Chief Minister pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Martyr Day

Congress leaders observe two-hour fast against renaming of MGNREGA

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with other Congress leaders, today paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on his death anniversary, observed as Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas), at the historic Ridge Ground, Shimla. After paying homage, the Congress leaders observed a two-hour fast from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in protest against the renaming and dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Interacting with media persons, the Chief Minister said that the BJP-led Union Government has not only changed the name of MGNREGA but has also undermined the very spirit of the scheme. He stated that earlier the scheme provided employment opportunities, especially to the youth and women in rural areas, but employment avenues are now being curtailed.

Sh. Sukhu said that previously village pradhans had the powers to undertake works such as road construction under MGNREGA, ensuring employment near people’s homes and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scheme played a crucial role in providing maximum employment to the people. However the powers of panchayat pradhans have now been taken away.

The Chief Minister further said that for the past 20 years, MGNREGA had guaranteed employment and also provided for an unemployment allowance if work was not offered. He said that today’s two-hour fast was organized to protest against the systematic dismantling of the scheme. He pointed out that earlier the Union Government use to bear 100 percent of the expenditure under MGNREGA, but it has now been changed to a 90:10 funding pattern, which would adversely affect the interests of Himachal Pradesh.

Responding to a query regarding the reduction of import duty on apples, the Chief Minister said that he had raised the issue of lowering import duty on apples from New Zealand in his previous meeting with Union Minister Piyush Goyal. He said that any reduction in import duty would seriously harm apple growers of Himachal Pradesh. On this issue, the Union Minister has asked the State Government to send a team of officers and orchardists from Himachal Pradesh, after which the Union Government will examine and discuss all aspects of the matter, he said.

Congress Himachal Pradesh In-charge Rajni Patil, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, AYUSH Minister Yadvinder Goma, HP Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar, Co-incharges Vidit Chaudhary and Chetan Chauhan, Former Pradesh Congress Committee President Pratibha Singh, MLAs Sanjay Awasthi, Malender Rajan, Hardeep Bawa, Anuradha Rana and Vinod Sultanpuri, Congress district presidents from various districts, Mayor Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal along with chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of various boards and corporations and senior Congress leaders were present on the occasion.

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CM tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on Martyr's Day

SHIMLA, 30.01.26-CM tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on Martyr's Day. He also observed a two-hour fast in protest against the renaming of MNREGA and the weakening of this welfare scheme

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State Govt committed to strengthen rural economy and uplift farmers: CM

· HIMCON Chairman calls on Chief Minister

Managing Director and Chairman of HIMCON Vikesh Chauhan today here called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with a delegation from the Rampur Assembly Constituency and expressed gratitude to him for his appointment. Sh. Vikesh assured the Chief Minister that he would make every possible effort to live up to the expectations of the party high command.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that for the first time, a person from Rampur has been entrusted with this responsibility. He stated that the Congress Government in the State has completed three years in office and is making sustained efforts to ensure that the benefits of its welfare schemes reach those standing at the last rung of society.

Sh. Sukhu said that nearly 90 percent of state's population resides in rural areas and, keeping this in view, the state government has placed villages and farmers at the centre of its policies and programmes. He said that since the rural economy was primarily dependent on agriculture, the government has accorded top priority to the economic upliftment of farmers. He said that as part of a historic initiative, the present government has declared Minimum Support Prices for milk and naturally grown farm produce.

The Chief Minister said that the Congress Government was procuring wheat from farmers practicing natural farming at a support price of Rs. 60 per kilogram, maize at Rs. 40 per kilogram and raw turmeric at Rs. 90 per kilogram. In addition, cow milk is being procured at Rs. 51 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs. 61 per litre. Farmers who transport milk themselves to procurement centres located more than two kilometres away are also being provided a subsidy of Rs. 2 per litre, he said.