78th Independence Day celebrated with enthusiasm across Himachal Pradesh; CM announces major initiatives in Dehra

Dharamshala, August 15, 2024: The 78th Independence Day was celebrated across the state with great enthusiasm, marked by events at the State, District, and Sub-Division levels. The festivities included the hoisting of the Tricolour and an impressive march-past by contingents of the State Police, Home Guards, SSB, and ITBP.

In a historic first, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the state-level Independence Day function at Shaheed Bhuvnesh Dogra Ground in Dehra, Kangra district—his home constituency where his wife, Kamlesh Thakur, recently won the assembly seat.

During the event, the Chief Minister announced several key initiatives for Dehra. These included the opening of offices for the Superintending Engineer (HPSEBL), Superintending Engineer (Jal Shakti Department), and the Block Medical Officer. He also committed to resolving ownership claims for Pong Dam oustees under the Forest Rights Act and transforming 10 Gram Panchayats into green panchayats by establishing solar power projects with capacities of up to 500KW each.

Under the 'Chief Minister Sukh Shiksha Yojana,' Sukhu announced a monthly assistance of ₹1,000 for children up to the age of 18 from single-woman households, destitute women, widows, and disabled parents. He further pledged to cover the educational expenses of these children in premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, medical colleges, and for Ph.D. programs until they turn 27 years old. In cases where free hostel accommodation is unavailable, the state government will provide ₹3,000 per month for housing.

Addressing concerns of senior citizens, the Chief Minister declared that all pension arrears for pensioners and family pensioners over 75 years old would be cleared within this financial year. He assured the public that the state is on the path to economic self-reliance and that all liabilities of employees and pensioners would be addressed in a phased manner.

Additionally, Sukhu announced a new scheme to resolve around 15,000 pre-GST legacy cases, offering relief to those affected. He credited the Congress government's policy changes for generating over ₹2,200 crore in additional revenue for the state within a year.

Reflecting on the challenges faced during his 20-month tenure, the Chief Minister highlighted the political, economic, and disaster-related hurdles the government had overcome. He accused the previous BJP government of leaving a significant financial burden on the state due to populist decisions, including the waiver of electricity and water bills, which added ₹780 crore and ₹300 crore, respectively, to the state's debt.

Expressing his sorrow over the heavy losses suffered during this year’s monsoon season, Sukhu paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the natural disasters. He emphasized the government's commitment to improving health facilities, noting the provision of free treatment and 42 types of medicines for cancer patients. He also announced the imminent recruitment of 462 medical personnel at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, and 489 positions at IGMC Shimla and the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties in Chamiyana, Shimla.

Highlighting the state’s progress in employment, the Chief Minister stated that his government had created over 31,000 job opportunities in 20 months, compared to the 20,000 created by the previous BJP government over five years, many of which remain unresolved due to legal issues.

On this occasion, Sukhu also launched a week-long ‘Kardata Samvad Abhiyan’ to educate taxpayers and traders about various tax regulations. He distributed laptops to various panchayats to enhance their efficiency and further digitize operations.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Vice Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board Raghubir Singh Bali, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Ashish Butail, Sunder Singh Thakur, and Kishori Lal, along with other prominent leaders and officials.