Nahan, March 8
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government would introduce a law to provide 25 per cent reservation for women in recruitment to Class-III posts in government departments. He was presiding over the state-level International Women’s Day function held in Nahan, in Sirmaur district.
The Chief Minister also announced a special recruitment drive for women Sub-Inspectors in the Police Department. He said that the government was committed to strengthening women’s participation in policing and other public services.
During the function, the Chief Minister announced Rs. 500 crore for the development of Nahan Medical College. He said that the institution would be upgraded with improved infrastructure and better medical facilities. He also announced to increase Mahila Samman Rashi from Rs. one lakh to Rs. two lakh. In addition, MSc Zoology, MBA and MA History courses would be introduced from the next academic session at PG College Nahan.
Extending greetings on International Women’s Day, the Chief Minister said that women’s welfare was the top priority of the present state government and the women were at the centre of every government initiative. He said that the government has ensured equal rights for daughters in ancestral property up to 150 bighas, giving them rights equal to sons.
Sukhu said that under Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana the state government was bearing the cost of higher education for the children of widowed women. He said that the entire administrative leadership of Lahaul-Spiti district was currently in the hands of women and that the Deputy Commissioners of Sirmaur and Hamirpur districts were also women officers.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the legal marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The government was also encouraging widow remarriage and the incentive amount has been increased from Rs. 65 thousand to Rs. 2 lakh. He said 30 percent reservation has already been provided to women in police recruitment and the government was considering providing a monthly pension of Rs. 1,500 to women in the state from next year.
Referring to the 2023 natural disaster, the Chief Minister said the state government revised relief rules and significantly increased compensation for affected families. Despite administrative advice, the government decided to provide Rs. seven lakh for house reconstruction. He said that during the crisis the entire administrative machinery was engaged in relief work.
Sukhu said that the opposition for repeatedly demanding a special assembly session during the disaster period. When a special relief package for affected families was proposed, BJP legislators walked out of the Assembly.
The Chief Minister said that 1st February, 2026 would remain a black day in the history of Himachal Pradesh, as the central government stopped the Rs. 10 thousand crore annual RDG financial assistance provided to the state. He said that Himachal Pradesh is a small state with limited sources of income. Despite providing water to northern India, irrigating the fields of Punjab and preserving forests, the state’s rights have often been overlooked.
Sukhu said he had offered to go to Delhi along with BJP leaders to raise the state’s concerns, but they did not effectively take up the issue. He said that the people of Himachal Pradesh will have to fight for their rights with determination. He said that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, Himachal Pradesh slipped to 21st position in quality education rankings, which he described as a setback for students and the people of the state. He said the present government was working to improve the quality of education and have introduced CBSE-pattern schools, where subjects such as music and drawing would also be taught. Teachers for these subjects would be recruited through the Rajya Chayan Aayog.
