On International Youth Day, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu delivered a compelling call to action, urging the State’s youth to steer clear of drugs and actively participate in building a progressive, drug-free Himachal. Speaking at a special programme marking the occasion, the Chief Minister emphasised that the well-being of today’s youth is intrinsically tied to the State’s future prosperity.
“Our reforms are designed so that, five years from now, Himachali youth will proudly say they belong to the most prosperous State in the country,” he said, highlighting ongoing employment and self-employment initiatives, startup support, and tourism investments.
The State Government plans to inject ₹3,000 crore into tourism development, including a loan scheme offering just 4% interest for constructing home-stays. Currently, Himachal hosts around 8,000 operational home-stays, with tourism activities expanding even along the China border.
In education, Himachal has seen a remarkable rise in national rankings—from 21st to 5th—thanks to structural reforms. The upcoming academic session will see 10 Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools offering quality education from pre-nursery to Class 12, complete with swimming pools and nutritious meals. Recruitment for 600 Junior Basic Training (JBT) teachers is already underway.
The CM also underscored social welfare measures, such as declaring 6,000 orphaned children as ‘Children of the State’ and providing higher education loans up to ₹20 lakh at just 1% interest under the Dr. Y.S. Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana.
Acknowledging that 90% of the State’s population lives in villages, Sukhu pointed out that farming is no longer the main livelihood for many. To revitalise rural economies, the Government is promoting natural farming, offering minimum support prices for wheat, maize, turmeric, and barley. He also revealed that Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat had personally appreciated Himachal’s push for natural farming.
The day also marked the launch of an extensive HIV awareness campaign that will run until October 12, 2025, covering 6,000 villages and over 1,500 educational institutions. Additionally, the CM rolled out the second phase of the “Car-Bin” drive, distributing bins to 50 taxi drivers in Shimla as part of a larger 6,000-bin Statewide initiative aimed at reducing litter. The first phase had already distributed 4,000 bins.
In a symbolic gesture, the Chief Minister administered an oath against drug abuse and HIV. He also flagged off the ‘Red Run’ and ‘Bicycle Run’ earlier in the day, later honouring the winners.
Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, in his address, stressed the need to channel youth energy productively and raised concerns over the 6,408 HIV cases recorded in Himachal, 1,453 of which are in the 15–30 age group. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to testing, treatment, and awareness campaigns.
The event also featured a cultural programme designed to promote awareness about drug abuse and HIV. Several dignitaries, including MLAs, municipal leaders, and senior officials, attended the occasion.
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