Bilaspur (Munish Sood)
To mark the completion of two years of the current Congress government’s tenure, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched six significant schemes aimed at uplifting the state’s rural economy, promoting sustainable farming, and enhancing social welfare. The event took place at Luhnu Ground, Bilaspur, with a large number of beneficiaries and state leaders in attendance.
One of the key highlights was the launch of Him Bhog Atta, a product made from maize cultivated using natural farming techniques. The government procured 398 metric tonnes of maize from 1,506 farmers across ten districts and directly transferred Rs. 1.20 crore to their bank accounts. Himachal Pradesh, offering the highest support price in the country for both wheat and maize, is promoting natural farming to enhance the income of over 1.98 lakh farmers across 35,000 hectares. The Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Scheme aims to integrate 36,000 new farmers this year into the initiative, further boosting the state’s agricultural economy.
To support small farmers and livestock owners, Sukhu launched a scheme to purchase organic compost and vermi-compost at Rs. 300 per quintal. Additionally, Rs. 1 lakh was distributed to 100 farmers via direct benefit transfer (DBT), aiming to bolster their incomes and contribute to the rural economy.
In a significant step towards green mobility, the Chief Minister handed over keys to 16 electric taxi owners under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme 2023. Beneficiaries received a 50% subsidy on e-taxi purchases, with vehicles leased to government offices for five years, ensuring a stable income for taxi owners. The state plans to issue around 150 permits for e-taxis in the first phase.
Sukhu also launched the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, disbursing Rs. 1.38 crore to 5,145 beneficiaries. This scheme supports the education of children from vulnerable families, including widows, destitute women, divorced women, and parents with disabilities. With a budget of Rs. 53.21 crore, the scheme ensures that children under 18 receive Rs. 1,000 monthly, while financial assistance is provided for higher education expenses.
The Chief Minister introduced the HP Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value Addition Project (HP Shiva), a Rs. 1,292 crore initiative aimed at expanding horticulture in seven districts. The project will cover 6,000 hectares and benefit over 15,000 farming families, boosting the cultivation of fruits like oranges, guavas, and plums. The initiative is expected to generate 1.3 lakh metric tonnes of fruit annually by 2032, worth Rs. 400 crore.
To enhance healthcare access, Sukhu flagged off five mobile Ayush healthcare units for remote tribal regions, offering Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy treatments. Each unit will serve underserved areas such as Kinnaur, Lahaul & Spiti, Chamba, and Shillai block in Sirmaur.
Additionally, the Chief Minister extended Rs. 1.90 crore in financial assistance under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (MMSAY) to 197 beneficiaries in Bilaspur district, including pensions, housing grants, and education aid.
These schemes are a testament to the Congress government’s commitment to improving the lives of Himachal Pradesh’s citizens, focusing on sustainable development, economic empowerment, and welfare initiatives.
