Himachal CM Announces Major Development Initiatives in Solan District
Significant Funding for Road Construction
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhu has pledged ₹20 crores for the construction of the Johadji-Malla road. This announcement was made during a public gathering in Neri Kalan, located in the Kasauli assembly constituency of Solan district on Thursday. Additionally, he revealed plans to provide a monthly pension of ₹1,500 under the 'Indira Gandhi Sukha Samman Nidhi' scheme for eligible women from five local gram panchayats present at the event.
Educational and Financial Initiatives
During the event, the Chief Minister also announced the affiliation of a local school with CBSE, the establishment of a branch of Jogindra Cooperative Bank, and a survey for constructing a dam in Chhati Dhanak.
Commitment to State Development
Expressing his delight, the Chief Minister noted that he was able to visit the area after the late former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. He discussed the Kishau Dam project, stating that he firmly represented Himachal Pradesh's interests in a meeting with the Union Home Minister. He mentioned that the state government had not accepted previous conditions for three years, resulting in the acquisition of 211 megawatts of electricity for Himachal Pradesh without any additional financial burden, which is expected to benefit the state by approximately ₹600 crores annually.
Challenges Faced by the State
The Chief Minister further pointed out that the central government has halted regular recruitment in the armed forces and made changes to the MGNREGA scheme, causing difficulties for many. He emphasized that if there had not been a reduction in the ₹10,000 crores RDG allocation for Himachal Pradesh, the state would have achieved self-sufficiency this year. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.
Support for Orphans and Education
Sukhu highlighted that Himachal Pradesh was the first state to enact a law granting 'state child' status to orphans, covering their education, housing, and other essential needs until the age of 27. Under the Indira Gandhi Sukha Education Scheme, the government is also providing funds for the higher education of children of widows and single women. He criticized the previous BJP government for a decline in educational quality, which saw Himachal Pradesh drop to 21st place nationally, but noted that the current administration's efforts have improved the state's ranking to fifth.
Concerns Over Previous Administration's Policies
He accused the previous government of opening nearly 600 institutions without ensuring adequate staffing for electoral gains.