Himachal Pradesh Government

Chief Minister assures decision on new complex system before Teachers' Day
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured primary teachers that the government will take an appropriate decision on the New Complex System before Teachers' Day. He said that the government will sympathetically examine whether the system needs improvement or should be withdrawn altogether.

Addressing the General Body meeting of the Primary Teachers' Association at Chaura Maidan of Shimla today, the Chief Minister said that a fair and sympathetic decision would be taken during the upcoming meeting between the government and the association.

He also announced that the suspensions, departmental inquiries and FIRs against primary teachers would be withdrawn. He assured teachers that the powers of Head Teachers, Centre Head Teachers and Block Elementary Education Officers (BEOs) would not be affected. Sports activities in primary schools will also be restarted.

The Chief Minister further announced that JBT teachers will be promoted to TGT posts. He said that the demands raised by the Primary Teachers' Association were discussed in detail during a meeting with its representatives at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Reassuring teachers, Sh. Sukhu said that their interests would be fully protected and that the government is implementing major reforms in the education sector. With the support of teachers, the government aims to make primary schools the best in the state.

He highlighted that English-medium education has already been introduced at the primary level and congratulated primary teachers for their contribution. He added that the appointment of principals in CBSE schools is nearly complete and the recruitment of teachers is also underway.

The Chief Minister said that in its very first Cabinet meeting, the state government restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for 1.36 lakh employees. He described it as a decision taken for the welfare and dignity of employees, not for political reasons. "I am the son of a government employee. We restored OPS because employees under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) were receiving pensions as low as Rs. 3,000, which affected their financial security and dignity. With OPS, many retirees are now receiving pensions of around Rs. 30,000," he said.

Sh. Sukhu also said that the state government is fighting to protect Himachal Pradesh's rights and resources. He criticized the BJP, alleging that it failed to safeguard the state's interests, including the closure of Revenue Deficit Grant and left liabilities of around Rs. 10,000 crore for the present government. He appealed for a united effort to protect the interests of Himachal Pradesh.

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Rahul Gandhi becomes voice of justice: Chief Minister
All-Party candlelight march organised in Shimla over NEET exam paper leak

CM Sukhu administers oath on Preamble to Constitution

A candlelight march was held in Shimla on Saturday evening by various political parties and the general public regarding the NEET exam paper leak issue which was led by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Starting from the Indira Gandhi sports complex, the procession passed through the Scandal Point and concluded at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Ridge. The protesters raised slogans vigorously throughout the event. The Chief Minister also administered the oath of the Preamble to the Constitution to the gathering.

Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister stated that the march was organized with the cooperation of various political parties. He described it as an effort to secure justice for the students who were fighting for their rights at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He affirmed that the people of Himachal Pradesh stand with all the youth struggling in this fight for justice.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for transparency in all competitive examinations so that the youth receive due rewards for their hard work. He demanded compensation of rupees one crore each for the families of the youth who committed suicide due to the NEET exam controversy.

Targeting the BJP, Sh. Sukhu remarked that paper leak incidents frequently surface in states governed by the BJP. He recalled that during the tenure of the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh, the police recruitment exam paper was leaked, as were papers for recruitment exams conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission. He noted that upon assuming power, the Congress government dissolved the commission, established the State Selection Commission in its place, and ensured the culprits were put behind bars.

Shri Sukhu stated that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had lent his voice to the student's fight for justice. He stressed that ensuring transparency and fairness in matters concerning the future of the youth was of utmost importance.

The Chief Minister thanked the Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(M) and the general public for the successful organization of the event.

A large number of dignitaries attended the event, including Education Minister Rohit Thakur, MLAs Kuldeep Rathore and Sanjay Rattan, Congress State President Vinay Kumar, General Secretary Vinod Jinta, former MLA Rakesh Singha, Mayor Surender Chauhan, councilors, and leaders from the Congress and CPM parties.

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CM directs one-year internship for foreign MBBS graduates
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Health department to allow a one-year internship for eligible MBBS graduates who completed their medical education from the foreign medical colleges and attended online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the extraordinary circumstances prevailing at that time.

Chairing a meeting with the students and senior officers of the Health department here today, the Chief Minister said that the state government would adopt a fair, pragmatic and student-friendly approach while addressing the concerns of affected graduates. He said that the government was committed to ensuring that deserving students do not suffer because of circumstances beyond their control during the pandemic.

Sh. Sukhu asserted that uncertainty had arisen regarding the internship requirement for foreign medical graduates, as students from the same academic batches had been subjected to different internship durations. While some students were permitted to complete a one-year internship, others were directed to undergo a two-year internship despite having pursued their studies under similar conditions during the COVID-19 period.

He said that the National Medical Commission (NMC) had delegated powers to the state governments to assess the adequacy of the ‘compensatory training period’ for foreign medical graduates whose academic programmes were conducted online during the pandemic. Taking into account the provisions of the NMC and the genuine hardships faced by the students, the state government has decided to fix the internship period at one year for the eligible candidates.

Sh. Sukhu directed the Health Department to complete all necessary formalities and issue the required orders at the earliest so that the affected students could begin or complete their internship without further delay. He added that the initiative would provide much-needed relief to the affected foreign medical graduates and enable them to pursue their careers without unnecessary hurdles, while maintaining the quality of medical education and healthcare services in the State.

Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, Secretary Health Ashish Singhmar and Director, Medical Education Dr. Gopal Berry were also present in the meeting.

