normalnormalnormalHaryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, made a major announcement to promote natural farming in the state, saying that ‘Prakriti Shri Anna Prerak Kisan Committees’ will be constituted in every district of Haryana. The primary responsibility of these committees will be to reach out to farmers, visit their farms and coordinate with the government to connect them with natural farming. They will, in effect, serve as ambassadors of natural farming.The Chief Minister was addressing the ‘Prakritik kheti Samvad’, organised by the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department in Panchkula. During the programme, he also personally interacted with farmers and assured them that the suggestions received from them would be implemented at the earliest. He also directed officers of the Agriculture Department to release the subsidy to farmers practising natural farming who have applied for assistance to purchase cows.Addressing the gathering, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that natural farming is not merely a method of cultivation but a campaign to restore the bond between farmers, nature and society that has weakened over time. It is a means of serving Mother Earth, reducing the cost of cultivation, conserving water and soil, and securing a safe future for coming generations.Calling upon farmers to become ambassadors of natural farming, he said the time had come not merely to deliberate but to act and inspire others to adopt natural farming.The Chief Minister said the state government would interact directly with farmers from time to time and continue making sustained efforts to take the campaign for natural farming to every section of society. He directed officers to organise similar natural farming dialogue programmes every month. He further said that Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat would also be invited to major seminars so that farmers could benefit from his rich experience.He said the ‘Samvad’ was not merely an opportunity to learn the techniques of natural farming but also a campaign to revive the centuries-old, inseparable relationship between farmers and nature. Earlier, farming was closely associated with Mother Earth and indigenous cattle, and this bond brought prosperity and well-being to the lives of farmers. However, over time this relationship weakened, and today natural disasters and environmental challenges have emerged as major concerns.The Chief Minister said humanity had undoubtedly made significant progress, but in the process had also exploited the earth excessively. Today, the real question is not whether fertilisers and pesticides are available, but what kind of earth and environment we will leave behind for future generations.He said that our ancestors left us abundant groundwater and fertile soil. Today, however, groundwater levels in several areas are declining by 20 to 25 feet every season. This calls for serious reflection.The Chief Minister said that in earlier times, labourers in grain markets could easily lift heavy sacks of produce, but today changing lifestyles, chemical farming and natural imbalance have adversely affected people’s health. Therefore, changing the direction of agriculture has become the need of the hour.The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear vision that natural farming is the need of the 21st century. It is not merely a new system of farming but a campaign to save the earth. It is a means of reducing farmers’ cultivation costs, protecting the environment and building a prosperous Viksit Bharat for future generations. In Indian culture, the earth is revered as Mother, and serving her is the responsibility of every citizen, he said.He urged farmers to become ambassadors of natural farming and spread awareness about its benefits in every village. He said merely discussing the issue would not be enough and farmers must themselves adopt natural farming and motivate others to follow suit.The Chief Minister said the Haryana Government had enacted a stringent law in the State Assembly to ensure that farmers are not sold counterfeit seeds and pesticides. Under the new law, anyone found selling fake seeds to farmers can face imprisonment of up to five years.The Chief Minister said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had launched a nationwide campaign to promote natural farming and that the Haryana Government had also made special provisions in the State Budget, prepared after taking suggestions from farmers, to encourage natural farming across the state.Nayab Singh Saini assured farmers that they would not face any difficulty in marketing produce grown through natural farming. The government has already announced that separate space will be provided in agricultural mandis for naturally grown produce and that HAFED will procure it. Necessary arrangements are being made for the purpose, he said.The Chief Minister said region-specific horticulture was also being promoted across the state. A separate shed has been constructed at the Ganaur Mandi for farmers practising natural farming, while four Centres of Excellence have been established in the state to promote modern horticulture and natural farming.He said the entire world is today confronting the challenge of climate change. Soil fertility is steadily declining and the cost of cultivation is increasing. Therefore, agricultural scientists have been directed to develop high-quality indigenous seed