Sunni: Stressing upon strengthening the rural economy and improving road infrastructure, chief minister Virbhadra Singh today announced free travel facility for government schools students from 2013 session, increased social security pensions and announced free public healthcare including medicines.
Speaking here on the occasion of 42nd Statehood Day, the chief minister said that HRTC would provide the free travel facility to government school students and the social security pensions were being increased from Rs 450 to 500 per month.
Free healthcare and medicines would be provided at all public health centers, said Virbhadra.
He said that to attract industry a new policy would be formulated and efforts would be made to revive the industrial package for Himachal. Pollution-free, income generating and employment oriented industrial units would be encouraged.
To avoid cost and time overruns, it would be ensured that all ongoing hydel projects are completed in time . The effort for the next five years would be to generate additional 5000 MW of power.
Road length of 7500 Kms is targeted to be constructed in five years for connecting all villages with over 100 population.
A suitable road policy would be formulated and in association with the central government a special project worth Rs 5000 crore would be introduced, he said.
Against a national average of 55 liters of water per person per day, the state targets to provide 70 liters. The 10,725 habitations of the 53201 habitations in the state which do not have adequate drinking water would be provided for in five years.
To strengthen the rural economy, dairy farming would be encouraged. A modern milk processing plant would be established and a policy would be initiated for ensuring remunerative prices of milk.
The government has decided to frame a new policy for regularization of PTA and PAT teachers.
Free travel facilities would also be provided to new born babies and their mothers from hospital to their residences under the Janani Suraksha Yojna, said Virbhadra.
In the afternoon the chief minister also laid the foundation stone of an Rs 3.66 crore old age home at Basantpur.
Earlier the chief minister unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past presented by contingents of IRB, Police, Home Guards, NCC and school children. Rattan Singh Negi, DSP commanded the Parade.
On the occasion, a contingent of lady police personnel performed a daring motorcycle show.
Chief secretary Sudripto Roy, DGP ID Bhandari, legislators Mansa Ram, Nand Lal, Mohan Lal Brakta, Anirudh Singh, advocate general Sharwan Dogra, deputy commissioner Dinesh Malhotra among other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
It was on a cold morning on 25th January, 1971 that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi elevated Himachal Pradesh from a union territory to be counted as a full- fledged state 0f the Indian union.
Bonanza for Virbhadra’s Shimla Rural constituency
With the Statehood Day held at Sunni, which forms part of Shimla rural assembly segment that is represented by the chief minister himself, the day found a flurry of announcements being made for the region.
Virbhadra announced that a sub-tehsil would be opened at Dhami, the primary health center at Dhami would be upgraded to a community health center. At Katasani, near Shimla a multi-purpose stadium is planned to be constructed and an ITI would also be opened in Rural Shimla, he said.
The chief minister declared that science and commerce streams would be introduced at Sunni Government College, the middle school at Dabri is to be upgraded to a high school, the primary school at Hyun is to be upgraded to a middle school and the high schools at Madukhar, Neen and Mandodghat are to be upgraded into a senior secondary schools.
The chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakhs for developing ground at the senior secondary school, Sunni into a stadium.
Photo: Amit
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.
