Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced that the Himachal Pradesh government will ensure permanent housing for all eligible poor families who are still living in kutcha houses across the state. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Panchayati Raj Department, the Chief Minister said that access to safe and secure housing is not just a basic requirement but a social right, and the government is committed to fulfilling this responsibility.
The Chief Minister stated that the government’s vision goes beyond merely constructing houses. The focus, he said, is on providing a dignified and secure standard of living to economically weaker families. Along with permanent houses, the government is paying special attention to essential facilities such as sanitation, clean drinking water, and sustainable livelihood opportunities so that beneficiary families can lead stable and self-reliant lives.
Highlighting the crucial role of Panchayati Raj institutions in implementing welfare schemes at the grassroots level, the Chief Minister said that vacant posts in the Panchayati Raj Department will be filled on a priority basis. He also directed that the posts of Junior Engineers in panchayats be filled to strengthen technical capacity and ensure timely execution and monitoring of development works, particularly housing and infrastructure-related projects in rural areas.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reiterated that social empowerment remains one of the top priorities of the present state government. He said that several welfare schemes aimed at bringing deprived, neglected and vulnerable sections of society into the mainstream are being implemented in an effective and transparent manner. The government, he added, is focused on ensuring that benefits reach those who need them the most, without delays or procedural hurdles.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed senior officers to conduct regular reviews of all ongoing schemes and closely monitor their progress. He made it clear that any negligence, delay or lack of accountability at any level would not be tolerated. Emphasising the government’s commitment to public welfare, he said that delivering development benefits to the last person in society is the true spirit of systemic change and good governance.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of coordination between departments and panchayats to identify eligible beneficiaries accurately and ensure that no deserving family is left out of housing and other social welfare initiatives.
Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister for Innovation, Digital Technology and Governance Gokul Butail, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Panchayati Raj C. Palrasu, Director Panchayati Raj Raghav Sharma and other senior officers were present during the meeting.
