78th Independence Day was celebrated across the State with great enthusiasm, fervor and joy. Events were held at the State, District and Sub-Division levels to commemorate this historic occasion. The main attractions of the celebrations at various official functions included the hoisting of the Tricolour and an impressive march past by contingents of the State Police, Home Guards, SSB, and the ITBP.
The state-level Independence Day function was held for the first time in the history at Shaheed Bhuvnesh Dogra Ground in Dehra, Kangra district, with Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presiding over the event.
The Chief Minister hoisted the national flag and took the salute from the contingents of the State Police, Kangra District Police, IRB Sakoh, IRB Pandoh, Uttarakhand IRB Armed force, Traffic Police, SSB Sapri, Home Guards, NCC, and Bharat Scouts and Guides. The parade was led by Commander Sachin Hiremath, an IPS Probationer.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced opening of offices of Superintending Engineer (HPSEBL), Superintending Engineer (Jal Shakti Department) and the Block Medical Officer in Dehra. He also announced to resolve ownership claims for Pong Dam oustees under the Forest Rights Act. He also announced to transform 10 Gram Panchayats into green panchayats by establishing solar power projects with a capacity of up to 500KW in each.
Under the ‘Chief Minister Sukh Shiksha Yojana’, the Chief Minister announced a monthly assistance of Rs. 1000 for children up to the age of 18 years who are from single-woman households, destitute women, widows and disabled parents. The government will also bear the educational expenses of these children in IITs, IIMs, medical colleges, and for Ph.D programs until they turn 27 years. If free hostel accommodation is not available, the state government will provide Rs. 3000 per month for accommodation.
The Chief Minister also announced to clear all pension arrears of pensioners and family pensioners over 75 years old within this financial year. He assured that the state is on the path to economic self-reliance and will clear all the liabilities of employees and pensioners in a phased manner over the coming years.
Additionally, a new scheme will be introduced to resolve around 15,000 pre-GST legacy cases, providing relief to those affected.
Extending warm greetings to the people of the state, Sukhu said that while the government is tirelessly working to improve the state’s financial situation, much remains to be done. Despite financial challenges, several decisions have been made in the interest of state employees. “The Congress government made policy changes that generated over Rs. 2200 crore in additional revenue for the state in just one year,” he said.
Paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, the Chief Minister stated that Himachal Pradesh is home to the country’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient, Major Somnath Sharma, a pride for the state. He also mentioned that four brave sons of the state have received Param Vir Chakra, including Captain Vikram Batra, along with 2 Ashok Chakra, 11 Mahavir Chakra, and 23 Kirti Chakra.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government has faced significant challenges on political, economic and disaster fronts in a short span of 20 months. He stated, “Many conspiracies were hatched to destabilize the democratically elected government through money power. The state had to endure the financial burden of by-elections and continuous efforts were made to stall development projects. However, the people of the state did not allow these conspiracies to succeed. They upheld democracy and triumphed over money power, showing unwavering trust in the programmes and policies of the Congress government in the state. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of the state for their continued support.”
The Chief Minister stated that the state is grappling with serious economic challenges due to certain decisions made by the previous BJP government, which added an additional burden of thousands of crores of rupees. He said that for political gains, electricity and water bills were waived, resulting in an additional burden of Rs. 780 crore on the HPSEBL and of Rs. 300 crore on the Jal Shakti Department in just one year.
He added that after cases of irregularities in the Himcare scheme came to light, it was decided to exclude private hospitals from empanelment under the scheme. “I want to make it clear that the Himcare scheme has not been discontinued. The benefits of this scheme will continue to be available in all government health institutions. The dialysis services will continue in private hospitals,” said Sukhu. He also mentioned that the Himachal Pradesh State Selection Commission has announced the final results for 1,841 out of 2,983 pending posts. The government fought vigorously for the case of the JOA (IT) post code 817, which was pending for four years, and declared the results following a court decision. Efforts are ongoing to announce the remaining pending exam results soon.
