Says single yardstick for states ‘Unfair’

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at New Delhi today and sought a financial package under special central assistance to cover the revenue deficit for Financial year 2026-27.

The Chief Minister apprised the Union Finance Minister that discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant ( RDG ) will have far reaching adverse impact on the financial health of the state and added that Himachal Pradesh cannot be compared to other states whose RDG has been discontinued. He said that RDG contribution for the state was about 12.7 percent which was second highest after Nagaland. He said that big states can withstand the discontinuation but economy of Himachal Pradesh cannot. He added that assessing all states on a single yardstick was neither healthy nor transparent.

He termed the discontinuation as 'undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism '. He said that the Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India provides for such grants to the state which cannot bridge the gap between their revenue receipts and expenditure. He said that this was for first time that Finance Commission has totally ignored the developmental needs of  small hill states.

He also informed the Finance Minister that since last two-three years several measures were taken to reduce expenditure, no off-budget borrowing was resorted to and about Rs. 600 crore annually was raised through various cess. He said that state suffered revenue losses due to GST and added that despite raising tax rates wherever feasible and rationalizing subsidies, the gap in revenue deficit cannot be bridged.

Sh Sukhu requested the Union Finance Minister to constitute a committee to properly assess the economies of hill states and recommend corrective measures. 

Nirmala Sitharaman assured of sympathetic consideration for the demands of the state.

Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh and Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar accompanied the Chief Minister.

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Launches statewide HPV vaccination campaign

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the State-Level HPV Vaccination Campaign against cervical cancer from IGMC Shimla today. He said that within the next 90 days, 65,000 girls aged 14 years across the state would receive the HPV vaccine.

Appealing to parents, Panchayat representatives and health workers, the Chief Minister urged everyone to help make the campaign a success and stressed the importance of spreading public awareness.

Expressing concern over the rising number of cancer cases in the state, the Chief Minister said the state government was giving special priority to tackling the disease. He said that for the past 40 years, governments had continued with the same systems and approaches. To bring meaningful change, the state government adopted the slogan of  'Vyavastha Parivartan'. He said that had the present state government continued in the same manner for five years as the previous governments did, Himachal Pradesh would have fallen significantly behind in the healthcare sector. He said that diseases such as cancer were treatable if diagnosed early and managed properly.

The Chief Minister said that a state-of-the-art cancer hospital would be constructed in Hamirpur at a cost of Rs. 300 crore which would ensure affordable and accessible treatment within the state.

He further said that within the next eight months, world-class equipment and advanced medical technology would be installed in IGMC and all medical colleges across the state. Over the next three years, modern facilities on the lines of AIIMS would also be provided in all zonal hospitals, model health institutions, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). The government aims to develop health tourism in the next five years, which would benefit not only the people of the state but also doctors, paramedical staff and technicians working in the healthcare sector. Around Rs. 3,000 crore would be spent on installing high-end medical equipment and machinery.

The Chief Minister said that several reforms have been introduced in the health sector over the past three years. Along with doctors, posts for nurses and technical staff such as operation theatre assistants and radiographers have been approved and were being filled. He said that modern 3 Tesla (3T) MRI machine was inaugurated at IGMC just yesterday, replacing a 19-year-old machine that had been in use. He said that true system transformation means understanding the problems of ordinary people and taking decisions for their welfare.

He further said that robotic surgery facilities would be introduced in all five medical colleges of the state. After the launch of robotic surgery at AIMSS Chamiyana Hospital and Tanda Medical College, the facility would also begin at IGMC on 10^th  March.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that the Chief Minister was giving special attention to the health and education sectors. He said unprecedented work was being carried out in healthcare, which future generations would remember. He said that Rs. 3,000 crore would be spent on installing high-end machines in the state.

Regarding the HPV vaccination drive, he said it would be included in the routine immunization programme and the vaccine would be provided free of cost to girls. The campaign would be conducted under the supervision of medical officers. He added that the initiative reflects the Chief Minister’s visionary leadership and long-term planning.