varieties, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.The Chief Minister said many developed countries are now making efforts to move away from chemical farming, whereas India already possesses the rich knowledge of natural farming inherited from its sages and strengthened by the experience of its farmers.He said natural farming would emerge as the strongest pillar in realising Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat. For this, both the government and farmers must work together to transform natural farming into a people’s movement.Natural Farming Will Make Farmers Self-Reliant and Debt-Free: Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh RanaHaryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Shyam Singh Rana said natural farming is an effective means of making farmers debt-free, self-reliant and prosperous, whereas chemical farming increases cultivation costs and pushes farmers towards debt. He said the State Government is promoting natural farming on a large scale, giving the highest priority to the welfare of farmers.He said every scheme and policy implemented by the government is framed with public welfare at its core. He said that farmers should understand that the objective of promoting natural farming is to increase their income, reduce the cost of cultivation and make agriculture sustainable in the long run. The Cabinet Minister said that under chemical farming, a substantial portion of farmers’ earnings goes to companies manufacturing fertilisers, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. In contrast, natural farming reduces dependence on external inputs, lowers cultivation costs and makes farmers economically stronger, he said.The Minister said three major farming systems are currently in practice i.e chemical farming, organic farming and natural farming. Organic farming requires large quantities of cow dung and other resources, whereas natural farming is a low-cost, self-reliant and environment-friendly system of cultivation. This is why the State Government is making continuous efforts to expand natural farming, he said.The Agriculture Minister said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini is making sustained efforts to transform natural farming into a people’s movement. He said natural farming is the need of the hour to protect the environment, preserve soil fertility and provide pure and nutritious food to future generations. In line with the vision of Viksit Bharat, a target has been set to bring 20 per cent of the country’s cultivated area under natural farming by 2047, said the Minister.He appealed to farmers to begin the transition to natural farming with fodder cultivation for their livestock and avoid the use of pesticides even in fodder crops. He said that he himself is a farmer and fully understands the challenges and requirements of farming.Natural Farming Has Its Own Scientific System; Every Farmer Must Understand It- Progressive Farmer Dharampal YadavSpeaking on the occasion, progressive farmer Dharampal Yadav from Uttar Pradesh said practising agriculture and understanding agriculture are two different things. He said that real agricultural wisdom lies in understanding the course of nature and working in harmony with it or guiding it in a positive direction. If farming is viewed only from an economic perspective, its environmental and social consequences are ignored, said Sh. Dharampal Yadav.He said groundwater levels had remained stable until 1907, but with the increasing use of chemical farming, groundwater has now fallen several feet. At the same time, the environment has also been seriously affected, while rising pollution has become a major concern, said Dharampal Yadav.He said the harmful effects of chemical farming have led to an increase in hospitals as well as serious diseases. The world is now recognising the need to return to natural farming, and people are migrating from large cities towards villages, said Sh. Dharampal Yadav.He said natural farming has its own scientific system, which every farmer must understand. He added that he never uses pesticides or any other chemical inputs on his farm and believes natural methods are sufficient for pest management, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides. He also shared with the farmers his marketing model for natural produce and his experience of earning better returns through natural farming.Farmers Express Gratitude to Chief Minister; Offer Suggestions to Promote Natural FarmingDuring the programme, farmers shared several suggestions with Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini on how the State Government could further promote natural farming.They said the Chief Minister’s decision to sit face-to-face with farmers and interact with them directly was highly inspiring. When the head of the State listens to farmers personally, it boosts our morale and reinforces our confidence that the government is fully committed to protecting our interests, said the farmers.The farmers appreciated the State Government’s farmer-centric policies and its continued efforts for the welfare of the farming community. They particularly praised the steps taken to strengthen the mandi system, saying these measures had further safeguarded farmers’ interests.Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, the farmers voiced confidence that the government would continue extending similar support to promote natural farming across the State.A farmer from Karnal said he had been practising natural farming for the past two years and had been receiving good returns. Thanking the Chief Minister for the government’s initiatives in the interest of farmers, he suggested that natural farming should also be included in the curriculum of agricultural education so that future generations develop a scientific understanding of sustainable, environment-friendly and chemical-free farming from the very beginning.Director Agriculture Department , Rajnarayan Kaushik, OSD Virender Badhkhalsa, Panchkula Mayor, Shyam Lal Bansal, party leader Banto Kataria, Media Secretary to the Chief Minister, Praveen Atreya, Chairman of the Shivalik Development Board, Om Parkash Devinagar, and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.Haryana Government Extends Deadline for Group-D Employees’ One-Time Option under Common Cadre framework Online Portal to Remain Open from July 13 to July 27The Haryana Government has revised the schedule for submission of the one-time option by Group-D employees recruited under Advertisement No. 04/2018 under the Common Cadre framework.According to an order issued by the Chief Secretary Office, the online portal for submitting the one-time option will now remain open from July 13 to July 27, 2026, instead of the earlier schedule of July 6, 2026, to July 20, 2026.The revised schedule has been notified to facilitate the smooth submission of options by eligible employees.The Haryana Government has advised all eligible Group-D employees recruited against Advertisement No. 04/2018 to exercise their one-time option within the revised timeline through the online portal to avoid any inconvenience.CM Nayab Singh Saini meets IKEA India CEO, Assures Full Support for Company’s Upcoming Projects in Haryana IKEA Appreciates Haryana Government’s Investor-Friendly Ecosystem, Explores New Investment Opportunities in the State IKEA’s Rs 3,500-Crore Gurugram Project to Generate over 10,000 JobsHaryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met a high-level delegation from Sweden led by IKEA India CEO Patrik Antoni at Sant Kabir Kutir in Chandigarh. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between Haryana and IKEA and exploring future investment opportunities in the state. IKEA is a Swedish home furnishings company with India as one of its most important growth markets and a unique example of the company’s full value-chain presence.During the meeting, Patrik Antoni expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister for the Haryana Government’s consistent support in facilitating the timely execution of construction activities and other related processes for IKEA’s projects in Haryana. He also appreciated the prompt assistance extended by the Chief Minister’s Office, the Department of Foreign Cooperation and other concerned departments in expediting routine approvals and addressing the company’s requirements.Antoni conveyed IKEA’s keen interest in expanding its presence in Haryana and committed to investing in more new projects. He said Haryana’s progressive policies, industry-friendly ecosystem and proactive governance have created a conducive environment for global companies to invest and grow.Welcoming IKEA’s continued interest in the state, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini reaffirmed the Haryana Government’s commitment to providing a seamless and investor-friendly business environment. He directed officials of the Chief Minister’s Office to extend all possible support to IKEA for the successful implementation of its projects and future expansion plans in Haryana.The Chief Minister also presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Patrik Antoni as a gesture of goodwill and warm hospitality.During the interaction, Antoni invited the Chief Minister to inaugurate IKEA’s Gurugram store after its completion next year. The Chief Minister appreciated IKEA’s commitment to Haryana and expressed confidence that the project would further strengthen the state’s position as a preferred investment destination for global companies. It is noteworthy that the foundation stone of the store was laid by former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal.The company is already driving investments of approximately Rs 3,500–4,000 crore in Haryana through its landmark Gurugram project, which is expected to generate around 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Spread over nearly 10 acres, the project will be one of IKEA’s flagship investments in India, bringing together retail, office spaces and community-focused experiences under a single destination. The Haryana Government is also working closely with the company to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce through its robust skill development ecosystem, enabling local youth to benefit from the employment opportunities created by the project.Notably, the Department of Foreign Cooperation serves as the nodal department for Haryana’s international engagement, facilitating global partnerships, strengthening diplomatic outreach and extending assistance to the Haryanvi diaspora. The department plays a key role in advancing the state government’s vision of transforming Haryana through a ‘Go Global Approach’.Chief Principal Secretary to CM Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Foreign Cooperation Department, Sh. Pawan Kumar Choudhary and other dignitaries were present in the meeting.Haryana Chief Secretary Directs Government Employees in