He described the move as an injustice to the poor and said the State Government would firmly oppose it.
Photo: SNS
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday strongly condemned the Union Government’s decision to abolish the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with a new legislation.
He described the move as an injustice to the poor and said the State Government would firmly oppose it.
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Addressing the closing ceremony of the Indora Utsav in Indora area of Kangra district, the Chief Minister said MGNREGA has been the world’s largest employment guarantee scheme and a crucial lifeline for millions of poor families, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any attempt to dismantle it would adversely affect rural livelihoods, he added.
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The Chief Minister lauded the Indora Utsav, organised on the theme “Chitta-Free Himachal”, and announced that the festival would soon be granted district-level status.
He said the “Chitta-Free Himachal” campaign has evolved into a mass movement across the State. Properties worth Rs. 50 crore linked to drug trafficking have already been seized, and the remaining illicit assets would be destroyed within six months.
He appealed to the public and Panchayats to actively support the campaign and urged people to share information through emergency number 112, assuring complete confidentiality and rewards ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 10 lakh.
Highlighting the state government’s development initiatives, the Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide Minimum Support Price for naturally grown crops, including wheat, maize, turmeric and barley, as well as milk. Strengthening the rural economy remains a top priority, with the government aiming to ensure a minimum monthly income of Rs. 20,000 for every farming family, he added.
In the health sector, he said the government is prioritising the adoption of modern technology. Outdated equipment in medical colleges and civil hospitals is being replaced, with Rs. 3,000 crore released for MRI, CT scan and X-ray machines. Robotic surgery has also been introduced, and five medical colleges have been equipped with advanced 3-Tesla MRI machines. He added that strict measures have been taken to prevent misuse of the HIMCARE scheme.
The Chief Minister said special revenue courts have been established to dispose of long-pending cases, resulting in the settlement of a record 4.63 lakh cases so far.
Emphasising steps towards self-reliance, he said the state government has won the Wild Flower Hall case after 23 years of litigation, which will generate around Rs. 20 crore annually for the State. Similarly, the revision of royalty from the Karcham-Wangtoo hydropower project will fetch an additional Rs. 150 crore per year.
The Chief Minister also interacted with students of the Angel Orphanage Home.
MLA Malender Rajan welcomed the Chief Minister and said the festival aims to create awareness among youth about the harmful effects of drugs. Cultural performances by renowned singer Lakhwinder Badali, the HP Police Band, and local artists added colour to the event.
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