Saini hails ‘one nation, one election’ Bill

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of the ‘one nation, one election’ Bill, calling it a transformative step for India’s development. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Haryana Kushti Dangal in Kurukshetra, the CM emphasised the importance of unified elections to save resources and accelerate growth.

Rs 20 lakh cover for athletes

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- Medical insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh for every athlete

- Annual cash prizes of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 30 lakh and Rs 20 lakh for top state akharas

- Creation of 550 government posts for outstanding players

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- Rs 593 crore awarded as cash prizes to medal-winning athletes

- Sports nurseries benefitting 37,000 athletes with monthly stipends

“Frequent elections — whether Panchayat, Assembly, or Lok Sabha — hamper development and waste resources. One nation, one election is a visionary step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that will save money and ensure faster development, benefitting the common man,” said Saini while interacting with the media.

The CM also urged Haryana’s youth to stay away from drugs and instead channel their energy into education and sports. “Haryana’s youth have consistently excelled at national and international levels in sports. I appeal to them to make sports and education their addiction, not drugs,” he said, adding that the government is committed to creating a drug-free Haryana.

Meanwhile, in a significant move, Saini today announced that each athlete in the state would be provided with medical insurance coverage worth Rs 20 lakh. Additionally, the government will award the top three akharas (wrestling arenas) at the state level with Rs 50 lakh, Rs 30 lakh, and Rs 20 lakh, respectively, and Rs 15 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 5 lakh for the top three at the district level.

The CM highlighted Haryana’s achievements in sports despite its small size, stating, “Our state has made unparalleled progress in sports. Athletes from Haryana have been winning medals on the global stage, making the state proud.”

Saini also emphasised the government’s efforts to ensure secure employment for outstanding athletes. Under the Haryana Outstanding Players Service Rules 2021, 550 posts have been created, and 224 athletes have already been provided government jobs. Haryana offers the highest cash prizes in the country to medal winners, amounting to Rs 593 crore so far.

The Chief Minister praised the impact of initiatives like Khelo India, which have nurtured young talent since 2014. Haryana’s sports infrastructure includes 1,489 sports nurseries supporting over 37,000 athletes. Monthly stipends of Rs 1,500 for athletes aged 8-14 years and Rs 2,000 for those aged 15-19 years further motivate young talent.

Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, who was present at the event, highlighted the state’s commitment to providing modern facilities and robust support to athletes.

Saini also criticised the Congress, alleging its history of corruption and lack of vision. “Congress has no agenda left and has been mired in corruption since Independence. The people of this country understand this now and the Congress is facing political oblivion,” he said.