Himachal CM Sukhu speaks at the 55th Statehood Day celebrations in Baijnath, Kangra district. (Photo | DT)
(Shimla) Himachal Pradesh, Kumud Sharma, January 25:
On Himachal Pradesh’s 55th Statehood Day, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu revealed plans to create 25,000 new job opportunities, with recruitment set to begin soon. He also highlighted that the state government has already fulfilled six of the ten promises made during the assembly elections, underscoring the government’s commitment to its developmental agenda.
He stated that the state’s financial condition is currently strained, with loans being acquired not only to cover new expenses but also to repay the principal and interest incurred by the previous administration.
Speaking at the 55th Statehood Day celebrations in Baijnath, Kangra district, on Saturday, Sukhu acknowledged that despite the current government being in power for just two years, the financial situation remains dire, with loans being taken to manage the principal and interest of past debts.
He further explained that over the past two financial years, the government has borrowed Rs 30,080 crore, with approximately 63 percent of this amount—Rs 18,854 crore—being allocated to settle the principal and interest on loans accumulated by the previous administration.
He highlighted that under the BJP’s leadership, the state faced a revenue deficit grant of Rs 10,249 crore in 2021-22. However, this figure decreased to Rs 6,258 crore in 2023-24, with projections indicating a further reduction to Rs 3,257 crore in the upcoming financial year.
Despite facing financial challenges, he stressed the government’s shift towards resource generation instead of relying on loans. He proudly announced that through reforms in excise, tourism, power, and mining policies, the current administration has generated an additional Rs 2,200 crore, setting a historic precedent for the state.
Sukhu remarked that the previous government failed to focus on enhancing the revenue of Himachal Pradesh, which contributed to the current financial challenges faced by the state.
He emphasized that the government is driving transformative change through its ‘Vyavstha Parivartan’ initiative. By focusing on key sectors like dairy, natural farming, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, and the rural economy, the government aims to create new employment and self-employment opportunities right at the grassroots level.
Sukhu underscored the government’s commitment to job creation, noting that over 42,000 jobs have been provided in just two years, a significant increase compared to the 20,000 jobs created in five years under the previous BJP administration.
He detailed the government’s progress in filling vacancies, revealing that over 12,500 posts have been filled in the public sector, including 3,202 positions in elementary education. Looking ahead, approximately 8,000 more posts will be filled in 2025, covering 2,095 TGT, Shastri, and JBT roles, along with 245 special educators and 6,297 NTT teachers. In higher education, 1,097 positions have been filled, and 1,337 employees have been regularized. Recruitment is also ongoing for 769 computer teachers and other positions through limited direct recruitment.
He also highlighted recruitment efforts in various departments, including the police, where hiring for 1,088 constable positions is underway, and the results for 2,061 forest guards have been announced. Additionally, 3,000 vacancies in the Jal Shakti Department have been successfully filled.
Sukhu pointed out that the recruitment process, which had been stalled due to scams under the previous BJP government, has now been successfully cleared, leading to the filling of 2,273 positions.
He further mentioned that the government aims to create 25,000 new positions across different sectors, offering a wide range of opportunities for unemployed youth with varying qualifications to contribute to the state’s development.
Sukhu affirmed that the state government has successfully delivered on six of the ten commitments made during the assembly elections, showcasing its dedication to fulfilling electoral promises.
He highlighted several key initiatives, including the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for 1.36 lakh government employees, and the launch of the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana, which provides eligible women with a monthly honorarium of Rs 1500 in phases. He also noted the fulfillment of the promise to introduce English-medium education from the first grade in all government schools. Additionally, the government is setting up modern, well-equipped Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in all 68 assembly constituencies, and under the Dr Y S Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana, students can access education loans at just a 1 percent interest rate for both domestic and international studies.
Sukhu announced the launch of the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-Up Scheme, aimed at empowering the youth with opportunities to start their own businesses and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
He further outlined several key measures to support farmers and livestock rearers, including the introduction of a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 40 per kg for wheat and Rs 30 per kg for maize produced through natural farming. Additionally, the MSP for cow milk has been raised from Rs 32 to Rs 45 per liter, and for buffalo milk, from Rs 47 to Rs 55 per liter. To assist small farmers, the government has also launched a scheme to buy cow dung at Rs 300 per quintal, fulfilling another major promise from the Congress ‘Pratigya Patra’.
Sukhu shared that, in response to the government’s appeal, 2,000 individuals have voluntarily waived their electricity subsidies, demonstrating a collective commitment to support the state’s financial health.