Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed that a comprehensive digital portal be developed to collect and track apprenticeship and placement data of trainees passing out from ITIs. He further instructed that data of ITI graduates should be made available to industrial establishments across the state through a dedicated digital platform. In addition, he directed that large-scale employment fairs be organized in every district, with the department issuing a proper calendar to ensure maximum employment opportunities for youth.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a review meeting of the activities and achievements of the Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department, Haryana, held at Haryana Niwas on Wednesday. During the meeting, the department’s Minister, Gaurav Gautam, welcomed the Chief Minister by presenting a bouquet.
A detailed presentation on departmental activities and achievements was made by Director, Directorate of Skill Development, Vandana Disodia. Key areas discussed included training of instructors, induction training programmes, MoUs between ITIs and industries, infrastructure repair works in ITIs, and upgradation of laboratories and institutions under CSR initiatives. The activities and achievements of the Haryana Skill Development Mission were also reviewed during the meeting.
The Chief Minister stated that under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the National Education Policy, students should acquire practical skills along with academic knowledge, as skill-based education enhances employability. He directed officials to establish a monitoring system to track ITI graduates and assess whether they have secured employment after completing their courses. Similarly, records of students undergoing internships should also be maintained. He emphasized the need to upgrade ITIs to further nurture the talent of Haryana’s youth, noting that with the development of 10 IMTs, the demand for skilled manpower is expected to rise significantly in the coming years. He stressed that the focus must remain on quality and adoption of new technologies, including emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the condition of machinery being used in ITIs across the state. He directed that outdated or non-functional machinery be upgraded or replaced. He further instructed that ITI instructors should be trained in new technologies and that special attention should be given to the maintenance of ITI buildings, boundary walls, and overall infrastructure.
Trained Youth to Be Given Contracts
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also reviewed the activities and achievements of the Haryana Skill Development Mission. He directed that youth trained under Saksham schemes should be given priority in awarding work-related contracts. He stated that the government has already formulated a plan in this regard and instructed officials to complete training under the Drone Didi and Contractor Saksham Yuva Scheme within the stipulated time.
Report Sought on Private ITIs
A review of private ITIs was also undertaken during the meeting. It was informed that irregularities have been found in some institutions. Taking a serious view, the Chief Minister directed strict action against such institutions. He stated that strict measures must be taken against those institutions where trainees do not attend regularly and where a non-attending culture prevails.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Sh. Gaurav Gautam, described the SDIT dual training system as an effective employment-oriented scheme and directed its expansion and implementation in all government ITIs across the state. They also directed timely implementation of the PM SETU scheme.
Additionally, instructions were issued to release a calendar for sports activities in ITIs and to organize educational tours for trainees to industrial establishments. These tours will not only be conducted in major industrial units within Haryana but also in industrial establishments located in other states.
Among those present in the meeting were Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Arun Kumar Gupta; Principal Secretary, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department, Rajeev Ranjan; Mission Director, Haryana Skill Development Mission, Rajesh Goyal; OSDs Raj Nehru; Virender Badkhalasa; Additional Director (Technical), Rajkumar; and other senior officials of the department.
CM Reviews Progress of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Stresses Timely and Transparent Utilisation of Funds
Directs Departments to Appoint Nodal Officers for Better Coordination with Centre
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of centrally sponsored schemes being implemented across various departments with grants received from the Central Government.
During the meeting, a comprehensive review was undertaken of fund utilisation, implementation status, and pending works under different schemes. Emphasising outcome-oriented governance, the Chief Minister directed officers to ensure timely and effective utilisation of sanctioned funds, so that citizens can derive maximum benefit from these schemes.
Highlighting the importance of fiscal discipline and accountability, Nayab Singh Saini said that optimal and transparent use of Central grants is crucial for accelerating the state’s development. He further directed departments to submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) within stipulated timelines to avoid any delays in the release of subsequent instalments.
The Chief Minister while reviewing the schemes having slower progress and directed the officers concerned to expedite implementation and resolve bottlenecks on priority. He stressed on the need to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and monitoring mechanisms for more efficient execution.
To ensure seamless coordination between the Centre and the State, the Chief Minister directed all administrative departments to designate nodal officers, who will maintain regular liaison with concerned Central Ministries and departments. This, he said, will help in preventing delays in approval and release of funds.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to transparency and good governance, Nayab Singh Saini directed officers to ensure accountability in implementation and make maximum use of technology-driven monitoring systems for real-time tracking of progress.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department, Raja Sekhar Vundru, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (B&R) Department, A.K. Singh, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Vijay Dahiya, Commissioner and Secretary, Finance, Mohammad Shayin, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Commissioner and Secretary, Finance Department, Smt. Ashima Brar, Commissioner and Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Shekhar Vidyarthi, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Saket Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Ashok Meena, OSD to Chief Minister, Dr. Raj Nehru along with other senior officers also attended the meeting.
