All you want to know about the budget and allocation for various schemes
Sunil Chadha
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday (March 17, 2025) presented his third budget in the Vidhan Sabha.
Chief Minister Sukhu said the budget aims to enhance infrastructure, boost employment, improve healthcare and strengthen welfare schemes for the people of Himachal Pradesh. He announced the following pro-people measures:
Agriculture and dairy sector
• Milk support price increased: Cow milk price raised from ₹45 to ₹51 per litre, buffalo’s milk from ₹55 to ₹61 per litre.
Organic crop MSP hike:
o Maize support price increased from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg.
o Wheat support price increased from ₹40 to ₹60 per kg.
o Raw turmeric MSP set at ₹90 per kg.
Fisheries & rural development
• Relief for over 20,000 fishermen and fish farmers.
• Royalty reduced from 15% to 7.5%.
• Government subsidy for purchasing new boats.
Infrastructure and tourism development
• Kangra airport expansion: ₹3,000 crore allocated for time-bound development.
• Balh airport project to be pursued with the Airports Authority of India.
• Wellness & rafting centres to be set up in Nadaun.
• New fire stations to be opened in Rajgarh and Kandaghat.
• Old and unfit fire department vehicles to be scrapped.
Employment & business support
• Startup scheme for youth to boost entrepreneurship.
• Small Shopkeepers Welfare Scheme introduced with ₹100 crore allocation.
Hike in Municipal Corporation salaries:
o Mayor: ₹25,000/month
o Deputy Mayor: ₹19,000/month
o Councillors: ₹9,400/month
Education & child development
• 18,925 anganwadi centres to be relocated to nearby schools.
o Renamed as Anganwadi-cum-Pre-Nursery Schools for children aged 3-6 years.
o Enhanced nutritional support for enrolled children.
BPL daughters education scheme
o ₹25,000 insurance coverage for two daughters per BPL family.
Social welfare & pension
• 37,000 new beneficiaries to be added under social security pension scheme.
• ₹67 crore additional budget allocation for pensions.
• Pension for persons with 40% or more disability.
• Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana to be provided in phased manner to eligible women from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
Health & medical infrastructure
• 39 new dialysis units to be set up at a cost of ₹45 crore.
• PG Doctors’ stipend increased to ₹1 lakh per month.
o Operation Theatre Assistants (OTAs) salary hiked by 50% to ₹17,000/month; radiographer ₹25,000/month
CM senior citizen care scheme
o Health workers to conduct home visits for citizens aged 70+ and provide home-based healthcare facilities.
• 1,000 patient assistants (Rogi Mitra) to be recruited.
De-addiction & rehabilitation measures
o New board under CM to address drug addiction & rehabilitation.
o Collaboration with AIIMS-Delhi & PGI-Chandigarh for anti-drug initiatives.
Transportation & mobility
• 3,000 diesel taxis to be replaced with e-taxis & e-rickshaws.
• 1,000 new bus routes allocated to youth.
• All government offices in Hamirpur district to switch to electric vehicles.
Labour & Wages
• MGNREGA workers’ daily wage increased by ₹20.
• New welfare schemes for labourers in the upcoming fiscal year.
Employee benefits & allowances
• Direct recruitment of 853 panchayat assistants.
• Restructuring of administrative blocks for better governance.
• Employees’ DA increased by 3%.
• Pensioners aged 70-75 to receive full arrear payments in the first phase.
Special announcements & political jibes
• CM Sukhu takes a dig at Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, referring to reviving ‘dried-up’ plants.
• Inter-caste marriage incentive increased from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh.
• CM reminisces about his humble beginnings, recalling his struggles selling newspapers and running a PCO before entering politics.
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Nobody from Himachal BJP speaks in Kangana’s support as Congress activists protest her ‘abrasive’ language in Mandi
Duty meets devotion: Himachal police personnel attend spiritual discourse near Dharamshala
CM Sukhu to preside over state-level Himachal Day function in Pangi; find out where other ministers will be
