CM flags off 27 police motorcycles for road safety

SHIMLA-16 February, 2025-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off 27 police motorcycles to improve road safety from his official residence Oak Over here today. Out of these, 14 motorcycles will be provided to Kangra district police, while 13 will be given to Mandi district police. Additionally, in the coming days, 42 four-wheeler vehicles, 14 interceptor vehicles, and 10 wrecker vehicles for rescue operations will be made available to the police districts of Shimla, Nurpur, Mandi, and Kangra.

A budget of Rs. 90 crore has been allocated for the purchase of 3,373 road safety equipment for these four police districts. So far, over 1,200 pieces of equipment have already been provided to the police department at a cost of Rs. 5.71 crore. For the establishment of an integrated road safety enforcement system in Shimla, approximately Rs. 60 crore has been allocated. This system will be linked with more than 450 artificial intelligence-based speed and surveillance cameras in Shimla, Kangra and Mandi districts, enabling the police to transition towards digital monitoring of traffic regulations in the state.

Furthermore, a Mass Action Plan has been prepared with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 34.66 crore. Under this plan, safety improvements will be ensured on 20 percent of the most unsafe link road networks in the Shimla district. The Public Works Department and other related departments will collaborate to implement this initiative effectively.

A Good Samaritan Law awareness program is being conducted in seven districts of the state for road safety awareness. Under this program, over 300 police and home guard personnel have been trained in basic life support techniques. Additionally, more than 200 police officers have undergone extensive training in traffic safety enforcement and road accident investigation techniques.

For the first time, an iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme) survey has been conducted for approximately 7,500 kilometres of roads in Himachal Pradesh. Based on this survey, roads have been rated according to safety standards. A 10-year Safe Road Investment Plan, with an estimated investment of Rs. 3,200 crore, has been formulated, which would rope in the Public Works Department, Transport Department, and other relevant agencies.

Positive impact of government initiatives

As a result of the present state government’s efforts over the past two years, a decline in road accidents and casualties has been recorded and road accidents in Himachal Pradesh have decreased by 6.48 percent. In the year 2023, there were 2,253 accidents, whereas in the year 2024, the number dropped to 2,107. The fatality rate has also improved, with 892 deaths recorded in the year 2023, reducing to 806 in the year 2024. The state government has prioritized road safety by implementing several corrective measures, leading to this improvement.

On this occasion, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Mayor Municipal Corporation Shimla Surender Chauhan, ACS KK Pant, DGP Atul Verma, and other senior officials of the department were present.

======================================

CM expresses grief over stampede incident at New Delhi Railway Station

SHIMLA, 16.02.25-Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today has condoled the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi railway station.

He prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in this tragic accident.

===========================================

Feature-State Government making reforms to transform education sector

Shimla, 16 February, 2025-The present state government has initiated several innovative measures to ensure quality and inclusive education for students. Significant reforms have been introduced to strengthen the education sector and academic institutions, along with the launch of multiple strategic programs.

To enhance the quality of education in government schools and provide students with superior facilities, the state government has established school clusters. These clusters have resulted in an increase in the number of students and teachers, thereby ensuring the availability of quality education. This initiative has also allowed primary school students to access advanced facilities, including laboratories meant for higher-grade students.

In a bid to instil confidence in government school students and provide equal educational opportunities, and to fulfil electoral promise the government has introduced English as the medium of instruction from the first grade in all government institutions. Further, the state government has started pre-school classes in 6,297 primary schools.

Additionally, to offer top-notch education and world-class infrastructure, Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools, equipped with modern technology, are being set up in every legislative constituency.

To support the education and welfare of children of widowed, destitute, abandoned, and differently-abled women, the government has launched the 'Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana' with an allocated budget of Rs. 53.21 crore. Similarly, the 'Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana' has been introduced in 15,181 schools, benefiting 5.34 lakh children by providing them with additional nutrition like eggs and fruits, with an allocation of Rs. 12.75 crore for this initiative.

The Dr. Y.S. Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana has been introduced to assist students in pursuing higher education. Under this scheme, students can avail of loans up to Rs. 20 lakh at a nominal interest rate of just one percent. The scheme has been extended to support meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds who wish to pursue professional and vocational courses abroad.

Under the Srinivasa Ramanujan Vidyarthi Yojana, 11,552 tablets have been distributed to meritorious students of Class 10, Class 12 and colleges to enhance their digital literacy and prepare them for future technologies.

As part of the digital transformation of the education sector, smart and virtual classrooms have been introduced in various schools and colleges. The government has also launched the Rajya Satriya Shikshak Puraskar Yojana-2024 to recognize and honor teachers for their invaluable contributions to the field of education.

To provide global exposure to teachers, the government has initiated foreign exposure visits. In the first phase, 200 teachers visited Singapore to gain insights into international academic practices, while other 200 teachers visited Kerala and other states for professional learning experiences. The state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the prestigious Principal Academy of Singapore, under which teachers of Himachal will be provided training in modern teaching methods, leadership skills and innovation based teaching processes in Singapore.

Additionally, 50 meritorious students were sent to Cambodia and Singapore for an 11-day educational study tour and will return on February 17.

Not only this in an effort to modernize administrative and academic processes, the government has distributed tablets to 17,510 primary school teachers. This initiative aims to promote digital learning, streamline administrative tasks, and facilitate online training programs for teachers.

The state government has also designated 850 educational institutions as centres of excellence to ensure quality education. A landmark decision has been made to fill 15,000 academic and non-academic posts. So far, 3,200 teaching posts have been filled on a batch-wise basis, and over 2,800 positions are being filled through the Himachal Pradesh State Selection Commission. Recruitment processes are also underway for 700 PGT teachers and 6,200 NTT posts. To maintain consistency in education, the government has imposed a restriction on teacher transfers during the academic session.

Additionally, agriculture and horticulture have been introduced as elective subjects in schools, and the cluster system has been implemented. Furthermore, prize money, diet, and travel allowances for student-athletes have been increased. To strengthen college-level education, 120 college principals and 483 assistant professors have been appointed.

Through these visionary initiatives, the state government is transforming the education sector, ensuring equitable access, enhancing digital and academic infrastructure, and fostering a robust learning ecosystem for students and teachers.

The positive results of the efforts of the state government have started coming. In the 2024 annual report of Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), the learning level of Himachal's students has been rated top. Apart from this, Himachal has also been ranked top in terms of availability of drinking water in schools.

Issued by:

Director

Information & Public Relations,

Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-171002