Presiding over the State-level Independence Day celebrations at Barsar in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu hoisted the National Flag, took the salute from an impressive march-past, and announced a series of major developmental initiatives, employee relief packages, and public welfare schemes.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sukhu announced significant financial relief for state government employees and pensioners. An additional payment of ₹20,000 towards salary arrears will be released to Class-IV employees within the month. Furthermore, pensioners and family pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2021 will receive partial pension arrears, amounting to 35 percent for Class-III retirees and 15 percent for Class-I and Class-II retirees, with a total government expenditure of ₹281 crore. Additionally, medical officers due to retire between this month and March 31, 2027, will remain in service until March 31, 2027.
To strengthen healthcare, social welfare, and rural livelihoods, the state government will roll out two major initiatives on October 2. The ‘Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar’ scheme will focus on improving the economic status of 1.80 lakh identified vulnerable families over the next two years, with the CM clarifying that existing BPL lists and benefits will remain unchanged. Simultaneously, the ‘Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana’ will launch its pilot phase in 21 ICDS blocks to enhance maternal and child nutrition by delivering improved, hygienically packaged premix foods, hot-cooked meals, and regular servings of milk or eggs. Honorarium hikes were also declared for NHM ASHA workers alongside revised monthly remunerations for outsourced healthcare personnel, including nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians.
Highlighting employment, education, and infrastructure, the Chief Minister announced that 4,000 posts will be filled in the Jal Shakti Vibhag and 100 new CBSE-affiliated government schools will open in the next academic session. On the agricultural front, following the setup of a ₹250 crore milk processing plant at Daghwar, the state will invest an additional ₹150 crore over two years in milk processing infrastructure across seven districts, complemented by a upcoming dedicated Horticulture Policy aimed at generating over 82,000 jobs. The CM also confirmed that the second phase of the ‘Chitta-Mukt Himachal Abhiyan’ anti-drug campaign will launch from Una on September 7, 2026, alongside sports-driven youth initiatives.
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