Education Minister Rohit Thakur, in a press conference held today in Shimla, strongly dismissed the allegations made by the opposition regarding the deferment of Panchayat elections in the state. He clarified that the postponement was entirely based on administrative grounds, citing valid recommendations from officials in view of the ongoing restoration and rehabilitation efforts after the recent natural calamities in the state.
Rohit Thakur accused the BJP of adopting double standards, pointing out that the party itself had postponed municipal corporation elections by a year in 2022. He added that election delays have occurred in many BJP-ruled states as well, yet the party now chooses to criticize the Congress-led government in Himachal for similar decisions taken in the interest of public welfare. He emphasized that the decision was taken keeping in mind citizen safety and the approaching winter season.
Highlighting the scale of destruction from natural disasters since 2023, the Minister stated that nearly 700 lives were lost and infrastructure damage exceeded ₹15,000 crore. He blamed the previous BJP government for poor disaster preparedness, while underlining that the present Congress government promptly responded with a ₹4,500 crore relief package from state resources. The compensation for fully and partially damaged homes was also significantly increased in 2023. The government extended support to farmers, shopkeepers, displaced families, and urban and rural households.
The Minister expressed disappointment over the lack of support from the Centre, despite repeated appeals and meetings with Union Ministers. He alleged that the BJP obstructed efforts instead of helping the state secure much-needed central assistance. “Instead of constructive criticism, the opposition is focused on misleading the public and making personal attacks on Congress leaders,” Thakur said, adding that the BJP failed to secure even a single rupee in relief for the state.
Rohit Thakur also highlighted the significant progress in the education sector under the Congress government. He termed the transformation as “historic,” with initiatives such as the introduction of English-medium instruction from Class 1 and plans to affiliate 100 government senior secondary schools with CBSE from the next academic session. Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools with modern infrastructure are being set up in every assembly constituency, offering quality education facilities.
Over 7,000 teachers have been recruited in the last two and a half years, a number that surpasses the appointments made during the BJP’s tenure. Schools with very low or zero enrolment have been rationalized to ensure optimal use of resources. Additionally, the government has introduced a policy to retire teachers only at the end of the academic session to avoid disruption in student learning.
Special focus is also being given to the repair and reconstruction of disaster-affected schools, and each assembly constituency will soon have at least one CBSE-affiliated government school. The Education Department has been reorganized for better efficiency, with separate directorates for school and higher education. Other initiatives such as Bag-Free Days, promotion of local dialects, school adoption programs, and international exposure visits for students and teachers are aimed at improving learning outcomes and community involvement.
Minister Thakur stated that Himachal Pradesh has made remarkable progress in literacy over the last two and a half years. The state, which ranked 21st in 2021, now ranks among the top five most literate states in India. More than 87,000 students have benefited from scholarship schemes like the Dr. Y.S. Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojna and the Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojna, with ₹92 crore disbursed in just two years.
The Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojna is currently providing nutritious meals to over 5.34 lakh students across more than 15,000 schools. The government continues to focus on inclusive education by supporting SC/ST, OBC, economically weaker sections, children with disabilities, and children of widowed or divorced women.
Despite severe financial constraints caused by a reduction in central grants and revenue loss due to GST rationalization—particularly the reduction of GST on cement from 28% to 18%, leading to over ₹1,000 crore in losses—Rohit Thakur affirmed that the Congress government has not stepped back from its responsibilities. The Revenue Deficit Grant, which was ₹10,249 crore in 2021-22, has fallen to ₹3,257 crore this fiscal, putting further strain on the state budget.
Concluding the address, the Education Minister said that while the BJP remains busy in political mudslinging, the Congress government is focused on rebuilding Himachal Pradesh, strengthening education, promoting local culture, and ensuring welfare for every citizen. The improvements in school infrastructure, student welfare, literacy levels, and teaching quality reflect the government’s long-term vision for inclusive development and educational excellence.
