Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday announced a slew of developmental initiatives and reforms during the ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ program held at Ladoli in the Chintpurni assembly constituency of Una district. The event, marked by public engagement and administrative resolve, saw the allocation of a substantial budget for educational reforms and the unveiling of plans aimed at bolstering various sectors across the state.
Amidst the gathering, which saw enthusiastic participation from the local community, Chief Minister Sukhu addressed key issues and unveiled transformative measures aimed at uplifting the region. The Chief Minister also announced a two-day Chintpurni Mahotsav in Amb, construction of a Mini Secretariat in Amb, Rs 10 crore for Swan river channelization, opening of PHC in Panjoa, and construction of an indoor stadium.
“To provide better employment opportunities to the state’s youth, the new edge courses would be started at Naiharian ITI,” he said.
Notable among the announcements was the allocation of a substantial budget of Rs 300 crore towards educational reforms, signaling the Government’s commitment to providing quality education to all children in Himachal Pradesh.
In his address, the Chief Minister outlined a comprehensive roadmap for educational reform, including the establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in every assembly constituency. Emphasizing the importance of holistic development, Sukhu highlighted plans to commence English medium education from Class I, and institute an age limit of six years for admission to Class I, aiming to reduce stress among students.
Furthermore, significant emphasis was placed on healthcare improvements, with the introduction of a Health Information Management System (HIMS) in 56 health institutions. This technological upgrade aims to streamline patient care by enabling doctors to access vital patient details through a cloud-based server, thus minimizing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing healthcare delivery.
“Plans for robotic surgery and advanced technology are in progress and the results would be visible within two years,” he said.
The Chief Minister also underscored the Government’s proactive stance in addressing the state's financial challenges inherited from the previous administration. “Only 17 percent of state budget is allocated on development and rest 83 percent are other expenses. Rs 16,000 crore is being spent on salary of employees, Rs 10,000 crore on pension whereas our budget is Rs 54,000 crore. The state’s economic condition have been left in ramshackle by the previous government and to bring it back on track, the government is working with a motto of Vyastha Parivartan and efforts to reform the economy are underway,” he said.
With a focus on economic revitalization, Sukhu highlighted efforts to reform the economy, resulting in a notable 20 percent improvement.
Moreover, Sukhu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing social security and relief to vulnerable sections of society. Initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Sukh Aashay Yojana and Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Scheme aim to uplift orphaned children and support higher education endeavors, reflecting the government's inclusive approach towards social welfare.
In response to the devastating natural calamity that struck Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Minister lauded the resilience of the state’s residents and assured steadfast support in the recovery process. Notably, a special package of Rs 4,500 crore was allocated for disaster relief efforts, underscoring the government's unwavering commitment to rebuilding affected communities.
Taking on thje opposition, Sukhu said: “During the testing time when the entire state was under deep distress, the BJP leaders were busy in fulfilling their political vengeance and maneuvering during the disaster. None of the BJP MP supported the government and went to the Centre seeking help for the state.”
“Not only this, the government sent the claim of Rs 10,000 crore to the Center in August 2023, and the BJP leaders are creating hurdles in getting it cleared for which the people of state will never forgave them.”
The ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ program served as a platform for interaction and showcased developmental exhibitions of various departments, highlighting the government's concerted efforts towards holistic progress and inclusive growth across Himachal Pradesh. During the program, 62 public complaints were received, 24 certificates issued, and 13 mutation cases were resolved.