Directs to complete work in six months

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the Himachal Niketan at Dwarka, New Delhi today to take stock of the progress of the ongoing construction work. Being constructed at an approx cost of 145 crore, the Niketan will have 107 rooms, restaurant, banquet hall, multipurpose hall, meeting hall, dormitories, parkings, garden, EV charging stations, besides other facilities. He said that Himachal Niketan, with  almost five star facilities, would facilitate Himachali's visiting the national capital for treatment, education etc.

Sh Sukhu directed the officers to ensure its completion within six months. He said that state government was always responsive to the needs of the people of the state therefore additional building has been constructed for people visiting New Delhi. 

Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Speaker HP Vidhan Sabha  appreciated the endeavour of state government as students and patients come in large numbers to Delhi and this would offer comfortable accommodation to them.

Principal Secretary PWD Devesh Kumar briefed the Chief Minister about the details of the project.

State Congress President Vinay Kumar,  Principal Resident Commissioner Ajay Yadav, OSD to Chief Minister Col (Retd) K S Banshtu, senior officers of PWD department accompanied the Chief Minister.

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Governor lauds film “Crossings” for spreading climate change awareness among children

After watching the children’s film “Crossings” at Lok Bhavan today, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla lauded the film for effectively spreading awareness on climate change and environmental protection among children. He appreciated National Film Award-winning filmmaker Vivek Mohan for presenting a sensitive and impactful message through the film, which highlights how human actions can lead to natural disasters and underlines the importance of conserving nature for future generations.

Vivek Mohan, who belongs to Shimla, shared that “Crossings” is a short film inspired by two real-life incidents. The film highlights the issues of global warming and climate change. He said that the film carries forward the message earlier shown in his film “For Whom the Jingle Bells Toll.” The main message of the film is that the Earth is not inherited from our ancestors, but borrowed from our children.

Appreciating the film, the Governor said that such creative efforts are very important to spread awareness about protecting the environment, especially among children. He said that Himachal Pradesh is rich in natural beauty and it is the duty of everyone to protect and preserve nature. He added that films like “Crossings” play a meaningful role in promoting environmental awareness and deserve appreciation.

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Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today reviewed the progress of the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) software being developed by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance. This software was being developed to enable a transparent, efficient and fully digital performance appraisal system for government employees.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister was briefed that the APAR portal will facilitate end-to-end online processing of APARs and Annual Work Plans through a streamlined digital workflow. The system has been designed to ensure objectivity, accountability and ease of monitoring in the performance evaluation process.

It was informed that APARs would be initiated on the basis of annual work plans and clearly defined targets, both qualitative and quantitative, prepared by the concerned reporting authority. The software would also provide flexibility to revise these targets annually for individual officers or entire cadres in line with changing priorities and administrative requirements.

The Chief Minister said that a standardized APAR format would be applicable across all cadres of group A, B, C and D employees, ensuring uniformity and fairness in performance assessment. The portal would allow for the online identification and approval of reporting, reviewing and accepting officers at the time of initiation of APARs.

He was further apprised that the system would enable initiation of multiple APARs within a single financial year, provided each APAR covers a minimum tenure of three months, thereby allowing more accurate assessment in cases of transfers or changes in assignment.

Reviewing the progress, the Chief Minister stressed upon the timely completion and user-friendly design of the software. He said that the APAR portal would be a significant step towards strengthening performance-based governance, enhancing transparency and promoting a culture of accountability in the government system.

Principal Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technologies & Governance) Gokul Butail to  the Chief Minister, MLA Suresh Kumar, Director Digital Technologies and Governance Dr. Nipun Jindal, Joint Director Anil Semwal and senior officers of department  were present in the meeting.

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• CM inaugurates state-of-the-art educational infrastructure at Directorate of Samagra Shiksha
• Government committed to develop 21st century skills among students : CM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated newly established, state-of-the-art facilities at the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, including the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), Education Gallery, Programme Management Studio Conference Area, New Conference Hall and a modern Central Heating System.

While addressing the gathering Chief Minister said that these advanced facilities would not only enhance administrative and academic efficiency but would also mark the beginning of a new era of digital education governance in Himachal Pradesh. He said that this initiative reflects the visionary approach of the present state government and  it would places education at the core of overall development.

Sh. Sukhu said that during the last three years the state government has accorded top priority to the education sector and implemented several decisive reforms, the positive outcomes of which were now clearly visible. He highlighted that Himachal Pradesh has made remarkable progress at the national level by improving its ranking in education quality assessment from 21st to 5th position. This achievement was the result of the collective efforts of teachers, students and parents, coupled with the firm commitment of the government to educational excellence.

