Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister announced opening of a Govt. Degree College in Ani Sub Division of district Kullu for 32 Gram Panchayats of the area with a view to provide students higher educational facility nearer to their home. He was addressing a mammoth public meeting at Ani in district Kullu today.
· RS. 1208 crore being spent on education during current financial year in the State.
· 2,12,250 persons being covered under Social Security Pension in H.P.
· Industrial Investment worth Rs. 18,278 crore attracted during last three years in H.P.
Chief Minister said that the college would be opened at Haripur in Ani Sub Division of the district after examining all related aspects and taking all concerned into confidence. He said that eight Govt. degree colleges in the State during current financial year and most of which would be in the rural areas. He said that Rs. 1208 crore being spent on educational activities during current financial year in the State besides Rs. 532 crore Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan was also under implementation in the State.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that his Government was committed to safeguard the interests of the people of the State and people transferring their lands for construction of hydel projects would be granted best compensation in lieu of their land besides other rehabilitation packages. He said that his Government would not allow exploitation of people while permitting construction of more hydel projects in the State. He said that best compensation would be provided to the owners of land who had contributed significantly towards the development of the State.
Chief Minister said that 2,12,250 social welfare pensioners were being provided pensionary benefits and Rs. 54 crore were being spent annually on it. He said that 73,748 new pensioners had been added to the list of beneficiaries making Himachal Predesh the highest pension giving State in population ratio basis. He said that all eligible would also be provided social security pension and there would not be any limit.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that vast employment avenues had been created during last three years in the Government sector. He said that about 35,000 employment avenues had been created in various departments of the State Govt. and the recruitment process was at different stages while about 15,000 daily wagers had been regularized recently making them eligible for availing pensionary benefits. He said that 35,000 additional employment avenues would be created during current financial year in the Government sector alone. He said that there was no ban on recruitment in the Government sector and regular recruitment was being carried out. He said that industrial investment worth Rs. 18,278.28 crore had been attracted during last three years which had ensured employment to 1,56,805 persons. He said that the State Government had made it mandatory for every industry and hydel project to provide minimum of 70 percent employment at all levels to local people.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Ani had been accorded top priority in terms of development and entire Outer Seraj area had witnessed immense development under the successive congress regimes in the State. He said that Outer Seraj had been the most backward area, prior to the merger with Himachal Pradesh, on November, 1966. He said that the entire new Himachal area of Kangra, Kullu, Hamirpur, Una and Lahaul and Spiti had been the most backward areas in Punjab prior to their merger in Himachal Pradesh. He said that it was under the Congress regime that the Government identified the developmental requirements and formulated special programmes to carry out development at an accelerated pace. He said that the consistent development had been instrumental in making entire merged area rapid strides. He said that the merged areas were far ahead of many old Himachal areas in a number of developmental programmes.
Chief Minister assured of a modern bus stand at Ani on priority. He said that sufficient funds would be made available for college and bus stand on priority. Earlier, Chief Minister was given a rousing reception by the people of the area by erecting welcome gates at various places en-route to Ani where he also listened to the public grievances.
Shri Ishwar Dass, MLA and Chairman, HPMC thanked the Chief Minister for formulation of Backward Area Sub Plan to cater to the added requirements of development of such areas which had helped in expeditious development of backward areas.
He said that with the visionary and progressive leadership of Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister Ani area had established a number of milestones in development. He urged Chief Minister for construction of a tunnel below Jalori Jot for all weather connectivity with district headquarters.
Shri Satya Prakash Thkaur, Chairman, State Marketing Board counted the developmental activities taking place in Ani segment. He also thanked the Chief Minister for making provision of Rs. 12.50 crore for carrying the devotional services in prominent shrines in the State since the State was known as the land of Gods. He said that tax system for agro-marketing had been rationalized.
Shri Budhi Singh Thakur, Secretary, HPCC, Shri Uttam Thakur, President, Block Congress Committee, Ani, Shri Ses Ram Thakur, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Shri Ram Kumar, Ani Congress Spokesman welcomed the Chief Minister and apprised him of various demands of the area.
Smt. Pratibha Singh, M.P. Mandi Segment, Shri Tej Ram, Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Shri Kulwant Kashyap, Additional Convener, Congress Seva Dal, Shri Upendra Mishra, Senior Vice-President, NSUI, Shri Ses Ram Azad, General Secretary, NGO Federation, Shri Beli Ram, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Ani, Smt. Ulfat Dan and Smt. Champa Sharma, Member, HPCC, Shri Chamel Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Shri S.P. Negi, Engineer-in-Chief, HPPWD were prominent among others present on the occasion.
An IT professional for 17 years, based in the US since the last 12 years. Founded NGO My Himachal and then Himachal Media Pvt. Ltd.. A Himachali forever. Always trying to bring together people whose hearts beat for the state.
