Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini on Friday inaugurated the three-day 38th Vasant Utsav at the Town Park in Sector-5, Panchkula. For the first time in the 37-year history of the Utsav, it is being organised on the lines of the Surajkund Mela. On the occasion, the Cactus Garden, Asia’s largest, which had remained closed for nearly a year for maintenance, was also reopened for the public.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was welcomed at the venue in traditional style with a ceremonial turban, dhol-nagadas and musical instruments. He visited the flower exhibition organised during the Utsav and showed keen interest in various varieties of flowers displayed in the cut flower, dry flower and fresh flower sections. He also visited stalls showcasing products made by self-help groups.
Utsav has further enhanced the beauty of Panchkula
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, the Chief Minister said that Vasant Utsav is a vibrant celebration of our culture, love for nature and social harmony, and has become a major attraction for people across the state. He described Panchkula as a modern and well-planned city, known for its natural beauty, clean environment and organised development. He said the city represents a unique blend of modernity and tradition, and the Vasant Utsav has further enhanced its charm.
Competitions will nurture creativity among children and youth
To make theUtsav more engaging, a number of competitions have been organised, including floral decoration, cut flower displays, rangoli, painting, pot painting, face painting, tattoo making, environment quiz, mehendi and fancy-dress competitions. Congratulating the participants, the Chief Minister said that such activities not only provide a platform for talent but also help develop creativity among children and young people.
Vasant Utsav inspires a new perspective towards life
The Chief Minister said that India is among the few countries blessed with multiple seasons, each bringing a new experience and fresh energy. The country’s culture is deeply connected with these seasonal changes, which is why various festivals are celebrated with the arrival of each season. He added that Vasant Utsav encourages people to view life from a new perspective, reminding them that change is a natural process and positive change leads to progress.
Pension provision for maintenance of trees above 75 years under Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme
Speaking on environmental issues, the Chief Minister said that the world today is facing serious challenges such as global warming and environmental pollution, and these problems can only be addressed through conservation of nature. He said the Haryana Government is continuously implementing initiatives to increase green cover, promote water conservation and protect biodiversity.
Under the Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme, a provision has been made to provide an annual pension of Rs 3,000 for the maintenance of trees older than 75 years. So far, 3,819 trees have been identified, and Rs 2 crore 5 lakh has been disbursed as pension to those who are taking care of these trees. In addition, 1,541 more trees have been identified under the scheme.
20 Oxyvan established across the state
He further said that the government has also launched the initiative to develop ‘Oxyvans’ across Haryana. So far, 20 Oxyvans have been established, where trees are planted over 5 to 100 acres of land. Work on Oxyvans is currently underway at Bir Ghaghar in Panchkula and along the Old Badshahi Canal in Karnal, where several rare and medicinal plant species are being planted to ensure cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Environmental protection being linked with tourism and development
The Chief Minister said the state government is also linking environmental conservation with tourism and development. In this direction, work is underway on a plan to develop the world’s largest jungle safari in the Aravalli region of Gurugram. The project will not only help conserve wildlife but will also boost tourism and generate local employment opportunities.
Several provisions in Budget 2026–27 to strengthen environmental conservation
Referring to provisions included in the 2026–27 state budget, the Chief Minister said that the Haryana State Agro-Forestry Policy will be implemented to increase tree cover and further support the plywood industry. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, large-scale plantation drives will be carried out on panchayats and public lands, and all ‘Pavitar Upvan’ (sacred groves) will be officially notified for their protection. In addition, a deer park will be developed on 100 acres of forest department land in Hasanpur village of Karnal district at a cost of around Rs 50 crore.
Vasant Utsav will carve its own identity in the coming years
The Chief Minister called upon people to adopt the spirit of the Utsav as a new way of looking at life and to pledge collective efforts to keep the environment clean and safe. He expressed confidence that the Vasant Utsav in Panchkula will grow into a grand event in the coming years and establish its own identity across the country.
