Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated the newly established branch of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) at Kaithu, marking another significant step towards strengthening the cooperative banking network in the State. The inauguration reflects the State Government’s continued commitment to ensure greater financial inclusion and accessible banking services for all sections of society.

He said that cooperative banks play a vital role in the socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh, particularly in supporting farmers, small traders, self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs. He reiterated that the State Government is fully committed to the growth and strengthening of cooperative institutions and emphasized that the deposits of the State Government should be placed with the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank. This would further enhance the financial strength and sustainability of the cooperative banking system in the State , he said.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appreciated the performance of HPSCB and lauded its efforts in extending modern, technology-driven banking services while maintaining its core objective of serving the common people. He expressed hope that the newly inaugurated Kaithu branch would cater effectively to the financial needs of the local population and contribute to regional economic development.

He said that HPSCB has been playing a key role in implementing various State Government schemes like e-taxi scheme, thereby ensuring timely delivery of financial benefits to the people.

On the occasion, the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank presented a cheque of Rs. 2 crore towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund. The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the bank for its generous contribution and stated that such support would go a long way in providing assistance to people in distress and in responding effectively to natural calamities and other emergencies in the State.

Managing Director of HPSCB Shravan Manta highlighted the achievements of the bank and briefed about its recent accomplishments. He informed that HPSCB has consistently strengthened its financial position, expanded its branch network and adopted digital banking solutions to enhance customer convenience.

MLA Harish Janartha, Mayor MC Shimla Surinder Chauhan and  Registrar Cooperative Societies Rajender Singh Negi and Chairman of the bank Devender Shyam along with other dignitaries were also present.

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 Directs timely payment to outsourced employees

A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) was held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The Chief Minister directed the Corporation to ensure that remuneration of outsourced employees is paid by the 7th of every month so that they do not face any hardship in meeting their day-to-day financial needs.

He informed that HPSEDC recorded a turnover of Rs. 275 crore during the year 2023-24 with a net profit of Rs. 15 crore, and a turnover of Rs. 300 crore during the year 2024-25 with a net profit of Rs. 18 crore. He further stated that the Corporation has registered business worth Rs. 199.25 crore during the current financial year up to 31st December, 2025.

The Chief Minister asked the Corporation to revise the technical charges at the rate of five percent for tenders amounting up to rupees five crore, at the rate of three percent for tenders amounting above rupees five crore upto rupees ten crore and at the rate of two percent for tenders above rupees ten crore.

The Board of Directors also approved the change in nomenclature of the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) to Himachal Pradesh Electronics Manpower and Overseas Employment Corporation, as the Corporation has also been facilitating the youth of the State in securing overseas employment.

Members of the Board of Directors of HPSEDC, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar, Secretary (DDTG) Ashish Singhmar, Commissioner Industries Yunus, Director (DDTG) Dr. Nipun Jindal, Managing Director HPSEDC Harbans Brascon were also present in the meeting amongst others.

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Training and leave reserve quota of 300 doctors to be created in DHS

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over a review meeting of the Health Department here today, said that the State Government was making continuous efforts to strengthen healthcare services and improve facilities in government health institutions. The Chief Minister said that from April onwards, the process of procuring world-class, technology-enabled medical equipment would be initiated in health institutions across the state, involving an expenditure of about Rs. 3,000 crore. He added that the government was strengthening diagnostic services and addressing the shortage of paramedical staff and doctors to facilitate the patients. The recruitment process to fill vacant posts in health institutions was underway and additional posts would be created as per requirement.

Sh. Sukhu said that PET scan and robotic surgery facilities would soon be started at IGMC Shimla as well. He said that robotic surgery services have already been made available for patients at Super Specialty Hospital Chamiyana and Dr. RPGMC Tanda. He further added that the State Government was strengthening 'Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthan' to ensure better healthcare services to the patients at their doorsteps.

The Chief Minister directed that a training and leave reserve quota of 300 doctors would be created in the Department of Health Services to ensure that healthcare services were not hampered due to vacancies arising from doctors proceeding on PG courses and that such vacancies can be promptly filled. He also directed that smaller batches be formed for medical students and no class should have more than 60 students. The State Government would assist in constructing new lecture theatres to ensure quality education in medical colleges. He also emphasized up-gradation of facilities in all medical colleges.

He reiterated that strengthening healthcare infrastructure was a priority of the State Government and that modern equipment would significantly improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes. He said that the focus was to provide quality health services in all regions of the state, especially in remote and rural areas, so that patients, do not have to travel far for advanced medical care. The Government was working with a clear roadmap to ensure that every health institution is equipped with better facilities, adequate manpower and improved diagnostic services.

