SHIMLA-25 January, 2026

Chief Minister inaugurates, lays foundation stones for 8 development projects worth Rs. 79.60 crore

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 8 development projects worth Rs. 79.60 crore at Pragpur for Jaswan Pragpur Assembly Constituency in Kangra district today.

The Chief Minister inaugurated Model Career Centre at Kasba Kotla constructed at a cost of Rs. 6.14 crore, Rs. 78 lakh Treasury Office building at Rakkar, Rs. 1.04 crore additional accommodation in Government Senior Secondary School Saleti and Rs. 1.74 crore office building of newly created division of Jal Shakti Vibhag, Jaswan Pragpur. He also performed opening ceremonies of SDPO office Dadasiba, Police Stations at Dadasiba, Sansarpur Main and Sansarpur Terrace on the occasion.

He also laid foundation stones of link road Pirsaluhi (Kangra) to Kitpal (Hamirpur) to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 9.60 crore, Rs. 25.16 crore sewerage scheme to Heritage village Garli and Pragpur in tehsil Pragpur, Rs. 16.12 crore check dam and dykes on various nallahs/khads in Rakkar Jal Shakti Vibhag Sub Division of Jaswan Pragpur constituency and Rs. 18.96 crore system improvement scheme for construction of 33/11 KV GIS Sub Station Kasba Kota under Electric Sub Division of Sansarpur Terrace in Kangra district.

=================================

CM unfurls national flag at Pragpur on Statehood Day

• Announces to clear arrears of pensioners and family pensioners aged 70 years and above
• Announces SDM office at Pragpur and PHC at Nalsuha
• Preparation of ‘Samriddh Himachal Vision’ document in final stage: CM
• Announces to set-up Agriculture and Horticulture Commission

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conveyed his Statehood Day wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh during the 56th celebration held at Pragpur in Kangra district today. This was the first ever function held at Pragpur. The Chief Minister unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from the parade contingents. The parade was led by Parade Commander IPS officer Taruna and participating contingents included IRBN Jangalberi, IRBN Sakoh, IRBN Pandoh, Police District Nurpur, Home Guards Women Battalion Dharamshala, Home Guards Men and Women Battalion Dharamshala, SDRF Pandoh, Dharamshala Traffic Police, Van Mitras, NCC Government College Dhalyara, Scouts and Guides, and other units.

Congratulating the people of the State on the occasion, he recalled the immense contributions of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Y.S. Parmar, in securing statehood for the State.

The Chief Minister announced the constitution of an Agriculture and Horticulture Commission in the State to ensure the participation of farmers and orchardists, and to safeguard their rights. He said that the State Government would present a Bill to form this Commission in the upcoming Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly.

He announced the opening of SDM office at Pragpur and PHC at Nalsuha in Jaswan assembly constituency.

He said that when the present State Government assumed office, the previous government had left liabilities exceeding Rs. 10,000 crore on account of salary and pension arrears of employees. At present, the total outstanding arrears related to salaries, pensions, and other dues amount to Rs 8,555 crore.

Despite the State’s strained financial condition, he announced that the complete payment of arrears of pensioners and family pensioners aged 70 years and above would be made in the month of January this year. He said that an amount of Rs. 90 crore would be spent for this purpose. He further stated that Class-IV employees, who retired between 1^st January, 2016 and 31^st December, 2021 have accrued arrears of gratuity and leave encashment due to the revision of pension and related benefits and announced that an additional 50 percent of the gratuity arrears and 70 percent of the leave encashment arrears would be paid to them in the month of January and an expenditure of Rs. 96 crore would be incurred.

Sh. Sukhu said that the occasion provided an opportunity to assess the achievements of the past 55 years and to reflect on the direction in which the State should progress in the coming years. With this sense of responsibility and vision, the State Government has initiated the preparation of a document titled 'Samriddh Himachal Vision', which is now in its final stage.

He further stated that the Vision Document has been prepared through extensive consultations with people across the State, experts, the administration and institutions. While drafting the document, due consideration has been given to Himachal Pradesh’s environment, aspirations of its hard working people and its strong social traditions. The objective is to promote development that is environmentally sustainable, disaster-resilient and inclusive of all sections of society, he added.

He assured the people that this Vision would serve as a shared roadmap, maintaining a balance between development and responsibility, progress and environmental conservation, and aspirations and reality, so that Himachal Pradesh could continue on a path of steady progress while preserving its unique identity.

Sh. Sukhu said that the previous BJP government had got Revenue Deficit Grants amounting to Rs. 46,862 crore, whereas the present Government has received only Rs. 18,903 crore so far. He further said that if total Central transfers are taken into account, these stood at Rs. 1,16,000 crore during the BJP government, while the current government has received only Rs. 70,191 crore to date. He said: "Similarly, under GST Compensation, Rs. 12,861 crore was provided during the BJP government, whereas this compensation has been discontinued during the tenure of the present government."

The Chief Minister said that during the tenure of the 15^th Finance Commission, the previous government was allowed additional borrowing during the COVID period in the years 2020-21 and 2021-22. Whereas, due to the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, the present government’s additional borrowing of around Rs 1,700 crore has been stopped. Despite this, he said, the government has worked to improve the financial situation by augmenting its own resources and cutting non-essential expenditure.

He said that the State’s own revenue, which stood at Rs. 55,000 crore during the previous government’s five year tenure, has reached Rs. 49,500 crore within just three years of the present State government. He emphasized that "today, we need to stand on our own feet, and for this, tough decisions are being taken."

