Honouring Women, Empowering Villages: Sukhu Highlights Himachal’s Rural Development Push
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday underscored his government’s focus on strengthening Himachal Pradesh’s rural economy while honouring women achievers at the ‘Nari Tu Narayani’ programme organised by daily newspaper Himachal Dastak.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government is working to ensure that people in villages have access to quality education, better livelihood opportunities and improved public services. As part of this effort, CBSE-affiliated schools are being opened in rural areas so that children can access quality education without having to move to cities.
Highlighting initiatives aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes, Sukhu said the government has significantly increased milk procurement prices. Currently, cow milk is being procured at ₹61 per litre and buffalo milk at ₹71 per litre. He added that around ₹200 crore would be provided as minimum support price (MSP) for milk during the current year.
The Chief Minister also said that the much-awaited Dagwar milk processing plant in Kangra district, with a capacity of 1.5 lakh litres per day, is expected to be completed by October. He noted that the facility would provide a major boost to dairy farmers and livestock owners across the region.
Beyond dairy farming, the government is also offering MSP support for crops grown through natural farming, including wheat, maize and turmeric, with the aim of making agriculture more profitable and sustainable.
Speaking about reforms in education and healthcare, Sukhu said the state has made notable progress in recent years. He pointed out that Himachal Pradesh has climbed from the 21st position to fifth in the country in terms of quality education. The government has opened 150 CBSE schools, and all teaching positions in these institutions will be filled by 30 September 2026 through a merit-based selection process. He also clarified that the existing fee structure would remain unchanged.
The Chief Minister said students are being sent on international exposure visits to learn from best practices and modern systems across the world. He added that the state’s first science college is being established at a cost of around ₹150 crore, while an allied and healthcare college is also coming up in Hamirpur district. Medical students are likewise being given opportunities for overseas exposure, alongside efforts to strengthen diagnostic and healthcare facilities in medical colleges.
On issues concerning the state’s interests, Sukhu said the government is actively pursuing Himachal Pradesh’s claims regarding pending arrears from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and expressed confidence that the state would make significant strides towards self-reliance by 2027.
Addressing concerns over drug abuse, he said the government has intensified its crackdown on the chitta menace through the implementation of the PIT-NDPS Act. Over the past three years, numerous drug traffickers have been arrested and their properties seized. He also announced that the second phase of the anti-chitta campaign will begin from Una on 16 September.
Congratulating Himachal Dastak for organising the event, the Chief Minister praised the contributions of women from different walks of life and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development and empowerment.