He said that the Vidya Samiksha Kendra represents an important milestone in this transformative journey. Himachal has emerged as one of the leading states to adopt an integrated digital platform that provides real-time data related to teaching, learning outcomes, student assessment, attendance, resource management and school administration. Innovative initiatives such as ‘Abhyas Himachal’, geo-spatial technology-based smart attendance systems and ‘Nipun Pragati’ were ensuring scientific analysis of the learning levels of the children. He said that learning gaps are now being identified through data-driven insights rather than assumptions, making the education system more transparent, accountable and outcome-oriented.

The Chief Minister further said that the ‘Shikshak Sahayak ’ digital tool has emerged as a powerful support platform for teachers, enabling them to access teaching material, guidelines and academic resources swiftly. This has significantly improved teaching quality while also reducing the administrative burden on educators.

He said that the government was not only focusing on establishing new institutions but on strengthening and modernizing existing educational institutions, besides ensuring quality education reaches remote and rural areas on an equal footing. He said that the state government was making concerted efforts to equip students with 21^st century skills.

The Chief Minister also announced that from the upcoming academic session, there would be a complete ban on students carrying mobile phones within school premises from pre-nursery to Class 12th class. Teachers, however, would be permitted to keep their mobile phones in staff rooms or in their bags. He said that the government was working with determination to ensure quality education and that the school curriculum would be enriched with music, culture and future-oriented subjects.

He said that the state government was planning large-scale recruitments in the Education Department, including both temporary and regular appointments. Temporary appointments would be made for a period of five years, while regular appointments would be carried out batch-wise through a competitive process. Recruitment of multi-utility workers would also be undertaken. From the next academic session, sports competitions at the primary school level would be organized. He expressed confidence that by 2032, every Assembly constituency in the State would have some of the best schools in the country and that Himachal Pradesh would emerge as the number one state in the field of education. He said that the government was also considering to introduce a  new transfer policy in the department and also contemplating to create a special cadre for Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools and CBSE curriculum schools. He said that the Education Department has providing the their cooperation to the Government.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the Sankalp Workbook.

Education Minister  Rohit Thakur said that state has achieved unprecedented progress in the education sector, with the State’s literacy rate reaching 99.30 percent. He said that the government has undertaken qualitative reforms with a positive approach, which were being widely appreciated at the national level and now yielding positive results . He said that the implementation of the cluster school system was ensuring optimal utilization of resources, under which schools located within a radius of 300 to 500 meters have been developed as a cluster. This model has enabled the department the shared use of libraries, laboratories, sports facilities and expertise of the teachers, thereby improving both access to quality education and the overall learning experience.

He said that state has also shown significant improvement in the Performance Grading Index (PGI). The provision of free coaching for JEE and NEET for meritorious students was a landmark initiative of the Government which was ensuring that financial constraints do not become a barrier for children's future. He also detailed on various initiatives undertaken by the department.

Project Director Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma highlighted the achievements of the Samagra Shiksha. He said that the State has performed exceptionally well in various national surveys. The teachers were being provided training at IITs and IIMs and the use of modern technology was being ensured to further enhance teaching competencies.

To build a future-oriented education system the state has also signed an important MoU with UNESCO under the Himachal Pradesh Futures Programme. It was aimed at promoting innovation in education, advancing Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening global collaboration.

MLAs  Suresh Kumar and Sudershan Babloo, Director Education  Ashish Kohli, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Singh and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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·         Government’s dedicated efforts bring new era of prosperity in State: CM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired the 50^th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Tribal Advisory Council here today. He said that to create livelihood opportunities through the transport sector in tribal areas, the state government would provide upto 40 percent subsidy to eligible youth on the purchase of buses and traveler vehicles along-with four month's exemption from the road tax.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was giving top priority for creating employment and self-employment opportunities to the youth. To promote self-employment in the solar energy sector in tribal regions, the government would provide interest subsidy for setting up private solar power projects ranging from 250 kW to One MW.

Sh. Sukhu directed officers to complete tender process for development works in snow-bound areas at the earliest, so that construction activities can begin in around March-April once the weather conditions improves. He said that to permanently resolve power supply issues in Pangi and Spiti, solar power plants of 1.2 MW at Dhanwas (Pangi) and 2 MW at Rong-tong (Spiti) would be made functional soon.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was also making concerted efforts to start the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki-La and the matter has been strongly taken up with the Central Government. He said that steps were also being taken to resume trade activities with Tibet (under Chinese occupation).

