Government Considering Stipend Hike for Dental PG Doctors: CM Sukhu

Shimla, June 27:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday evening said that the government is actively considering an increase in the stipend for postgraduate dental students in Himachal Pradesh. He was addressing students at the inter-college fest Eruption-2025 organized at the Government Dental College, Shimla.

CM Sukhu stated that Himachal is poised to become a leading state in the field of education. Recalling his own student days, he said he once served as president of the Students’ Central Association (SCA) and urged students to be prepared for life’s challenges, stressing that honesty, hard work, and determination are the key to success.

He pointed out that when he took office, the state was burdened with a debt of ₹75,000 crore, along with ₹10,000 crore in pending payments to government employees. The government, he said, is working with the goal of “systemic reform” to make the state debt-free.

Highlighting improvements in education, CM Sukhu noted that due to mismanagement by the previous government, Himachal had slipped to 21st place nationally in education quality by 2021. The current administration merged over 1,000 schools and introduced major reforms, including starting English-medium education from Class 1 and sponsoring international exposure trips for teachers and meritorious students. As a result, Himachal has climbed to 5th place nationally, with the goal of reaching the top spot.

He also announced that ten Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools will be launched across the state next year, and reforms are underway in the healthcare sector. Himachal’s first robotic surgery machine has been installed at AIIMS Chamyana, with more such facilities to be introduced in other medical colleges soon. PET scan units and advanced 3-Tesla MRI machines are also set to be installed within the next three months.

The Chief Minister shared that the stipend for MD students has already been increased from ₹60,000 to ₹1,00,000, with significant hikes for super-specialty doctors as well. The government is now actively evaluating a stipend revision for dental PG doctors as well. He emphasized the importance of financial discipline, contrasting the current administration’s judicious use of resources with the wasteful practices of the previous government.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, also present at the event, said such programs play a key role in students’ holistic development. He lauded the Chief Minister’s initiative to legally adopt orphans as “Children of the State,” making Himachal the first state in India to enact such a law.

Concluding the event, the Chief Minister announced a ₹5 lakh reward fund for participating students. Also in attendance were MLA Harish Janartha, College Principal Dr. Ashu Bharti, faculty members, and a large gathering of students.