SHIMLA-8^th March, 2025 -Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while addressing a public gathering at the state level program organized on the occasion of International Women's Day at Chambi Ground in Shahpur Assembly Constituency of Kangra District today, announced the opening of Sub Judge Court and DSP office in Shahpur. He announced to convert Government Senior Secondary School Rait into Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School, Rs. 25 lakh for the construction of Guru Ravidas Bhawan Shahpur, opening of a section of Jal Shakti Vibhag in Darini and setting up a bulk milk cooler of 2000 litre capacity in Rirkmaar. He also announced to upgrade Primary Health Centre Rirkmaar into Community Health Centre. He also announced to set up an oxygen plant, provide ultrasound facilities and dialysis facilities in Civil Hospital Shahpur.

The Chief Minister announced to provide funds for the construction of building of PHC Lanj, sanctioning the post of dentist in Civil Hospital Shahpur and PHC Naganpat, dental hygienist in PHC Chadi and starting BCA, BVoc and PGDCA courses in Government College Lanj. He also announced to rename Government College Shahpur and ITI Shahpur after the former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, rename Government High School Bhanala after Shaheed Pawan Kumar and rename Pakka Tiyala to Chauri road after Shaheed Milap Singh Jamwal.

While extending his greetings on International Women's Day, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu credited former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi for providing 33 percent reservation to women in Panchayati Raj Institutions for which he made amendment in the Constitution. This brought positive change in thinking towards women and today women are sharing responsibility with men in every field. He said that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was the first to get the bill passed in Rajya Sabha to provide reservation to women in Vidhan Sabha and Parliament. He said that the state government is also in favour of reservation to women.

Chief Minister said that the state government amended the land law to give equal rights to the daughters. Apart from this, the state government increased the reservation for women in police recruitment to 30 percent. He said that under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the state government is bearing the entire cost of education of the children of widowed women, so that their studies are not affected.

The Chief Minister said, "I try to ensure that women have a role in decision making. Our government is committed to women's welfare. Today women are not lagging behind in any field and women power is the foundation of making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant." He said that the state government is taking reformative measures but any change takes time. He said that if we do not keep pace with time, we will lag behind.

Taking a jibe at Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, the Chief Minister said, "What kind of doctor is he, who treats but cannot give sight. Had you treated the eyes of the Jai Ram Thakur government at the right time, you could have saved the wealth of Himachal Pradesh from being looted. The state government will put before the people of the state how the previous BJP government looted the wealth of the people, the rights of farmers and women.”

The Chief Minister said that the centre BJP leaders state that Himachal Pradesh cannot function if the Centre does not provide funds. He said that this is not the Centre's money, but the money of the people of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is a part of the federal system. He said that during the natural disaster in the year 2023, 551 people lost their lives in the state and 23 thousand families were affected but the central government did not provide a single penny. All the four BJP MPs did not show their seriousness to seek financial relief for Himachal Pradesh. He said that a centre team visited the disaster affected areas of the state and assessed the loss worth Rs. 10 thousand crores. However, the centre government has not given a single penny till date. Not only this, the centre has also withheld Rs. 9000 crore of NPS. Even the financial aid of Rs. 1600 crore has been stopped for restoring OPS by the state government. The GST compensation of Rs. 3200 crore received every year has also been stopped by the centre government.

The Chief Minister said that the Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur is issuing big statements on drug abuse every day but could not implement PIT-NDPS Act for five years while in power. But due to the efforts of the present state government, drug abuse has been reduced by 30 percent. Along with this, strict action is being taken against government employees involved in drug abuse. The state government is attaching the property earned from the drug business.

The Chief Minister said that due to the policies of the previous BJP government, the level of education in the state degraded. After two years of continuous efforts of the present state government, today Himachal Pradesh has once again achieved the first rank in the national survey. He said that the state government is making reforms in the field of education and there will only be one education directorate from nursery to class 12. He said that the state government is going to ensure the appointment of teachers of all subjects in six schools of each assembly constituency. Apart from this, three Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools will be ready before the next academic session.

