Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday, 10 July asserted that both the Centre and the Haryana government have ensured welfare scheme benefits reach every eligible citizen at the last mile, with no discrimination, guided by the principles of transparency, good governance, and Antyodaya. Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Saini said every government initiative is aimed at making the lives of the poor, farmers, youth, women, senior citizens, and other deprived sections 'easier, more dignified and self-reliant.'

Key Developments

The Chief Minister drew a pointed contrast between the current administration and previous Indian National Congress (Congress) governments in the state, arguing that while Congress spent decades making promises to the poor, farmers, youth, and senior citizens, the present government has ensured that intended beneficiaries actually receive the benefits they are entitled to.

Saini also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing both Congress and AAP of consistently misleading people through election-time promises and false assurances. He maintained that the 'double-engine government' — referring to aligned administrations at the state and Centre — has remained committed to converting every promise into tangible action.

What the Government Said

On the issue of old-age pensions, Saini said that during the Congress regime, senior citizens were compelled to make repeated visits to government offices, seek recommendations, and endure prolonged hardships before receiving any assistance. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee, he said, government assistance 'is now being transferred directly into the bank accounts of every eligible beneficiary.'

He further claimed that, for the first time since Independence, a system has been established under which eligible beneficiaries receive government support without having to seek favours from anyone or make multiple rounds of government offices — a reference to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanisms rolled out at the national level.

Congress and the 'Garibi Hatao' Charge

Saini invoked the Congress's long-running 'Garibi Hatao' slogan, arguing that rather than alleviating poverty, the party's governance pushed the poor further into deprivation. He said Prime Minister Modi's welfare-centric approach has, by contrast, restored dignity, security, and hope to those who remained neglected for decades.

Notably, the remarks come ahead of local political activity in Haryana, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been consolidating its governance narrative around last-mile delivery and anti-corruption messaging — themes it has leaned on heavily since returning to power in the state.

Impact on Citizens

The direct bank transfer model, which Saini highlighted, has been a central plank of the Centre's social welfare architecture since 2013, with successive governments expanding its scope. Critics, however, have periodically argued that DBT coverage gaps and exclusion errors continue to leave some of the most vulnerable beneficiaries outside the system — a concern that independent researchers and civil society groups have flagged in multiple states, including Haryana.

As the BJP seeks to reinforce its welfare delivery credentials ahead of future electoral cycles, the government's ability to demonstrate measurable outcomes — not just disbursal numbers — will be closely watched.