HIPA to be renamed after former PM Manmohan Singh: Himachal CM Sukhu

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], January 1 (ANI): Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) in Shimla on Wednesday announced to rename of the institute after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He praised Singh's policies for greatly helping the development of India and Himachal Pradesh and said that his efforts brought many benefits and recognition to the state.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled the coffee table book published by HIPA.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the training programme for special educators at the Institute in which 80 teachers would take part and would continue till January.
He said that this programme would equip teachers with modern techniques for educating children with special needs and would offer an alternative to the traditional Braille method.
As a part of inclusive development, the state Chief Minister announced an increase in the monthly pension for visually impaired children, rising from Rs 1500 to Rs 4000 per month until the age of 27.
He said that this change would be incorporated into the upcoming budget. He said that the state government was taking significant steps to make visually impaired individuals self-reliant and ensure their rightful share in the resources of the state.
CM Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh generates an annual income of Rs 16000 crores while annual expenditure on salaries and pensions amounts to Rs 27000 crores. He emphasised the need for a sustainable financial roadmap and called for collective efforts and support from all sections of society to increase the state's income and secure a prosperous future for the people of the state.
He said that over the past two years, the present state government has worked diligently to stabilize the derailed financial condition of the state for which employees and officials of the states have provided their immense support to the government.
CM Sukhu said that all sections of society have a rightful share in the resources in the state and the government was making significant changes in the policies which would ensure equitable and overall development of the states.
He said that strengthening the rural sector of the state has always been the top priority for the state government and many new initiatives would be introduced in the coming months.
The Chief Minister highlighted various schemes implemented by the government including Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashrya Yojna for orphaned children, programmes for widows and measures to support single women.
He said that these efforts reflect the commitment of state government to the well-being of all sections of society.
The Chief Minister congratulated all the officials and employees of HIPA on the completion of 50 years of its establishment. He said that good governance was the core mantra of the Congress Government and effective technology-based training programmes for officials were essential to achieve good governance. He said that HIPA plays an important role in providing quality training to the officers and officials of the state.
Secretary Administrative Reforms and Training C Palrasu welcomed the Chief Minister on the occasion and provided detailed information regarding the activities of the Institution.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Chairman of APMC Shimla Kinnaur Devanand Verma, Mayor Municipal Commissioner Shimla Surinder Chauhan, Director HIPA Rupali Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap, Project Director Samagra Shiksha Rajesh Sharma and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI)