Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini presented a strong case for significant financial support from the central government to fuel the state's development ambitions. The appeal was made during a crucial pre-budget consultation meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Saturday.
Key Demands for Healthcare and Agricultural Revival
At the heart of Saini's proposal was a plan to establish a medical college in every district of Haryana. He emphasized that generous funding under centrally sponsored schemes is essential to turn this vision into reality, highlighting the state's commitment to progress which requires robust fiscal backing.
Shifting focus to the agrarian economy, the Chief Minister pointed out a critical challenge. Despite being India's second-largest producer of foodgrains, Haryana faces severe issues of salinity and waterlogging, which have rendered nearly six lakh acres of farmland unproductive. He urgently sought financial aid from the centre to reclaim this land and modernize the agricultural sector. Saini advocated for a push towards digital farming, micro-irrigation, improved agri-logistics, and value addition. He stated that agri-processing clusters and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have the potential to become powerful engines for rural prosperity.
Boosting Industry, Logistics, and Rural Infrastructure
To transform Haryana into a national economic powerhouse, Saini requested increased capital investment to develop the National Capital Region (NCR) belt into a major logistics hub. This development aims to enhance nationwide connectivity and strengthen supply chains.
Recognizing Haryana's position as the fourth-ranked state for startups in the country, the CM stressed the need to further strengthen MSMEs and the startup ecosystem. He mentioned the state's initiative to create a ₹2,000-crore ‘Fund of Funds’ and plans for ten new Industrial Model Townships (IMTs), all of which would benefit from additional central support.
For rural development, Saini put forth specific financial demands. He called for enhancing the allocation under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to ₹2,000 crore. Furthermore, he proposed raising the upper limit for projects under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) from ₹100 crore to ₹500 crore to enable the execution of larger, transformative projects.
Fiscal Sustainability and the Path Forward
The Chief Minister also addressed fiscal concerns, pressing for the continuation of GST compensation to help offset revenue losses experienced by the state. He flagged the necessity for broader reforms to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability for Haryana.
Concluding his presentation, Nayab Singh Saini asserted that substantial central assistance is critical for Haryana to maintain its current growth momentum and achieve its ambitious development goals across healthcare, agriculture, industry, and infrastructure.
