SHIMLA-15^th September, 2025

Punjab-Haryana should act as elder brothers to support Himachal’s interests: CM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh had to fight for its rightful share on several issues. He noted that despite the expiry of the lease period of Shanan hydroelectric project situated in Himachal Pradesh, it had not been given back to the state from Punjab and arrears due from BBMB had also been delayed due to obstructions posed by Punjab and Haryana, despite a Supreme Court decision.

“Punjab and Haryana are our elder brothers, and they should extend support generously to their younger brother,” the Chief Minister emphasized.

He was speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day national cooperative conference late evening on Sunday at Shimla, where he inaugurated the Cyber Security Operations Centre of Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, besides launching the bank’s cooperative anthem and releasing a souvenir.

Extending greetings on the successful event, the Chief Minister stated that despite challenging geography and small land holdings, cooperatives in Himachal Pradesh had been playing a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy. He recalled that the cooperative movement in Himachal began in 1904 and received a major boost after full statehood in 1971. Currently, over 5,000 cooperative societies were active in the State, including nearly 2,000 primary agricultural credit societies that provide essential financial services to farmers and rural households.

Responding to a request from Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, he assured that the state government would consider providing relaxations under Section 118 to cooperative societies for purchasing land for business purposes. He also asked the State Cooperative Bank to introduce a one-time settlement policy to help small farmers, orchardists, workers, and traders become debt-free.

Sh. Sukhu stated that the state government had dissolved the Board of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank due to irregularities during the previous regime and reaffirmed that it would not tolerate misuse of public resources. He further said that the Congress government was bringing major reforms in education, health and the rural economy sectors.

He said that Himachal had moved from 21st to 5th position in the country’s education rankings in 2025 and was now striving for the top spot. The State had also retained its pride of being fully literate. On health reforms, he said, “Modern equipments are being provided in leading hospitals, with an outlay of Rs 300 crore this year. Robotic surgery has already been introduced in two government health Institutions to offer better treatment to the people of the State.”

He said despite suffering losses of nearly Rs. 20,000 crore due to natural calamities over the past three years, the state had continued to sustain the pace of development. Referring to the safe rescue of 16,000 devotees stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district, he said that the spirit of compassion and service runs deep in Himachal’s culture, with local people ensuring that no stranded pilgrim went without food or assistance.

To strengthen the rural economy, the Chief Minister said that women’s self-help groups were being promoted under the ‘Him-Era’ brand, while milk procurement had been increased significantly following a historic Rs. 21 per litre hike in milk prices, with MILKFED now collecting 2.5 lakh litres daily from the farmers thereby strengthening their economy. Natural farming was also being encouraged with assured support prices, and women and youth groups were being linked to forest conservation activities by offering incentives.

Union Minister of State for Cooperatives Krishna Pal Gurjar congratulated Himachal Pradesh on achieving 100 percent literacy and underlined the Centre’s initiatives to strengthen the cooperative sector under the leadership of Union Minister Amit Shah. He said the Union Government had launched the “Sehkaar Taxi Sewa”, from which the people of Himachal could benefit, given the state’s immense potential in tourism. He further suggested that Himachal’s institutions could be linked with the newly established Tribhuvan Sehkari University and assured that the Centre would consider special fee concessions for hill states.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the cooperative movement began in 1892 in Himachal Pradesh from Panjawar in Una district and since then this sector had made remarkable progress. Today, cooperative banks in the State hold deposits of nearly Rs. 60,000 crore and people’s trust in cooperatives must be preserved, he said.

Uttarakhand’s Cooperative Minister Dhan Singh Rawat shared that over 10 lakh farmers in Uttarakhand had received agricultural loans through cooperatives and the State aims to connect 15 lakh people with the movement, with a strong focus on women empowerment.

Health Minister Dr.(Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, HP State Cooperative Bank Chairman Devender Shyam, Jogindra Central Bank Chairman Mukesh Sharma, HP State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Chairman Sanjay Singh Chauhan, HIMUDA Vice Chairman Yashwant Chhajta, NAFSCOB Chairman K. Ravindra Rao, Joint Secretary to the Government of India Raman Kumar and representatives of cooperative bodies from across the country attended the event.

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

SHIMLA-15.09.25

INDIVIDUALS/INSTITUTIONS PRESENTED CHEQUES TOWARDS CHIEF MINISTER RELIEF FUND

1. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu being presented a cheque of Rs.10,60,250 by Health Minister Colonel (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil on behalf of staff of Deputy Commissioner and people of Solan district towards Chief Minister Relief Fund at Shimla on 15th September 2025. MLA Sanjay Awasthy and Deputy Commissioner Solan Manmohan Sharma were also present on the occasion. Gurukul International School, Kunihar, district Solan also contributed Rs. 31000 towards this Relief Fund.

2. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu being presented a cheque of Rs 25 lakh for the Disaster Relief Fund on behalf of Canara Bank. On this occasion, Manoj Kumar Das, Chief General Manager Canara Bank Chandigarh Zone, Ravikant Barman Head, Regional Office Shimla and Nardev Kanwar, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Building and Construction Worker Welfare Board were also present.

3. A deputation of Maha panchayat of Chintpurni Assembly Constituency in Una district presenting a cheque of Rupees one lakh to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu towards Chief Minister Relief Fund at Shimla last evening.

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

CM condoles death of Sunita Sharma

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh has condoled the demise of Sunita Sharma, wife of Rajesh Sharma, Correspondent of The Tribune newspaper from Una, who passed away on Monday at the age of 57 years.

The Chief Minister that said that Sunita Sharma was a social worker who played a pivotal role for upliftment of women folk in the area.

He prayed to the Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss.

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

CM expresses grief over loss of lives in road accident

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the road accident at village Ram Nagar in Sub Division Kotkhai of district Shimla on Monday in which five persons lost their lives and one other sustained injuries.

The Chief Minister said that the state government stands firmly with the aggrieved families in this hour of grief and added that all possible assistance would be provided to the bereaved families. He wished speedy recovery to the injured.

He prayed to the Almighty to give eternal peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this irreparable loss.

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