He said that due to the continuous efforts of the state government, the tribal areas of the state have witnessed unprecedented development. These regions today show greater prosperity as compared to other parts of the state. The average per capita income in tribal districts was higher than in other districts. These regions not only have economic strength but also lead in social indicators. The male-female sex ratio was also better than the state average.

The Chief Minister said that the government was also committed to protect the rights of women, especially in tribal regions. He announced the construction of a new road at Nigulsari, the bottleneck on NH-5, a sinking zone and marred by landslides.  He said that the government was also making sincere efforts to strengthen uninterrupted connectivity in Kinnaur district.

He said that approving pending Nautor cases in tribal areas was a priority of state government. The state Cabinet has already approved the proposal, which has been sent to the Governor. Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, around  1,039 land titles have been distributed till September 2025. For the convenience of people from Kinnaur and Spiti, the construction of a Tribal Bhawan in Rampur was also in progress. Apart from this, the Nurpur Tribal Bhawan would also be dedicated to the public soon.

The Pangi valley was been declared as the first Natural Farming Sub-Division of the state. Giving priority to Scheduled Areas, the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojna was launched in Spiti in February, 2024.

The Chief Minister said that in the state government have established adequate educational and health facilities in tribal regions. It includes two Regional Hospitals, six Civil Hospitals, five Community Health Centres, 46 Primary Health Centres, three Ayurvedic Hospitals, 73 Ayurvedic Dispensaries, 48 Veterinary Hospitals, 118 Veterinary Dispensaries and five Sheep & Wool Extension Centres. He said that a total of 3,148 km of motorable roads have been constructed in tribal areas, of which 61 percent were paved.

During the meeting, various development issues concerning tribal regions were discussed in detail. The Chief Minister issued necessary directions to the officers and said that any negligence in tribal area development would not be tolerated.

Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the state government was committed to the development of tribal regions. A provision of Rs. 638.73 crore has been made for the Tribal Area Development Programme for 2025-26.

He said that due to land issues during the previous government, the construction of new campuses for the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Pangi, Bharmour and Lahaul were delayed. Land has now been transferred for all three schools. Construction work was underway at the Pangi and Lahaul schools, while CPWD was completing the required formalities for the Bharmour school. Additional residential facilities were also being constructed at the EMRS in Nichar. He also shared detailed information about development works being implemented in tribal regions.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, MLAs Dr. Janak Raj, Anuradha Rana, Vivek Sharma, Sudarshan Singh Babloo and Hardeep Singh Bawa, non-official members of the Tribal Advisory Council, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Additional Chief Secretaries K.K. Pant and Onkar Chand Sharma, DGP Ashok Tiwari, Secretaries, Heads of Departments and senior officers were present in the meeting.

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Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated several development projects and distributed benefits to beneficiaries of various flagship schemes of the present state government during the Jan Sankalp Sammelan held in Mandi today. He also dedicated the Community Relief Centre at Rahkhot Thunag to the public.

He launched the MyDeed Portal, the Naksha Scheme, the digitally signed and updated Jamabandi module and the Bhunaksha 5.0 initiative. He further unveiled the ‘logo’ of Gramin Bank and inaugurated the Basketball Girl's hostel at Rabindranath Tagore Government College, Sarkaghat.

The Chief Minister transferred Rs. 50.63 lakh directly into the bank accounts of 401 beneficiaries under the Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana. A Special relief assistance amounting to Rs. 51,1,22,700 was also disbursed to disaster-affected families of Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Sirmaur, Solan and Una districts.

He handed over symbolic keys of e-taxis to 25 beneficiaries under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-up scheme and air tickets and visas to 21 youths selected for overseas employment. Apart from this, assistance was also extended to beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Shagun Yojana.

Sh. Sukhu provided financial assistance of Rs. 10.38 lakh to 10 beneficiaries of Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur and Una districts under Mukhyamantri Carp Matsyapalan Yojana. The beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Madhu Mandav Vikas Yojana in Mandi district was given Rs. 1.76 lakh, while support was also extended under the Himachal Pushp Kranti Yojana. Five beneficiaries from Kinnaur district were issued certificates granting them ownership rights over their traditional forest land under the Forest Rights Act.

The Chief Minister also distributed e-₹ vouchers to meritorious students under the Srinivasa Ramanujan Students Digital Scheme for purchasing digital gadgets. Under this scheme, laptops, tablets and smartphones would be provided to the beneficiaries. The students would now be able to choose and purchase a digital device of their preference using the e-₹ voucher. A total of 8,450 toppers from Class 10 and 12, along-with 900 final-year undergraduate students have received benefits under the scheme.

Sh. Sukhu said that the initiative reflects the present state government’s commitment to ensure easy access to modern education and online learning resources.

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