Chief Minister announces Rs.1,500 for all eligible women of Sulah

· Electricity Board division to open in Sulah

· Bhawarna to become Nagar Panchayat

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, during his visit to the Sulah Assembly constituency in Kangra district today declared that all eligible women of the Sulah constituency would be provided financial assistance of Rs. 1,500 under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samaan Nidhi Yojna. He also announced a series of welfare, development and employment initiatives aimed at strengthening social security, infrastructure and public services in the region. He also announced the opening of a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) division in Sulah and the up-gradation of Bhawarna town into a Nagar Panchayat.

Addressing a large public meeting, the Chief Minister said that the state government was making continuous and sincere efforts for the overall development of Kangra district. He informed that the expansion of Kangra Airport was underway and that affected people were being given fair compensation for their land. He said the airport expansion would bring economic prosperity to the region, boost tourism and generate employment opportunities at the local level, ensuring that youth would not be compelled to migrate to metropolitan cities like Delhi or Chandigarh even for small jobs.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to employment generation, the Chief Minister said that large-scale recruitment was being undertaken in the public sector, particularly in the police department. He announced that the state government would soon recruit 800 police constables to strengthen the law enforcement machinery. He said special consideration would be given to youth who had returned home after serving under the Agniveer scheme introduced by the Union Government. These youth would be absorbed into the Himachal Pradesh Police and provided stable employment up to the age of 58, along with the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

The Chief Minister said that the Agniveer scheme, which limits service tenure to four years, had reduced the interest of many young people in Himachal Pradesh in joining the Army. The state government, therefore, decided to ensure long-term job security for such trained youth by providing them an opportunity to serve in the state police. “We do not believe in policies that end the future of youth after four years. Our government is committed to providing secure employment and social protection,” he said.

Speaking on education reforms, the Chief Minister said that during the previous BJP government, Himachal Pradesh had slipped to 21st position in education rankings. He said that just before the Assembly elections, schools were opened or upgraded without adequate budgetary support and staff, which weakened the education system. “I take decisions in the public interest. Parents send their children to school with the hope of quality education, but if the foundation is weak, how will children gain confidence?” he said. Due to the sustained efforts of the present government, Himachal Pradesh has now reached the fifth position in quality education. Teacher vacancies are being filled, English-medium education has been introduced from Class 1, and more than 200 schools are being converted to the CBSE curriculum.

On health services, the Chief Minister said that the condition of healthcare facilities was also poor during the previous BJP regime. He announced that within one year, AIIMS-level technology would be made available at Tanda Medical College, all other medical colleges, Palampur Hospital and all zonal hospitals to ensure quality treatment for patients. Recruitment was underway to overcome the shortage of doctors, and within six months all Primary Health Centres would have doctors, while medical colleges would be equipped with specialist doctors.

Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, the Chief Minister said the previous government had received nearly Rs. 50,000 crore more funds than the present government but they failed to utilise them properly. He said buildings worth Rs. 1,000 crore were constructed but remain vacant even today. He further alleged that in Baddi, around 5,000 bighas of land was allotted to big industrialists at throwaway prices under customized packages, causing huge losses to state revenue.

He clarified that the present government was not making any changes to Section 118 and that misinformation was being deliberately spread on social media. He said strict action would be taken against corrupt individuals and the government would not allow the people of Himachal Pradesh to be looted. Funds saved by curbing corruption were being channeled towards the welfare of orphans, widows, persons with disabilities and other weaker sections of society.

He also blamed the Centre of weakening the MGNREGA scheme, stating that it was introduced by the Congress-led UPA government for the benefit of the poor. He said the state government was conducting an IRDP survey in five phases to ensure that no eligible poor family was deprived of its rightful benefits.

Praising Sanjay Chauhan, Chairman of the State Co-operative, Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, the Chief Minister said he had played an important role in taking the bank to new heights and was sincerely committed to serving the people of Sulah by sharing their concerns and hardships.

During the programme, the Chief Minister also administered a pledge against drug abuse and said the government was taking strict action against the drug mafia to safeguard the future of youth. Various organizations honoured him on the occasion.

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Chandra Kumar, addressing the gathering, said the Chief Minister’s vision was centred on the upliftment of villages and rural communities. He said that all budgets presented over the last three years had strengthened the rural economy. The government was promoting natural farming and empowering farmers and youth. Himachal Pradesh offers the highest Minimum Support Price in the country for natural farming produce, with wheat at Rs. 60 per kg and maize at Rs. 40 per kg. Efforts were also being made to ensure better marketing so that farmers receive remunerative prices.

Sanjay Singh Chauhan Chairman ARDB said that the Sulah Assembly constituency had suffered heavy losses during recent disasters and the Chief Minister had provided timely financial assistance to affected families. He said there was no shortage of development in the area and all announcements were being implemented on the ground. A vegetable market was under construction, which would benefit farmers in the future and government schemes were ensuring the welfare of farmers, women, labourers and all sections of society.