Himachal Pradesh completes 43 years of Statehood today. It was conferred the status of full State on 25th January, 1971. State Level function was organized to mark the occasion at Shaheed Bhuvnesh Dogra Stadium Dehra in Kangra district today where Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past presented by Police, Mahila Police, IRB Battalion, Home Guards, NSS. Shri Punit Raghu, Deputy Superintendent of Police commanded the Parade.While felicitating the people of the State on the occasion of Statehood Day, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that starting its developmental voyage as a under developed and poor State, Himachal Pradesh today has not only emerged as a model of development of hill areas in the country, but has also shown the way to big states by becoming a pioneer in various fields. While giving credit of this to the hardworking and arduous people of the State, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that successive Congress Governments at the Centre and the State also gave positive direction to the developmental endeavours of the State.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the per capita income of the State, which was merely Rs 651 in 1971 has gone up to Rs. 82,611 in 2013-14 and the Gross Domestic Product at current prices has shot up from Rs 223 crore in 1971 to Rs 72,076 crore. He said that food grain production has increased from 9.36 lakh metric tonne to more than 15.34 lakh metric tonne, and fruit production from 1.49 lakh metric tonne to 5.41 lakh metric tonne. He said that there were only 4963 educational institutions in 1971 whereas today 15,292 educational institutions providing quality education to the youth of the State.
Terming the present one year tenure of the State Government as a fruitful and productive, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the Government has strived hard for the welfare of the common man and balanced development of all areas of the State. He said that the social security pension was being provided to about 3 lakh beneficiaries at an enhanced rate of Rs. 500 per month and housing subsidy for construction of house under various Housing Schemes for the poor has been enhanced from Rs. 48,500 to Rs. 75,000 per unit. He said that the assistance under Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana has been enhanced from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 25,000 and financial assistance under inter-caste marriage and grant for widow remarriage has been increased from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000. He said that Rs 1014 crore has been earmarked under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan for the year 2013-14, which was Rs 100 crore more than the previous year's allocation. In order to ensure women empowerment, a State Women Welfare Board has been constituted in the State. He said that the income limit for determining creamy layer amongst Other Backward Classes has been enhanced from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum for the welfare of these communities.
Chief Minister said that over 7500 kms new roads would be constructed in the State in the next four years and Rs 285.75 crore has been sanctioned under World Bank Rural Road Project for construction of 19 new roads and three bridges. He said that over 117 additional villages have been connected with roads and 403 kms new roads and 29 bridges constructed during the last over one year. Over 390 kms roads have been constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana during this period and 91 habitats connected by roads, he added.Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the provision for dissolution of Private Universities has been enhanced from 25 years to 50 years for ensuring commitment to the education of students. He said that services of more than 6300 PTA teachers were being converted on contract basis after completion of eight years of continuous service and services of about 2100 Para Teachers would be regularized after completion of 10 years of continuous service. He said that the State Government has enhanced honorarium of more than 3500 Primary Assistant Teachers to Rs. 8900 per month. He said that about 6 to 7 thousand teachers would be recruited during this year. He said that second campus of Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla would be constructed near Ghanahatti in Shimla district at a cost of Rs 150 crore. He said that 142 Medical Officers were appointed during this period and 60 new ambulances were added to National Ambulance Service. He said that 424 generic medicines would be provided free of cost in Government Health Institutions which would be of good quality.
Chief Minister said that an allowance of Rs. 1000 per month was being provided under 'Skill Upgradation Scheme' to the educated unemployed youth opting for skill upgradation programme for two years. He said that a provision of Rs 100 crore has been under the Scheme during the current financial year. He said that educational qualification of candidates interested in pursuing training in certain vocations like masonry, carpentry, plumber etc has been relaxed by the Government. He said that over 36.82 lakh people were being provided three kg of wheat at Rs. 2 per kg and two kg of rice at Rs. 3 per kg per month under Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojana. He said that all the ration card holders were being provided subsidized 35 kg ration per month. He said that an additional budgetary provision of Rs. 62 crore has been made for providing ration at subsidized rate to the consumers besides, Rs 175 crore already allocated under this scheme.