Events like Vasant Utsav promote local artists, crafts and tourism- K. Makrand Pandurang
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Chief Executive Officer, PMDA, K. Makrand Pandurang extended greetings and best wishes on the occasion of Vasant Utsav. He said that just as spring brings fresh blossoms after the shedding of old leaves, Haryana too is moving ahead on a renewed path of modernity, progress, and inclusive development under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. He emphasized that occasions like this remind us that true development is not measured only by infrastructure and economic growth, but also by the preservation and promotion of culture, traditions, and social harmony.
He further said that celebrations such as Vasant Utsav play a vital role in connecting people with their cultural roots. At the same time, these events provide a meaningful platform for local artists, craftsmen, and performers to showcase their talent, while also promoting tourism and giving a boost to the local economy.
During the programme, a musical performance led by renowned shehnai maestro Pandit Lokesh Anand was presented. Cultural performances showcasing the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” theme, featuring traditional dances from different states, were also staged and received enthusiastic appreciation from the audience. The Chief Minister also posed for a group photograph with the artists, encouraging their efforts.
Former Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Gian Chand Gupta, BJP State Vice-President, Smt. Banto Kataria, Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Satpal Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Smt. Srishti Gupta, along with other dignitaries and a large number of people were present on this occasion.
*Haryana Uses Artificial Intelligence to Speed up Tuberculosis Elimination – Dr. Sumita Misra*
Haryana has deployed three Artificial Intelligence-based tools under the National Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to strengthen tuberculosis detection, treatment and geographic planning across the state, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Misra said here today.
Sharing details of the state’s technological initiatives in TB elimination, Dr. Misra said the state has implemented a structured three-pronged AI approach that strengthens screening, patient monitoring and geographic prioritisation within the TB programme.
The state operationalised two of the three tools — Cough Against TB (CATB) and Vulnerability Mapping for Tuberculosis (VM-TB) — in February 2025, while the third tool, Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes (PATO), has been functional since April 2023. All three solutions have been developed and deployed in collaboration with the Central TB Division under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
Dr. Misra said CATB is a mobile-based application that analyses cough sounds and symptoms to screen individuals for presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis, including in areas without internet connectivity. Designed for use in both community and facility-based environments, the tool provides frontline health workers with a fast, consistent and reliable decision-support system, enabling early identification even among individuals who may not present obvious symptoms. Since its launch, 711 individuals have been enrolled, 2,654 frontline workers oriented, 1,119 workers registered on the platform, and 140 presumptive TB cases flagged for further diagnostic testing across 609 Health and Wellness Centres.
Giving details of the PATO tool, Dr. Misra said it uses routinely collected patient data from the national Ni-kshay portal to identify, at the time of treatment initiation, patients who are at a higher risk of dropping out of treatment or mortality. By flagging such individuals early, the tool enables healthcare providers to offer closer monitoring, targeted support and timely intervention, thereby strengthening treatment adherence and reducing the risk of drug-resistant TB. Since its deployment in April 2023, as many as 18,591 high-risk patients in Haryana have been identified under this tool.
Dr. Misra further said that VM-TB is an advanced AI-driven geospatial analytics tool that analyses notified TB cases alongside more than 20 geospatial and health-determining indicators to identify villages and urban wards with a higher likelihood of TB risk. Integrated into the national Ni-kshay portal, it generates vulnerability scores ranking locations into high, medium and low risk zones. This enables district and state health authorities to clearly visualise where vulnerability is concentrated and prioritise areas for focused outreach and screening. Using this tool, 2,111 high-risk villages across the state have been identified, enabling health authorities to plan and execute targeted Active Case Finding efforts.
Dr. Misra said that by embedding advanced analytics within established programme structures, the state is enhancing efficiency, strengthening frontline decision-making and accelerating progress toward a TB-Mukt Haryana. She added that Haryana remains committed to leveraging technology to ensure that TB care is timely, targeted and accessible to all.
