Kavinder Gupta sworn in as 30th governor of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla: Kavinder Gupta (66), former lieutenant governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, was sworn in as the 30th governor of Himachal Pradesh at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday. The oath of office and secrecy was administered in Hindi by chief justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia. The oath ceremony commenced with the rendition of the national song, Vande Mataram, for the first time at Lok Bhavan, followed by the National Anthem. After the oath-taking ceremony concluded, Vande Mataram was sung once again, followed by the National Anthem. Later, the governor was accorded a guard of honour. Earlier in the morning, Gupta performed a traditional pooja along with his family members before proceeding for the oath-taking ceremony.Haryana governor professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, his wife Mitra Ghosh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and lady governor Bindu Gupta were also present on the occasion, besides state cabinet ministers, leader of the opposition Jairam Thakur, MLAs, senior govt officers, and other prominent personalities.Later, interacting with media persons, the governor said, "The office of the governor is a constitutional responsibility. The governor does not belong to any political party and works for the overall development of the state and society." Expressing optimism, he said that with cooperation from the state govt, political parties, and social organisations, Himachal Pradesh could achieve inclusive and sustainable development.Outlining his key priorities for the development of Himachal Pradesh, Gupta said that the focus would be on environmental protection, education, inclusive growth, increasing the state's green cover, conserving its rich cultural heritage, and promoting tourism, particularly religious tourism. Emphasising the role of education, he highlighted the need for quality learning, skill development, and effective implementation of the National Education Policy by blending Indian values with modern educational practices.Gupta also stressed the importance of tribal development, youth welfare, and the promotion of natural farming in the state. He said the govt would continue to strengthen the campaign against drug abuse through awareness, value-based education, and counselling initiatives. To engage young people positively, sports programmes such as Khelo India could be linked with anti-drug campaigns, he added. He further emphasised the need to accelerate development in border areas adjoining China, adding that schemes like the Vibrant Village Programme would be promoted to improve infrastructure and connectivity. Special focus would also be given to eliminating tuberculosis from the state.Gupta stated he aims to continue initiatives started by previous governors and will work closely with the chief minister and state govt to prioritise their completion. Drawing on his 7 months' experience as lieutenant governor of UT Ladakh, he noted similarities in geography and the challenges of hilly regions, mentioning extensive travel in Ladakh. He also expressed admiration for the warm hospitality of the people of Himachal Pradesh. MSID: 129391838 413 |