The Chief Minister expressed his deep sorrow over the heavy losses suffered during this year’s rainy season, much like the previous year. He paid tributes to those who lost their life in the natural disaster and emphasized that every affected person was like his family member. Sukhu stated, “The government is committed to rehabilitating each and every affected family and immediate relief of Rs. 50,000 has been provided to every disaster-affected family. Additionally, families in urban areas are being given Rs. 10,000 and those in rural areas Rs. 5,000 for renting a house for a period of three months. The affected families are being given free ration, gas, utensils, bedding and cylinders.” He said that a special relief package would soon be announced to ease the hardships of the affected families.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu further said that the state government has launched the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana, fulfilling an electoral promise to empower women. Under this scheme, eligible women were receiving Rs. 1,500 per month amounting to Rs. 18,000 per annum as ‘Samman Rashi’, he stated, adding that around 2.37 lakh women, who were previously benefiting from other pension schemes, have now been included in this program and as a result their monthly pension has increased to Rs. 1,500.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was making earnest efforts to enhance health facilities in the State. “Free treatment and 42 types of medicines are being provided to cancer patients. Additionally, 462 posts for various categories, including specialist doctors and medical officers, will be soon filled at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. Another 489 posts will be filled at IGMC Shimla and Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties in Chamiyana, Shimla,” he added.
Sukhu further stated that universal cartons for apples have been introduced this year. Under the Market Intervention Scheme, Rs. 153 crore have been released to clear the liabilities of apple growers, including Rs. 90 crore inherited from the previous government. Apples, mangoes and citrus are being procured at a minimum support price of Rs. 12 per kg. To boost the rural economy, naturally grown wheat would be bought at Rs. 40 per kg and maize at Rs. 30 per kg, he said, adding, “The minimum support price for cow milk has been increased from Rs. 32 to Rs. 45 per liter, and for buffalo milk from Rs. 47 to Rs. 55 per liter.”
The Chief Minister stated, “In its 20-month tenure, the state government has created over 31,000 employment opportunities, compared to the 20,000 jobs opportunities provided by the previous BJP government over five years, results on many of which remained in limbo till date due to legal disputes.” He added that more than 1,87,500 revenue cases have been resolved through Special Lok Adalats, organised for the first time at the tehsil and sub-tehsil levels.
He said that many distinguished individuals hail from Kangra district who have significantly contributed to the country’s Armed Forces and other major fields, bringing pride to the nation. “These include Captain Ram Singh, who composed the tune of India’s national anthem, and freedom fighter Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram,” said the Chief Minister, adding that “a grand war museum is being developed in Dharamshala, and the long-pending Rs. 643 crore Finna Singh irrigation project has been approved, along with Rs. 234 crore Sukhahaar irrigation scheme, which will benefit 22 villages in Shahpur and Jwali.”
The Chief Minister also honoured various organizations and individuals for their distinguished services. The Civil Services Award was presented to the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance. The Prerna Srot Samman was awarded to Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, Satya Prakash Sharma, founder of the Divya Manv Jyoti Seva Trust and Prof. Mahesh Verma. The Himachal Gaurav Puraskar was conferred upon Kehar Singh Thakur, Prof. Keshav Ram Sharma, and Poonam Thakur. A Special Award was given to Arunoday Sharma, known as the KBC boy.
The Chief Minister also honoured family members of freedom fighters, Vivek, Viplove Thakur and Sanjay Rattan. He also honoured family members of martyrs, including Samita Devi, wife of martyr Rajneesh Singh, Ashwani Dogra, brother of martyr Bhuvnesh Dogra, Rajan Wadiyal, brother of martyr Pankaj Wadiyal, Vijay Kumar, brother of martyr Surjeet Singh, Ishwar Sharma, father of martyr Mukesh Singh, Hukam Chand Dadhwal, father of martyr Surjeet Singh.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also launched a week-long ‘Kardata Samvad Abhiyan’ to provide taxpayers and traders with information on various tax rules. Additionally, the State Taxes and Excise Department is introducing a web portal for grievance redressal, designed to address the concerns of taxpayers and consumers promptly, thereby enhancing the department’s efficiency.
He also distributed laptops to various panchayats to enhance work efficiency and further digitize their operations. A captivating cultural program was also performed by school students and various cultural troupes on the occasion.
Vice Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board Raghubir Singh Bali, Deputy Chief whip Kewal Singh Pathania, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Ashish Butail, Sunder Singh Thakur and Kishori Lal, MLA Dehra and wife of the Chief Minister Kamlesh Thakur, MLAs Sanjay Rattan, Sudarshan Babloo, HP Forest Development Corporation Vice Chairman KS Khachi, former MLAs Viplove Thakur, Surender Kaku, Yograj and Ajay Mahajan, Congress leaders Surender Mankotia and Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, DGP Dr. Atul Verma, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa, SP Shalini Agnihotri and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
