Bypoll Results Reflect People’s Faith in Sukhu Government : Harshwardhan

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan has said that elections are the real test of a government’s performance, asserting that the results of recent bypolls show that the people of Himachal Pradesh continue to support the policies and welfare initiatives of the Congress government.

Chauhan said voters had first placed their trust in the Congress in the 2022 Assembly elections, paving the way for a government headed by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He said the bypoll results had once again reflected public support for the government’s performance, fulfilment of guarantees and development programmes.

Taking aim at the BJP, Chauhan said its defeat in the bypolls showed that the people of Himachal would not accept attempts to destabilise an elected government or overturn the public mandate through political manoeuvring and money power.

Highlighting the government’s welfare initiatives, the Industries Minister said one of its early steps was the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Aashray Yojana. Around 6,000 orphaned and destitute children have been recognised as “Children of the State” and are being provided support ranging from education and pocket money to exposure visits, housing assistance and financial help for starting businesses.

He also pointed to the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for 1.36 lakh government employees in the first Cabinet meeting, saying the move provided long-term financial security to employees and their families.

Chauhan said the ₹680-crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Yojana was helping create self-employment opportunities. The government has introduced Minimum Support Prices for naturally grown crops and procurement prices for cow and buffalo milk, besides offering incentives for solar power projects on private land and the purchase of electric vehicles.

Relief in revenue cases

The minister said special Revenue Lok Adalats were introduced to make it easier for people, particularly those in remote areas, to resolve long-pending revenue matters. More than seven lakh cases, including mutation, demarcation, partition and correction of revenue records, have been settled so far, he said.

Focus on schools and healthcare

On education, Chauhan said English-medium teaching has been introduced from Class I in government schools. The state has also started 150 CBSE-affiliated schools, which recorded around 24,000 new admissions during the current academic session. Another 100 CBSE schools are planned from the next session.

He said Rajiv Gandhi Model Government Day-Boarding Schools were also helping improve access to modern education and strengthen the state’s education system.

In healthcare, Chauhan said the government was spending more than ₹3,000 crore on modernising infrastructure and replacing medical equipment that is 18 to 20 years old.

He said robotic surgery has been introduced at four major healthcare institutions and more than 1,000 robotic surgeries have already been carried out. Model Health Institutions are also being developed across Assembly constituencies.

Hospitals are being equipped with advanced facilities such as PET and SPECT scans, modern radiotherapy systems, CT simulators and 3-Tesla MRI machines, he added.

‘Himachal’s rights will not be compromised’

Chauhan said the Sukhu government had also taken a firm stand on issues affecting Himachal’s financial and economic interests.

He cited the legal battle over the Karcham-Wangtoo Hydroelectric Project, saying the favourable verdict had increased the state’s royalty share from 12 per cent to 18 per cent and was expected to bring about ₹150 crore in additional annual revenue.

He also referred to the government’s pursuit of claims involving BBMB and Wildflower Hall, as well as its stand on the Kishau Dam Project. The Chief Minister, he said, was also pursuing Himachal Pradesh’s claim to a 7.19 per cent share in Chandigarh’s land and assets.

Chauhan said the state government would not compromise on Himachal Pradesh’s rights, even in the face of financial pressure. The government, he added, would work to raise its own resources, strengthen the economy and continue development through greater self-reliance.