Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday launched the Indira Gandhi Pyaari Behna Samman Nidhi Yojana, the fourth of its election guarantee, from Keylong, Lahaul and Spiti district.

Speaking on the occasion Sukhu said that the state government was fulfilling all its guarantees in a phased manner.

The Chief Minister launched the initial phase of this scheme which provides Rs 1,500 per month to all the women of Lahaul and Spiti aged 18 or above.

The Chief Minister also announced to provide Rs 1,500 from 1 February 2024 to 2.37 lakh women who were receiving a pension of Rs 1,100 in the state.

This way, 2.42 lakh women of the state will receive a pension of Rs 1,500 per month, he added.

“We do what we say. We have come to extend the benefits of the schemes to the last person standing in the queue and lay the foundation of a self-reliant Himachal,” remarked Sukhu.

He announced that the schools will remain closed in Lahaul and Spiti in winter and the session would be held in the summers.

He also announced the opening of the Block Development Office in Udaipur, Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in Darcha, the starting of a sewerage scheme and water drainage scheme in Keylong, introducing a scheme for planned beautification of the city, opening of Public Health Centre in Tindi and a dispensary of Animal Husbandry Department in Madgran.

Speaking about the various development schemes introduced by the government in the budget 2024-25 for the benefit of various sections of society, the Chief Minister said that the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Shiksha Yojana has been started to bear the entire cost of education of children of widows till they attain the age of 27.

Along with this, the daily wage under the MNREGA scheme has been increased by Rs 60 from the existing Rs 240-300, he said.

“Himachal has become the first state that ensures high Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk, where the MSP for purchasing cow milk has been fixed at Rs 45, an increase of Rs 13 from earlier MSP of Rs 32,” he said, adding similarly, the MSP of buffalo milk has been fixed at Rs 55.

Along with this, the MSP of wheat produced by natural farming has been fixed at Rs 40 and, similarly, the rate of maize at Rs 30, he said.

State Congress President and MP Pratibha Singh expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of the district for various developmental projects.

She said that the present state government was working under challenging conditions but still was committed to helping all sections of society.

The state government was making continuous efforts to fulfil promises mentioned in the election manifesto, she said, adding that in the coming time, the benefits of the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Samman Nidhi Yojana would be extended to all eligible women of the state in a phased manner.