2,000 Teachers to Be Appointed in CBSE Schools Within Three Months: CM.

State Government Steps Up Education and Healthcare Reforms; CM Says Rs. 3,000 Crore Saved by Curbing Corruption.

Shimla:

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced that 2,000 additional teachers would be appointed in CBSE schools across Himachal Pradesh within the next three months. He made the announcement while addressing the closing ceremony of the State-Level Sair Fair at Arki in Solan district.

The Chief Minister said that when the state government announced the opening of 150 CBSE schools a few months ago, the decision had faced opposition. However, the recruitment process was now being carried out purely on merit and without any recommendation, he said.

Sukhu said that five to eight teachers had already been appointed in each CBSE school, while the remaining vacancies would be filled shortly. He added that CBSE education in private schools was expensive, whereas the state government was providing similar facilities through government schools at an affordable cost.

Extending greetings to the people on the occasion of the Sair Fair, the Chief Minister said the state government was undertaking comprehensive reforms in the education and health sectors. He said medical colleges across the state had been equipped with modern machines to replace equipment that was 15 to 19 years old, with facilities being upgraded on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi. Diagnostic services were also being strengthened, he added.

He said doctors were being recruited and specialist doctors would soon be made available in Arki. Specialist doctors were also being appointed in Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans established in every Assembly constituency.

The Chief Minister said the state government had recently recruited 200 doctors, while another 228 doctors would be recruited shortly. He expressed confidence that Himachal Pradesh would emerge as one of the leading states in the country in terms of quality healthcare facilities in the coming years.

Focus on Rural Economy and Farmers

Sukhu said the government was also taking several steps to strengthen the rural economy. A historic increase had been made in the procurement price of milk, while ginger had also been brought under a minimum support price mechanism.

He said the government’s priority was to ensure quality education, better healthcare services and direct economic benefits for farmers living in rural areas.

Kishau Project Agreement

Referring to the agreement related to the Kishau Multipurpose Project, the Chief Minister said the agreement had been reached at a time when water scarcity was anticipated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

He said the previous government had accepted the earlier terms and conditions of the agreement. Sukhu claimed that had the BJP been in government, the people of Himachal Pradesh would have faced an additional financial burden of Rs. 3,000 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore, while the state could also have lost potential annual revenue of Rs. 1,200 crore to Rs. 1,500 crore.

The Chief Minister said he had maintained that states requiring the water should also bear the cost of the power project. He said that with the support and determination of the people of Himachal Pradesh, the agreement was ultimately secured on terms that he described as favourable to the state.

He added that Uttarakhand had also sought a similar agreement on the lines of Himachal Pradesh but could not secure it.

CM Claims Rs. 3,000 Crore Saved by Curbing Corruption

The Chief Minister alleged irregularities during the previous BJP government, claiming that around 5,000 bighas of land in Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh had been allotted to favoured industrialists without registration fees, but that industries had not been established on the allotted land so far. He said the state government was considering cancellation of such allotments.

Sukhu said that since he assumed office as Chief Minister, efforts to curb corruption had resulted in savings of around Rs. 3,000 crore. According to him, these resources were being utilized for welfare schemes benefiting widows, children and other needy sections of society.

He further said that properties acquired through corruption were being investigated and that those found to have been acquired through illegal means would be confiscated and utilized for the welfare of the poor. He also sought public cooperation in the government’s efforts to combat corruption.

Three Schools to Be Converted Into CBSE Schools

The Chief Minister announced that Diggal, Bhumti and Jai Nagar schools would be converted into CBSE schools.

He also announced that funds would be provided for the repair of several roads, including Kunihar-Sarma, Mangu-Malawan, Jabban-Jai Nagar, Bhumti-Dadan-Piplooghat and Kohu-Bhiyunkari via Saur.

Responding to a demand raised by Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthy, Sukhu assured that the proposal for opening a Skill Development Centre in Arki would be considered sympathetically.

He also announced the restoration of the Shimla-Dhaina bus route. Earlier, a delegation of transporters had met the Chief Minister and apprised him of their demands. Sukhu assured the delegation that their concerns would be considered sympathetically.

Prayers Offered at Kali Mata Temple

Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhu offered prayers at the Kali Mata Temple and prayed for the prosperity, peace and well-being of Himachal Pradesh and its people.

Addressing the gathering, Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthy described the Sair Fair as a historic event, stating that the tradition had continued for the past 388 years.

Awasthy said several development works had been undertaken in the Arki area during the tenure of the present state government and that the Chief Minister had fulfilled various demands of the people of the region.

He said the Chief Minister was working to safeguard the interests of Himachal Pradesh and had accelerated development activities through effective management. He added that the state government had faced both natural disasters and political challenges, but Himachal Pradesh was moving towards self-reliance through administrative transformation.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, MLAs Vinod Sultanpuri and Hardeep Singh Bawa, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of various boards and corporations, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, District Congress President Solan Subhash Varmani, Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma and other dignitaries were present at the occasion.