SARKAGHAT (Mandi), Aug. 15 — Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday led Himachal Pradesh’s 79th Independence Day celebrations in Sarkaghat, unfurling the National Flag, inspecting the parade, and taking the salute from police, paramilitary and NCC contingents despite heavy rain.
In his address, Sukhu focused on disaster relief, anti-drug measures, employment generation, and rural development, while reiterating the state’s goal of becoming India’s first Green Energy State. “Climate change is causing frequent disasters, and we must respond with both immediate relief and long-term resilience,” he said.
He noted that the 2023 disaster inflicted losses of Rs 10,000 crore, yet the state received only Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre — two years later — and no aid so far for this year’s calamities. The state government, he said, has already disbursed Rs 360.42 crore and announced another Rs 100 crore in relief. A Rs 3,000 crore project has been launched for disaster mitigation and livelihood support. Compensation for fully damaged houses has been raised from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, and for partially damaged homes from Rs 12,500 to Rs 1 lakh.
On combating drugs, Sukhu said property worth over Rs 42 crore has been seized from traffickers under the PIT NDPS Act, and drug testing is now mandatory in police recruitment. A new Nasha Mukti Roktham and Punarvas Board with experts and NGOs will spearhead prevention and rehabilitation, while the Anti-Chitta Volunteer Scheme will involve youth in awareness drives. Village-level anti-drug committees will be set up under police supervision.
In education, Sukhu said Himachal now ranks fifth nationally in quality and will soon fill over 9,500 teacher posts, open 200 CBSE curriculum schools, and ensure teachers retire at the end of the academic year. The state has given 23,191 government jobs in two and a half years, including 5,452 teaching positions. Upcoming recruitments include 600 patwaris, 600 JBTs, 200 doctors, 300 panchayat secretaries, and over 1,300 police personnel. The corruption-tainted HPSSSB has been replaced by a new Rajya Chayan Aayog, and reforms in the HP Public Service Commission will see final merit based on both written and interview scores. A law mandating three-year jail terms for exam cheating is also planned.
Highlighting green initiatives, the CM announced Rs 61 crore for solar panel subsidies and 4–5 percent interest subvention for solar projects, with power purchased by the state electricity board. He said 2,000 e-three wheeler permits will be issued to unemployed youth.
To bolster the rural economy, Sukhu said cow’s milk is being procured at Rs 51 per litre, buffalo milk at Rs 61, and cow dung at Rs 300 per quintal. The state is buying naturally grown maize, wheat, barley, and turmeric at fair prices, and fruits such as apples, oranges, mangoes, kinnow, and malta under the MIS scheme. The Rs 100 crore Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana will involve women and youth in afforestation. Women aged 18 to 59 are receiving Rs 1,500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana.
In health care, robotic surgery has begun at Chamiyana Hospital in Shimla and will be extended to other medical colleges. The Atal Medical and Research University will shift from Nerchowk to Sarkaghat, the Sarkaghat Civil Hospital will be upgraded from 100 to 150 beds, and a new bus stand and parking facility will be developed near Shiv Mandir.
On tourism, Sukhu said border tourism has opened to areas near the China border and urged the Centre to allow the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki La. He congratulated Flight Lieutenant Arshveer Thakur of Jubbal for receiving the Vir Chakra in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and paid tribute to Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra awardee, along with other martyrs.
The event featured a cultural programme, rescue demonstrations by Home Guards, and honours for parade participants and artists. A Rs 1 lakh cheque from Jagannath of Sarkaghat was presented to the Chief Minister Relief Fund. Dignitaries included MLAs Chander Shekhar, Suresh Kumar, Ranjeet Rana, and Dalip Thakur, former ministers Rangila Ram Rao and Prakash Chaudhary, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, DGP Ashok Tiwari, and senior Congress leaders.
