TNR Desk
As Himachal Pradesh turns 76 on Monday (April 15, 2024), the celebrations are low key in view of the model code of conduct that is in force for the June 1 Lok Sabha poll and the byelections to the six Assembly constituencies.
In the past, Himachal Day has been celebrated with much fanfare as several pro-people and pro-employee announcements have been made by the parties in power. The state came into existence on April 15, 1948.
The state-level Himachal Day function was organised at Ridge Ground in Shimla in which Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla hoisted the national flag. Usually, the Chief Minister is present as the chief guest in the Himachal Day celebrations, but this time that couldn’t happen due to the code of conduct. On the occasion, folk artistes from all districts presented colourful cultural programmes.
Himachal Pradesh, which came into existence after the merger of 30 hill states of Punjab and Shimla on April 15, 1948, has touched many milestones over the past seven decades.
In 1948, the literacy rate in Himachal Pradesh was 7 per cent, which has reached 82.80 per cent currently after 76 years. There are three airports in the state; there were none in 1948. The state has also achieved a leading position in the field of health. Starting from zero, Himachal now has one AIIMS, a satellite PGI centre, five medical colleges, five dental colleges and several nursing and pharmacy colleges.
In education, Himachal has one IIIT, one IIT, three autonomous engineering institutes and dozens of engineering colleges. Students not only from the state but also from other states of the country are coming here to get education. In 1948, the per capita income of the people of Himachal was Rs 240, which has currently reached Rs 2,35,199.