Virbhadra Singh said that 50 per cent subsidy was being provided on all type of seeds during Rabi season besides; subsidy on mixed fertilizers has been enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per metric tonne. He said that fruit growers are being provided anti-hail nets on 80 per cent subsidy. The State Government has enhanced the procurement prices of Apple, Mango, Kinnow, Malta and Galgal by 50 paisa per kg and procurement price of milk has been increased by Rs. 1 per litre to facilitate milk producers of the State, he added.Chief Minister said that work has been started on Rs 922.48 crore Swan River Channelization Project in Una district, under which all the 73 rivulets of the districts would be channelized in order to make over 7163.49 hectare area of the district cultivable. He said that DPR worth Rs 179.59 crore has been approved by the Union Water Resource Ministry for channelization of Chhonch Khud in Indora tehsil of Kangra district
Shri Virbhadra Singh said due to the efforts made by the State Government, the Union Government has extended Central Capital Investment Subsidy for Himachal Pradesh w.e.f. 7th January 2013 to 31st March, 2017 and a more liberal freight subsidy scheme has been introduced in place of the earlier transport central subsidy scheme. He thanked the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh for this benevolence. He said that this would give a much needed boost to the pace of industrialization in the State. He said that a Technical Park would be developed at Baddi in Solan district by spending an amount of Rs 147 crore. A Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade would be set up at Shimla for studies of Small & Medium Enterprises with a cost of Rs. 50 crore and new Industrial Areas would be developed in Solan, Una and Kangra districts, he added.Virbhadra Singh also distributed 25 Digital Note books to students of 10th and Plus Two under the Rajiv Gandhi Digital Students Scheme. He said that that a total of 5000 Note Books would be distributed to the meritorious students under this scheme.
Referring to the development of Kangra district, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Kangra was the largest and most important district of the State. He said that the State Government was committed to maintain identity of the district and would not allow its pision as was being mooted by some vested interests. He said that during his previous tenure he had opened several offices in Dehra subpision of Kangra district. He said that Mini Secretariat was opened at Dehra during his previous tenure. He said that Sub pision Hospital, Sub pision Ayurvedic Hospital, Office of Regional Manager HRTC, Office of pisional Forest Officer, office of DSP were opened in Dehra during his earlier. He said that Science Block was also constructed at Government Senior Secondary School Boys Dehra during his previous tenure. He said that Sewerage Scheme was started for Dehra during his previous tenure, besides Nagar Panchayat Dehra was upgraded to Municipal Council.A colourful cultural programme was also presented by various cultural troupes from different parts of the State.
Announcements
Chief Minister announced Rs 40 lakh for development of Shaheed Bhuvnesh Dogra Stadium, CT Scan Machine on Public-Private mode at Civil Hospital Dehra and Rs 4.30 crore of Government College Haripur.Chief Minister also announced upgradation of Government Girls High School Dehra to Senior Secondary School, Government High School Beh Bhaunta to Government Senior Secondary School and Government Middle School Shivnath to Government High School.
For Jaswan-Pragpur Constituency Chief Minister announced upgradation of Government Girls High School Pragpur to Government Girls Senior Secondary School and Government Girls High School Garli to Senior Secondary School.
For Jawalamukhi constituency Chief Minister announced opening of SDM office at Jawalamukhi.
Chief Minister also announced opening of sub tehsil at Haripur (Guler), Gangath (Indora) and Panchrukhi.
Chief Minister also announced upgradation of Civil Hospital Jaisinghpur to a 50 bedded Hospital.
Transport and Civil Supplies Minister. Shri G.S.Bali. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Anil Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Shri Shri Neeraj Bharti, Shri Jagjivan Pal and Shri I.D.Lakhanpal, former MP Smt. Viplove Thakur, MLAs, former MLAs, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, acting Chief Secretary Shri P. Mitra, DGP Shri Sanjay Kumar, Director Information and Public Relations Shri Rajender Singh, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.