Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today launched the ambitious Rajeev Gandhi Digital Vidyarthi Yojna 2015-16 at Sundernagar in district Mandi, fulfiling the announcement he made in his Budget speech. Under the scheme, laptops/netbooks were distributed to the meritorious students of classes 10th and 12th who passed out from the HP Board of School Education. This scheme was introduced by the UPA government.The Chief Minister distributed laptops to as many as 86 meritorious students of district Mandi. The government will provide around 10,000 laptops for fiscal year 2015-16 to such students on which an expenditure of Rs 18.32 lakhs was being incurred.
While speaking on the occasion, he said that the State Government was making efforts to provide quality education to the children and in this direction 'Mukhya Mantri Gyandeep Yojna' had been also been announced to provide interest subvention of 4 percent to all Himachali Students availing education loan upto Rs. 10 lakh. Besides, free uniforms were also being provided to all the school children of Government schools upto secondary classes under the 'Mukhya Mantri Vardi Yojna'. He said that in order to provide ‘State of Art’ infrastructural and teaching facilities in two Senior Secondary Schools of each constituency, Rs 30 crore, 'Mukhya Mantri Adarsh Vidyalya Yojna', had been announced in the Budget. This will help in creating modern schools with all basic facilities.
Chief Minister said that more than 1,000 schools had been opened or upgraded in the State during last three years besides 24 ITI's and two Engineering Colleges. As many as 29 colleges have been opened in the State mostly in remote and rural areas during present regime, taking the number of colleges to 94. He also launched the eDHE portal of education department where on-line electronic diary, scanning of inward letters, dispatch, efile noting and drafting would be manageable. Though this will take some time to get used to, but the portal would save enough time, manpower and paper, he said.The Chief Minister announced construction of science block in GSSS, Sundernagar.
He also announced a sum of Rs. eight lakh for renovation of old school building in GSSS boys and a sum of Rs. three lakh for renovation of hockey hostel of GSSS Boys.Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Sohan Lal while speaking on the occasion said that the priority of State Government was to provide basic education to all the children at their door steps. More than thirty schools had been either opened or upgraded in Sundernagar alone, he said. He said that more than 3000 teachers in different disciplines had been appointed last year and a similar provision had been made this year.He said that the Government was providing vocational education in 973 schools of the State.
He also demanded science block to be constructed in Government Senior Secondary School, Sundernagar.A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.Excise and Taxation Minister, Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Ms. Champa Thakur, DCC, President, Shri Puran Chand, Chairman, APMC, Shri Harinder Sen, Director, Higher Education, Shri Dinkar Burathoki, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Sandeep Kadam, SP, Shri Prem Thakur, Chairperson Municipal Council, Ms. Poonam Sharma were also present on the occasion amongst others.