Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said the government is committed to making the state ‘Shikshit, Swasth, Surakshit aur Swavalambi’ (educated, healthy, safe and self-reliant) by following the teachings of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. He said Phule’s life and ideas serve as a guiding force and emphasised the need to build a society based on equality, justice and brotherhood by following his path.
The Chief Minister was addressing a function in Babain, Kurukshetra, organised by Saini Sabha, Kurukshetra, on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti and the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Savitribai Jyotiba Phule Group of Institutions. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana was also present.
During the function, the Chief Minister accepted the demand placed by the institution to open a Savitribai Jyotiba Phule College of Nursing and announced a grant of Rs. 51 lakh from his discretionary fund. He also announced that the Mathana–Babain road will be widened to 7 metres at a cost of Rs. 13.38 crore for public convenience. The organiser of the programme and president, Saini Sabha Kurukshetra, Gurnam Singh Saini, also submitted a memorandum of demands, which the Chief Minister assured would be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Shyam Singh Rana also announced Rs. 11 lakh each on behalf of himself and Cabinet Minister, Krishan Kumar Bedi for the institution.
Addressing the gathering, Nayab Singh Saini said it was a matter of great pride and honour to celebrate the birth anniversary of a personality who gave a new direction to India’s social history through his thoughts, struggles and actions. On this sacred occasion, I pay my respectful tributes to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, he said.
The Chief Minister said that such state-level functions provide an opportunity to revive the resolve of social awakening, education and equality, which Phule made the purpose of his life. To disseminate the messages of such great saints and personalities to the younger generation, the government celebrates their birth anniversaries at the state level under the ‘Sant-Mahapurush Vichar Prasar Evam Samman Yojana’.
The Chief Minister said the foundation stone of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Group of Institutions has also been laid. He said the institution would prove to be an important step towards realising Phule’s dream of empowering society through education, adding that students graduating from it would become responsible citizens and contribute to nation-building. He also appreciated the continuous efforts of the Saini Shiksha Samiti for the upliftment of society.
Nayab Singh Saini said Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s life was like a revolution at a time when the country was under British rule and society was marked by several evils, orthodox practices and superstitions. He said Phule identified these evils and strongly opposed them. The voice he raised against child marriage, untouchability, caste discrimination and the lack of women’s education was no less than a bold social revolution.
Nayab Singh Saini further said that through his actions, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule demonstrated that change in society does not come through ideas alone, but through courage and sustained effort. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule’s greatest strength was his unwavering belief in education he said.
The Chief Minister said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule believed that if society was to be transformed, the light of education must reach every household. It was for this reason that he, along with his wife Savitribai Phule, established the country’s first girls’ school in Pune — not merely an educational institution, but a lamp lit against the social darkness of that time, said Nayab Singh Saini.
The Chief Minister said that today, as campaigns such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao are being advanced under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, they represent an extension of Phule’s ideas.
Glorious history of the Saini community
The Chief Minister said the Saini community has a glorious history and has always regarded hard work, honesty and service as its core values. He said the community’s contribution in agriculture, horticulture and social service has been unparalleled. Personalities such as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, he said, are the community’s heritage, having provided direction to the entire country.
He also referred to Sant Shri Likhmidas, General Gulab Chand Saini of Ballabhgarh, social reformer Babu Jagdev Prasad Kushwaha of Bihar, hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand Kushwaha, and Padma Shri Nek Chand Saini, creator of the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, as eminent personalities from the community. He added that the Saini community also made a significant contribution to the freedom movement, mentioning Azad Hind Fauj soldiers Sardar Mehnga Singh Saini, Ajit Singh Saini and Hari Singh Saini. He said this tradition continues even today.
PM Modi working in line with Phule’s vision
The Chief Minister said that Mahatma Phule did not limit his work to education alone, but raised his voice for every section of society that faced exploitation and injustice. He said Phule’s ideas remain highly relevant even in 21st-century India.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the country is progressing with the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas, which reflects the inclusive vision whose foundation was laid by Phule. Government schemes, whether related to housing for the poor, healthcare facilities or cleanliness drives, aim to ensure that the benefits of development reach the last person. In line with this objective, the Haryana government has taken several decisions in public interest, said Nayab Singh Saini. The Chief Minister said that during the Assembly elections, 217 Sankalps were made. One year after the formation of the government, 62 have been fulfilled, while work on 157 is progressing at a fast pace. He said the government has increased the creamy layer income limit for backward classes from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh annually. Similarly, LPG cylinders are being provided to poor women at Rs. 500, under which Rs. 250 crore has already been disbursed as subsidy. He added that the government has also worked for farmers and crops are being procured at MSP in the state.
Nayab Singh Saini said reservation has been provided to Backward Class-B in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies. In addition, financial assistance of Rs. 51,000 is provided by the government for the marriage of daughters of BPL families. He said education is the medium through which people from backward classes can be empowered, and therefore 27 percent reservation has been implemented in educational institutions and jobs. He added that children of backward class families are provided loans of up to Rs. 15 lakh for studies in India and up to Rs. 20 lakh for studies abroad at 4 percent annual interest.
Scholarships and welfare measures
The Chief Minister shared that under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme, students of Classes 9 and 10 from other backward classes with annual family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh are given Rs. 4,000 per year as educational allowance. Furthermore under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, students from backward classes are given a monthly scholarship ranging from Rs. 160 to Rs. 750. In addition, all non-refundable fees are reimbursed. Under the Dr. Ambedkar Sanshodhit Medhavi Chhattar Sansodhit Yojna students from backward classes are provided scholarships of up to Rs. 8,000 annually for higher education.
Expansion of Lado Lakshmi scheme
The Chief Minister said that students from families with annual income up to Rs. 1.8 lakh are provided free education up to Class 12, along with free books, uniforms and writing material. Daughters from such families are also provided free education at the college and university level, he said.
To provide healthcare facilities to poor families, the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is being implemented, under which free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per year is provided. He said the government has launched the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi scheme for the social and economic upliftment of women, under which financial assistance of Rs. 2,100 per month is being provided. Under the scheme, Rs. 1,038 crore has been disbursed to 10 lakh women in six instalments. He said a budget provision of Rs. 6,500 crore has been made and the scope of the scheme will soon be expanded to families with annual income up to Rs. 1.8 lakh.
Focus on skill development
The Chief Minister said the government has placed special emphasis on skill development. So far, 1.56 lakh youth in the state have been provided skill training. Through training programmes, youth are being imparted technical skills. Under the PM Vishwakarma scheme, promoting skilled artisans is among the government’s priorities. Under the scheme, 30,555 artisans in the state have so far been provided skill training and loans amounting to more than Rs. 50 crore have also been given to help them start their own businesses.
Government following Phule’s path- Cabinet Minister
Addressing the function, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said the present government is following the path shown by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign in line with Phule’s teachings. He added that Phule had said that a person is incomplete without education. The foundation stone of the Savitribai Jyotiba Phule Group of Institutions, he said, is an important step towards realising that vision.
Vice-Chairperson, Haryana State Council for Child Welfare, Suman Saini, former MPs, Gurdial Saini, Kailasho Saini, former minister, Balbir Saini, former MLAs, Dr Pawan Saini, Bishan Singh Saini and a large number of other dignitaries also remianed persnet on this occasion.
