Haryana's Teej Gift: New Fund for Women-Led Startups & Reward for Girl Child Births

On a day traditionally marked by celebration and festivity, Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini used the occasion of the Teej festival in Ambala to spotlight a far more pressing issue—empowering women and girls across the state, not just socially but also economically and entrepreneurially.

With a gathering that saw a mix of cultural pride and policy announcements, Saini rolled out a series of landmark schemes aimed at strengthening grassroots initiatives, uplifting the girl child, and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship among women.

Empowering the Birth of a Girl Child: Lado Sakhi Yojana

At the heart of this announcement was the Lado Sakhi Yojana, a fresh initiative aimed at incentivising the birth of girl children. Under this scheme, Anganwadi, ASHA, and ANM workers—now designated as 'Lado Sakhis'—will receive ₹1,000 for every girl child birth they assist and support.

But the scheme doesn’t stop at incentives. These frontline health and childcare workers will also play a key role in prenatal and postnatal care, making this an integrated effort to boost the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao mission with on-ground health and welfare action.

This move aligns well with Haryana’s ongoing attempt to shift traditional mindsets and improve the state’s sex ratio, which has long been a concern.

Boosting Early Childhood Education: Badhte Kadam Digital Bal Programme

Education too received a digital touch. Saini launched the Badhte Kadam Digital Bal Programme, a new initiative to enhance the quality of early childhood care and learning at Anganwadi centres. The programme aims to equip Anganwadi workers with tools and training to improve cognitive development and foundational skills among young children—particularly in rural belts.

This not only raises the quality of early learning but also empowers Anganwadi workers with digital capabilities—something that will echo long-term benefits in their community work.

Women in Business: A Bold Policy Shift

Saini didn’t stop at social schemes. In a move that positions women as active economic participants, the CM announced several pro-women entrepreneurship initiatives.

One of the major takeaways: 50% of beneficiaries under the Haryana Startups Policy will now be women. This is a significant shift, aiming to balance gender participation in the startup space, which has traditionally seen low representation from women in many Indian states.

To take entrepreneurship a step further, the state will distribute 10,000 DIY kits to schoolgirls to spark early interest in innovation and business building. These kits are expected to include hands-on activities and experiments that nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and confidence.

Financial Backing for Women-Led Startups

In addition to policy support, Haryana will soon roll out a financial assistance scheme tailored specifically for startups led by women in traditional and sustainable sectors. This includes ventures in:

• Traditional textiles

• Eco-friendly crafts

• Ayurveda-based wellness products

• Local food enterprises

Under the scheme, eligible women entrepreneurs can receive funding support ranging between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh—an essential seed fund for early-stage or home-based businesses.

A Platform for Mentorship: Mahila Udyamita Manch

In partnership with NITI Aayog, the state is launching the Mahila Udyamita Manch—a dedicated platform to provide mentorship, training, and access to market linkages for women entrepreneurs.

What makes this platform stand out is its scale. Over 700 mentors from diverse domains will be roped in to guide budding women founders. From funding assistance to incubation support, the Manch is expected to act as a one-stop solution for women who want to break into the world of business but don’t know where to begin.

Celebrating Culture, Recognising Talent

As part of a broader social outreach, Saini also inaugurated 131 women cultural centres across Haryana. These centres will serve as hubs for community bonding through cultural events like bhajans, folk dances, and discussions—creating a safe space for women to engage, express, and collaborate.

At the Utkrishta Shiksha Puraskar Samaroh held at Police DAV School, Saini honoured top-performing students and educators—handing out a total of ₹14.26 crore as revolving funds and investment support to Self Help Groups (SHGs), further reinforcing the idea that women, when given the right support, can uplift not just their families but entire communities.

Local Governance and Economic Integration

To increase women’s involvement in local governance and day-to-day economic affairs, the CM announced that one ration depot in every block will now be allocated to women-led SHGs. This not only offers a steady income source but gives these women a stronger say in the economic and civic landscape of their localities.

Infrastructure Upgrades: Ambala Gets a Boost

While women and startups were the stars of the day, infrastructure wasn't ignored. Saini also announced several big-ticket projects for Ambala, including:

• ₹145 crore for expanding water supply

• ₹40 crore for a new water treatment plant in Sector 24

• ₹60 crore for repairs along the SYL canal

• A synthetic track at the Sector 10 stadium

• A new block at Naggal PHC

• Relocation of Ambala's motor market

• Nine new projects worth ₹73 crore, either inaugurated or laid the foundation stone for

Haryana's new policies aren’t just one-off schemes but seem to be part of a larger roadmap to bridge gender disparities and promote inclusive development. By interlinking health, education, entrepreneurship, and local governance, the state aims to create a holistic ecosystem for women and girls to thrive.

Whether these initiatives translate into real ground-level change remains to be seen. But for now, CM Saini’s announcements are a step in the right direction—a recognition that true development is not possible without empowering half the population.