Himachal will lead in education in the coming years, says Chief Minister
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 28 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the inter-college event 'Eruption-2025' at HP Government Dental College, Shimla on Friday.
According to a release, reminiscing about his student days, he said, 'I was the SCA President during college days. Watching today's cultural performances, I found them quite similar to those from my time. What stood out was the larger number of female participants. As students, it's natural to have aspirations, but one must be prepared to face real-life challenges after completing their degrees. With honesty, determination, and hard work, one can succeed in life.'
The Chief Minister shared that he studied in a government school and came from a humble background. 'It's from such beginnings that I have now been allowed to serve the State as the Chief Minister,' he said.
On assuming office, he inherited a debt burden of Rs. 75,000 crore and liabilities of Rs. 10,000 crore of the state government employees, which led to the launch of a campaign for systemic reforms.
'When we assessed the education system of the state, we found that Himachal had slipped to the 21st position in terms of quality education by 2021. There was a pile of announcements made by the previous BJP government. We decided not to let students suffer due to this. Hence, we merged 1,000 schools and introduced several other reforms to provide students with quality education,' he said.
'English medium was started from Class 1, and both teachers and meritorious students were sent abroad for exposure visits. Despite opposition, we established a dedicated Directorate for School Education. Due to these reforms, Himachal has now climbed to 5th place, but we aim to reach the top.'
Sukhu said that from next year, ten Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding schools will be made operational, and Himachal Pradesh will soon become the number one state in the education sector. He also emphasised the importance of improving healthcare.
'A patient's illness worsens without proper treatment, so ensuring timely and accurate care is essential. The State Government is set to invest Rs 1,100 crore in upgrading medical colleges. I am pleased that the first robotic surgery machine has already arrived in Chamyana. Equipment similar to that in AIIMS is being brought to our state medical colleges. Within three months, PET Scan and 3-Tesla MRI machines will be installed in the medical colleges of the State, and major transformations in healthcare will be visible within a year.'
He said that the state government has hiked stipends, increasing the allowance for MD doctors from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,00,000, with similar increases for super-speciality doctors. 'Dental students pursuing MD too will see their stipends raised on the same lines,' he added.
Highlighting the need for financial prudence, the Chief Minister stated that while the previous BJP government misused the state's resources, the current government is committed to ensuring development by saving every penny.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Col. Dhani Ram Shandil said that such programmes give suitable platform to the students to showcase their talents and build their personalities.
'Today's youth are the future of our country. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the State Government has adopted orphaned children as 'Children of the State' to ensure their care and education. Himachal Pradesh is the first State in the country to enact such a law giving orphans legal rights. He treats everyone as his own,' he said.
He announced a prize of Rs 5 lakh for the students who presented the cultural function.
MLA Harish Janartha, college Principal Dr. Ashu Bharti, college staff, and students were also present on the occasion. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Some politicians resorting to caste divisions: Yogi Adityanath
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accused a section of politicians of resorting to caste divisions for survival. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath pays homage to Bharat Mata during an event organised on the eve of the birth anniversary of the great son of Mother India, the philanthropist Bhamashah, in Lucknow on Saturday. (ANI) 'Those who once bowed before mafias and mortgaged power are now trying to divide society along caste lines,' he said, addressing a gathering at Lok Bhavan on the eve of Bhamashah Jayanti and Vyapari Kalyan Diwas. ' Earlier, they extorted money in the name of jobs. Now, they are trying to divide society in the name of caste. That is why I say: 'Batoge toh katoge, ek rahoge toh nek rahoge',' the chief minister asserted. Adityanath called upon society to rise above caste divisions and embrace the ideals of Bhamashah, the legendary figure known for his unwavering patriotism, sacrifice and support to Maharana Pratap. He described Bhamashah as a timeless symbol of unity, service, and dedication to the nation. He also cited the historical contributions of Mysore's King Chamarajendra Wadiyar and Khetri's King Ajit Singh, who supported Swami Vivekananda's journey to the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Similarly, he mentioned how Baroda's King Sayajirao Gaekwad awarded a scholarship to Dr B.R. Ambedkar for higher education abroad. 'Where was caste in these acts of support?' he asked, adding, 'These were examples of selfless, noble contributions that gifted the world great minds like Vivekananda and Ambedkar.' 'Bhamashah's sacrifice symbolised the true spirit of 'Nation First'. He believed that wealth earned from the country should be returned in service of the country,' the chief minister said. 'Every time we remember Maharana Pratap, we will also remember Bhamashah,' he added. Adityanath stated that in 2016, the murder of a trader took place in Lucknow and a jeweller was shot in Sultanpur—incidents that occurred under a regime which provided shelter to criminals. He stated that under his administration, the security of both traders and women has been treated as paramount. 'We made it clear that anyone who endangers their safety will face strict consequences—Yamraj will cut their ticket,' he remarked. The chief minister added that when action was taken against miscreants, those who once thrived on caste-based politics began shedding crocodile tears. He also talked about the 'One District One Product' (ODOP) scheme, which he said has boosted traditional industries and generated employment for millions. He instructed the GST department to organise annual felicitation ceremonies for the top 10 GST-paying traders in the state capital and the top 10 in each district. The chief minister announced that any GST-paying trader who suffers an accident will be given ₹ 10 lakh in assistance from the government. Adityanath called on traders to join the government's efforts for environmental protection. 'River rejuvenation and plantation drives are ongoing in every district. Traders and business organisations should actively participate,' he urged. CM felicitates top taxpayers The chief minister visited an exhibition showcasing the life of Bhamashah. He also presented the Bhamashah Samman to the state's top revenue-contributing traders and honoured several others for their exemplary contributions to society.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