The Chief Minister said that the present State Government has launched a major campaign for 'Vyavastha Parivartan' in the State. He said that the government would not allow the looting of resources, whereas the previous government compromised with the interests of the State. He said that the State Government has won the legal battles related to the Wild Flower Hall hotel and the Karcham-Wangtoo hydropower project. Meanwhile, the government is resolutely fighting to recover the BBMB arrears from the concerned States, and to take back the Baira Siul hydropower project in Chamba district and the Shanan project in Mandi district from Punjab Government.

He said that Himachal Pradesh provides air, water, electricity and ecological balance to the entire northern India. The State possesses forest wealth worth several lakh crore rupees. "If we wanted, we could sell our forests in a single year to repay all our debts, but we will never take such an irresponsible step," he said, adding: "The Government is committed to protect to state's resources and enrich the State." He said that Himachal Pradesh functions as the lungs of Northern India. If Punjab and Haryana are known as the food bowls of the country, it is because of rivers of Himachal play a pivotal role in irrigating the land of these States.

The Chief Minister said that the present government has fulfilled seven out of its ten guarantees made during the assembly elections. He said that the process of providing Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women, under Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Sammaan Nidhi Yojana, has been initiated in a phased manner and that this guarantee would be implemented across the entire State within the next two years. This, he said, will enhance women's participation in the rural economy. He added that the State government was making sustained efforts to strengthen the rural economy. The rural economy, he said, "will become strong only when youth get dignified self-employment opportunities close to their villages".

"I am son of a farmer and have closely seen and experienced the struggles of farmers, orchardists and livestock rearers. Our government's priority is to ensure that money reaches directly into the hands of farmers," he added.

The Chief Minister said that the issue of import duty on apples from New Zealand has also been raised with the Union Government. He asserted that the State government would strongly raise the concerns of apple growers on every platform. He said that there was widespread resentment among farmers and orchardists over the Centre’s anti-farmer policies. The quality of pesticides, fertilizers and sprays available in the country is substandard and these inputs are being sold to them at high prices. As a result, orchards are witnessing unseasonal leaf fall and plants are suffering from several diseases. Farmers and orchardists are bearing the direct consequences of this situation, Sh. Sukhu said.

He said that the Union Government has recently given another severe blow by dismantling the MGNREGA scheme. He said the Centre has destroyed the very soul of MGNREGA. “It was a demand-driven law, under which any unemployed daily-wage worker or poor labourer could apply to the Panchayat seeking employment. This provision has now been removed under the new law." In contrast, the Himachal Pradesh government has implemented a historic increase in MGNREGA wages, raising the daily wage from Rs. 247 to Rs. 320, he said. Moreover, MGNREGA works have been stopped during peak agricultural seasons and during times of disaster. He further stated that the cost of demand-based works was now being shifted on to the State government. This would reduce employment opportunities at the grassroots level and will not serve the interests of the poor.

Sh. Sukhu said that the State government has relaxed the BPL selection criteria by removing the condition of owning a pucca house. Moreover, for the first time, the Government was going to provide pucca houses to 27,717 families who have been part of IRDP for the last 20 years. These families had been compelled to live in kutcha houses for many years.

He said that while battling a severe financial crisis, the State had faced two devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2025. The present State Government repeatedly raised the issue of compensation for these losses with the Union Government, but adequate assistance was not provided by the Central Government. Meanwhile, the opposition failed to discharge its responsibility. Instead of becoming the voice of the people, the opposition conspired to topple the democratically elected government through money power, he added.

Despite limited resources, he said, the government stood strong with the disaster-affected people with empathy and sensitivity, sharing their pain and standing by them day and night. He said that the State Government had announced special relief packages and enhanced compensation amounts manifold, which are the highest in the country. Families whose houses were completely destroyed in the disasters are being provided Rs. 8 lakh for constructing new houses, along with enhanced financial assistance for other losses, Sh. Sukhu stated.

The Chief Minister said that resolving public grievances remains a top priority of the government. To ensure time-bound disposal of long-pending revenue cases, special revenue courts are being organized regularly. So far, 5,10,257 revenue cases have been disposed of, which is a record in itself, he added.

He said that focus was also being given to reforms in the health and education sectors. Healthcare is the government's one of the highest priority, and a decision has been taken to spend Rs. 3,000 crore to replace machinery and equipment that are 15 to 20 years old. The introduction of robotic surgery for the first time in the State, aimed at providing world-class healthcare facilities, is a revolutionary step. He said that steps have been taken to improve the quality of education and to introduce necessary changes in curriculum and teaching systems in line with contemporary requirements. According to the National Survey, Himachal Pradesh has recently secured the 5^th position in providing quality education to the students in the country, whereas it stood at 21^st position in 2021. Additionally, Himachal Pradesh has achieved first place in terms of students' reading and learning levels.

The Chief Minister also released the web series 'The White Truth', produced by the Himachal Pradesh Gyan Vigyan Samiti. The web series aims to create awareness among youth about the harmful effects of drug abuse.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented by various cultural troupes.

The Chief Minister also honoured the participants of the Parade and cultural troupes on the occasion.

On the occasion, Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, MLAs Sanjay Ratan, Ashish Butail, Kamlesh Thakur, Rakesh Kalia, Ranjit Singh, Malender Rajan, Advocate General Anup Rattan, Chairman H.P. Board of School Education Dharamsala Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Vice Chairman HRTC Ajay Verma, Chairman of HP Buildings and Other Constructions Workers Welfare Board Nardev Singh Kanwar, Chairman H.P. Wool Federation Manoj Thakur, Chairman Kangra Cooperative Primary Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ram Chander Pathania, Chairman APMC Kangra Nishu Mongra District Congress President Anurag Sharma, Senior Congress leaders Kuldeep Pathania, Surender Kaku, Surender Mankotia, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, DGP Ashok Tiwari, along with other distinguished personalities and senior officers, were present.