He said that the measures being taken would not only enhance patient care but also improve the working environment for doctors and healthcare staff. He stressed that the Health Department should ensure timely implementation of all initiatives so that the benefits reach the public at the earliest. Improving medical education and ensuring sufficient infrastructure in colleges was equally important for producing skilled doctors and strengthening the healthcare system in the long term, he remarked.

Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Special Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Director AYUSH Nipun Jindal, Director Medical Education Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Director Health Services Dr. Gopal Berry and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

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CM directs tourism deptt to issue provisional renewal registration to 'Home Stays', pending fire NoC

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today took a decisive step toward streamlining Himachal Pradesh’s tourism sector by launching the dedicated home stay registration portal, http://homestay.hp.gov.in designed to simplify the administrative process. The new platform allows operators to complete their registration online, ensuring a user-friendly experience from the comfort of their homes.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government was committed to facilitate hotel owners and home stay operators to ensure that their businesses remain unhindered by bureaucratic hurdles. In a significant move to support the hospitality industry, the Chief Minister issued clear directives that 'renewal of registration' of home stays must not be stalled under the pretext of Fire No Objection Certificates (NOC). He instructed the Tourism Department to grant provisional registrations to such establishments, ensuring that business operations and maintenance can proceed without harassment or unnecessary obstruction.

Highlighting the vast potential of the state's tourism landscape, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu noted that the Home Stay Scheme is a cornerstone of the government's strategy to foster self-employment. The initiative aims to promote rural tourism and draw visitors to the state’s untouched, lesser-known destinations. To maximize these opportunities, the government has expanded the scheme’s scope to include urban areas allowing for the registration of home stays with a capacity of up to six rooms.

The Chief Minister underscored that home stays offer a unique value proposition, providing tourists with an authentic "homely" experience through traditional village architecture and local cuisine. He remarked that serving traditional dishes not only enriches the tourist experience particularly for foreign visitors but also significantly boosts the income of local homeowners.

To further incentivize the sector, the Chief Minister highlighted the introduction of an interest subsidy scheme designed to assist people in setting up expanding or upgrading tourism units. Under this initiative, the state provides interest subsidies of three percent in urban areas, four percent in rural areas and five percent in tribal regions on term loans.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board Vice Chairman R.S. Bali virtually joined the occasion, while the Principal Adviser (Media) to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar and Director of Tourism Department Vivek Bhatia were present in Shimla.

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Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Forest Department to prepare a comprehensive roadmap to increase forest cover in Himachal Pradesh to 31 percent by the year 2030. Presiding over a review meeting of the Forest Department here today, the Chief Minister said that the present forest cover in the State stands at 29.5 percent and needs to be enhanced in a planned and sustainable manner.

The Chief Minister said that global warming has emerged as a major challenge worldwide and its adverse effects were clearly visible. Keeping this in view, the present State Government was according high priority to environmental conservation. He said that about 16,376 square kilometers of area in Himachal was snow-covered, barren or mountainous, where plantation was not feasible. Therefore, the Forest Department should identify potential areas in each district suitable for plantation and prepare a phased plantation plan accordingly. He also emphasized the plantation of native species, fruit-bearing plants and plants with medicinal value.

Sh. Sukhu stressed that the department should focus not only on creating new forests but also on protecting existing ones, while ensuring active participation of local people and communities. He said that the State Government has launched the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana’ to promote community participation in forest plantation and conservation in the State. Under the scheme, plantation was carried out over 924.9 hectares during the previous year. A total of 285 Mahila Mandals, 70 Yuvak Mandals, 59 Self Help Groups and 13 community-based organizations actively contributed to this initiative. He added that under the scheme, the State Government was providing financial assistance of Rs. 2.40 lakh for plantation over two hectares to these groups, along with annual incentives linked to survival rates of plantations. The scheme has received an encouraging response from the targeted groups.

The Chief Minister further stated that a target has been set to undertake plantation over 5,000 hectares in the next financial year under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana. Of this, 3,376 hectares have already been identified, while the process of identifying the remaining 1,624 hectares was underway. He also reviewed the progress of other schemes being implemented by the Forest Department.

Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, PCCF (HoFF) Sanjay Sood and other senior officers of the Forest Department were present in the meeting.

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Finance Commission  fails to  provide meaningful Revenue Deficit Grants (RDGs)

        Expressing disappointment over the Union Budget 2026-27, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu described it as an anti-poor and anti-farmer budget and stated that it ignores interests of key sections of the society. Describing it as inequitable, the Chief Minister stated that Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has completely overlooked the concerns and priorities of the Himachal Pradesh.

