendance.
Technology and AI to Revolutionize Budget Preparation
Saini highlighted that information technology and artificial intelligence will assume a pivotal role in the development of the 2026-27 budget. Through an AI-based application launched on January 6 for pre-budget consultations, the government has already amassed more than 9,000 suggestions. Valuable inputs from this digital platform will be integrated into the budget, mirroring the approach adopted in the previous fiscal year.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this budget will transcend being merely a governmental document; it will represent the aspirations of Haryana's 2.80 crore citizens. He described it as a robust bridge connecting current necessities with future ambitions, rather than a mere compilation of numerical data.
Extensive Consultations and Stakeholder Engagement
During the meeting, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs, MLAs, and ministers presented comprehensive suggestions for the forthcoming state budget. Saini noted that any citizen can submit proposals through the government portal until January 31, with assurances that these submissions will be actively considered.
To date, the administration has conducted a total of 12 budget-related meetings, engaging approximately 1,597 stakeholders and collecting 1,513 suggestions. These discussions involved representatives from diverse sectors including:
- Industrial and business communities
- Education and academic institutions
- Women's organizations and advocacy groups
- Healthcare and medical professionals
- Agricultural communities and farmers
- Local governance representatives such as sarpanches and councillors
- Youth organizations and various other civic groups
Political Context and Opposition Absence
While all MLAs and MPs were invited to the pre-budget consultation, opposition leaders chose not to participate. Notably, INLD president Abhay Chautala characterized these pre-budget meetings as a wasteful exercise, highlighting political divergences in the budgetary process.
Learning from Previous Budget Cycles
The Chief Minister provided insights from last year's pre-budget consultations, during which 1,592 suggestions were received. Of these, 706 recommendations were incorporated into the final budget. Specifically, 651 suggestions came from MLAs and MPs, with 254 of their proposals making it into the budgetary framework.
Aligning with National Development Goals
Saini articulated that the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India can only materialize when state budgets synchronize with the broader Developed India objective. The government bears the responsibility of translating this vision into tangible outcomes, which inspired the creation of the Haryana Vision Document 2047.
Key Policy Announcements and Future Initiatives
In response to specific suggestions, the Chief Minister unveiled several significant policy directions:
- Healthcare Enhancement: The Haryana government is developing fully equipped hospitals across all 23 districts to improve medical services and accessibility.
- Agricultural Innovation: To promote sustainable farming practices, the administration will establish Smart Zones on 1,000 acres of land. These zones will encourage farmers to adopt natural farming techniques, eliminating the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The comprehensive consultation process underscores the government's commitment to inclusive governance and technological integration in public policy formulation.
