Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu participated in the 11th Governing Council Meeting of Niti Aayog held under the theme 'Inclusive human development for Viksit Bharat ' at New Delhi today. The Meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Governing Council deliberated upon the strategies to translate the vision into measurable outcomes and ensure inclusive growth across the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged the Prime Minister to constitute a high level committee for the hill state to assess the losses incurred on account of discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), damages due to natural disasters, depriving fair amount of free power in hydro power projects and revenue losses due to GST regime .
He said that the state is contributing towards the growth of the country despite these limitations, however a detailed report may be presented by the high level committee to the GoI so that the state may get it's due share. He further elaborated that discontinuation of RDG posed a major blow to the economy of the state and added that Rs. 25000 crore provided to the state is insufficient to compensate the loss.
He demanded to increase the amount to Rs. 50,000 crore so that development activities can be carried out in the state in a smooth manner. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh is the green frontier of the country and requires special attention from GoI in order to translate the vision of Viksit Bharat in its true letter and spirit.
He said that Himachal Pradesh provides Rs. 90,000 crore ecological services to the country as per a study conducted by Indian Institute of Forest Management however the state is not being compensated accordingly against its contribution towards preserving ecology. He said that state was being deprived of fair amount of free power on 13000 MW power being produced in the state and added that state has still not received arrears amounting to Rs. 7000 crore from BBMB.
He also mentioned that state bore the brunt of natural disasters and added still awaits the announced Rs. 1500 crore special assistance from GoI. He further apprised that state incurred revenue losses amounting to Rs. 25000 crore during the previous eight years due to the current GST regime.
Listing out the achievements of the state on human development indicators, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that state was declared fully literate in year 2025 and ranked 6th in year 2026 in school education in performance grading index report. State ranked 21st in this index in year 2022 when this government assumed charge.
The state registers 43 percent gross enrollment ratio in higher education which is 28.4 percent higher than national average ratio. He added that state has maintained it's excellent performance in the National Family and Health Survey Report - 6.
The Chief Minister said that state is poised to become best state in green energy soon due to various initiatives like promoting solar energy, green hydrogen, pump storage and battery storage etc. He requested to protect the interests of the state while executing the ambitious Chandrabhaga-Ravi-Beas link project for better water management.
He also detailed about the Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna which aims to identify 1.5 lakh poorest of poor families and make them self-reliant. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stressed upon the need for air connectivity to attract tourists from home and abroad. He urged for developing Gaggal airport so that state can be part of One State One International Destination.
He stressed upon coordination between health, women and child welfare and Education departments for proper execution of child nutrition programmes . He said data sharing between ASHA workers and Anganwari workers is significant. He said that there was a need for integrated AI enabled, IT based data driven evidence based decision making and outcome based monitoring system is important.
He also briefed about the aggressive anti chitta campaign of state government to discourage substance abuse. He requested for support in intelligence network and inter-agency cooperation. K.K. Pant Chief Secretary accompanied the Chief Minister on the occasion.
Chief Ministers of various States, Lt. Governors, Union Ministers, Special invitees, Vice Chairman, Members and CEO of Niti Aayog attended the meeting.