Chandigarh Houses to Submit Rooftop Solar Option Forms by July 10Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi has directed all Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Chief Administrators to ensure that Haryana government employees residing in Chandigarh Administration-allotted government accommodation submit their option/undertaking forms regarding the use of rooftop solar power systems by July 10, 2026.The directions have been issued following a communication received from the House Allotment Committee, Chandigarh Administration, which is implementing the Union Government’s initiative to achieve saturation of rooftop solar installations in government residential buildings.The Chief Secretary has asked all departments to ensure that eligible employees submit the prescribed undertaking through their respective Heads of Departments within the stipulated deadline so that the forms can be forwarded to the Office of the House Allotment Committee, Sector-18, Chandigarh, for further action.According to the Chandigarh Administration, the exercise was initiated after receiving representations from several government employees regarding solar user charges. Accordingly, employees have been asked to indicate their choice by opting for one of the prescribed options in the undertaking form—consenting to use the electricity generated by the rooftop solar plant and paying applicable user charges, declining to use the solar power facility, or indicating that the option is not applicable to them.The undertaking also specifies that employees who opt to use solar power agree to pay the applicable solar user charges and permit authorised personnel to access the premises for maintenance of the solar power plant. Those declining consent acknowledge that the electricity generated will be transferred to the distribution licensee through the gross metering mechanism in accordance with applicable rules.The Chief Secretary has directed all departments to ensure strict compliance with the instructions and timely submission of the forms.The House Allotment Committee has clarified that if no undertaking is received by July 10, 2026, it will be presumed that the concerned employee has not consented to the use of the rooftop solar power facility.Haryana Ensures Public Infrastructure is Accessible to Persons with Disabilities, Elderly and All Citizens Dr. Sumita Misra directs PWD, Architecture Department to incorporate accessibility norms in all eligible projectsIn a landmark policy decision aimed at making public infrastructure inclusive and barrier-free, the Haryana Government has decided to make compliance with universal accessibility standards mandatory in infrastructure projects funded under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.Finance Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra shared this information here today. She said that all eligible projects under the Centre-sponsored scheme would be required to comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and the Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India, 2021. The move marks a significant shift from retrofitting existing buildings to incorporating accessibility features at the planning and design stage itself.Under this, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Department of Architecture will ensure that accessibility standards are incorporated into the design and execution of all eligible projects, including new government buildings as well as renovation and repair works.Dr. Misra said the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, being responsible for a large network of public infrastructure including Mini Secretariat Buildings, Tehsil and Sub-Tehsil Office Complexes, Government Residential Quarters and Transit Flats, will ensure that accessibility norms are incorporated in all projects under its administrative control.Dr. Sumita Misra said that integrating accessibility measures at the planning and design stage would ensure compliance with the statutory provisions of the RPwD Act, 2016, while eliminating the need for costly retrofitting after construction. She said adopting universal design principles from the outset would help create infrastructure that is inclusive, sustainable and accessible for every citizen.Dr Misra further said that universal accessibility is not confined to persons with disabilities alone. Infrastructure designed on universal accessibility principles also benefits senior citizens, pregnant women, children and people with temporary mobility limitations. Features such as ramps, accessible entrances, lifts, tactile pathways, handrails, accessible toilets and proper signage make public buildings safer, more convenient and easier to use for all sections of society.She said mainstreaming accessibility in public infrastructure would not only fulfil the statutory requirements of the RPwD Act but also strengthen Haryana’s commitment to inclusive and equitable development.With this decision, Haryana has aligned its infrastructure planning with the national vision of Accessible India (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan). The move is expected to set a benchmark for future public infrastructure projects by making universal accessibility a core design requirement rather than an afterthought.normalnormalThe post CM interacts with state farmers during ‘Prakritik kheti Samvad’, says Natural Farming Strongest Pillar of Viksit Bharat appeared first on Chandigarh City News.