Punjab Newsline | Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that implementing the vision of Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, the state’s first Chief Minister and widely regarded as the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh, would be the true tribute to his legacy.
Speaking at a ceremony organised in the Library Hall of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha to mark Dr Parmar’s birth anniversary, Sukhu said his life was not merely a chapter of history but a continuing source of inspiration for the state’s development.
Chief Minister said that Dr Parmar had left a secure job in a princely state to participate in the freedom movement and had devoted his life to the creation of a separate hill state. Despite limited resources, he envisioned a modern, self-reliant and balanced Himachal Pradesh.
Sukhu said the present government was carrying forward the same vision through reforms in education, rural development and environmental conservation. He announced that the process of affiliating 150 government schools with CBSE had been initiated and highlighted the launch of the Dr YS Parmar Student Loan Scheme, aimed at ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent students from pursuing higher education.
Emphasising sustainable development, the Chief Minister said Dr Parmar believed in balancing development with environmental protection, and the government was following the same principle. He added that “Vyavastha Parivartan” (systemic change) was being implemented through concrete policies and development programmes rather than remaining only a slogan.
Highlighting the need to strengthen villages, Sukhu said nearly 40 percent of Himachal’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2038, making it essential to create stronger economic opportunities in rural areas.
He said the government was providing support prices for cow and buffalo milk, adding that the initiative had significantly increased the income of some rural families. Minimum support prices are also being extended to crops such as turmeric, wheat, maize and barley.
Chief Minister noted that about 68 percent of the state’s area is forest land and nearly 5 percent is under dams, leaving only around 29 percent of the land available for habitation for Himachal’s nearly 70 lakh population. Development planning, he said, was being carried out with these geographical constraints in mind, and outdated laws were being amended to support changing needs.
Sukhu also appealed to Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to work together in raising issues related to Himachal Pradesh’s economic interests and natural resources before the Central Government. He stressed that political differences should not come in the way of the state’s long-term development.
During the programme, the Chief Minister informed the gathering that a special video showcasing the contributions of all former Chief Ministers had been prepared to present Himachal Pradesh’s journey of progress.
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said Dr Parmar had laid a strong foundation for the state’s development despite limited resources.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, several ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries.
