Shimla, March 22
Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Nardev Singh Kanwar, while reacting to the budget 2026–27, said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has presented a budget focused on the common people. The Chief Minister has given special attention to rural areas, the poor and the common man. He stated that despite economic challenges, only a leader like Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu could take such bold decisions. This budget will not only bring financial discipline to the state but also pave the way for sustainable development.
Kanwar said that Sukhu is the first Chief Minister who has worked to put money directly into the pockets of rural people. By increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of milk, turmeric, barley, wheat and maize and by fixing, for the first time, a support price for ginger, the Chief Minister has strengthened the economy of farmers and livestock rearers.
Kanwar added that Sukhu is the first Chief Minister to place special focus on rural areas. The announcement of providing 300 units of free electricity to one lakh extremely poor families and giving Rs. 1500 under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behana Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana to one lakh women from BPL families is commendable.
Kanwar said that by increasing the salaries of contractual employees in the health department and the honorarium of outsourced and project workers, the Chief Minister has clearly conveyed that the government stands firmly with every needy section even during financial constraints.
The Chief Minister has also focused on the health and education sectors, ensuring that people receive quality services at their doorstep.
Kanwar further said that the decision to temporarily cut the salaries of the Chief Minister himself, along with ministers, MLAs, political appointees, and senior officials for six months, is in the public interest. This step is necessary to improve the financial condition of the state and maintain fiscal discipline. He praised the Chief Minister for presenting a balanced budget without putting any burden on the common man.
Kanwar also said that despite the discontinuation of RDG, the Chief Minister maintained financial balance and outperformed the opposition. The BJP is unhappy with the budget because they did not expect such a well-balanced budget that successfully attempts to benefit every section of society.
