Sukhu launches 6 new schemes to mark 2 yrs of Cong govt in HP

Kullu: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday, launched six new schemes and distributed financial assistance to beneficiaries during an event at Luhnu Ground, Bilaspur, marking the completion of two years of the present state govt’s tenure.To promote natural farming, the CM introduced “Him Bhog Atta,” prepared from maize grown using natural farming practices. The govt procured 398 metric tonnes of maize from 1,506 farmers of ten districts of the state and transferred Rs 1.2 crore to their bank accounts.With HP offering the highest support price in the country for wheat at Rs 40 per kg and maize at Rs 30 per kg, over 1.98 lakh farmers across 35,000 hectares were engaged in natural farming. To further encourage this Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up scheme, 36,000 new farmers would be added this year. To benefit small farmers and livestock owners, Sukhu launched a scheme to purchase organic compost and vermin-compost at Rs 300 per quintal. Payments of Rs 1 lakh were distributed to 100 farmers via direct benefit transfer (DBT).He also handed over keys to 16 electric taxi owners under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme 2023. Beneficiaries received a 50 percent subsidy for purchasing the e-taxis with the vehicles leased to govt offices for five years. The state govt aims to provide around 150 permits to e-taxi owners in the first phase.Sukhu also rolled down Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana by disbursing Rs 1.38 crore to the eligible 5,145 beneficiaries and also provided them eligibility certificates. The scheme aims to cover 23,000 children’s education and well-being of the widows, destitute women, divorced women and disabled parents, offering them financial assistance for their higher education and well-being. Eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 1,000 monthly for children under the age 18 years and financial aid for higher education expenses. With an annual budget of Rs 53.21 crore the scheme aims to prevent child exploitation and provide a supportive environment for vulnerable families.He also launched Rs 1,292 crore Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HP Shiva), to expand horticulture development across seven districts. The initiative would cover 6,000 hectares, promoting the cultivation of different fruits, benefiting over 15,000 farming families directly. It is expected to produce 1.3 lakh metric tonne of fruit annually by 2032 with a market value of Rs 400 crore.Sukhu also flagged off five mobile Ayush healthcare units to serve remote tribal regions, including Kinnaur, Lahaul & Spiti, Chamba and Shillai block of Sirmaur district. Each unit would have an experienced medical team offering Ayurveda, Unani, or Homeopathy treatments based on local needs. This initiative aims to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.The CM also extended financial aid of Rs 1.9 crore under Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana to 197 beneficiaries in Bilaspur district. This included pension for 153 children, housing grants for 17 beneficiaries, marriage and higher education aid for 10 each and vocational training and start-up assistance for three beneficiaries each.
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