Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday unveiled a wide-ranging package of welfare, employment, health, education and infrastructure initiatives for the Sulah Assembly constituency in Kangra district, underlining the state government’s broader focus on social security, rural development and public service delivery across Himachal Pradesh. During his one-day visit, he also inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 14 development projects worth Rs. 76.41 crore, signalling what the government described as a renewed push to strengthen the rural economy and improve basic services in the region.
Addressing a large public gathering, the Chief Minister announced that all eligible women in Sulah constituency would receive financial assistance of Rs. 1,500 under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samaan Nidhi Yojna. He said the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the financial security of women and ensuring direct support to households, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
He also announced the opening of a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board division in Sulah and the upgradation of Bhawarna town into a Nagar Panchayat, steps that are expected to improve local administration, electricity services and urban governance. According to the Chief Minister, such institutional upgrades are essential to support growing populations and rising demand for better civic amenities.
Focusing on the overall development of Kangra district, the Chief Minister said the expansion of Kangra Airport is underway and that affected families are being given fair compensation for their land. He said the airport expansion will help boost tourism, attract investment and create new local employment opportunities. The objective, he added, is to ensure that young people do not have to migrate to big cities like Delhi or Chandigarh even for small jobs, and can instead find dignified employment closer to home.
Employment generation remained a key theme of his address. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will soon recruit 800 police constables to strengthen the law and order system. He also said that special consideration would be given to youth who returned after serving under the Agniveer scheme. These trained youth will be absorbed into the Himachal Pradesh Police and provided stable employment up to the age of 58, along with the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme.
Criticising the four-year tenure model under Agniveer, the Chief Minister said many young people in Himachal Pradesh had lost interest in joining the Army because of uncertainty about their future. He said the state government believes in providing long-term security and dignity to trained youth. By absorbing Agniveers into the police force, the government aims to use their skills while also giving them a stable career path and social protection.
On education, the Chief Minister said the state’s education system had suffered during the previous BJP government. He said Himachal Pradesh had slipped to 21st position in education rankings, and that schools were opened or upgraded without proper budget and staff support just before elections, weakening the system. He said the present government has focused on improving quality rather than making announcements without preparation.
According to him, sustained reforms have helped Himachal Pradesh rise to fifth position in quality education. Teacher vacancies are being filled, English-medium education has been introduced from Class 1, and more than 200 schools are being converted to the CBSE curriculum. He said these steps are aimed at building a strong foundation for students and restoring parents’ confidence in government schools.
Health services were also a major focus. The Chief Minister said healthcare facilities were in poor condition earlier and that the government is now investing heavily to upgrade them. He announced that within one year, AIIMS-level technology would be made available at Tanda Medical College, all other medical colleges, Palampur Hospital and all zonal hospitals. He said recruitment is underway to overcome the shortage of doctors and specialists, and that within six months, all Primary Health Centres will have doctors. The aim, he said, is to ensure quality treatment close to people’s homes and reduce the need to travel long distances for serious medical care.
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, the Chief Minister alleged that the previous government had received around Rs. 50,000 crore more funds than the present government but failed to use them effectively. He claimed that buildings worth about Rs. 1,000 crore were constructed but remain vacant even today. He also alleged that in Baddi, around 5,000 bighas of land were allotted to big industrialists at very low rates under customised packages, causing major losses to state revenue.
He clarified that the present government is not making any changes to Section 118 and said misinformation is being spread on social media. He warned that strict action will be taken against corrupt individuals and said the government will not allow the people of Himachal Pradesh to be looted. He added that money saved by curbing corruption is being redirected towards welfare schemes for orphans, widows, persons with disabilities and other weaker sections.
The Chief Minister also criticised the Centre over what he described as the weakening of the MGNREGA scheme. He said the programme was introduced by the Congress-led UPA government for the poor and remains vital for rural livelihoods. He informed that the state government is conducting an IRDP survey in five phases to ensure that no eligible poor family is left out of welfare benefits.
Along with policy announcements, the Chief Minister carried out a series of inaugurations and foundation stone ceremonies in Sulah constituency. He inaugurated a double-lane bridge across Moal khad on the Hamirpur-Sujanpur-Thural-Maranda road built at a cost of Rs. 12.57 crore, and another bridge over Moal khad on the Malag-Malaha link road built at Rs. 3.57 crore. He also inaugurated a combined office building at Dheera built at a cost of Rs. 10.82 crore and dedicated a new Community Health Centre building at Dheera constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.02 crore.
Health infrastructure was further strengthened with the inauguration of Health Sub Centre buildings at Kharul, Bhoda and Kona, and a new Veterinary Hospital building at Sulah along with a Veterinary Dispensary building at Moondhi. He also inaugurated additional accommodation for Government High School, Bhattu Samula, and improvement works for the water supply schemes at Jharet Rajhoon and Prour Kharot.
One of the major projects dedicated was the Parour and other multi-villages group piped water supply scheme for parts of Bhawarna and Bhedu Mahadev Block and Ghaloon under Sulah constituency, built at a cost of Rs. 31.69 crore. The Chief Minister said such water supply projects are critical for improving public health, reducing the burden on women and ensuring long-term water security for rural areas.
He also laid foundation stones for a new bridge over Moul khad on the Gallu Bhoda to Shivnagar road and for an additional complex of Chaudhary Tara Chand Government Senior Secondary School at Gaggal. These projects, he said, will further improve connectivity and educational infrastructure in the area.
During the programme, the Chief Minister administered a pledge against drug abuse and said the government is taking strict action against the drug mafia to protect the future of youth. He said the fight against drugs is a top priority and requires strong enforcement as well as community participation. Various organisations also honoured him during the event.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Chandra Kumar said the Chief Minister’s vision is centred on strengthening villages and rural communities. He said recent state budgets have helped boost the rural economy and that the government is promoting natural farming. He highlighted that Himachal Pradesh offers the highest Minimum Support Price in the country for natural farming produce, with wheat at Rs. 60 per kg and maize at Rs. 40 per kg, and that efforts are being made to improve marketing so farmers get better returns.
Chairman of the State Co-operative, Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Sanjay Chauhan, said Sulah constituency had suffered heavy losses during recent disasters and that the Chief Minister provided timely financial assistance to affected families. He said development work is progressing on the ground, including construction of a vegetable market, which will benefit farmers in the future.
Several senior leaders and officials, including ministers, MLAs and heads of various boards and corporations, were present on the occasion, reflecting the political and administrative importance the state government is attaching to Kangra district and Sulah constituency in its broader development strategy.