Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar’ and ‘Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana’ to be rolled out from 2ndOctober
CM announces additional Rs. 20,000 towards salary arrears for Class-IV employees
Announces 35 percent arrears for Class-III and 15 percent for Class-I & II pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2021
Announces to fill up 4000 posts in Jal Shakti Vibhag
Government to spend Rs. 150 crore on milk processing infrastructure over next two years: CM
Carefully examining all aspects concerning MTWs and outsourced employees: CM
CM hoists National Flag at Barsar, takes salute from parade
The State-level Independence Day function was held at Barsar in Hamirpur district today where Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu hoisted the National Flag and took the salute from the impressive parade presented by various contingents.
The parade was led by Parade Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pranav Chauhan. Contingents from the State Police, IRB Dhaulakuan, IRB Pandoh, District Police Hamirpur, Haryana Police, Women Police, Home Guards and Traffic Police participated in the parade. Students from Seven Star School, Bani; Government Degree College, Barsar; Bright Sun School, Barsar; and New Bright Sun Senior Secondary School, Barsar also took part in the march-past. The Police Band and Home Guard Band added to the grandeur of the Independence Day celebrations.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that an additional payment of Rs. 20,000 towards salary arrears would be made to Class-IV employees within this month. He also announced that Class-III pensioners and family pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2021 would receive an additional 35 percent of their pension and family pension arrears this month. Similarly, Class-I and Class-II pensioners and family pensioners would be paid 15 percent of their pension and family pension arrears during the same month. He said that the government would incur an expenditure of Rs. 281 crore on these payments He also announced the opening of 100 new CBSE schools across the state from the next academic session. He further announced that doctors due to retire from this month up to 31 March, 2027, would continue in service and retire on 31 March, 2027.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that, in accordance with the state government’s budgetary commitment, the monthly incentive paid to around 9,000 ASHA workers engaged under NHM Himachal Pradesh would be increased from Rs. 5,800 to Rs. 6,800. He announced the implementation of this enhancement. He also announced that employees working under NHM Himachal Pradesh who have completed seven years of service after the rationalisation of their pay would be provided revised pay with effect from 1st April, 2026. Further, in fulfillment of the government’s budgetary commitment, he announced a revised remuneration of Rs. 25,000 per month for outsourced Staff Nurses, Pharmacists, Operation Theatre Assistants and Laboratory Technicians engaged under NHM Himachal Pradesh, and Rs. 18,000 per month for Data Entry Operators. The revised remuneration would be effective from 1st September, 2026. He also announced to fill up 4000 posts of various categories in Jal Shakti Vibhag.
He said that Government employees and pensioners have made an invaluable contribution to the development of the state and our government is committed to safeguarding their interests. We have restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for NPS employees and are also extending other benefits to them. He said ‘Our government is sensitive to the concerns of Multi-Task Workers and outsourced employees. We are carefully examining all aspects of their issues and are considering bringing in a policy to provide them with appropriate benefits.’
Chief Minister said that the recently released National Family Health Survey report of the Government of India has highlighted an improvement in the health of women and children in Himachal Pradesh during the tenure of the present state government. He said that while significant progress had been made, there was still scope for further improvement. With this objective, the state government had decided to introduce the Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana to provide better and more nutritious food to mothers and children.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was now ready to implement the scheme and its pilot phase would commence from 2 October in 21, ICDS Blocks across different districts of the state. After six months, the pilot would be reviewed and based on its outcomes, the scheme would be implemented across the state. He said that under the scheme, the existing nutritional support provided to mothers and women, as well as children in the 6 months to 3 years age group, would be strengthened. The existing provision of rice, pulses, oil, biscuits, panjiri and milk powder would be improved by providing more nutritious and hygienically packaged premix food. In addition, milk or eggs would be provided three times a week, according to the preference of the beneficiaries. The hot-cooked meals provided to children in the 3 to 6 years age group would also be further improved to enhance their nutritional value, he added.
