Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil has strongly refuted claims made by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan, who alleged that the Himachal Pradesh government failed to utilize central funds for development.
Dr. Shandil countered that the state has not received adequate and timely financial support from the Centre, particularly after recent natural disasters. He highlighted that while the state suffered losses of around Rs. 9,000–10,000 crore during the 2023 monsoon season, the Centre released only Rs. 433.70 crore in disaster relief. Over the past three years, total damages from natural calamities have been estimated at Rs. 18,000 crore.
The Minister accused the central government of discriminatory treatment toward Himachal Pradesh, a Congress-ruled state. He noted that the state had requested Rs. 9,042 crore in post-disaster assistance but received only Rs. 2,006.40 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund. Reduced revenue deficit grants and cuts in borrowing limits have further strained the state’s finances, he added.
Dr. Shandil also blamed the previous BJP government for leaving Himachal Pradesh with over Rs. 75,000 crore in debt and Rs. 10,000 crore in employee liabilities. He said the current Congress-led government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has undertaken reforms to strengthen the rural economy, create jobs, and ensure welfare for all sections of society, aiming for a self-reliant Himachal by 2027.
Addressing opposition claims of unfulfilled promises, the Minister said six government guarantees have already been implemented. He also emphasized that disaster relief for affected families has been significantly enhanced, with compensation for fully damaged houses increased from Rs. 1.30 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh, along with other policy and infrastructure improvements.
Dr. Shandil highlighted the government’s developmental initiatives, including the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana for orphaned children, reinstatement of the old pension scheme, and the introduction of minimum support prices for milk, maize, and wheat produced through natural farming, aimed at strengthening the rural economy and ensuring long-term prosperity for Himachal Pradesh.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
