Shimla, June 19:
Himachal Pradesh is "scripting a bold new future". The state has rolled out SAMRIDH Himachal-2045 — a long-term vision plan inspired by global success stories like Bhutan, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, and even neighbouring Uttarakhand.
SAMRIDH Himachal-2045 takes cues from some of the world’s best development models, say officials, citing Colloquium Series part 1 and 2 Exercises to support the foundation work.
From Bhutan, it draws the idea of Gross National Happiness. This puts citizen well-being and nature at the heart of planning.
Switzerland teaches how to build strong alpine infrastructure. It also shows the value of decentralised governance and high-end tourism.
Finland’s success with education, innovation, and equity shapes Himachal’s goals for skilling and social inclusion.
Norway brings lessons in clean energy, waste reduction, and a circular economy.
These ideas guide Himachal’s push for green jobs and industries.
But will these "alien model work and fit into Himachali pahari way" of life?
Will the tweaking of Section 118 open flood gates of big " investors" ruining the serenity and simplicity of Himachal.
SMRIDH HIMACHAL-2045 officials at MSHIPA led by the director Rupali Thakur say stay calm: Nothing of that sort is going to happen in Himachal now 55 years of its experience.
Closer home, Uttarakhand offers practical examples. Eco-tourism, disaster readiness, and promotion of local produce are areas Himachal is keen to adopt.
But Uttarakhand’s track record is not that inspiring, considering Large-scale migration of pahari people to cities for the last 20 years.
The idea is not to copy these models blindly.
SAMRIDH wants to adapt what works — and mix it with Himachal’s geography, culture, and ground realities, said Prashant Sirkek, the course Director at Dr Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration, Shimla, who along with other officials have been working tirelessly on SAMRIDH HIMACHAL-2045 document.
The goal? A richer, greener, smarter Himachal.
But the big question remains: Will this end up as another bureaucratic exercise? Or will it truly embrace pahari life?
The Umbrella Committee, which sits at the top of the SAMRIDH Himachal-2045 structure, will be an all-bureaucrat panel — headed by the Chief Secretary.
The Umbrella Committee in a bid to save it from being labeled as an all bureaucratic setup, all private sector Co-Chairpersons of the eight Working Groups will also be part of the Umbrella Committee, clarified the official.
That means eight non-government experts will join the top-level team — bringing ground knowledge, sectoral insights, and external viewpoints into a largely official setup.
These private members are still being finalised, and their names are likely to be confirmed in the next 2–3 days.
The challenge will be to ensure the vision isn’t just technically sound — but also emotionally rooted in Himachal’s hills and homes.
MSHIPA is a Nodal centre of management Research for SAMRIDH HIMACHAL-2045.
While this ensures administrative continuity and technical expertise, it also raises a crucial concern: Can an overly bureaucratic setup truly capture the everyday struggles of pahari life?
In a state where people battle landslides, road closures, crop failures, and shrinking incomes, the challenge is to ensure the vision isn’t confined to files and frameworks — but speaks the language of those living the mountain reality.
Politics vs. Policy
Though CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has given his nod to the process, insiders admit the real test lies in what comes next:
Will the government actually adopt the plan as is? Or tweak it to suit political winds?
What happens after a regime change?
MSHIPA officials, who are leading this effort, say the vision is non-political, inclusive and rooted in citizen voices.
"We are designing it for the people of Himachal, not for any party. It’s meant to stand the test of time," said one official.
The Working Groups — Spinning the Wheel of Vision
The plan is powered by 8 Working Groups (WGs), each led by senior IAS officers, moving in an interconnected loop — where each feeds into the other.
These WGs were constituted today and are headed by the sitting bureaucrats.
1. State Finances and Fiscal Sustainability
Chairperson: Dr. Abhishek Jain, IAS (2002)
Focus: Improve revenue, cut debt, and create space for investment in public services.
Which then funds tourism, education, and infrastructure.
2. Reimagining Tourism
Chairperson: Sh. Devesh Kumar, IAS (1998)
Focus: Promote year-round eco, wellness, and cultural tourism.
Brings jobs — which connects to skilling and livelihoods.
3. Education, Skilling and Livelihood
Chairperson: Sh. K.K. Pant, IAS (1993)
Co-Chair: Sh. Rakesh Kanwar, IAS (2007)
Focus: Better schools, vocational institutes, linking youth to the job market.
Skilled youth are needed in IT and green industries.
4. IT Infrastructure and Future Industries
Chairperson: Smt. Ranjana Chauhan, IAS
Focus: Build IT parks, boost startups, cyber readiness.
But tech growth needs land and policy — tied to governance reforms.
5. Governance & Ease of Doing Business
Chairperson: Sh. Ritesh Chauhan, IAS (2005)
Focus: Reduce red tape, digital public services, transparent processes.
Easier governance means smoother delivery of schemes — especially in agriculture.
6. Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing
Chairperson: Sh. C. Paulrasu, IAS (2004)
Focus: Diversify crops, value addition, promote organics and FPOs.
Rural prosperity demands reliable roads — linking to infrastructure & disaster resilience.
7. Sustainable Infrastructure & Disaster Management
Chairperson: Sh. Rajesh Sharma, IAS (2008)
Focus: Build climate-resilient roads, urban planning, early warning systems.
Sustainable design supports the push for green industries.
8. Green Industries, Renewable Energy & Circular Economy
Chairperson: Sh. R.D. Nazeem, IAS (1995)
Focus: Expand solar, hydro, forest-based jobs, waste-to-value systems.
Green revenues again strengthen the loop — back to fiscal health.
These working groups will deliver data-backed, 3,000-word vision documents, each identifying short (2–5 yrs), medium (5–10 yrs), and long-term (10+ yrs) interventions — grounded in local realities.
SAMRIDH Himachal-2045 — Week-by-Week Schedule
Week 1 (June 16–22):
▪ Coordinate with WGs & PMU
▪ Nominate experts and private players
▪ Share draft templates
▪ Fix dates for WG meetings
Weeks 2 & 3 (June 23–July 5):
▪ First WG meetings at MSHIPA
▪ Select interventions from Colloquiums C1 & C2
▪ Review vision structure
Week 4 (July 7–11):
▪ First Umbrella Committee Meeting
▪ Cross-WG discussion
▪ Finalise citizen engagement tools
Weeks 5 & 6 (July 14–26):
▪ Second WG meetings
▪ Deep-dive into strategy design
▪ Refine vision documents and questionnaires
Week 12 (Sept 1–6):
▪ Second Umbrella Committee Meeting
▪ Review second draft of WG reports
▪ Make course corrections
Weeks 13 & 14 (Sept 8–20):
▪ C3 Physical Colloquium at MSHIPA
▪ WG presentations, feedback
Weeks 15 & 16 (Sept 22–Oct 4):
▪ Final WG Meetings
▪ Final Umbrella Committee review
▪ Document approval and printing
❝ Will it Deliver? ❞
Will this ambitious vision reflect the dreams of shephreds of Dodra-Kwarand Bharmour?
The struggles of a school in Pangi?
The water crisis in Shimla?
Plight of 10 lakh jobless youth?
Or the startup dreams in Una?
That is what will define SAMRIDH Himachal-2045’s legacy.
Will it be implemented in the right direction as a vision document regardless of a regime?
If not, it risks becoming just another forgotten file in a government cupboard.
MSHIPA is confident: The regime changed but the vision document of Shimla Smart City was implemented.
#SAMRIDHHimachal2045 #VisionWithReality #PahariFuturePlan