'If there are issues ... ': Shashi Tharoor reacts to his cryptic bird post- watch
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday reacted to his cryptic bird post, apparently directed towards the party's top leadership. Tharoor dismissed to talk about his reported rift with the grand old party publicly, and said that if there were issues to discuss, they would be "discussed privately". "I am not going to get into political issues here. If there are issues to discuss, they would be discussed privately, and when the time comes, I shall do so," he said speaking to reporters at an event in Ahmedabad. Tharoor's growing rift with the Congress Party has come into sharper focus following his recent remarks and social media posts that appeared to challenge the party's leadership. "Don't ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one," the post said. The post drew response from Congress leader Manickam Tagore, who said, without taking any names, "Don't ask permission to fly. Birds don't need clearance to rise… But in today even a free bird must watch the skies—hawks, vultures, and 'eagles' are always hunting. Freedom isn't free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers." Moreover, tensions between Tharoor and Congress leadership rose after he praised PM Modi 's diplomacy during Operation Sindoor in a Hindu article, describing his 'energy' and 'dynamism' as assets for India's global standing. The PMO shared the piece, fuelling speculation about Tharoor's loyalty. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge indirectly rebuked him, suggesting his praise for PM Modi was inappropriate. "We say nation first, but some consider Modi first, country later. What can we do about that?" he asked. Tharoor, however, clarified that his remarks reflected national interest, not support for the BJP.
Hans India
29 minutes ago
- Hans India
Congress lost power due to its neglect of backward classes: Union Minister
Bengaluru: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, said on Saturday that the Congress party deliberately ignored the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report to prevent the social and educational advancement of backward classes, despite the Constitution clearly advocating the identification and upliftment of socially and educationally backward communities. Questioning why those who claim to carry the Constitution in their pockets failed to implement the recommendations of the Kaka Kalelkar Commission, he remarked that after India emerged from the Emergency and family-rule politics, the Janata Party came to power at the Centre and established the Mandal Commission. 'It was only after Congress lost power that justice for OBCs began to be seriously discussed,' said the Union Minister while delivering the keynote address at the seminar titled 'Caste Census: Retrospect and Prospect', organised by the Social Justice Awareness Forum – Karnataka, at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on Racecourse Road on Saturday. He further accused the Congress of neglecting the Mandal Commission's report just as it had done with the Kalelkar Commission's report. 'It was the OBCs who helped former PM late Rajiv Gandhi win over 400 seats in Parliament, but despite receiving their votes and coming to power, the Congress failed to ensure social justice for them,' he said. Yadav also criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly ignoring the OBC report. He pointed out that it was only after the BJP-supported V.P. Singh government came to power that the recommendations of the Mandal Commission were implemented and reservations for OBCs were introduced. Yadav stressed that the Constitution is the foundation of all Indian laws. 'While some may carry the Constitution in their pockets, we carry it in our hearts. If they keep it in their family's wallet, we have embraced it within our souls,' he claimed. Yadav stated that due to the neglect of backward classes, the Congress lost power in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. He expressed confidence that the Congress would not return to power in Karnataka if the backward classes became more aware of their rights. Referring to the recent remembrance of 50 years since the Emergency, he said the Emergency was born out of an authoritarian mindset and reminded the audience that such a situation should never arise again. Highlighting the 17th and 18th-century social reform movements in India, Yadav said these movements led to the reawakening of Indian society, which eventually culminated in the independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasised that the objective of the Indian Constitution is to ensure social, political, and economic justice for every citizen, and reservations were introduced to help build an egalitarian society. Yadav called untouchability a stain on humanity and said that is why reservation was necessary. Retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice K. Bhaktavatsala, who inaugurated the event, said the Constitution framed by B.R. Ambedkar upholds the idea of social justice and equality for all. The event was chaired by K. Mukudappa, a retired government officer who has been advocating for the rights of backward classes for over four decades. He accused the Congress of never implementing either the Kalelkar or Mandal Commission reports. Raghu Kautilya, President of the Backward Classes Front, delivered the introductory remarks. He recalled that the last caste census was conducted in 1931, during British rule.
