Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today held a review meeting here with senior officers regarding the implementation of budget announcements for the financial year 2025-26. He directed the officials to promptly execute the announcements on the ground so that the general public could derive maximum benefits.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was laying special emphasis on strengthening the education, health, food processing, green energy, tourism, data storage and the rural economy. Considering the new possibilities of development in these sectors, more public welfare schemes would be implemented in the coming time. He added that there was no shortage of funds and resources with the state government for developmental projects. He directed all departments to complete pending projects at a fast pace.
Sh. Sukhu said that efforts were being made to strengthen the rural economy with the objective of increasing the income of people in rural areas, including farmers and horticulturists. He said that cold storage and processing infrastructure were being strengthened to provide higher returns to the farmers and the state government was also promoting natural farming in a big way to strengthen the livelihood of the farming community. Special attention was being given to the certification and marketing of natural products so that farmers get fair prices for their hard work. Besides, the products made by self-help groups were also being promoted under the ‘HIM-IRA’ brand, which was proving beneficial in increasing the income of these groups.
The Chief Minister said that the state government was constantly striving for qualitative improvement in the field of education. For this, at least one Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School was being opened in each Assembly constituency and in the first phase, 100 government schools were being brought under the ambit of CBSE.
In order to provide better health facilities to the people, the health institutions were being equipped with state-of-the-art machines and equipment and the medical technology was being continuously upgraded to ensure specialized health care within the State, said the Chief Minister.
He directed all the departments to complete the digitization of their work in December this year and ensure quick delivery of services to the public through maximum use of modern technology. In line with the budget announcement, drone stations were being set up in Hamirpur, Mandi and Kangra and instructions the concerned departments had been directed to complete this work expeditiously.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Youth Services and Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma, Chairman of the 7th State Finance Commission Nand Lal, MLA's Suresh Kumar and Malendra Rajan, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments attended the meeting.