The Chief Minister said that, to ensure transparency and quality, the entire procurement responsibility under the scheme would be entrusted to the district and ICDS Block levels. This would facilitate transparent local procurement and ensure the availability of clean, fresh and quality food items for mothers and children. He said that the objective of the scheme was to strengthen nutritional support at the grassroots level and ensure better health and nutrition outcomes for women and children across Himachal Pradesh.
Sh. Sukhu said ‘I would like to make a special appeal to the Gen Z of Himachal Pradesh, providing transparent and merit-based employment opportunities is a top priority of our government.’ He said that our government has provided employment to thousands of young people in the government sector. Not a single recruitment examination has witnessed a paper leak under the Congress government. In contrast, the previous BJP government witnessed the police recruitment paper leak and large-scale irregularities in recruitments conducted by the Staff Selection Commission, with even question papers being sold. Our government has taken strict action against those who betrayed the trust of the youth and has sent those involved in such malpractices behind bars.
The Chief Minister said that we need to create an environment where a family can earn Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month while staying in their village. With this objective, through our vision of Vyavastha Parivartan, we have taken several new initiatives in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and self-employment to strengthen rural livelihoods. He said that the state’s first state-of-the-art milk processing plant with a capacity of 1.5 lakh liters per day is being established at Daghwar in Kangra district at a cost of around Rs. 250 crore and will be completed this year. Thousands of farmers from Kangra, Una, Chamba and Hamirpur districts will benefit directly from this facility.
He said ‘I also announce that over the next two years, the State Government will spend Rs. 150 crore on milk processing infrastructure in Solan, Una, Sirmaur, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Hamirpur districts’. This will further strengthen the dairy sector and create better opportunities for farmers.
He said that, along with ensuring the prosperity of farmers, the state government was equally committed to improving the economic well-being of orchardists. Himachal was set to become the first State in the country to introduce a dedicated Horticulture Policy, which was expected to generate employment opportunities for around 82,200 people. He further said that making universal cartons mandatory for apple packaging had already begun benefiting thousands of orchardists by ensuring better prices for their produce and helping curb their exploitation in the market.
Sh. Sukhu said that during interactions with people, he came across several economically vulnerable families whose names were not included in the BPL list. To ensure proper identification of such families, the state government conducted a survey in eight phases over the past year. Out of around 19 lakh families in the state, 1.80 lakh families were identified as requiring greater support and attention from the government. He said that the selection of these families had been carried out through the Deputy Commissioners, who had also notified the final lists. For these families, the state government would launch the ‘Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar’ scheme from 2nd October, under which a mechanism would be put in place to improve their economic condition over the next two years. He said that he had directed all Deputy Commissioners to assess the needs of every family covered under the scheme within the next two months. This would help identify the specific assistance required by each family and various central and state government schemes would be focused on these families to ensure that they could avail themselves of available opportunities and welfare benefits.
‘I have taken a pledge to remain fully dedicated to the service and welfare of these 1.80 lakh families,’ the Chief Minister said. He further clarified that more than half of these families were already included in the BPL list, while some were not currently covered under it. He assured that the state government would neither reduce nor withdraw any benefits being provided to BPL families. Some Opposition leaders were spreading misinformation that the government intended to reduce the number of BPL families. ‘This is completely false and has no basis whatsoever. The BPL list will remain as it is, and all existing benefits being provided to BPL families will continue,’ he said.
The Chief Minister said that his government had, for the first time, adopted a systematic approach towards strengthening the state’s financial resources and had taken decisive steps towards making Himachal Pradesh economically self-reliant. He said that the 16th Finance Commission had discontinued the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) of around Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 crore, which the state had been receiving since 1952 under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. He said there had been apprehensions that the decision could push the state into a serious financial crisis. ‘However, I am pleased to say that Himachal Pradesh has successfully come out of this difficult situation. Through our sustained efforts, the state is now steadily moving towards financial self-reliance,’ he said. He said that it was unfortunate that leaders of the union Government repeatedly claimed that the state government was unable to pay the salaries and pensions of employees and pensioners. ‘I want to make it absolutely clear that, as part of our efforts to maintain financial discipline, such a situation occurred only once, for a period of six days. Himachal Pradesh has now firmly stood on its own feet,’ he said.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was also pursuing, with determination and sincerity, its legitimate claim of around Rs. 7,000 crore from the Bhakra project. He said that the state was hopeful of a favourable outcome in the matter pending before the Supreme Court. Similarly, efforts were continuing to secure Himachal Pradesh’s legitimate rights in matters relating to Shanan, Bairasul, Water Cess and Chandigarh. He expressed confidence that these sustained efforts would help protect the interests and rights of the state.
