Keylong: In an announcement for Lahaul & Spiti, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh said the schools would be closed during the winter months due to the harsh cold weather conditions.
This decision, aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students he said.
Additionally, Chief Minister Sukhu unveiled a new social welfare initiative titled the "Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Samman Nidhi Yojana."
This scheme, designed to empower women, will provide a monthly pension of ₹1,500 to eligible recipients.
With an estimated 2.42 lakh women set to benefit from this program, it marks a significant step towards enhancing financial security and independence among women in the region.
Speaking at the launch event, Chief Minister Sukhu underscored the government's dedication to inclusive development and equitable distribution of resources.
He reiterated the importance of supporting marginalized communities and ensuring that every citizen has access to essential services and opportunities for advancement.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted a range of additional projects aimed at fostering growth and progress in Lahaul & Spiti.
The State Government was fulfilling all its guarantees in a phased manner, said Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today as he launched Indira Gandhi Pyaari Behna Samman Nidhi Yojana, fourth of its election guarantee, from Keylong, Lahaul & Spiti district.
The Chief Minister launched the initial phase of this scheme which provisions Rs. 1,500 per month to all the women of Lahaul & Spit aged 18 or above.
The Chief Minister addressed the locals by saying 'Jule' and said that he was happy to be among them and thanked for their enthusiasm while attending the event in the chilling -9 degree temperature.
The Chief Minister also announced to provide Rs 1,500 from 1st February, 2024 to 2.37 lakh women who were receiving pension of Rs 1,100 in the state. In this way, 2.42 lakh women of the state will receive a pension of Rs 1,500 per month.
He announced that the schools will remain closed in Lahaul Spiti in winters and the session would be held in summers.
He also announced opening of Block Development office in Udaipur, Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in Darcha, starting of sewerage scheme and water drainage scheme in Keylong, starting a scheme for planned beautification of the city, opening of Public Health Centre in Tindi and a dispensary of Animal Husbandry Department.
Sh. Sukhu added that the four percent dearness allowance and other dues would be paid to the employees in a phased manner. The diet money of police has also been increased nearly fivefold from Rs. 210 to Rs. 1000, he added.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh would become the first state in the country to increase the age of marriage for girls from 18 years to 21 years.
He said that the state government has started the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parrmar Vidyarthi Rin (Loan) Yojana to provide loans up to Rs. 20 lakh at one percent interest rate to meritorious students for higher education.
Sh. Sukhu further stated that the government was committed to fulfill all of its guarantees in a phased manner.
"The state government has restored the OPS despite many restrictions imposed by the Central Government, so that a government employee could live with dignity after retirement," said the Chief Minister, adding: "As soon as the BJP government was formed in Rajasthan, the OPS, started during the tenure of the Congress government, was withdrawn."
He added that Himachal faced the biggest disaster in its history, in which 525 people died and 16,000 houses were damaged and despite not getting any financial aid from the Central Government, the State Government released a package of Rs. 4,500 crore to the disaster affected people.
MP Pratibha Singh, the State Congress President, said that the present state government was working under challenging conditions but still was committed for helping all sections of the society.
She said that the State Government was making continuous efforts to fulfill promises mentioned in election manifesto.
She said that in the coming time, the benefits of this Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Samman Nidhi Yojana would be extended to all eligible women of the state in a phased manner.
Earlier, the Chief Minister flagged off several ambulances donated by MP Pratibha Singh and also visited exhibitions depicting success of various development activities, schemes and projects carried out by the government. The Chief Minister also unveiled the coffee table book of the district police.
Mandi Lok Sabha MP and Congress President Pratibha Singh Local MLA Ravi Thakur were also present.
These initiatives, spanning infrastructure development, education, healthcare, and tourism promotion, underscore the government's holistic approach to regional upliftment.