MLA Harish Janartha, Suresh Kumar, Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Director of Health Services Dr. Gopal Berry, Director of Medical Education Rakesh Sharma, Mission Director NHM Pradeep Thakur and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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Vacant buildings of merged school to be repurposed as community learning center

CCTV surveillance made mandatory in all  board exam centers

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today here chaired a comprehensive review meeting with Deputy Directors of School Education (Secondary, Elementary and Quality Wing) to assess academic standards, administrative efficiency and overall school performance across the State. He said that Deputy Directors carry direct responsibility for effective policy implementation and measurable improvement in learning outcomes at the district level.

He said that all funds released under Samagra Shiksha must be utilized in a strictly time-bound and outcome-oriented manner, with full expenditure by 31 March 2026. He said clear accountability has been fixed at the Deputy Director level to ensure that resources translate into visible classroom improvements. He asked to intensify the field visits and submit the reports frequently.

The Education Minister took a detailed review of school rationalization, particularly in merged schools. He directed that buildings made available after mergers must not remain idle and should be repurposed as digital learning centres, pre-primary sections, Mahila Mandals, skill development labs, sports facilities or community resource centers as per local needs. He further said that administrative barriers between primary and secondary schools must be removed so that laboratories, libraries, playgrounds and teaching staff can be shared efficiently.

The Education Minister also examined the rationalization of Science and Commerce streams in Government Senior Secondary Schools. Out of 1,970 schools, Science is functional in 818 and Commerce in 799. He directed Deputy Directors to ensure optimal deployment of faculty and infrastructure while safeguarding student's access to quality education in all regions.

The Minister also reviewed the examination preparedness under the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education. He said that merged Government schools would function as designated Board examination centres, with Principals appointed as Centre Coordinators and held directly accountable for smooth and fair conduct. He said CCTV cameras with live monitoring have been made mandatory in all examination halls and directed to placed previously identified black-spot centres under special surveillance. He directed the development of a robust digital mechanism enabling one-click access to departmental data for real-time monitoring by the department.

Taking serious note of delays by certain private schools in issuing School Leaving Certificates (SLCs) to students seeking admission in Government Central Board of Secondary Education-affiliated institutions, the Education Minister said that such cases must be resolved within a fixed timeframe so that no student’s academic future suffers and directed Deputy Directors to intervene and take necessary action. He also reviewed matters relating to post-CBSE affiliation, sub-cadre eligibility and pending recruitment issues for early resolution.

Rohit Thakur reviewed inspection performance from April 2025 to January 2026 and directed Deputy Directors to ensure timely submission of complete reports. He said that MIS reporting, student health check-ups, distribution of Iron Folic Acid and deworming tablets and monitoring of Mid-Day Meals under PM Poshan through the Automated Monitoring System must be strengthened to enhance grassroots accountability.

While emphasizing on holistic development, the Minister said that sports and co-curricular activities remain a priority. He said the state secured a historic 48 national medals in 2025-26 with 121 medal winners, including 14 medals in the Under-14 category.

The Education Minister said that Rs. 1,22,85,000 has been sanctioned as diet money for sportspersons and directed phased expansion and operationalisation of sports hostels with structured monitoring. He also said schools must actively promote cultural activities, debates, science exhibitions and other co-curricular programmes.

He said that the Holistic Progress Card framework developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training was being analyzed on a pilot basis to support comprehensive assessment and reduce teacher's workload. He directed for the conduction of induction training for newly promoted Principals to enhance leadership quality and administrative efficiency.

The Education Minister praised Vidya Samiksha Kendras for improving teacher attendance through digital monitoring and directed officials to strengthen data analytics for better academic outcomes. He also urged districts to boost participation in “Abhyaas” practice modules for Board exams and replicate successful preparation initiatives like those implemented in Chamba.

Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar also shared his suggestions.

Presentations on PM SHRI Schools, digital attendance of teachers and students and the free JEE & NEET Coaching Programme was being given during the meeting.

Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma, Director School Education Ashish Kohli and Deputy Directors from all the districts and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

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    While interacting with the doctors of Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the purpose of the dialogue was to listen to the concerns and suggestions of the medical fraternity to further strengthen healthcare services in the state. He noted that similar interactive sessions had earlier been held with doctors at IGMC Shimla and Tanda Medical College to incorporate their valuable inputs into policy decisions and enhance patient care.