The Chief Minister said that the previous BJP government had remained indifferent towards these important issues. ‘Our government has an unwavering commitment to safeguard the interests of the state and will never compromise on the Himachal’s legitimate rights,’ he said. He said that this was also a reflection of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’, as the state government had strongly raised Himachal Pradesh’s legitimate claims before the Central Government and the courts and was taking determined steps to protect the rights and interests of the state.
The Chief Minister said that with the active support and cooperation of the people, our government has launched the ‘Chitta-Mukt Himachal Abhiyan’. The second phase of the campaign will be launched from Una on 7 September, 2026. Soon, we will also launch the ‘Khelo Himachal, Chitta-Mukt Abhiyan’, through which we will encourage our youth to take up sports and adopt a healthy and productive lifestyle. ‘Our message is clear, we will not rest until we break the backbone of the drug mafia and make Himachal Pradesh a drug-free State’ he added.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was working to ensure access to clean and safe drinking water for every citizen. A comprehensive scheme worth Rs. 2,000 crore was being implemented to ensure the availability of clean water across all Assembly constituencies. At the same time, several initiatives were being undertaken to strengthen and rebuild existing water infrastructure and promote groundwater recharge. These measures would improve the availability and quality of water and strengthen the State’s overall water security.
He said that, with a view to promoting religious tourism, the Mata Baglamukhi Ropeway in Mandi district had been dedicated to the people. Construction of ropeways at the Chintpurni Temple and Baba Balak Nath Temple would also be undertaken, while work on Shiv Dham in Mandi had already commenced.
The Chief Minister said that, for the first time in the history of the state, students from government schools had been sent abroad on educational exposure visits. In addition to students, 200 teachers had also been sent abroad to study global best practices and explore ways to adapt them to the education system in Himachal Pradesh. He said that the state government would also facilitate overseas exposure visits for meritorious students from schools and technical education institutions, as well as doctors, in the coming years.
He said that improving healthcare, along with education, was among the top priorities of the state government. Historic steps had been taken to provide patients with specialized healthcare services and modern medical equipment. He said that, for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, robotic surgery facilities had been introduced at all Medical Colleges as well as AIMSS Chamiyana Hospital. Describing it as a revolutionary initiative in the healthcare sector, he said that the facility would enable people to access advanced medical technology within the state. He said that while robotic surgery in private hospitals generally costs more than Rs. five lakh, the state government was making the facility available at government institutions at a cost ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 80,000, thereby making advanced treatment accessible to the common people.
The Chief Minister said that IGMC Shimla, being the state’s premier healthcare institution, was being further strengthened and patient-centric facilities were being expanded to provide better and more specialized healthcare services.
Vice Chairman State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLAs Sanjay Rattan, Suresh Kumar, Vivek Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma, former MLA Manjeet Dogra, Chairman Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, Chairman Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Works Welfare Board Nardev Kanwar, Vice Chairman Himachal Pradesh OBC Finance and Development Corporation Dr. Mohan Lal, Chairman Kangra Cooperative Primary Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ram Chander Pathania, Chairman Himachal Pradesh Marketing Board Kuldeep Pathania, Coordinator Drug De-Addiction Board Naresh Kumar, Deputy Coordinator Sanjay Bhardwaj, APMC Chairman Ajay Sharma, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation Col. Manish Kumar, District Congress Committee Hamirpur President Suman Bharti, Chairman Wool Federation Manoj Thakur, Congress leaders Pushpender Verma, Subhash Dhatwalia and Rubal Thakur, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner Gandharv Rathore, S.P Balbir Thakur and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
