Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that the recent NEET paper leak during the tenure of the Central Government has shattered the dreams of millions of students across the country. He said that playing with the future of young people is unacceptable under any circumstances. Launching the Youth Congress campaign, 'Chhatron kee Goonj,' from State Congress headquarters in Shimla today, he said this campaign would organise protests and public outreach programmes across the state to raise issues concerning the students.
The Chief Minister said that the Agniveer Yojna started by the Central Government has been unfair to the youth of Himachal Pradesh. He said that earlier, a large number of young people from the state used to join the Army, but the four-year service model has reduced their interest in military recruitment.
He said that the state government is creating regular employment opportunities through transparent recruitment in the Police and other departments. During the previous BJP government, question papers of the Police recruitment examination and the Subordinate Services Selection Commission were leaked and sold for huge sums of money.
To ensure transparency in recruitment, the present government has established the Rajya Chayan Aayog. Referring to the NEET paper leak, he said it has destroyed the aspirations of millions of students across the country.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is bringing major reforms in the education sector. Himachal had slipped to 21st rank in quality education in 2021, but due to consistence efforts of the present government, the state has now reached the fifth position.
Himachal Pradesh is poised to become the number one state in the country in the field of education very soon. He said that modern CBSE schools are being established across the state along-with recruitment of teachers to provide quality education.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government is strengthening medical services across state. He said that people from the state spend nearly Rs. 1,000 crore every year on treatment outside Himachal due to the lack of advanced healthcare facilities.
To address this issue, the government is equipping hospitals with modern medical equipment on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi. Moreover, 3-Tesla MRI machines are being installed in all medical colleges and robotic surgery facilities have already been introduced, ensuring better treatment for all sections of society, especially economically weaker families.
The Chief Minister said that the government is promoting natural farming to strengthen the rural economy and the crops being grown through natural farming are being given Minimum Support Price (MSP). He added that the state government is purchasing cow milk at Rs. 61 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs. 71 per litre to support the farmers.
Highlighting the government's welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister said that social security remains one of its highest priorities. He said that students are being provided education loans of up to Rs. 20 lakh at an interest rate of only one per cent.
He said that around 6,000 orphaned children have been adopted as 'Children of the State', with the government taking responsibility for their overall development. He urged the party workers to ensure that the welfare schemes of the congress government reach up to grass root level so that all the beneficiaries could be benefited.
He said the revenue deficit grant of the state has been discontinued by the union government and the BJP leaders have repeatedly said that they are against restoring the old pension scheme to the state government employees. He questioned why people should vote for the BJP under such circumstances and expressed confidence that history would change in 2027 with repeat of the Congress government.
The Chief Minister said that his political journey began through student politics and that the Congress Party gave him the opportunity to serve the people of the state as Chief Minister. The Congress ideology played a key role in India's freedom struggle and laid the foundation for the country's development through initiatives such as the five-year plans and the establishment of premier institutions like IITs and AIIMS.
Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania said that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has risen from the student politics to lead the state as Chief Minister. He said that several papers were leaked during the BJP-led Central Government, whereas the present state government has taken strict action against those involved in paper leak cases and ensured transparency in recruitment.
National In-charge of Youth Congress Jyotish H.M. said that under the 'Chhatron Kee Goonj' campaign, protests would be organised in every Assembly constituency of Himachal Pradesh to raise awareness among students and the public about issues such as the NEET paper leak. President, HP Youth Congress Chhattar Singh said that the present state government is providing employment opportunities to young people purely on the basis of merit.
A two-minute silence was observed on this occasion in memory of the 21 children who lost their lives due to the circumstances arising from the NEET paper leak and prayed for the peace of their souls.