Launch of the statewide Van Mahotsav at Nihari in the Ghumarwin Assembly constituency of Bilaspur district saw Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announce a significant raise in the monthly honorarium for Van Mitras, increasing it from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. Commemorating the occasion by planting a drumstick sapling, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s ambitious ecological drive to plant over 50 lakh saplings across 7,000 hectares of land. Furthering regional development during a public address at Dadhol, CM Sukhu announced the upgrade of the Bharari Sub-Tehsil to a full-fledged Tehsil, added two medical officer posts at PHC Hatwar, sanctioned a new veterinary dispensary in Tadaun, and introduced new professional degree programs including MBA, MCA, MTA, BBA, and BCA across local government colleges.
Underscoring his administration’s commitment to “Vyavastha Parivartan” (systemic change), Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized governance driven by empathy and the proactive fulfillment of public needs. He outlined key structural reforms in public education and healthcare, noting the recruitment of over 6,000 teachers with plans for 4,000 more, along with the rollout of 150 CBSE-affiliated institutions and Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools. To boost the rural economy, the state is aggressively promoting natural farming with Minimum Support Price guarantees, where techniques like natural turmeric cultivation can yield up to Rs 1 lakh per bigha annually. Additionally, addressing natural disaster rehabilitation, the government increased rebuilding assistance for destroyed homes from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8.50 lakh.
Firmly defending Himachal Pradesh’s economic and legal interests, the Chief Minister detailed major financial victories and ongoing claims against interstate and central bodies. These include securing Rs 450 crore and an annual Rs 20 crore income through the Wildflower Hall legal victory, saving Rs 800 crore by renegotiating the Kishau project terms, and pursuing Rs 7,200 crore in long-standing arrears from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He also reaffirmed the state’s unwavering stance on employee welfare through the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), despite the Centre withholding Rs 1,600 crore in financial assistance.
Commending the Chief Minister’s grassroots political journey, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani praised landmark welfare initiatives such as adopting orphaned youth as “Children of the State,” providing 1% interest loans up to Rs 20 lakh for meritorious students, funding the education of widows’ children, and deploying advanced robotic surgery across state medical colleges. The function concluded with a state-wide announcement declaring August 17, 2026, a school holiday across Himachal Pradesh in recognition of students attending school on August 15 for Independence Day celebrations.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
