Nahan (HP), March 8 The Himachal Pradesh government will introduce a law to provide 25 percent reservation for women in recruitment for Class-III posts in government departments, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Sunday.
Addressing a state-level International Women's Day function here, the chief minister said that the government is committed to strengthening the participation of women in policing and other public services.
He also announced a special recruitment drive for women sub-inspectors in the state police, according to an official statement.
Addressing a gathering at the historic Chaugan ground here, Sukhu said that since taking office, he has been fighting a "two-front war" against conspiracies to destabilize the government and an effort to make Himachal Pradesh self-sufficient by 2027 and the wealthiest state by 2032.
He alleged that money was used to purchase democracy during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections in an attempt to topple the elected government.
The chief minister announced an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the development of Nahan Medical College, to upgrade infrastructure and medical facilities.
He also announced an increase in the Mahila Samman Rashi from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and a postgraduate course in Zoology, MBA, and MA History at the Government College, Nahan, from the next academic session.
Extending greetings on International Women's Day, Sukhu said that women's welfare remains the top priority of the state government. He said the government has ensured equal rights for daughters in ancestral property up to 150 bighas. Under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the state government is also funding the higher education of children of widows.
He said that the entire administrative leadership of the Lahaul-Spiti district is currently held by women, and that women officers serve as deputy commissioners in Sirmaur and Hamirpur.
The chief minister noted that the legal marriage age for women in the state has been increased from 18 to 21 years. To encourage widow remarriage, the state government has increased the incentive from Rs 65,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
He added that 30 percent reservation has already been provided to women in police recruitment and the government is considering a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 for women starting next year.
Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan also spoke at the event, emphasizing the need to eliminate gender discrimination and highlighting the performance of women in competitive exams.
MLA and State Congress Committee President Vinay Kumar said that the party has consistently supported women's rights, including providing 33 percent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions.
In Shimla, a race was organised to mark the occasion. Participants said that such activities should be held periodically to recognize the dedication of women to society.
