Shimla: 63rd Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the State, today. Unfurling of National Flag, march past by contingents of police, home guards NCC and school children, cultural programmes were main attractions of the celebration. The functions were organised at State, District and Sub-Division level to mark the occasion.
The State Level function was organised at Fatehpur in the interior of district Kangra, where Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past by contingents of police, home guards, NCC and school children commanded by Shiv Kumar Sharma, DSP.
Chief Minister announced implementation of 5th Pay Commission recommendations based upon the Punjab pattern to the regular employees of the State Government with effect from September, 2009; release of six percent Dearness Allowance installment from January, 2009 to be paid in cash and UGC pay scales to all eligible college and university teachers from September 1, 2009. He announced regularisation of contractual and daily wages completing 8 years of service on 31st March, 2009; enhancement in the ‘Samman Rashi’ of veteran freedom fighters from existing Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 per month and enhancement in the ‘Samman Rashi’ being paid to the widows and unmarried daughters of Freedom Fighters to Rs. 3,000 per month. He also announced enhancement in the daily allowance of the Home Guards from existing Rs. 150 to Rs. 170 to be effective from September 1, 2009. He also announced enhancement in the monthly honorarium to Gram Panchayat Chowkidars from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000.
Chief Minister announced construction of three vital double lane tunnels, Uttrala-Holi to connect district Chamba with district Kangra; Bangana-Dhaneta and Ghatasani-Telang in district Kullu at a cost of Rs. 270 crore with total length of 9 kms. which will shorten distance by tens of kilometers.
Prof. Dhumal also announced dearness allowance at the rate of 10 percent to the temple employees of the State and daily wages to the daily wagers at par with the daily wagers of the State.
He announced remission in imprisonment to the convicts by three months to benefit 734 besides announcing release of 31 convicts in the state from today. He also sanctioned Rs. 50 lakh for the construction of the Stadium at Fatehpur to be named after Wazir Ram Singh Stadium. He also sanctioned Rs. 23 crore for boring 45 tubewells in Jwali area.
He also announced District Level Status to Krishan Janmashtmi at Nurpur from next year onwards.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, conferred ‘Prerna Srot Samman Puruskar’ upon Smt. Gambhri Devi of Ghumarwin, for her life long contribution in the field of Folk Dance. Shri Hari Man Sharma, of Ghumarwin for successfully cultivating apple crop in lower areas; Dr. Harinder Kumar Chaudhary of Sundernagar for setting up of High-Tech Molecular Cytogenitic and Tissue Culture Lab and research in Double Hyploidy Breeding in agriculture sector; ‘Saathi’ an NGO operating in district Sirmour for solving water woes of 20 villages in the district.
Chief Minister conferred ‘Himachal Gourav’ title upon Smt. Sonia Rai, of Baijnath in district Kangra, for bringing laurels to the State at international level in air pistol, Dr. Vishwa Chand Ohri, of district Chamba, for promotion of Art and Culture, Dr. Pritam Kalia, of district Una, for Scientific Innovations in the field of Agriculture, Shri Lal Chand, Police Inspector of district Kullu, for carrying rescue operation effectively thereby saving lives of 382 people crossing Rohtang Pass.
Prof. Dhumal also honoured Shri Jai Sen Chauhan, Additional Secretary SAD, with the ‘Civil Seva Puruskar’ instituted by the State Government to award officers and officials of the State Government rendering exemplary services in addition to their assigned duties and responsibilities. A cash prize of Rs. 51,000 was given to Shri Jai Sen Chauhan, which he donated towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Chief Minister honoured Shri Samresh Jung of district Sirmour for winning Gold in team events in 15th Asian Games, Doha in Centre Fire Pistol with a cash prize of Rs. 73,000 in abesntia, in addition to Rs. 30 lakh already granted in 2006; Smt. Sonia Rai, of Baijnath, with a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh for 2006 for outstanding and winning medals in shooting in various international sports events in addition to Rs. 50,000, Shri Vijay Kumar of Barsar, Hamirpur for winning Bronze Medal in 15th Asian Games at Doha with cash prize of Rs. 60,000 which was in addition to Rs. 10 lakh granted in year 2006.
Prof. Dhumal also conferred State Level Mahrishi Valmiki Sampuran Swachhta Puruskar upon Gram Panchayat Nouni Majhgaon of district Solan with State Level Prize of Rs. 10 lakhs; gram Panchayat, Maidhi Kathla of district Solan with a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh for standing First at the Divisional Level; Gram Panchayat Lana Paddhar of distict Sirmour with cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh for standing first in the Divisional Level an Gram Panchayat Fatehpur in district Kangra for sharing the First Prize among the Divisional Level competition with a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh while Gram panchayat Jaind of district Kangra and Gram Panchayat Har of district Kangra were adjudged winners at the district level and awarded cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh each.
