Decision to withdraw subsidies will not impact common man: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said the decision of the state government to withdrawn subsidies will not impact the common man who will continue to get these benefits.

“Why should big hoteliers and well off people get subsidies, whether on power or water supply? I want to assure that withdrawal of these subsidies will not impact the weaker sections and the needy people,” he said after inaugurating the expansion of the Fruit and Vegetable Marketing yard at Dhalli, here today.

The Chief Minister said the government had been forced to take some harsh steps, but these were in the larger interest of the state, results of which would be visible by 2027. He cautioned people not to be misled by the BJP’s false propaganda in this regard.

Sukhu lamented that despite massive damage to infrastructure during the 2023 monsoons, the Centre had not provided financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh. “Unperturbed by the Centre’s attitude, the state government announced a special package of Rs 4,500 crore and also enhanced the relief for damaged houses, cow sheds and other heads in the old relief manual,” he said.

“We must create self-employment avenues and better facilities in the rural areas to bring about economic prosperity so that there is no migration to urban areas,” he said. He said Rs 65 crore pending dues to the apple growers have been released.

“The BJP regime inaugurated incomplete projects including a CA store. We released Rs 13 crore to complete the Rs 29 crore CA store for the benefit of the fruit growers,” he said. New CA stores are being made to ensure that apple and other fruit growers get good prices for their produce. Sukhu said the Jubbal-Rajgarh-Chandigarh road would be double-laned to ensure smooth transportation of apple from the apple growing belt.

He said 6,000 posts of teachers would be filled up to ensure quality education to the students. “As far as health facilities are concerned, we are trying to strengthen services, including casualty department in hospitals,” he said. He added that the doctor-patient ratio was being improved to ensure proper care and treatment.

The Chief Minister said all possible efforts were being made to strengthen the rural economy, where almost 90 per cent of the population resides.