The Chief Minister observed that medical colleges in the state have largely become referral institutions and emphasized the need for systemic improvements to ensure that quality healthcare services are available within Himachal Pradesh itself. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to upgrading medical infrastructure by introducing high-end medical technology in government institutions.

He informed that an automated laboratory costing Rs. 25 crore has been approved for Hamirpur Medical College as part of efforts to strengthen diagnostic services. In the coming years, a Super Specialty Block and a Dental College will also be established at the institution. Additionally, the facility will soon introduce robotic surgery services, marking a significant step towards advanced medical care in the region.

The Chief Minister assured that all modern medical equipment would be installed and made operational before shifting to the new building.

Several public representatives, senior doctors and other district officers and officials were present on the occasion.

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· Directs officials to complete Heliport work by May

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inspected the under-construction heliport at Jaskot in Hamirpur district, being constructed at a cost of Rs.18 crore. He directed officials to accelerate the pace of construction and ensure that the heliport is completed by May this year. Emphasizing the state government’s commitment to promote tourism sector, the Chief Minister said that expansion of connectivity and infrastructure was being given added priority to enhance facilities for visitors. He added that the growth of tourism would strengthen the state’s economy and generate employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth.

He further stated that heliports were being constructed in all district headquarters and other major tourist destinations across Himachal Pradesh. Recently, helicopter services were launched from Sanjauli heliport to Chandigarh and Reckong Peo, enabling tourists to travel conveniently to the key destinations. In addition, helicopter services on the Sanjauli-Rampur-ReckongPeo and Sanjauli-Manali (SASE Helipad) routes will also commence shortly, further improving air connectivity in the region.

Later, the Chief Minister also inspected the under-construction Hamirpur Bus Stand project, which is being developed at a cost of Rs.123 crore. He noted that work on both projects was progressing at a rapid pace and expressed confidence that they would be completed within the stipulated timeframe, providing significant convenience and improved infrastructure to the residents of the district.

Among those present on the occasion were MLA Suresh Kumar and Captain Ranjit Singh, former MLA Anita Verma, Chairman Kangra Cooperative Primary Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ramchandra Pathania, Chairman Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chairman APMC Hamirpur Ajay Sharma, District Congress President Suman Bharti, Congress leaders            Dr. Pushpinder Verma, Subhash Dhatwalia and Rubal Thakur, Secretaries M. Sudha Devi and Ashish Singhmar, Deputy Commissioner Gandharva Rathore, SP Balbir Singh, and other dignitaries.

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       GST a milestone in cooperative federalism and economic justice

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day International Conference themed “Tax Reforms in India: Challenges and Prospects,” sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) at Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla stated that tax policy plays a crucial role in mobilizing national resources for development, welfare and creation of infrastructure.

He remarked that an effective tax system forms the bedrock of economic justice, social inclusion and good governance, describing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a historic reform that unified India’s indirect tax regime and strengthened cooperative federalism. He stated that taxation was not merely a tool for revenue collection but a foundation of trust, accountability and transparency between the State and its citizens.

Tracing the evolution of India’s tax system since Independence, the Governor noted that major reforms, particularly after liberalization, aimed at simplifying and enhancing transparency in the tax framework. Schemes like “Vivad se Vishwas,” he said, reflected a participatory and trust-based approach to tax administration.

He underlined that tax reform is deeply linked with economics, governance and public policy and appreciated the active engagement of scholars and students in deliberating on these critical issues.

Referring to Acharya Chanakya’s Arthashastra, he said taxation should be just, balanced and welfare-oriented, ensuring that it promotes production and shared prosperity rather than burdening citizens. He described GST as a contemporary example of such balanced reform aimed at inclusive and sustainable development.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Priti Saxena welcomed the Governor and outlined the conference themes. Keynote speaker Prof. Nigam Nuggehalli, Professor and Registrar, NLSIU Bengaluru, emphasized the need for continuous adaptation of tax reforms like GST to evolving economic realities. Conference Convener Prof. Girijesh Shukla highlighted modernisation efforts, including digitisation and AI-driven analytics in tax administration, while Registrar Prof. Alok Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.

Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the newly designed HPNLU litigation lab and a Blood Donation Camp organised by the Youth Red Cross of the University. Captain Rameshwar Singh Thakur, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, academicians, delegates and students were present on the occasion amongst others.

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