Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced higher support prices for milk and apples as part of measures aimed at improving the income of farmers, apple growers and livestock rearers in the state. He made the announcements while addressing a public meeting in Chirgaon in the Rohru Assembly constituency on Thursday.

Under the revised Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), the procurement price for apples will increase by Rs 1 per kg. Apples procured under the scheme will now fetch Rs 13 per kg, compared with the earlier rate of Rs 12 per kg. The government has also announced that milk support prices will be increased from December 1, with Sukhu reiterating that the measure is intended to strengthen the earnings of livestock farmers.

Sukhu also highlighted measures introduced for apple growers, including a universal carton system and support prices for naturally grown produce. He said the government was continuing to focus on measures aimed at improving returns for people dependent on agriculture and allied activities, particularly in rural areas where apple cultivation and livestock rearing form important sources of livelihood.

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The Chief Minister also outlined reforms in the education sector, claiming that Himachal Pradesh had improved its position from 21st to fifth nationally in terms of education quality. He said English-medium education had been introduced from Class I in government schools to build students’ confidence, while more than 150 CBSE-affiliated schools had been opened to address declining enrolment in government institutions.

According to Sukhu, enrolment at a school in Rohru increased by more than 500 students within a year of the introduction of the CBSE curriculum. He said 1,500 teachers had been appointed in the CBSE-affiliated schools and that the government was developing 300 Schools of Excellence to bring quality education closer to rural communities and reduce dependence on private schools.

Sukhu also criticised the previous BJP government, alleging that state resources had been used to benefit industrialists and claiming that more than Rs 1,000 crore had been spent on constructing offices. He said his government was working to curb corruption and ensure public resources benefited ordinary people, while describing the Chief Minister’s Office as a platform for addressing public grievances.

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