Stressing that there is a dire need to transform the mindset of the youth from job seekers into job creators, he stated that the 100-day roadmap serves as an effective blueprint to bridge the gap between academic education and real-world market demands. By equipping students with practical skills, fostering innovation and opening avenues for self-reliance in key sectors like horticulture and forestry, the roadmap will enable the state's youth to become active leaders in economic growth and key contributors to a developed India.

The Horticulture Minister also directed field officials to ensure that only plants meeting the prescribed technical specifications are planted in the clusters. He also directed that the nursery operators empanelled under the project should strictly comply with the prescribed standards and quality requirements.

. Rana also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, particularly Sh. Jagat Singh Negi, Horticulture Minister, as well as the Secretary (Horticulture) and Director of Horticulture, for promoting farmer-oriented initiatives and strengthening facilities for processing and value addition.

Bhardwaj said the Congress government shut down the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission citing alleged irregularities but has yet to make the findings of its investigation public. he questioned why the government has not released a white paper identifying those responsible if serious irregularities were indeed found.

He reiterated that the state government remains committed to supporting farmers and orchardists through technical guidance, capacity building, quality improvement, better agricultural infrastructure, marketing assistance, and export facilitation. These initiatives, he said, are aimed at making horticulture more profitable, modern, and globally competitive.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel emphasized that medicinal plants have the potential to significantly enhance farmers’ income and strengthen the rural economy. He called for systematic collaboration between departments and farmers to prioritize threatened and endangered species. Highlighting land constraints, he advocated intensive cultivation, intercropping, and adoption of natural farming practices, along with strong quality assurance mechanisms and supply chain development.

Education Minister directed officials to identify suitable schools for introducing Horticulture as a vocational subject in order to promote skill-based education. He said the state has received dual category recognition from the National Council for Vocational Education and Training and the subject will be introduced in a phased manner with adequate teaching staff wherever the course is started.

The Minister directed the officers to explore the possibility of making payments to orchardists and farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), so as to ensure greater transparency in the payment process.

Himachal Pradesh is widely known as the Fruit Bowl of India. Through this course, students will gain scientific knowledge and practical skills in orchard management, post-harvest technology and organic farming, which would directly benefit the state’s apple and stone-fruit industry,” he said.

Discussions focused on lessons from recent disasters in Himachal Pradesh, particularly the events of 2023 and 2025. Experts highlighted the importance of integrated risk assessment, resilient reconstruction and improved preparedness, drawing on findings from Post Disaster Needs Assessments conducted in the state.