Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held an open interaction with schoolchildren at the PM Shri Senior Secondary School (CBSE) in Rohru, located in Shimla district. During Thursday's interactive session, students posed direct queries regarding infrastructure deficits, academic discipline, sports training, and broader civic mismanagement in the town. Upon his arrival in Rohru, the Chief Minister had received a traditional welcome accompanied by ceremonial band music. Responding directly to an appeal from a female student highlighting the lack of adequate school facilities, the Chief Minister announced financial assistance of Rs 2 crore for the institution.
Modern Infrastructure and Day Boarding Reforms
Addressing the gathering, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu elaborated on administrative measures underway to upgrade the educational landscape across the state. Discussing the upcoming Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools, he noted that official standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being framed for these institutions. Beginning from the next academic session, these campuses will be equipped with smart classrooms alongside modern amenities to support quality learning. In response to a query from another student regarding the absence of sports coaches and training infrastructure on school premises, the Chief Minister assured that administrative steps would be taken to meet these requirements.
Classroom Discipline and the Demands of Public Life
The interactive session took an engaging turn when a student questioned why the government had prohibited schoolteachers from physically punishing students. Reflecting on his own formative years, the Chief Minister recalled that during his schooldays, teachers routinely relied on physical reprimands, adding that the strictness of his instructors played a pivotal role in enabling him to reach his current position. However, he stated that the approach must evolve in modern schooling, noting that teachers should guide pupils with patience and affection rather than resorting to violence. He remarked that educators can still firmly scold students or pull their ears lightly to maintain discipline, but harsh physical measures must be avoided.
Another student inquired about the professional and personal hurdles the Chief Minister encountered on his journey to leading the state. Sukhu responded that no significant journey is without friction, stating that every challenge tests an individual's limits. He encouraged the students by emphasizing that any obstacle can be resolved and overcome through unwavering dedication, persistent hard work, and a concentrated focus on one's goals.
Civic Concerns, Slushy Streets, and Governance Accountability
The dialogue grew pointed when a student raised the persistent neglect plaguing the municipal infrastructure in Rohru, focusing specifically on the condition of the HIMUDA Colony. The student pointed out that during the monsoon season, the entire residential sector turns into a thick expanse of slush and mud, severely impeding daily mobility for residents and children. In the summer months, that dried slush disintegrates into airborne dust, triggering breathing difficulties and related health troubles. The student questioned that if municipal hubs experience such chronic neglect, the conditions in remote villages must be far worse, pointedly asking how the administration defines systemic change and when Rohru would actually witness real administrative reform.
Addressing the critique directly, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu acknowledged that structural transformation can only materialize once specific civic defects are brought into the administrative spotlight. He stated that because the student had formally placed the colony's plight before him, remedial measures would be taken, while also advising students and citizens to place such localized civic problems before their elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). When asked about his ultimate vision for the state, the Chief Minister asserted that his definitive goal is to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and elevate it into the most prosperous state in the country.
Social Media Reflection and Funding for New Campus Building
Following the session, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu turned to social media to share his thoughts on the exchange with the Rohru students. He wrote that the dialogue was characterized by childhood innocence, wit, and ambitious thinking regarding the future. The topics raised by the students ranged from the role of artificial intelligence and advanced educational resources to grievances regarding corporal punishment restrictions and enthusiasm surrounding the Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School initiative.
The Chief Minister noted that spontaneous questions, including queries about switching off his mobile phone to vacation in Kullu and Manali, brought warmth and levity to the gathering. He stated that the administration would seriously evaluate the uninhibited questions raised by the young audience, maintaining that an ideal educational institution is one where children feel empowered to question authority freely alongside their academic studies. To address the immediate infrastructural shortage, he confirmed that Rs 2 crore in financial aid will be sanctioned for constructing a new school building, alongside the provision of other necessary amenities. He concluded by reiterating the necessity of periodic interactions with students to comprehend the ground realities of the state's school education system.
