Mandi: Himachal Pradesh govt will establish a Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School in Chhatar to strengthen educational facilities in the region, announced chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday while addressing a large public gathering in Diyargi in the Nachan assembly constituency of Mandi district.Speaking about the state’s financial situation, Sukhu said the 16th Finance Commission had discontinued the revenue deficit grant (RDG) of about Rs 10,000 crore annually. He said that during the previous BJP govt’s five-year tenure, the state received Rs 54,000 crore as RDG and Rs 16,000 crore as GST compensation. Had financial discipline been maintained during that period, the state’s debt could have been reduced by nearly Rs 30,000 crore, he added. Sukhu also criticised the previous govt for constructing buildings worth about Rs 1,000 crore across the state that are now lying vacant.The CM said the present govt received Rs 17,000 crore in RDG, which will also cease from the next financial year. Despite the financial strain, he said, the govt cleared the pending 14% Dearness Allowance and released arrears for citizens above 70 years of age. He added that with financial support on the same scale as the previous govt, Himachal could have been debt-free by now.Reiterating that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will never be discontinued in Himachal, the CM said that the Congress govt restored OPS in its very first cabinet meeting and clarified that the decision was not taken for political reasons. As the son of a govt employee, he said, he understood the concerns of employees and assured that the govt would continue to safeguard their interests and ensure payment of arrears while addressing all financial challenges.Criticising the BJP, the CM described the party as anti-Himachal. He said that during the natural disasters in the state, BJP leaders repeatedly demanded a special assembly session while the Congress govt was actively engaged in providing relief to affected families. However, when a proposal was brought forward in the assembly to seek a special relief package from the central govt for Himachal Pradesh, BJP legislators walked out while raising slogans. He stated that the govt amended rules to provide better assistance to disaster-affected families because it understands the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. In 2023, families whose houses were completely destroyed received Rs 7 lakh in assistance, which has now been increased to Rs 8 lakh this year.The CM said the state govt convened an all-party meeting on the issue of RDG, but the BJP failed to stand united for the rights of Himachal Pradesh. He emphasised that if the state receives its rightful financial share, it will not have to seek support from others.The CM also said no person involved in the chitta (drug) trade will be spared. Employees found involved will be dismissed, and the properties of chitta traffickers will be destroyed.He also assured that all the demands raised by Himachal Pradesh SC-ST Commission chairperson Lal Singh Kaushal and Congress leader Naresh Chauhan would be fulfilled. As part of the govt’s support to grassroots organisations, the CM announced financial assistance of Rs 51,000 each for all the women’s groups present at the event. MSID:: 129155779 413 |
