Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Reviews Rural Development Initiatives

On Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh chaired a review meeting focused on the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department. During this session, an in-depth evaluation of the state's flagship program, 'Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana', was conducted. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister announced that the state government will host 'Jan Samvad' programs on August 6, 7, and 8, 2026, under this initiative. These events will take place at the block level, presided over by the respective legislators. Clusters of gram panchayats will be formed for this purpose, with each cluster comprising a maximum of ten panchayats. The Chief Minister stated that the poorest families identified by the Rural Development Department from all gram panchayats across the state will be invited to participate in these programs.

Discussions will focus on various government schemes and programs aimed at enhancing social and economic development and welfare. Based on feedback gathered during these discussions, the state government will develop targeted measures and ensure their effective implementation at the grassroots level. The Chief Minister noted that approximately 178,000 extremely poor families have been identified following an extensive eight-phase survey conducted by the Rural Development Department. He emphasized that the government's goal is to ensure that every eligible family benefits from welfare schemes, particularly those who have been deprived of their rightful entitlements.

Furthermore, he mentioned that around 85,000 of the poorest families in the state have never been classified under the BPL category and have not received any benefits from the state government's welfare programs. Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted that the 'Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana' was announced in the current fiscal year's state budget and is now being implemented in line with its objectives. He reiterated the government's commitment to providing full support to these identified families, aiming to improve their economic conditions and enhance their quality of life, thereby contributing to the overall prosperity and economic growth of the state.

The Chief Minister assured that the survey to identify the poorest families was conducted with complete transparency and integrity. He stated that all relevant officials were held fully accountable to ensure the credibility of the entire process.

A statement indicated that the meeting was attended by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chief Minister's Secretary Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj C. Polarasoo, Director of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Raghav Sharma, Director of Digital Technology and Governance Nipun Jindal, and other senior officials.