Haryana steps up anti-drug war with 16% rise in arrests, 37% jump in interstate crackdown
State reports strong gains in enforcement, multi-agency action intensified
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi chairs State-level NCORD meeting
In a major push towards strengthening the anti-narcotics framework, the 12th State-level Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi here today reviewed the state’s progress and outlined an integrated, technology-driven roadmap to combat drug trafficking and abuse.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sudhir Rajpal, Director General of Police Ajay Singhal and other senior officers, reflecting a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
The meeting was informed that enforcement actions gathered considerable momentum in 2025 compared to 2024. FIRs registered rose from 3,330 to 3,738, an increase of 12.25 per cent, while arrests climbed from 6,095 to 7,053, marking a 15.72 per cent rise. Intermediate quantity cases recorded a substantial jump from 1,985 to 2,610, up by 31.49 per cent, indicating deeper penetration into supply chains. Inter-state arrests in commercial quantity cases increased sharply from 444 to 610, registering a 37.39 per cent rise, reflecting improved interstate coordination.
Preventive enforcement also strengthened significantly, with detentions rising from 12 to 76 — a more than five-fold increase. Financial disruption of drug networks gained traction, as properties of 144 accused were attached in 2025 compared to 54 in the previous year, while the value of attached assets rose from Rs. 7.55 crore to Rs. 13.59 crore, an increase of nearly 80 per cent.
During the meeting, the reported cases of deaths due to suspected drug abuse were also reviewed and the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Senior Drug Control Officers and District Social Welfare Officers of the affected districts were instructed to further improve their responsiveness to treat and rehabilitate the drug addicts.
While reviewing the Action Taken Report of the previous NCORD meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need for strict compliance with regulatory measures. He further directed that Prahari Clubs, established to combat substance abuse in educational institutions, be encouraged to actively share information on drug peddlers operating in their respective areas. The clubs providing the highest number of accurate tip-offs will be suitably rewarded on Independence Day.
Chemist shops dealing with dual-use prescription drugs have been mandated to install CCTV systems, with non-compliance attracting licence suspension. In Sirsa district alone, 1,737 medical shops were inspected over the past three months, of which around 18 per cent were found with faulty CCTV systems and nearly 27 per cent operating without a registered pharmacist, prompting corrective action.
The meeting was also informed that social security pensions of 63 repeat drug offenders have been discontinued under the welfare exclusion framework. The Food and Drug Administration has been tasked with developing a dedicated software system to monitor diversion of prescription drugs, while inspections of all de-addiction centres are being undertaken as per prescribed standards.
Taking forward directions issued by the Union Home Ministry at the Apex NCORD meeting held in January 2026, the state is moving towards network-based enforcement with mandatory investigation of financial trails, outcome-based monitoring of decisions, and establishment of a dedicated narcotics intelligence vertical. District-level roadmaps are being finalized for implementation by March 31, 2026, along with clearly defined, time-bound prosecution targets under the NDPS Act. The Chief Secretary further directed that district-level meetings be convened on a single day next month, and a consolidated report be presented at the next State NCORD meeting to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of district-wise performance.
On institutional strengthening, the meeting considered a proposal to shift the headquarters of the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau from Madhuban (Karnal) to Panchkula to enhance coordination with key agencies. A dedicated police station for the Anti-Narcotics Task Force at Panchkula is also in the works to improve operational efficiency.
Further, forensic capabilities are set to be upgraded with installation of advanced equipment including GC-MS, GC-FID and UV-HPLC systems to enhance detection of synthetic drugs. Suggestions were also made to bring commonly misused pharmaceutical substances such as Pregabalin, Signature capsules and Tapentadol under the NDPS framework.
Emphasising a sustained and coordinated approach, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi directed all departments to ensure strict monitoring, timely implementation of action points and measurable outcomes, reiterating the state’s commitment to a comprehensive and result-oriented strategy for a drug-free Haryana.
Additional Chief Secretary, Social Justice, Empowerment, Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Backward Classes and Antyodaya (SEWA), Smt. G. Anupama, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Apoorva Kumar Singh, ADGP, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, Sanjay Kumar and SP, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB), Mohit Handa, and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
