Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu visits Dodra-Kawar, launches "Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar" initiative

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 26 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday took a significant step towards bridging the gap between governance and the people by launching the "Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar" program from Dodra-Kawar, a remote area in the Shimla district.
The initiative aims to bring government services closer to people living in distant and underserved areas. As part of the program, the Chief Minister has pledged to stay in the village, interact with the residents, and understand their challenges firsthand.
During the visit, the Chief Minister distributed a monthly honorarium of Rs 1500 to the local women, recognizing their contributions and ensuring financial support.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of such interactions between the government and the people. He remarked that this visit was his third to the area, highlighting the need to address the specific challenges faced by the residents.
"I visited the most backward area. This is my third visit, so in both the visits, I understood the basic problems here, what kind of plan is to be made about it, we will move forward about what kind of plans are to be made," he stated.
The focus of this visit is to plan and implement projects that cater to the region's unique needs, including improving local infrastructure like roads, providing solar power for consistent electricity, and enhancing healthcare services.
In addition to the honorarium, the Chief Minister announced several development projects for the area, including Rs 1 crore for each of the five panchayats to enhance road connectivity and facilitate the installation of solar plants for nighttime electricity.
This is in line with the government's vision to uplift the rural economy by ensuring better infrastructure and providing employment opportunities.
"Our government is working with this view and we will have to understand the rural economy. We have increased rupees to 60 MGNREGA, so congratulations so that the people of the village can earn money. And in the coming budget, we are going to make a big change," the Chief Minister said.
Addressing the need for self-reliance in villages, he highlighted the government's plans to boost local economies through income-generating schemes, even aiming to provide job-equivalent incomes without the need for government jobs.
"If we can provide an income equivalent to a job of Rs 10, 15,000 in his village itself, we are bringing about system change by bringing such schemes," he explained.
The Chief Minister did not shy away from political discourse, responding to criticisms from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He challenged them to base their critiques on facts rather than false claims, adding, "People of BJP keep lying. I don't know how many taxes they have counted. We are calling by choosing such words. I have never heard such dreams."
He also criticized the opposition for their lack of support during natural disasters, saying, "They can criticize our government but they should do it on the basis of facts, we should not lie, we also respect the leader of the opposition, if he gives any suggestion, that is also welcome, why did he not help us in the disaster in Parliament, why did he not go to the Prime Minister to help Himachal in the disaster, he never helped, we are fighting, will fight and will win this battle."
Rajkumari, the President of the local Mahila Mandal, expressed her gratitude, saying, "The women got Rs 1500 and the Chief Minister came to their house, so they are very happy, we are very happy, we were waiting for the Chief Minister since morning, it is amazing that he has come here, Raja Saheb has also done a lot of work here but it feels even better that the Chief Minister has come."
Former Pradhan of Kawar Panchayat, Shouki Ram, expressed his appreciation for the Chief Minister's presence.
"It is a matter of pride for the local people that the Chief Minister has come to stay with them and is listening to their problems. He said that earlier the leaders and officers came here and left, we are very happy that the Chief Minister will stay among us, whatever our problems are, they have been addressed, for the remaining problems, the Chief Minister has given instructions and has also assured that all the problems will be solved and the poor man will be treated like his family, this is a matter of happiness for us," said Shounki Ram.
With the relaunch of the "Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar" program, the government aims to build a more direct and impactful connection with the people of Himachal Pradesh, starting with its remote villages. By focusing on infrastructure, employment, and direct interaction with citizens, the Chief Minister's efforts are geared towards ensuring that development reaches every corner of the state.