Focus on education & healthcare, says Himachal CM Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said his government had accorded top priority to the education and health sectors and was implementing several initiatives aimed at improving public welfare despite financial challenges being faced by the state.

Addressing the 29th annual prize distribution ceremony of Siddharth Government College at Nadaun in Hamirpur district, the Chief Minister honoured meritorious students and congratulated them for their achievements. He said the state government was undertaking major reforms in the education system to equip young people with the skills needed to face future challenges.

Speaking about the state’s financial situation, Sukhu said the previous government had received around Rs 70,000 crore through Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) and GST compensation, whereas the present government had received only about Rs 17,000 crore as RDG. Despite these constraints, he said, the government remained committed to public welfare.

He reiterated that the state government would not roll back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), which had been restored to safeguard the future of government employees.

Targeting the previous BJP government, Sukhu said despite spending large amounts during the 2022 Assembly elections, it was voted out of power. He also claimed that Himachal Pradesh had slipped to the 21st position in terms of quality education during the previous regime, while reforms introduced by the present government had improved the state’s ranking to fifth place.

Highlighting improvements in the health sector, Sukhu said the 19-year-old MRI machine at IGMC-Shimla had been replaced with a modern 3-Tesla MRI machine. He added that advanced medical facilities similar to those available at AIIMS Delhi were being developed in medical colleges across the state.

On education reforms, the Chief Minister said that the CBSE curriculum would be introduced in 140 schools across the state. Teachers in all subjects would be posted in these institutions within the next two months, he added. The Education Department would also fill 400 posts of lecturers and 400 posts of assistant lecturers. A separate dress code for students studying in these schools would also be introduced. Sukhu also announced Rs 20 crore for the Science College in Hamirpur.