Himachal Pradesh is facing a severe financial crisis, and to deal with it, the Sukhu government has asked for funds from temples. The government has requested money from temple donations to support two welfare schemes—Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana and Sukh-Ashraya Yojana.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to all temples under the state government’s control and their local district commissioners (DCs), asking them to contribute a portion of the temple offerings to these government programs.
Government Struggling to Pay Salaries
The economic condition of Himachal Pradesh has worsened so much that the government is struggling to pay salaries and pensions on time. The debt burden has forced the state to introduce a toilet tax to generate revenue.
Recently, the court ordered the seizure of Himachal Bhawan because the government failed to pay ₹150 crore to a power company. CM Sukhu himself admitted that the state treasury is empty and that employees are facing delays in receiving salaries and pensions.
Himachal Pradesh’s Debt is Rising Rapidly
Sources say that mismanagement by the Congress government has pushed Himachal Pradesh into a massive debt trap.
- In 2018, the state’s debt was ₹47,906 crore.
- By 2023, it increased to ₹76,651 crore.
- In 2024, it further rose to ₹86,589 crore.
- The debt is now close to ₹1 lakh crore.
Though Himachal has always had debt, previous governments managed it differently. However, experts believe that the Congress party’s 10 “guarantees” have worsened the financial crisis.
Delayed Salaries and Unfulfilled Promises
During the 2022 election campaign, Congress made several promises:
✔ 1 lakh jobs in the first year and 5 lakh jobs in five years.
✔ ₹1,500 per month for women.
✔ 300 units of free electricity per month.
✔ Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
However, most of these promises have not been fully implemented. In addition, the government has stopped previous subsidies, but the financial crisis continues.
CM Sukhu Blames BJP for the Crisis
CM Sukhu has blamed the previous BJP government for the financial crisis. He claims that BJP’s policies, such as free water and electricity, added a burden of ₹1,080 crore per year on the state’s finances.
The current situation remains critical, and the government’s decision to seek funds from temples has sparked controversy. Many are questioning whether this is the right solution to fix Himachal Pradesh’s economic troubles.