Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today said that Rs 105 crore Gharog-Gandal water supply scheme for Shimla rural would be completed soon and it would benefit 41 panchayats including 29 panchayats of Development Block Mashobra and 12 panchayats of Basantpur. In addition to this, water supply scheme Pandoa will soon be commissioned which will cater to the needs of as many as seven panchayats of Sheeraj area. Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting at Basantpur (Sunni), in Shimla Rural assembly constituency.He said the government had planned to store water by constructing check dams in water scarce areas during monsoon which could be used for cultivation of off-season vegetables, which can strengthen the rural economy of hill people. He exhorted people to resort to floriculture and other similar vocations as it was difficult enough to provide jobs in government sector alone. Referring to Shimla rural assembly constituency, he said three Primary schools, eight Middle Schools, seven High Schools and eight senior secondary schools had been opened during last three years while two degree colleges had been opened at Sunni and Dhami at 16 miles and a Fine Arts College at Anandpur.
He said that three Community Health Centres at Halog -Dhami, Sunni and Shogi and three Industrial Training Institutes at Jalog, Dhami and Dargi had been opened in the constituency during the last three years. The Chief Minister announced to open polytechnic at Basantpur. He said that the milk chilling plants would be opened in the constituency so that the farmers could sell their milk and store it in chilling plants. The Chief Minister earlier inaugurated the Old Age Home constructed at Basantpur, with an outlay of rupees four crore. The foundation stone of which was laid by him in January, 2013. He said this was one of his dream project and it would house as many as 50 inmates besides providing them free medical services. He said that old age home will act as a example of welfare state working where we take care of the poorest of the poor. The government was also providing assistance to NGOs to run such old age homes and orphanages in the State and as of now, grant was being provided to Old age Home, Basantpur, being run by State Social Welfare Board, the Balh Valley Welfare Society, Bhangrotu in Mandi, old age home at Dari in Dharamshala, being run by HP Child Welfare Council, and Adarsh Educational and Social Welfare Organisation, Kalath near Manali. The inmates of these Old age homes were being provided free medical aid and other necessary facilities, he said. The Chief Minister said that the government had made a provision of giving pensions to the inmates of these Old Age Homes too.
He also inaugurated the newly constructed building of Government Senior Secondary School Ghaini completed with an outlay of rupees one crore. He laid the foundation stone of the building of Government Senior Secondary School, Neen to cost Rs. 2.08 crore, foundation stone of Primary Health Centre Building at Neen to be constructed with an outlay of Rs 24 lakh, foundation stone of office building of HPPWD section at Badmain to cost Rs 23.24 lakh and foundation stone of PHC building at Basantpur to cost Rs 1.46 crore. Earlier, while addressing a gathering at Neen, the Chief Minister announced a sum of Rs 10 thousand each for GSSS Neen and Ghaini for promotion of art and culture. He also directed to widen the School ground of GSSS, Neen and to construct a pavilion there. He also addressed a gathering at Ghaini. He said that at present 3.63 lakh eligible widows, aged and people with special abilities were getting social security pension. An additional 24,000 eligible pending pension cases were being sanctioned from 1st April, this year. The state government had enhanced the social security pension from Rs 600 to Rs. 650 per month and the pension of specially abled and those above eighty years had been enhanced from Rs 1100 to Rs. 1200.
Terming himself as a true Nationalist, he said that for him Himachal was one and so was the country. Few people in opposition try playing divisive politics and for them there was no such agenda of development but always try to create rift between people and regions. He said elections should be fought on agendas, on policies and programmes and not only for the sake of just fighting elections for self. He cautioned the people to be aware of such people who play with sentiments of others as they can't be well wishers of democratic set up. The Chief Minister said that no one has the right to criticise each other and one should respect all religions. He said it seems that the BJP believes in one religion and the government which don’t bother or care for people of other religion, for their countrymen, they were the biggest enemies of democracy and secular state. State Youth Congress President, Shri Vikramaditya Singh said that the Old Age Home inaugurated today was one of the best in the country. He said that Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh has worked for the development and upliftment of the people of the State in systematic way. He said in Himachal Pradesh, also known as Dev Bhoomi, our elders should not face a situation to leave their homes. May be for some unavoidable reason, if any, wherein they were compelled to leave their homes, the government endeavours to construct such more old age homes in the state so that they may lead comfortable life. He said that that the youth should take care of their parents and by no means should they discard them. He said that Kaushal Vikas Nigam had been constituted in the state to train as many as 62000 youth for self-employment. Besides, they would also be trained as per the needs of the industrial houses. This would not only help the youth to get absorbed in industrial houses but would also help them to start their own business in different trades.
Replying to the statements of the BJP leaders, he said that to go ahead with any development project, proper planning was required keeping in view the financial aspect and for the very reason, foundation stones were laid, and not just for the sake of it. Dr. Balak Ram Kashyap Pradhan, GP, Basantpur, welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and also placed forth several demands of the area. DCC, President, Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, Senior Vice President DCC, Shri Neem Chand Verma, BCC President, Shri Chandershekhar, Chairperson Zila Parishad, Shri Dharmila Harnot, Chairman Panchayat Samiti, Shri Pradeep Verma, Member, HPCC Shri Pradeep Verma, Mahila Block Congress President, Ms. Anita Sharma, General Secretary, Youth Congress, Ripna Kalsaik, OSD to Chief Minister, Shri Rakesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Rohan Thakur, SP, Shri D.W. Negi, Chief Architect, Shri Nand Kishor Negi, were also present on the occasion amongst others.