Shimla.
A civic reception and dinner was hosted by the State Government at Raj Bhawan here today in the honour of the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, who is on four days visit to the State.
The President also planted a sapling of Rhododendron in the Raj Bhawan premises.
In his welcome address, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that the life of the President has been inspirational. Her efforts in social welfare and education sectors were exceptional especially in promoting innovation and her experience in public life will be helpful in guiding us, he added. He said that Himachal’s journey since 1948 has been great example of inclusive development and social upliftment.
The Governor attributed the simplicity, and innocence of the hardworking people of the State with the deep routed traditions and culture. He said that the greater achievement was to stay connected with ones culture and preserve it besides making the coming generations aware of the same. He said that every region of Himachal Pradesh has a tale to tell, the tale of its valour, its culture and traditions and its mesmerizing nature’s bounty.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu greeted the President on her maiden visit to Himachal Pradesh and said that she was an inspiration to all of as she has been consistently working for the upliftment of the backward and weaker sections of society.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that present government has taken over the reins of the State just four months ago and has taken various decisions in this short span of time to bring innovative reforms. He said that the government has adopted around 6000 orphan children as ‘Children of the State’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Kosh’ has been created to benefit this vulnerable group. He said that a law had been enacted in the State to ensure their proper education, health etc.
Chief Minister further added that the State Government has initiated efforts to provide support for building houses for widows and single women. He said that financial assistance of Rs. 1.5 lakh per woman would be given to 7000 such women during current financial year under the scheme.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the present government was determined to transform Himachal Pradesh into a Green State by March, 2026 and six green corridors were being developed in the State and several new schemes were being made to promote electric vehicles in the State.
There is a vast potential for tourism development in the State and keeping in view this, the State Government has decided to develop Kangra as the ‘Tourism Capital’ of the State. He said that the State Government has initiated various steps to make Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant and economic vibrant State of the country.
He said that the State Government is committed to provide corruption-free, responsive and accountable governance to the people of the State by ensuring transparency in government dealings. He said that the objective of the Government was to ensure equal and balanced development of all sections of the society and has been launching various schemes to uplift the living conditions of the poor and backward classes.
The Chief Minister thanked the President for opening the Presidential Retreat, for the general public, as the people coming from all over the country can now visit the Rashtrapati Niwas and acquaint themselves and enjoy the picturesque beauty of the historical property.
Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Speaker, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Justice Sabina, Acting Chief Justice of HP High Court, Judges of HP High Court , Ministers, Sunil Sharma, Political Advisor to CM, Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor, MLAs, Prabodh Saxena, Chief Secretary, Sanjay Kundu, Director General of Police, Principal Secretary to CM Bharat Khera, Principal Secretaries, senior army and civil officers and other prominent people were also present on the occasion.
