Congress Sinks Himachal into Debt as Public Services Collapse: Sukhram

Shimla, 21 January 2025 – Former BJP minister and MLA Sukhram Chaudhary accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of failing to manage the state’s finances effectively, despite substantial financial aid from the central government. He stated that the Congress leaders are dramatizing a “lack of funds” while the center continues to allocate significant resources to the state.

Chaudhary highlighted several instances of government negligence, including the case of 132 outsourced trauma care employees at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) who were terminated and later promised reappointment under a six-month short-term tender, which is yet to materialize. He also pointed out the unavailability of essential tests such as thyroid and sugar tests in IGMC’s government labs, forcing patients to queue up outside private labs.

He emphasized the state government’s failure to allocate sufficient funds for salaries (₹13,600 crore), pensions (₹10,800 crore), and subsidies (₹6,800 crore). Instead, he alleged, the government prioritizes expenditures for its ministers and associates.

Chaudhary lauded the center’s financial support, including ₹746.84 crore under CAMPA funds, ₹90 crore for disaster reduction, ₹422.74 crore for rural local bodies, ₹3,500 crore under PMGSY, and numerous other grants. He criticized the Congress government for downplaying this aid and warned of the state’s rapid debt accumulation under its rule.