CM Sukhu promises 25,000 jobs in government sector

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended the state-level celebrations of the 55th statehood day of Himachal Pradesh held at Baijnath today. While delivering a speech at the event, Sukhu promised 25,000 jobs in the government sector. He added that the recruitment for the jobs would start soon.

The CM said employment generation was a priority for his government. The present government has provided 42,000 jobs in the last two years as compared to 20,000 in five years under the previous BJP government. Over 12,500 posts have been filled in the government sector. In the police department, recruitment for 1,088 constables has begun and results for 2,061 forest guards have been announced. Additionally, 3,000 posts in the Jal Shakti Department have been filled, he said.

He remembered the contributions of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first CM Dr YS Parmar in achieving statehood status for Himachal. He unfurled the National Flag and took salute from the contingents of police, home guards, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides and Police band in a march past led by Parade Commander IPS (Probationer) Ravinandan.

The CM announced the upgradation of Chadiyar sub-tehsil to a tehsil, opening of a new Public Works Department sub-division in Chadiyar and the establishment of a digital library. He also announced plans for the development of Tattvani’s hot water springs and Kheer Ganga Ghat as tourist destinations. He also announced construction of a bridge over the Binwa river at Sansali-Bhatwali on Paprola-Baijnath bypass road.

He assured sufficient funds for the beautification of Indira Gandhi Stadium, Baijnath; announced a primary health centre in Sansal and the opening of Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in Mahalpat village; and announced MA courses in political science and sociology at Baijnath Government College. The eight panchayats under Police Chowki Multhan will now be brought under the jurisdiction of the Police Station Bari, benefiting 7,500 people across 35 villages, he said.

He announced the development of grazing lands for shepherds and protection of their rights under the Forest Rights Act.

Sukhu said the current government has been in power for only two years. The financial situation is such that loans are being taken to repay the principal and interest of previous debts. In the last two financial years, the government has taken a loan of Rs 30,080 crore, of which Rs 18,854 crore — approximately 63 per cent of the total — has been used to repay the principal and interest on loans taken by the previous government, he said.

He added that during the BJP’s tenure in 2021-22, the state received a revenue deficit grant of Rs 10,249 crore, which reduced to Rs 6,258 crore in 2023-24 and is expected to drop further to Rs 3,257 crore in the next financial year. The current government has generated an additional Rs 2,200 crore through reforms in various departments, he said.

The Chief Minister said the coming fiscal year is challenging but with the cooperation of the people of the state and blessings of deities, they will overcome these challenges.

He stated that the state government has fulfilled six out of the 10 promises made during the Assembly elections.

To promote tourism, an international-level zoological park is being built in Bankhandi, Dehra, at a cost of Rs 600 crore, he said. The expansion of Kangra Airport is also underway, with Rs 3500 crore allocated, and Rs 355 crore already disbursed to landowners for acquisition, he added.

Sukhu said employees and pensioners have been paid three instalments of dearness allowance (DA) amounting to an 11 per cent increase.

A vibrant cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma, MLAs Kishori Lal, Sanjay Rattan, Ashish Butail, Kamlesh Thakur, Ranjit Singh and Malender Rajan, were also present.