Strengthening rural economy top priority, CBSE schools being opened in rural areas: Chief Minister

SHIMLA 10 September, 2026

· Rs 200 crore to be provided this year as MSP for milk

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu participated in the ‘Nari Tu Narayani’ programme organised here today by the daily newspaper Himachal Dastak and felicitated women who have made outstanding contributions in various fields.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated today that the state government was giving top priority to strengthening the rural economy. In this direction, CBSE schools were being opened in villages so that children need not to migrate to cities for better education. He said that the state government has taken several historic steps to increase the income of people residing in rural areas. With the objective of economically empowering farmers and livestock owners, the procurement price of milk had been increased. At present, the state government was procuring cow milk at Rs. 61 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 71 per litre. He said that this year, the state government would provide around Rs. 200 crore as minimum support price for milk.

Sh. Sukhu said that a milk processing plant with a capacity of 1.5 lakh litres per day at Dagwar in Kangra district would be completed by October this year which would further strengthen the economy of farmers and livestock owners. He said that the state government was also providing minimum support prices for crops such as wheat, maize and turmeric grown through natural farming.

The Chief Minister said that policy changes were being introduced at every level in the state and historic reformative steps had been taken in the health and education sectors. In 2021, Himachal Pradesh ranked 21st in the country in terms of quality education, but as a result of the reforms undertaken by the present state government, the state had now risen to fifth position. He said that the state government had opened 150 CBSE schools and all teachers would be appointed in these schools by 30th September, 2026 who were being selected entirely on the basis of merit. He clarified that the existing fee structure would continue to apply in these schools as well.

He said that the government was sending students on exposure visits abroad so that they could closely observe better practices and modern systems being followed around the world. He said that the state’s first science college was being established at a cost of around Rs. 150 crore besides an allied and healthcare college in Hamirpur district. The government was also arranging foreign exposure visits for medical students and the diagnostic facilities were being strengthened and various departments of all medical colleges in the state were being upgraded.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was firmly pursuing the interests and rights of Himachal Pradesh, and positive indications were emerging regarding the issue of arrears due to the state from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He expressed confidence that by 2027, Himachal Pradesh would achieve significant progress towards becoming self-reliant.