Stakeholder inputs key to good governance, says Haryana CM at pre-budget meet

Professionals from law, finance, medicine and environment shared inputs in Gurugram, with the CM citing last year’s suggestions that shaped tax and welfare reforms.

Published on: Jan 8, 2026, 06:51:06 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said the ongoing pre-budget consultation meetings were intended to reflect participatory governance, as professionals from multiple fields offered suggestions for the 2026–27 state budget.

The chief minister said 15 of 43 proposals from last year were adopted, including GST audits, excise reforms and new environmental policies. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Saini was addressing chartered accountants, advocates, architects, environmentalists, doctors and other professionals during the second session of pre-budget consultations held at Apparel House in Sector 44, Gurugram. The consultations were organised in two sessions as part of the Haryana Vision–2047 roadmap, aimed at gathering inputs from diverse stakeholder groups.

The chief minister said professionals play a key role in public policy formulation, financial discipline, legal frameworks, planning, environmental protection and sustainable development. “The strong foundation of good governance rests on these pillars,” he said, adding that government policies are shaped by public sentiment and informed participation.

Referring to last year’s exercise, Saini said 15 of the 43 suggestions received were incorporated into the Budget 2025–26. These included the One Time Settlement Scheme, suo motu investigations under Section 61 by excise and taxation officers, creation of a chartered accountant panel for special audits under the GST Act, 2017, and installation of CCTV cameras in tax offices to improve transparency.

He said other initiatives adopted following stakeholder inputs included GST relief on agricultural equipment, automation of the GST refund process, a new e-waste management policy, the Aravalli Jungle Safari project, the Pran Vayu Devta Pension Scheme and the establishment of an environmental training centre. “These steps reflect our commitment to a simplified tax system, transparent administration, environmental protection and public welfare,” Saini said.

Highlighting legal reforms, the chief minister said Haryana was the first state to fully implement three new criminal laws replacing colonial-era legislation and had introduced technology tools such as e-Sakshya and e-Summon. Between January and August 2025, forensic recording of crime scenes was conducted in over 96% of cases through e-Sakshya, while nearly half of police personnel appeared in courts via video conferencing.

On revenue performance, Saini said the excise and taxation department had achieved nearly 78.5% of its ₹68,834.91 crore target for 2025–26 by December 31, 2025.

Industries and commerce minister Rao Narbir Singh, MLAs, senior bureaucrats and officials from key departments were also present during the consultations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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