Himachal CM Sukhu announces Rs 1,500 per month to all women in 18-60 age group from April

In Himachal Pradesh, the women above 60 years of age are covered under the old age pension. Women in the age group 60 to 69 receive Rs 1,500 monthly pension, and those aged 70 years and above get Rs 1,700.

4 min readShimlaUpdated: Mar 6, 2024 08:07 AM IST

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (File Photo)

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Monday announced that his government will give Rs 1,500 per month to women in the age group of 18 to 60 years from the the 2024-25 financial year, fulfilling one of the 10 ‘guarantees’ promised by the Congress ahead of the assembly polls.

“Every woman above the age of 18 will get Rs 1,500 under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna. We will spend Rs 800 crore on the initiative annually and over five lakh women would be covered under it,” Sukhu said.

“With this announcement, we have fulfilled five out of the 10 election guarantees. I personally wanted to announce this scheme on the day when the state’s Budget was passed, but due to the ruckus in the Assembly, dropped the idea. This scheme will benefit every family in the state,” the CM said, adding his government had initiated the first phase of the scheme from February 1, providing Rs 1,500 to the women in Lahaul- Spiti district, and is now expanding it across state.

The opposition BJP, however, termed the announcement as another “lie”, with Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur saying there was no provision of providing Rs 1,500 monthly to women in the Budget passed recently.

“How would women get Rs 1,500 per month from April 1 when the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections are implemented,” Thakur asked, and accused Sukhu of misleading the women ahead of the parliamentary polls.

In a statement, he said that the Congress had promised to give Rs 1,500 per month to 22 lakh women in the 18-60 age group in the state and questioned whether this amount would only be given to 4.55 lakh women already getting social security pension.

Sukhu, however, said that about 2.45 lakh women in the state, who were earlier getting a pension of Rs 1,100 or Rs 1,150 per month, are now being given Rs 1,500 per month.

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In Himachal Pradesh, the women above 60 years of age are covered under the old age pension. Women in the age group 60 to 69 receive Rs 1,500 monthly pension, and those aged 70 years and above get Rs 1,700.

Sukhu said four other pre-poll guarantees including old pension scheme benefits to 1.36 lakh employees, Rs 680-crore Rajiv Gandhi Startup Yojna to create self employment opportunities for the youth, starting English medium education from class 1 in all government schools from the next academic session, and announcing minimum support price of milk, have already been fulfilled.

Sukhu said that despite natural disaster-induced challenges, his government has succeeded in stabilizing the derailed economy of the state. He added that the government has taken ambitious steps to boost the rural economy and strengthen infrastructure in education, health, and other essential service sectors.

The announcement of Rs 1,500 monthly allowance to women comes at a time when the government in the hill state is facing a political crisis that ensued after six Congress MLAs cross voted in favour of the BJP candidate in the recently held polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat. Later, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified the six rebel MLAs for abstaining from voting on the Cut Motion and the Finance Bill. After cross-voting by the rebels in the Rajya Sabha polls, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh had announced his resignation from the Cabinet but softened his stand later after meeting the Congress observers.

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In firefighting mode, Sukhu on Saturday appointed party’s Fatehpur MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania as deputy chairman of the State Planning Board, in the rank of Cabinet minister, a day after he named Virbhadra Singh loyalist MLA Nand Lal as the chairman of 7th State Finance Commission.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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