Shimla:24.11.25-After the District DISHA meeting, former BJP State President and Member of Parliament Suresh Kashyap addressed the media and said that the primary objective of DISHA meetings is to review the progress of various centrally sponsored schemes so that the benefits of initiatives launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach the grassroots in a timely manner.
Kashyap informed that a detailed review of schemes such as PMGSY, Jal Jeevan Mission, and the Prime Minister Employment Guarantee Programme was conducted during the meeting. He said that although Himachal Pradesh has been sanctioned a substantial amount—around ₹2,200 crore under PMGSY-IV and about ₹2,600 crore under PMGSY-II—several projects are still pending completion.
Anger Over Absence of PWD Officials
The MP expressed strong displeasure over the absence of officials from the Public Works Department during the meeting, calling it serious and unacceptable. He directed the district administration to immediately issue show-cause notices to the concerned officers.
Kashyap emphasized that roads are considered the lifelines of the state, but delays in utilizing central funds and damages caused by heavy rainfall are worrisome. Many projects have remained incomplete since 2016–17, reflecting clear negligence by responsible officials, he added.
Questions Government’s Intent to Delay Panchayati Raj Elections
Commenting on the Chief Minister’s statement regarding the postponement of Panchayati Raj elections, Kashyap accused the government of misusing the Disaster Act as an excuse. He questioned:
“Are schools not functioning?”
“Is the marriage season not underway?”
“Are buses and public transport not operating?”
“Is the government not celebrating events?”
He said that if rural roads are blocked, it reflects the state government’s failure, not a valid reason to delay elections. He added that while the government is organizing large rallies and celebrations, many families are still suffering due to the disaster—something he termed extremely unfortunate.
Kashyap alleged that the government wants to delay elections only to distribute cheques to beneficiaries and gain political mileage. However, he said, the people have already seen the government’s three-year performance, and it has failed in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.
Wishes New State Congress President
Reacting to the appointment of a new Congress State President from his home district, Sirmaur, Kashyap extended his wishes and remarked that Congress took a long time to finalize the decision. He said the future course of developments will be interesting to watch.
Centre’s Labour Codes Will Benefit Workers
Speaking about the implementation of the four new labour codes, he said that the reforms will significantly benefit both organized and unorganized workers, and their positive impact will be visible in the coming days.