Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minsiter laid the foundation stone of Girls Hostel at Government Polytechnic, Kangra today. The building would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.26 crore to house 30 girl students of the College.
Chief Minister said that the new hostel would facilitate girls to pursue their studies more conveniently and add to the available facilities in the College. He said that Kangra Polytechnic was coming up as a self-contained center of quality technical education in the district. He said that his Government was committed to create best infrastructural facilities for employment and self-employment oriented vocational courses so that youth were able to avail the technical educational facilities. He hoped that the College would emerge as a center of par excellence learning the area.
Earlier, Chief Minister also offered his obeisance at Chamunda Devi Temple.
Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister announced construction of Pensioners Homes at Dharamsala and Shimla in first phase and in every district in a phased manner. He also announced issuance of notification allowing increase of pension under Triple Benefit Scheme very soon. He released Rs. One crore for the clearance of pending medical bills of the pensioners besides restoration of medical reimbursement facility in respect of dependent children and parents of the pensioners. Chief Minister was speaking in the State-level function of State Pensioners Welfare Association on the occasion of All India Pensioners Day organized at Kangra today.
He said that retirement benefits worth Rs. 2485.76 crore had been delivered to the pensioners of the State during last three and half years which also included benefits worth Rs. 800 crores on account of pension, family pension, retirement benefits disbursed during the current financial year.
Chief Minister said that State Government would consider hike in fixed medical facility in a phased manner, nominate retirees in district and Sub-Divisional Level Grievances Committees besides considering the demand of providing 5 percent to retirees above 65 years and 10 percent of the basic pension to the retirees over the 75 years of age. He said that all the other demands of the pensioners would be considered sympathetically.
Chief Minsiter said that his Government had merged 50 percent DA with basic pension and paid eight installments of dearness allowances to the pensioners and family pensioners. He said that directions had been issued to simultaneously release the DA installments to employees and retires of the State so that financial benefits were delivered to them promptly. He said that his Government would soon be delivering e-pension facilities to the retires to save pensioners visit to treasuries and banks and pension due to them would automatically get deposited in their pension account.
Chief Minister said that his Government had created history by constituting Joint Consultative Committee at par with NGOs Federation to find solution to the problems of the pensioners. He said that it had provided platform for the retirees to voice their concerns and almost all the issues were settled and decided after debate. He said that the decisions taken in the last JCC were also being implemented and added that his Government was paying pay scales on Punjab pattern while pensionery benefits were being disbursed as per the Government of India rules to benefit the retirees most.
Chief Minister honoured the pensioners above 80 years of age on behalf of the State Pensioners Welfare Association which also included an 101 year old pensioner, Shri Bhagi Rath of Shahpur in District Kangra.
There is no hostel for boys in kangra polytechnic