Chandigarh, December 21: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday urged the youth to move beyond being job seekers and instead become job creators by combining their local skills with modern technology. He said the state government is fully committed to promoting entrepreneurship among young people and is supporting them through schemes such as Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India, and special subsidies for the MSME sector.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating Swadeshi Mahotsav-2025 in Panchkula, the Chief Minister said that the development of indigenous technologies by youth will not only boost new enterprises but will also strengthen India’s journey towards becoming a global leader.
He noted that in the present startup era, the idea of swadeshi is no longer limited to traditional products. It now extends to advanced sectors such as technology, software, defence equipment and semiconductors. Saini highlighted that Haryana currently has over 12 lakh registered MSMEs, providing employment to nearly 65 lakh people.
The Chief Minister said the state government is working continuously to align local manufacturing with global standards. Under the ‘Padma’ scheme, each block’s unique product is being identified with the aim of promoting it nationally and internationally as part of Brand India. He cited examples such as scientific instruments from Ambala, handlooms from Panipat, and brassware from Rewari, which the government aims to establish on the global stage.
He further said that to nurture an employment-generating youth ecosystem, the Haryana State Startup Policy-2022 has been implemented. As a result, Haryana currently ranks seventh in the country in terms of the number of startups, with more than 9,500 recognised startups operating in the state. To strengthen financial support for startups, a ₹2,000 crore fund of funds is being set up.
Referring to the national vision, the Chief Minister said swadeshi has always been at the core of India’s freedom movement, with Mahatma Gandhi promoting it as a means of self-reliance. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the resolve of Atmanirbhar Bharat has given a renewed direction to swadeshi.
Saini said India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and is moving rapidly towards the third position. He added that the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2030 can be achieved only when village artisans, women from self-help groups and micro-entrepreneurs actively participate in the growth journey. He emphasised that when a woman starts work in tailoring, dairy or handicrafts, she is shaping not just her livelihood but the future of society.
The Chief Minister also informed that over 65,000 self-help groups have been empowered in Haryana so far, connecting lakhs of women with income-generating activities. He appealed to citizens to promote the use of swadeshi products and adopt the resolve of a plastic-free India and a waste-free Haryana.
Earlier, Saini visited various stalls showcasing indigenous products at the Swadeshi Mahotsav, offered prayers at the Bharat Mata Temple and participated in a yajna for the prosperity of the state. He also took a pledge to adopt five swadeshi products and give up five foreign products.
Several dignitaries, including Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma, Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, former Assembly Speaker Gyan Chand Gupta, Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal and representatives of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, were present at the event.