He raised serious concerns regarding the recently tabled 16th Finance Commission (FC-XVI) Report for the period 2026-31. The Chief Minister voiced strong disappointment over the Commission's failure to provide meaningful Revenue Deficit Grants (RDGs) for the state despite repeated representations, detailed memoranda and technical submissions. Besides, the Finance Commission has not recommended Revenue Deficit Grants (RDGs) for small states, including Himachal Pradesh, which he termed as deeply disappointing decision and  termed it as injustice, hurting the sentiments of the people.

The Chief Minister said that Article 275(1) of the Constitution provides for state-specific grants from the Union Government, also known as Revenue Deficit Grants (RDG). From 1952 up to the Fifteenth Finance Commission, these grants were regularly provided by the Centre to the states. However, for the first time, the Sixteenth Finance Commission has discontinued this grant,

He said that under the Fifteenth Finance Commission, Revenue Deficit Grants amounting to approximately Rs. 37,000 crore were provided. He further noted that after the completion of the Fourteenth Finance Commission, when there was a delay in the submission of the Fifteenth Finance Commission’s report, assistance of Rs. 11,431 crore was still provided on the basis of an interim report during the tenure of the previous BJP government.

It is sad that this omission overlooks structural fiscal handicaps, including high forest and ecological cover of about 67 percent, higher per-capita cost of service delivery in mountainous terrain and repeated natural disasters causing losses exceeding Rs.15,000 crore in recent years, he remarked.

Himachal Pradesh had anticipated targeted support for hill-specific priorities such as hydropower development, eco-tourism, road and rail connectivity and compensation for revenue losses arising from GST implementation. He cautioned that the absence of adequate RDGs will constrain Himachal Pradesh's ability to deliver essential public services, maintain fiscal sustainability and invest in future growth, potentially forcing difficult choices between service delivery and increased indebtedness.

The Chief Minister stated that the budget has once again failed to respond to the critical issues confronting the nation, particularly unemployment, poverty and escalating prices. He said the apple growers of Himachal Pradesh, who make a vital contribution to State's economy of around Rs. 5000 crore and support thousands of families, have received no recognition in the Union Budget.

“It does not contain any substantial initiatives to tackle the persistent challenges in the agricultural sector, such as inadequate support prices and insufficient investment in advanced farming practices, infrastructure and modernization. Himachal Pradesh, like several other states, continues to face difficulties as the budget appears to favour wealthy over  common Indian citizens,” he said.

Sh. Sukhu further said the budget has overlooked the long-pending issue of expanding the rail network in Himachal Pradesh, including no allocations have been made for railway expansion in the state, including key projects such as the Bhanupali-Bilaspur and Baddi-Chandigarh lines. He stressed upon to increase loan limit to 4 percent instead of the present 3 percent, but the demand has been overlooked, he remarked.

It is a sad affair that despite Himachal Pradesh being home to world-renowned tourist destinations the budget makes no specific provisions for tourism infrastructure development. While a Buddhist Circuit has been proposed for the northeastern states, it would have been appropriate to include the Buddhist Circuit of Himachal Pradesh as well. The budget does mention the development of mountain trails, but concrete benefits for the state will depend on the detailed guidelines yet to be issued.

He stated that while the Union Budget prioritizes capital investment, hill states require special provisions and higher central assistance for disaster-resilient infrastructure, road connectivity, tourism, hydropower development and climate adaptation. Enhanced flexibility in centrally sponsored schemes, greater weightage to ecological and forest indicators in fiscal devolution and the development of a separate Disaster Risk Index for Himalayan states would have strengthened cooperative federalism.

“The allocation for interest-free loans to states, fixed at Rs. 1.5 lakh crore has not been enhanced and the stringent conditions attached to it, do not support smaller states like Himachal Pradesh due to cost-related disadvantages. The discontinuation of GST compensation has resulted in an annual revenue loss for the state,” he said.

As a special category hill state, Himachal Pradesh faces unique challenges due to its difficult terrain, fragile ecology, frequent natural disasters and a limited own-revenue base. In this context, stronger fiscal support, particularly a clear framework for continued RDGs beyond the current Finance Commission period is critical for maintaining fiscal balance, delivering essential public services and sustaining social welfare commitments.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh remains committed to fiscal prudence, improved revenue mobilization and efficient public service delivery. He emphasized upon the Union Government to engage in continued and constructive dialogue with states, addressing these concerns in the spirit of inclusive, region-balanced and truly federal growth, ensuring that the aspirations and constraints of hill states are fully integrated into India's development journey.

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