Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Pushes ‘Systemic Reforms’, Says State Moving Towards Self-Reliance

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday emphasized that his government is actively working toward making the state self-reliant through what he described as “systemic reforms” in governance. Drawing a sharp contrast with previous administrations, Sukhu stated that visible improvements have already emerged within just 40 months of the current government.

Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister pointed to significant progress in the education sector. He noted that Himachal Pradesh, which was ranked 21st nationally when the previous government left office, has now climbed to the fifth position. According to Sukhu, key reforms such as introducing English from Class 1 and aligning the state board with the CBSE curriculum have helped boost enrolment in government schools. He also assured that within the next three months, all schools will have adequate teaching staff across subjects, addressing long-standing shortages.

On healthcare, Sukhu highlighted the rollout of Adarsh Swasthya Sansthaans, aimed at providing advanced medical facilities, specialist doctors, and modern diagnostics. He also announced reforms in the Himcare scheme, alleging irregularities under the previous system. Citing a shocking example, he revealed that some cases showed male patients being billed for uterus-related treatments, prompting a detailed review to eliminate such discrepancies.

Taking a political dig, Sukhu accused BJP leaders of adopting an “anti-Himachal” approach. He claimed that despite repeated monsoon disasters over the past three years, opposition legislators failed to support a resolution seeking financial assistance from the Centre. He further alleged that neither BJP MLAs nor MPs effectively pushed for the restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), which he termed the state’s rightful claim under constitutional provisions.

Addressing the financial situation, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges inherited by his government. He said that the state’s debt stood at 76,633 crore when his administration took charge and has now crossed 1 lakh crore, despite substantial repayments. Sukhu also pointed out that earlier governments benefited from significant central support, including 47,000 crore in RDG and 3,200 crore through GST compensation cess, while the current regime has received considerably less.

Despite these constraints, Sukhu highlighted improvements in financial management. He noted that the state’s per capita income has increased by 63,000 over the last three years, reaching 2.83 lakh. He also underlined welfare measures such as a 7% dearness allowance for employees, pension arrears for senior citizens above 70, and subsidized electricity, including 125 units of free power and reduced tariffs up to 300 units.

On infrastructure and resources, Sukhu raised the issue of the Shanan power project, whose 99-year lease has expired. He said the state government is seeking an expedited hearing to reclaim ownership. Additionally, he suggested that increasing royalty from central hydropower projects from 12% to 50% could significantly strengthen the state’s finances and potentially eliminate dependence on RDG.

Ending on a political note, the Chief Minister described the Opposition as divided and accused it of relying on social media narratives to mislead the public—claims he firmly dismissed.

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