Shimla: Leader of opposition Vidya Stokes lashed out at the Dhumal
government saying that it was deluded in self praise whereas the ground realities were starkly different as every section of society was expressing its dissatisfaction with the poor governance around.
Responding to debate on the governors address that opened today, the senior congress leader pointed out that roads were in bad shape, school funds provided by the central government under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan were lying unutilized, reckless privatizion and
commercialization of education was leading to a condition similar to
Chattisgarh where ultimately degrees were de-recognized by University Grants Commission, farmers had borne the brunt, which was all reflected in the recently concluded local urban and rural body poll.
Stokes claimed that people had expressed their displeasure by electing
over 75% congress supported candidates in the Panchayat Poll where
elections were not held on symbols and in majority of ubran bodies where elections were held on symbols.
Dismissing the governments account about environment protection, she
drew the houses attention towards a high court appointed Abhay Shukla
report which had pointed out the degraded status of the states forest
health.
Making an example of Theog-Kothkhai-Jubbal-Rohru and Kumarhatti-Nahan
road, she said that the bad condition of roads had caused fruit and vegetable growers a loss of about Rs 700 crore in 2010.
She said that employees were losing their patience as the government
was unable to pay the about Rs 2000 crore arrears and charged that the
funds under AIDS control program were being misused by NGO’s.
Intervening in the debate health minister Rajiv Bindal said that after
starting of Atal Swasthay Ambulance scheme rate of institutional delivery had gone upto 67 % and was not 37 % as stated by the leader of the opposition.
Earlier BJP senior member Roop Singh Thakur moving the motion on thanks counted the various awards the state had got in the recent years for the good performance of the state government.
Senior congress leader Kuldeep Singh Pathania caused a flutter when he
said that the government had indiscriminately handed out government
land to private universities. Dropping hinds to a land scam, had the
treasury benches hoot down the congressman.
Others who spoke on the motion included Vipin Parmar,Tejwant Negi
Khimi Ram and Govind Thakur, all from BJP.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