He said that the state government is also bringing reforms in the field of health. He said that the state government has decided to provide proper treatment to the people of the rural area, modern technology will be adopted in the health institutions of the state on the lines of Delhi AIIMS, for which the state government has provided Rs. 1800 crore.

He said, “I have come from an ordinary family and finally seated as Chief Minister. I have seen the struggles and gone through much hard work, adding that he well understands the pain of a common man. Our next budget will be rural centric.”

The Chief Minister said that the present state government has started giving Rs. 18,000 per year to women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. He said that in the coming time, all eligible women will be given Rs. 1500. He said that every year the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, Mini Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi assistants has been increased, whereas during the tenure of previous governments, this increase was done before the elections.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Colonel (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the Congress Party took many steps for social welfare. He said that respect for women has been described in the Vedas and the Congress party is working on this principle. He said that the state government is constantly taking steps to make the state a green energy state. He said that today the biggest challenge for the youth the menace of drug addiction and Nari Shakti has an important contribution in this. We all should take a pledge to build a strong nation on this day.

Agriculture Minister Prof. Chandra Kumar said that Nari Shakti has made a big contribution to achieve independence. He said that Congress gave the country its first woman Prime Minister in the form of Indira Gandhi, who took many important steps for women empowerment. He said that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has taken many steps for the empowerment of women during his two-year tenure. Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to make a law to ensure the care of orphan children. He said that the Congress Party governments have always taken steps to empower the underprivileged class and brought positive change in the society. The Congress government of the state is taking steps to empower these sections.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh said that this is a day to honour the struggle and sacrifice of Nari Shakti. He said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions by changing the law. He said that women are the foundation of the society and they have an important place. Today the daughters of the state are making Himachal Pradesh proud not only in the country but also at the international level. He said that the state government is working to empower women.

Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania welcomed the Chief Minister on his arrival at Shahpur and said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state government is ensuring the welfare of every section of the society. At the same time, former MP Viplove Thakur said that women today are sharing responsibility with men and are making Himachal Pradesh proud in every field.

Under the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Yojana, the Chief Minister honoured Saksham Cluster Level Federation Basantpur, Shimla, Dolma Negi of Rekongpeo, Parul Minhas of Kumarsen, Anshul Malhotra of Mandi, Nikita of Kangra district by giving them Rs. 1 lakh each. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also honoured the best Anganwadi workers and assistants from 11 districts as well as the best self-help groups from 12 districts. He also distributed cash prizes to ten topper students each of class 10^th and 12^th from Kangra district.

He also honoured 16 women and an NGO of Kangra district for excellent work. Along with this, he also gave a cheque of Rs. 3 lakh for building a house to Pragati of Shahpur, a beneficiary of Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana and Rs. 2 lakh for marriage to Mohini Devi.

He also honoured three national level women Kabaddi players. Apart from this, he also honoured Naina Federation of Mandi, Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Cluster of Mashobra, Shri Devi Sahiba of Paonta Sahib, Deepa Kumari of Chauntra Mandi, Jai Lakhdata Veer Devta of Jubbal, Radhe Krishna of Nadaun, Gauri Self Help Group of Bamsan, Alka of Gopalpur Mandi, Ganga Self Help Group of Chamba, Jai Maa Tung Self Help Groups of Mandi, Shiv Shakti Self Help Group Rait and Rama Thakur.

Before this, the Chief Minister also visited developmental exhibitions.

On this occasion, Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma, Vice-President of State Finance Commission Bhawani Pathania, Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation R S Bali, MLAs Sanjay Rattan, Malender Rajan, Ashish Butail, Kishori Lal, Kamlesh Thakur, Chief IT Advisor to the Chief Minister Gokul Butail, Chairman of Himachal State Labour Board Nardev Thakur, Vice-President of Himachal Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation Vishal Chambiyal, Vice- President of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Ajay Verma, Chairman of Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Sanjay Singh Chauhan, Chairman of APMC Nishu Mongra, Congress leader Surender Mankotia, Karan Singh Pathania, Devender Jaggi, Dr. Rajesh Sharma and other dignitaries were also present.