Leader of the opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, on Monday launched a sharp critique against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging him to cease blaming the Central government for what he termed as the state administration's own shortcomings. Thakur emphasised that the onus of fulfilling what he described as "false promises" made during election campaigns rests squarely with the state government, not with the Centre.
Central Policies and Vision for Developed India
Thakur clarified that the Central government formulates uniform policies driven by the overarching vision of achieving a "Developed India by 2047". He argued that this national framework is designed to benefit all states equally, and state governments must align their efforts accordingly rather than shifting blame for local failures.
Union Budget 2026-27 and New Employment Scheme
Highlighting the Union Budget for 2026-27, Thakur detailed significant changes in rural employment initiatives. He announced that the historic Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) would be replaced by the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission – Rural (VB G RAM G) scheme.
Key features of this new mission include:
- A substantial budget allocation of Rs 95,692 crore for the VB G RAM G scheme.
- An additional Rs 30,000 crore earmarked specifically to complete pending MGNREGA works across the country.
- A guarantee of 125 days of employment per household, enhancing livelihood security.
- A reduction in the wage payment cycle to weekly disbursements, aimed at ensuring timely and better benefits for rural workers.
Incomplete Projects and State Government Failures in Himachal
Thakur pointed out critical lapses within Himachal Pradesh, revealing that approximately 1.71 lakh projects remain incomplete in the state. These stalled initiatives span essential areas such as:
- Individual land development works.
- Water conservation efforts.
- Rural connectivity and infrastructure projects.
He further accused the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government of failing to provide its mandated 10% share in 191 centrally sponsored schemes. This financial shortfall, Thakur asserted, is causing significant delays and imposing hardships on citizens who rely on these programs for development and welfare.
Administrative and Financial Challenges
The opposition leader noted that while the new VB G RAM G mission focuses on sustainable infrastructure, water conservation, and rural road construction, integrating the numerous pending projects and managing the state's financial contributions present major administrative and financial hurdles. Thakur concluded that these issues starkly expose what he described as the state government's incompetence in effectively implementing central schemes and addressing local developmental needs.
