Kullu: Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected panchayat pradhans and up-pradhans of Kangra district. The CM also administered a collective pledge to the gathering to make Himachal Pradesh free from chitta and to strengthen the mass movement against drug abuse.
Addressing the oath-taking ceremony at Dari ground in Dharamshala, the chief minister said that panchayats were the strongest pillar of Indian democracy and played a pivotal role in realising Mahatma Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj.
"The panchayat representatives serve as the most important link between the govt and the people and bear the responsibility of ensuring transparency, accountability and public participation in implementing schemes related to roads, drinking water, sanitation, education, healthcare and livelihoods while promoting village development, social harmony and public welfare," said the CM.
The CM said that the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments marked a historic step towards ensuring women's participation in PRIs and urban local bodies, an initiative inspired by the vision of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He said the State govt conducted the panchayat elections in a timely and well-planned manner to ensure that students' education was not disrupted. He also informed that the honorarium of Panchayat representatives was enhanced.
He said the state govt was working with a commitment to bring about systemic reforms and make Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state over the next five years.
"Through fiscal discipline, better resource management and control over unnecessary expenditure, the govt generated additional revenue worth thousands of crores during the last three and a half years. Simultaneously, we are pursuing the state's interests before the Union Govt on issues such as green bonus, revenue deficit grant, Shanan Project, Bhakra Beas Management Board and other matters concerning Himachal Pradesh," said a statement released by the CM.
The CM said the state govt achieved a significant breakthrough in safeguarding Himachal's interests in the 422 MW Kishau Dam Project. The Govt of India has, in principle, agreed that the beneficiary states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi would bear approximately Rs 2,000 crore cost of Himachal Pradesh's power component in the project, thereby substantially reducing the financial burden on the State.
He said the Govt was creating maximum employment opportunities for youth and announced that recruitment for 800 constable posts in the Police department would commence shortly.
The Chief minister said the state govt increased wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from Rs 247 to Rs 320 per day, resulting in the generation of 407 lakh man-days during the previous financial year against the target of 250 lakh man-days.
Describing the growing menace of drug abuse, particularly Chitta, as a serious social challenge, the Chief minister said the state govt was working under a multi-pronged strategy to dismantle the drug network. The Anti-Chitta Jan Andolan, launched on Nov 15, 2025, has now evolved into a statewide mass movement with active public participation.
He informed that 234 panchayats were identified as Chitta-affected, which were placed under a special surveillance, while Panchayat representatives were urged to work towards making their villages drug-free and to engage youth in sports, education and cultural activities.
