Himachal to get CBSE schools with distinct dress code for students

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced an educational reform, declaring that hundred CBSE board schools were being established across the state. Addressing a public gathering at Mamlig, the Chief Minister said a separate cadre of teachers will be created for these institutions to ensure quality education.

To give these schools a unique identity, students will have a distinct dress code, he added. “Schools opened by the previous BJP government merely for political gains during their last six months in power have been shut down,” Sukhu remarked, emphasising that his government’s focus is on strengthening rural education. He announced that Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools are being opened in every Assembly segment, including Mamlig, to prepare students for future challenges.

The Chief Minister also announced the upgradation of Mamlig sub-tehsil and the creation of a Public Works Department subdivision, while inaugurating and dedicating developmental projects worth Rs 27.43 crore to the people.

Highlighting his government’s achievements in education, Sukhu said: “Himachal has risen to fifth position nationally in the education sector due to our reforms, compared to 21st during the BJP regime.” He accused the previous government of being preoccupied with routine teacher transfers instead of improving quality.

Detailing other initiatives, he said ‘Revenue Lok Adalats’ are being organised statewide and a ‘My Deed’ project has been launched to digitise land registration, allowing citizens to complete the process online.

In healthcare, Sukhu announced that the state is investing Rs 3,000 crore in modern medical technology, bringing facilities on par with AIIMS, Delhi. “Robotic surgeries have commenced at Chamiyana and Tanda hospitals,” he said, adding that Rs 75 crore has been sanctioned for automated laboratories in Chamiyana Super Speciality Hospital, IGMC-Shimla, and Tanda Medical College.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to rural prosperity, Sukhu said the focus is to make farmers economically self-reliant. The MSP of cow milk has been raised to Rs 51 per litre and buffalo milk to Rs 61. Crops produced through natural farming are being procured at premium rates — wheat at Rs 60 per kg, maize at Rs 40, raw turmeric at Rs 90 and barley at Rs 60 per kg.

Targetting the previous BJP regime, he accused it of misusing public assets and offering 5,000 bighas of land worth Rs 1,000 crore for just Rs 14 crore under special packages. “We have adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption,” Sukhu said, adding that the present government had to raise loans to repay debts incurred by the previous administration after GST compensation stopped in mid-2022.

Health minister DR Shandil’s son Sanjay Shandil today joined the Congress with the CM himself facilitating his joining during the public meeting at Mamlig.