Chief Minister also honoured Kumari Anju and Poonam Sharma of Sai Hostel, Dharamshala for athletics; Kumari Ruchika Jamwal, Singh Thakur, Vinita Sharma, Shreya Rana and Anjli Thakur of Baijnath, for Karate; Kumari Sunita of Sai Hostel, Dharamshala, Kumari Banti Devi, Kumari Champa and Uma Devi of Mandi, Pooja Thakur of Sai Hostel, Dharamshala, Ranu Devi of Sai SCT Dharamshala, Kumari Suman of Dharamshala, Anita of Mandi, Laxmi of Mandi, Reeta Devi of Sai SCT of Dharamshala, Sudesh of Sai Hostel, Dharmshala, Nisha, Priyanka, Babita, Reeta Devi of Sai SCT Dharamshala, Neelam, Reena Devi, Champa Devi, Lalita, Sheetal and Ankita of SCT Dharamshala for their remarkable achievements in Kabbaddi sport.
District Level Total Sanitation Campaign Awards were given to Shri Balbir Singh, Pradhan, GP, Jaid, Sulah, Shri Jagdip Singh, Pradhan, GP Har, Nagrota Surian, Shri Sanjay Kumar Dhiman, BDO, Sulah, Shri Muneesh Dadwal, BDO Bhawarna, Shri Amar Singh Dhiman, Pradhan, GP, Rajehar (Baijnath), Shri Kulwant Bhuria, SO, Maa Saraswati Society, Smt. Aruna Somal, SO, swarag Society, Shri Kewl Krishan Sharma, SEBPO, Pragpur, Shri Vikas Dhiman, Block Coordinator (TSC) Nagrota Surian, Shri Mast Ram Dadhail, Bureau Chief, Divya Himachal, Shri Sanjay Rana, Secretary, GP Garh of district Kangra.
AT MANDI
Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Tulsi Ram presided over the Independence Day function at Mandi,
AT BILASPUR
Thakur Gulab Singh, Public Works Minister unfurled the national flag and took salute of an impressive march past presented by contingents of Police, Home Guard, Mahila Home Guard, NCC Scouts and Guides.
AT UNA
Education Minister I.D. Dhiman, presided over the function.
AT SOLAN
J.P. Nadda, Forest Minister presided over the function.
AT SHIMLA
Narender Bragta, Horticulture and Technical Education Minister was the chief guest.
AT NAHAN
The 63rd Independence Day function was celebrated at Chaugan ground with enthusiasm and fervour despite heavy downpour. Dr. Rajeev Bindal Health Minister unfurled the National flag and took salute of impressive march past presented by contingents of Police, Home Guard, NCC, College and school children.
AT CHAMBA
Presiding over the district level function, Jai Ram Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister said that State had made overall development especially in sectors of road, education, health, drinking water and tourism.
He also gave away prizes to individuals and Panchayati Raj Institutions under Maharishi Valmiki Sampoorn Swachhata Puraskar. Gram Panchayat Mindhal in Pangi block got first position in the district and received a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh.
Gram Panchayats Rei, Bhanjraroo, Soori, Kiyani, Pukhri and Luddu got the first prizes in their respective blocks.
AT HAMIRPUR
Transport Minister Mahender Singh Thakur unfurled the national flag.
Pahalu gram panchayat was given award by the Minister for having been declared first in the district in Total Sanitation Campaign. Dalshera, Barahlari, Gauna, Ree, Dedwin Tikkar and Uhal panchayats were also rewarded under TSC..Pushpa Thakur, Dinesh, Manju and Rita for their meritorious achivements in athletics and Vandna Devi in Kabdi at national level were also honoured by the Minister.
AT KULLU
Presiding over the District level Independence Day function at Kullu, Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Deputy Speaker, Vidhan Sabha said that present Government during its 19 months period constructed 116 kms road and ensured tarring of 95 kms roads in Kullu district costing over Rs. 34.51 crore and added that District Health building was also completed at a cost of Rs. 8.50 crore.
AT REKONG PEO
Speaking on the occasion, Sat Pal Singh Satti, Chief Parliamentary Secretary said that State Government was according top priority for social sector and added that social security pension had been enhanced to Rs. 330 besides sanctioning this pension to 27,757 new eligible persons in the State. He said that over 2.50 lakh eligible persons had been benefitted in the State under social security pension so far.
AT KEYLONG
Presiding over the district level function at Keylong, Virender Kanwar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary said that a plan outlay of Rs. 70.08 crores has been made for Lahaul-Spiti district during current financial year under Tribal Sub Plan for various developmental activities of the area.
