Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday held a meeting with a World Bank delegation in Chandigarh to discuss the state’s roadmap for artificial intelligence, digital governance, skill development and data-led administration.Saini said Haryana’s approach was not to treat technology as a stand-alone innovation, but as a tool to deliver faster, transparent and citizen-focused governance. “Technology is meaningful only when it makes people’s lives easier and government services more effective,” he said.World Bank officials informed the CM that the AI Sandbox developed in collaboration with the Haryana govt would be showcased at the Korea Digital Summit from October 19 to 22. IT ministers and digital sector experts from across the world are expected to attend the summit, where Haryana’s AI-based governance model will be presented. The officials also invited Saini to participate in the event.During the meet, the CM described Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) as one of Haryana’s key digital governance initiatives, saying it had helped ensure timely and transparent delivery of welfare benefits to eligible families. He said several states were studying the model, and Haryana would now work on PPP 2.0 to make the platform more modern, user-friendly and responsive to emerging needs.Saini said the state would move towards a comprehensive Data Exchange Policy and Data Lake to enable seamless information-sharing among departments. This, he said, would help improve policy formulation, administrative planning and decision-making.The CM urged the World Bank to expedite the proposed Haryana AI and Development Project. Under the project, an AI Gurukul is planned to equip youth with future-ready skills. He said the government would focus on industry-aligned training and skill centres in every district. Saini also proposed a dedicated AI model for Haryana, trained on the state’s laws, rules and government procedures. Such a model, he said, could help officials take quick and accurate decisions and make public services simpler and faster.The CM sought World Bank support for an Air Quality Decision Support System to strengthen pollution control. Referring to inputs from officials who recently visited China to study air management systems, he said Haryana would adopt advanced global technologies and AI-based solutions under its Clean Air Programme.He also asked the World Bank to help identify challenges faced by government departments and develop practical, simple and cost-effective technological solutions.The CM said around 250 companies and startups had participated in the recent Innovation Challenge, reflecting Haryana’s growing innovation ecosystem. He said tested innovations would now be deployed across departments for direct public benefit.
