Education Minister Rohit Thakur and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani today while addressing a press conference refuted the statements of Union Health Minister and senior BJP leader J.P. Nadda said that the people of Himachal Pradesh deserve facts and tangible outcomes rather than political claims and self-congratulatory narratives.
The Ministers said that Shri J.P. Nadda is among the most senior leaders from Himachal Pradesh holding a key position in the Union Government. Therefore, the expectations of the people of the state from him are naturally higher. The people of Himachal Pradesh expect that their concerns, financial interests and developmental priorities will receive strong representation at the national level.
They said that Himachal Pradesh has historically progressed whenever there has been effective coordination between the Union and State Governments. Several major educational institutions, healthcare facilities and developmental projects in the state were established during Congress government in centre. The Ministers said that Himachal today requires the same spirit of cooperative federalism, especially at a time when the state is facing financial pressures, reconstruction challenges and increasing developmental needs.
The Ministers said that one of the biggest concerns before the state today is the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), which has historically served as a vital financial support mechanism for Himachal Pradesh under Article 275(1) of the Constitution. For decades, successive Finance Commissions recognized the special challenges faced by hill states and recommended support accordingly.
The discontinuation of RDG is expected to result in an annual loss of over Rs. 8,100 crore for the state. Such a reduction places additional pressure on the state's finances at a time when substantial investments are required in education, healthcare, infrastructure and social welfare.
The Ministers further said that Himachal Pradesh suffered unprecedented devastation during the natural disasters of 2023. Roads, bridges, educational institutions, water supply schemes, health facilities and public infrastructure suffered extensive damage, causing losses worth thousands of crores of rupees.
During this period, the state government repeatedly sought enhanced support for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Even the announced amount of 1500 crore by the Prime Minister is still awaited.
Referring to the health sector, the Ministers said that there remains a significant gap between the claims made regarding healthcare financing and the actual financial support reaching the state. While the Centre frequently highlights the 90:10 funding pattern under Ayushman Bharat for special category states, available figures indicate that against health claims of approximately Rs. 155 crore during 2025-26, Himachal Pradesh received only around Rs. 49 crore from the Centre.
This raises legitimate questions regarding the actual level of support available to the state under the scheme. They said that between 2018-19 and 2025-26, treatment claims under health insurance schemes amounted to nearly Rs. 599 crore. During this period, the state government had to bear a substantial additional burden from its own resources to ensure uninterrupted treatment for beneficiaries.
Despite financial constraints, the present government ensured that healthcare services were not affected and recently released Rs. 100 crore for clearing pending Himcare liabilities so that hospitals and patients do not face inconvenience. The Ministers further said that despite fiscal challenges, the state government has undertaken one of the most ambitious healthcare modernization programmes in Himachal Pradesh.
Nearly Rs. 3,000 crore is being invested in modern medical equipment and healthcare infrastructure. Advanced laboratories are being established at Chamiyana, IGMC Shimla and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. Robotic surgery facilities, PET Scan services, advanced cancer treatment infrastructure, trauma centres and modern diagnostic technologies are being expanded across the state to ensure access to quality healthcare.
Speaking on education, Rohit Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh continues to perform exceptionally well despite financial challenges and is now emerging as the frontrunner state in field of education. The state secured the 6th position nationally and 3rd position among all states in the recently released Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0, earning a place in the prestigious Prachesta-2 category.
The Ministers also expressed concern regarding issues relating to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). They said that Himachal Pradesh has consistently raised matters concerning its rightful interests as a stakeholder state and expects continued attention to issues related to water resources, power benefits and financial interests associated with BBMB.
The state looks forward to stronger support in ensuring that its legitimate rights are adequately protected. They said that the state government is not seeking special favors but only what is constitutionally, legally and financially due to its people.
The state requires sustained support, timely financial assistance and genuine partnership to address its unique challenges as a hill state. The people of Himachal Pradesh expect tangible outcomes, effective cooperation and a shared commitment towards the state's long-term development and prosperity.
The Ministers said that while political differences are a part of democracy, senior leaders representing state at the national level should avoid making negative or misleading remarks that undermine the state's interests. They urged Sh. Nadda to rise above partisan politics and use his influence in the Union Government to secure greater financial assistance, disaster relief support and developmental projects for the state.