On 55th Statehood Day, Sukhu vows 25,000 jobs in govt sector
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh today said employment generation was the priority for his regime and 25,000 jobs would be created this year in the government sector in the state.
While speaking at the 55th state-level Statehood Day celebrations at Baijnath today, the CM said that the recruitment for 25,000 government jobs in the state would start soon. “The government has provided 42,000 jobs in the last two years compared to 20,000 in five years under the previous BJP government. Over 12,500 posts have been filled in the government sector,” he stated.
The Chief Minister said that the coming fiscal year is challenging but with the cooperation of the people of the state and blessings of deities, we would overcome these challenges. “The Congress has been in power for only two years, but the financial liabilities and debts inherited from the previous BJP regime has put a burden on us,” he said.
Sukhu said 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. Out of it, Rs 18,854 crore, approximately 63 per cent, has been used to repay the principal and interest on loans taken by the previous government,” he said.
He said 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 state government has generated an additional Rs 2,200 crore through reforms in various departments, he said.
Sukhu stated that the state government has fulfilled six out of the 10 promises made during the Assembly elections. The employees and pensioners have been paid three installments of dearness allowance (DA) amounting to an 11 per cent increase.
He said that to promote tourism, an international-level zoological park is being built in Bankhandi, Dehra, at a cost of Rs 600 crore. The expansion of Kangra airport is underway, with Rs 3,500 crore allocated, and Rs 355 crore already disbursed to landowners for acquisition, he said. He announced the development of grazing lands for shepherds and protection of their rights under the Forest Rights Act.
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. A vibrant cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.
The CM announced the upgrading of Chadiyar sub-tehsil to a tehsil, a new Public Works Department sub-division in Chadiyar and a digital library. He also announced development of Tattvani’s hot water springs and Kheer Ganga Ghat as tourist destinations and a bridge over the Binwa river at Sansali-Bhatwali on Paprola-Baijnath bypass.
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 present on the occasion.
