No Budget Cut in Education, Health Despite Financial Challenges: CM Sukhu.
Pushes for new-age courses and language programmes; launches internal ranking of government colleges.
Shimla:
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday asserted that the state government would not curtail funding for the education and health sectors despite facing financial challenges. Presiding over a one-day Principals’ Conference on reforms in higher education in Shimla, he emphasized that education remains a top priority for the government and reiterated its commitment to ensuring quality learning opportunities even in remote areas.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that strengthening students’ self-confidence is essential to prepare them for future challenges. “Boosting self-confidence among students is of paramount importance so that they can effectively take on future challenges. In this direction, the role of teachers and education is vital,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives to transform the education sector, Sukhu stressed the need to establish new specialized institutions such as Science, Commerce and Fine Arts colleges across the state. He informed that a Science College is being set up in Hamirpur over 50 bighas of land and the government has already released Rs. 20 crore for the project. Similar specialized colleges, including Commerce institutions, will also be opened in different parts of the state to expand academic opportunities for students.
The Chief Minister said the government was working to bridge existing gaps in higher education through meaningful reforms. Recruitment is underway to fill 400 posts of Assistant Professors and another 400 posts of Junior Assistant Professors in government colleges. He also directed the introduction of new-age courses and additional language programmes in colleges to improve the employability prospects of students.
To promote quality and accountability in higher education institutions, the state government has introduced an internal ranking system for colleges on the lines of the school ranking framework, Sukhu said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted structural reforms undertaken in the education department. The government has restructured the department by establishing separate Directorates for School Education and Higher Education. He said teachers in the state are efficient and highly qualified, and these reforms would further enable them to deliver quality education to students.
CM Sukhu noted that the introduction of CBSE-pattern schools in the state has shown positive results, with a significant rise in student enrollment. He assured that all required teaching staff for these schools would be provided within the next two months.
Turning to the health sector, CM Sukhu said it is another key priority for the state government. He stated that several reforms are being implemented, including the installation of high-end MRI machines in medical colleges. The response to robotic surgery in the state has also been encouraging, he added.
Referring to the state’s financial situation, the Chief Minister said that the Revenue Deficit Grant to the state had been discontinued and financial assistance amounting to Rs. 1,600 crore had been denied, allegedly due to the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees. However, he defended the decision, saying, “OPS was not a politically motivated decision but reflects the state government’s commitment to ensuring social security for employees in their old age.”
On the occasion, the Chief Minister launched the Internal Ranking of Government Colleges in the state. Government College Hamirpur secured the first position in the overall rankings, followed by Government College Sanjauli and Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Shimla.
In the Tier-I category, Government College Hamirpur ranked first, Government College Sanjauli stood second, and Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Shimla secured the third position. In Tier-II, Government College Bhoranj bagged the top spot, followed by Government College Saraswatinagar in Shimla and Government College Sunni. In Tier-III, Government College Kaffota ranked first, while Degree College Darlaghat and Government College Chailkoti secured the second and third positions, respectively. The Chief Minister honoured the top-ranked colleges and presented them with cheques of Rs. 1 lakh each.
CM Sukhu also launched the Vikrami Samvat Calendar of the Himachal Pradesh Sanskrit Academy and virtually inaugurated digital initiatives of government colleges at Bilaspur, Dharamshala and Chaura Maidan.
Among those present on the occasion were Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Secretary Education Rakesh Kanwar, Director Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet K Sharma, Chairman of the State Higher Education Council Prof. Sarbjot Singh Behl, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University Prof. Mahavir Singh, and principals from various colleges across the state.