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Shakti Peeths are Spiritual Pillars of India's Cultural Heritage: Kavinder Gupta
- Calls for scientific research, digital documentation and global promotion of India's Shakti tradition
Governor Kavinder Gupta today said that the 51 Shakti Peeths are not merely centres of religious faith but enduring symbols of India's spiritual heritage, cultural continuity and national unity. He emphasized the need for scientific research, systematic documentation and global promotion of India's rich Shakti tradition.

Addressing the inaugural session of the four-day National Seminar "Shakti Mimansa" on the theme "51 Shakti Peeths: Spiritual Pillars of India's Heritage", jointly organised by the Central Sanskrit University, Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus, Jammu, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, today, the Governor said that the Shakti Peeths reflect India's timeless civilisational ethos and have strengthened the country's cultural unity for centuries.

"Shakti is not merely an object of worship; it is the eternal force of creation, knowledge, compassion, courage and national consciousness. It represents the spiritual energy that has guided Indian civilisation through the ages," the Governor said.

Shri Gupta observed that the seminar would provide an opportunity to study the concept of Shakti from philosophical, historical, cultural and civilisational perspectives. He stressed that the historical, archaeological and cultural significance of the Shakti Peeths should be researched in a scientific and authentic manner.

"Our heritage is preserved not only by protecting monuments but also by safeguarding the traditions, knowledge systems and cultural practices associated with them. Modern technology should be harnessed for the digital documentation and preservation of these sacred sites for future generations," he added.

The Governor said that at a time when the world is increasingly embracing India's knowledge traditions, yoga, Ayurveda and spirituality, the philosophy of Shakti offers a universal message of respect for women, harmony with nature, inner strength and global well-being.

Calling upon young scholars to actively engage in research on Sanskrit literature, Shakti traditions, Tantra philosophy and Indian Knowledge Systems, Shri Gupta said that the National Education Policy-2020 has created new opportunities to integrate India's ancient wisdom with modern academic research.

"The future of India will be brighter when our youth remain connected to their cultural roots while pursuing excellence in modern education and research," he remarked.

Expressing confidence in the outcome of the seminar, the Governor said that the deliberations and research presented during the four-day event would make a meaningful contribution to the preservation, promotion and global recognition of India's spiritual and cultural heritage. He congratulated the organisers for hosting the important seminar and wished it great success.

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CM directs, Explore foreign language courses to facilitate overseas jobs
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed to explore the possibilities of introducing foreign language courses through the Himachal Pradesh Buildings and other Construction Workers Welfare Board. Chairing a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was providing handholding support to the skilled youth to secure overseas jobs through the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC). He said that to equip them with requisite language skills new foreign language courses would be introduced.

Sh. Sukhu said that the State Government was also developing a digital platform to ensure the safety and security of Himachali youth who have secured employment abroad. He said that the platform would go a long way in monitoring their well being and providing them with necessary support. He said that the State Government was also exploring the possibilities of additional overseas employment opportunities, aiming to provide them better salary packages and ensuring zero-exploitation of the candidates working abroad. He said that the State Government has succeeded in obtaining a license for HPSEDC as a Recruiting Agency.

He directed the Labour and Employment Department to upload all the details of its flagship programmes on the CM Dashboard for effective monitoring of these programmes. He also reviewed the progress of various schemes of the Tribal Development Department and instructed to upload the status of all the FRA cases on the CM Dashboard.

Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, Secretaries Priyanka Basu Ingty, Rakesh Kanwar and Ashish Singhmar, Commissioner, Labour and Employment Virender Sharma and other senior officers also attended the meeting.

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CM launches Thematic Garden Project for Durgesharanya International Zoo
Releases Rs. 4 crore for implementation

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here yesterday evening launched an ambitious Thematic Garden Project to be established at Durgesharanya International Zoo, Dehra in Kangra district and released Rs. 4 crore for its implementation through the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (HPSBB) to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said that the project reflects the State Government's commitment to conserve Himachal Pradesh's rich biodiversity while promoting environmental education, scientific research and sustainable eco-tourism. Spread over 22,247 square metres (about 5.5 acres), the thematic garden has been designed as a unique ecological destination that will provide visitors with an immersive experience of the State's diverse flora and natural heritage.

He said the project envisages a Ficarium showcasing various species of the genus Ficus and highlighting their ecological, cultural and conservation significance, an Arboretum featuring indigenous and exotic tree species to promote conservation, education and scientific learning along with a watch tower offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, and a Bamboosetum displaying diverse bamboo species of ecological and economic importance while demonstrating the sustainability and versatility of bamboo.

Sh. Sukhu said that biodiversity conservation forms the cornerstone of the State Government's vision for sustainable development. He said that the thematic garden would emerge as an important centre for conservation awareness, environmental interpretation, experiential learning and scientific research, besides creating new opportunities for nature-based tourism. The project, he said, would benefit students, researchers, tourists and nature enthusiasts by providing a platform to understand and appreciate the State's rich biological diversity.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board and the Forest Department in conceptualizing this landmark initiative. He expressed confidence that upon completion, the thematic garden would significantly enhance the visitor experience at Durgesharanya International Zoo and establish it as a model destination for biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism in the country.

The project will be executed by the Chief Wildlife Warden, Himachal Pradesh, with technical guidance and support from the Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board.

Secretary, Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change Sushil Kumar Singla, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Sood, Director, Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change-cum-Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board Pushpendra Rana, Joint Member Secretary Dr. Suresh C. Attri, senior officers of the Forest Department and Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board were present on the occasion.

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