Sarkaghat I-Day: Sukhu Reloads Old BJP Idea, Shifts Medical Varsity to near his Turf
SARKAGHAT/SHIMLA– State-level Independence Day in Sarkaghat was more about Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s political fireworks than the parade.
Braving heavy rains, Sukhu hoisted the tricolour and rolled out a platter of promises — but with only two years left in his term, the clock is ticking.
Among the headline moves, he dusted off the BJP-era “Nasha Niwaran Board” — earlier a dud — and rebranded it as the Nasha Mukti Roktham and Punarvas Board, roping in experts from multiple departments, NGOs and social scientists.
Alongside, he announced an Anti-Chitta Volunteer Scheme to create a bridge between police and public, with incentives for volunteers who give actionable leads against drug mafias.
In a decision with clear regional pull, Sukhu declared the shifting of Atal Medical and Research University from Nerchowk to Sarkaghat — giving Dharampur, Sarkaghat and Jahu in Hamirpur better access to medical education and services.
But the shift can spark ire in Mandi, Kullu, Balh, Nachan, Seraj and Drang, whose residents will now trek to Bilaspur AIIMS for top-tier care.
The shifting will also need funds to create infrastructure while existing infrastructure at Ner Chowk will go waste, said the critics.
Sukhu also promised Rs 100 crore immediate relief for disaster-hit families and a Rs 3,000 crore project for disaster-proofing and livelihood protection.
House damage compensation has been hiked from Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh for full damage and from Rs 12,500 to Rs 1 lakh for partial damage, with uninhabitable houses treated as fully damaged.
On education, he announced 200 CBSE schools, over 9,500 new teacher posts, and an end to mid-session retirements, along with 600 patwari and 600 JBT recruitments, 200 doctors, 300 panchayat secretaries, and 1,300 police jobs next month.
In the private sector, he claimed over 51,000 youth have already been placed.
On the green energy front, he set aside Rs 61 crore for solar panel subsidies, announced 2,000 e-three-wheeler permits for unemployed youth, and extended interest subsidies for solar projects ranging from 100 kilowatts to 1 megawatt.
For the rural economy, the government is buying cow’s milk at Rs 51 per litre, buffalo’s at Rs 61, maize at Rs 40 per kg, wheat at Rs 60, turmeric at Rs 90, and manure at Rs 300 per quintal, while apples, kinnow, and oranges are being procured at Rs 12 per kg under the MIS.
For women’s welfare, nearly three lakh women aged 18 to 59 are getting Rs 1,500 a month under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana.
Healthcare promises included the start of robotic surgery at Chamiyana with plans to extend it to other medical colleges, an increase in Sarkaghat Civil Hospital’s bed capacity from 100 to 150, and a new bus stand and parking near Shiv Mandir.
Tourism got a push with border tourism plans and a plea to the Centre to open the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Shipki La, he claimed.
With half the term gone, Sukhu’s promises sound big and bold — but unless the funds flow and groundwork starts, they risk ending up as Independence Day oratory.
And shifting a medical college for political mileage could easily boomerang if the Mandi belt feels sidelined.
Meanwhile, at the historic Ridge Shimla Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri led the celebration.
The highlight of the show was a solo natti performance by a 92- year old ex-DGP Rati Ram Verma, whose video went viral on social media.
The celebrations were held at every nook and corner of Himachal and other Himalayan states marking the national fervour everywhere.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court celebrated Independence Day with patriotic fervour as Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia hoisted the Tricolour, inspected the Guard of Honour and joined the National Anthem played by the Police and Home Guard Band.
Judges, former judges, senior advocates, judicial officers and staff from the High Court, District Courts, HP Judicial Academy and State Legal Services Authority attended the event.
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