Himachal Pradesh News
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla Flags Poor Work Culture in Himachal Before Exit, Calls for Urgent Reform
Outgoing Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has raised concerns about the state’s work culture, saying it has slowed down development and needs urgent improvement. Speaking to the media before leaving for Telangana, where he will soon assume charge as Governor, Shukla reflected on his three-year tenure in the hill state.
Outgoing Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has raised concerns about the state’s work culture, saying it has slowed down development and needs urgent improvement. Speaking to the media before leaving for Telangana, where he will soon assume charge as Governor, Shukla reflected on his three-year tenure in the hill state.
He said that during his time in Himachal Pradesh, he observed a lack of work culture in governance and administration. According to him, this has affected the pace of development in the state.
“Over the last three years, I noticed that the work culture needs serious improvement. It is one of the reasons why Uttarakhand, which was formed later than Himachal Pradesh, has moved ahead in terms of development,” Shukla said.
Call for Better Governance and Collective Effort
Clarifying his remarks, Shukla said his observations were mainly directed at the political and bureaucratic systems rather than the people of the state. He emphasized that Himachal Pradesh still has significant potential for growth.
He urged political leaders from all parties to work together with society to strengthen governance and accelerate development work across the state.
“If the work culture improves, the state can move forward much faster. Everyone—from political leadership to citizens—must focus on improving efficiency and accountability,” he added.
Need for Financial Independence
When asked about the state’s limited financial resources and dependence on support from the Centre, Shukla said Himachal Pradesh must focus on becoming financially self-reliant.
He referred to the end of GST compensation for states and said the state should not dwell on the loss of that support.
“If we keep worrying about what has stopped, we will only remain at a disadvantage. But if the state decides to stand on its own feet, it can certainly become self-dependent,” he said.
No Major Confrontation with State Government
Shukla also addressed speculation about possible differences between Raj Bhavan and the state government during his tenure. He clarified that there was no major confrontation.
According to him, his office tried to process government proposals within a reasonable time frame. However, he noted that certain bills require approval from the central government before they can be cleared.
“For instance, the Sukh Ashray Bill cannot be approved without the Centre’s assent,” he explained.
Concerns Over Rising TB Cases
During the interaction, Shukla also spoke about two major campaigns he supported in the state — Nasha Mukt Himachal and the TB elimination initiative.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Nasha Mukt Himachal campaign, saying it received strong support from the public and various institutions.
However, he sounded concerned about the TB elimination campaign. While there were hopes that Himachal Pradesh would become TB-free last year, the number of cases has instead increased.
“We had expected the state to become TB-free last year, but TB incidence has actually gone up. Compared to several other states, the disease has increased here,” he said.
Criticism of West Bengal Over Presidential Visit Protocol
Shukla also criticized the West Bengal government for allegedly not following proper protocol during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu.
He described the situation as unacceptable and said it was important for state governments to maintain proper constitutional protocol during such visits.
“There can be nothing more condemnable than a state government failing to give a proper welcome to the President of India,” he said.
