The 65th Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour throughout Himachal Pradesh. Functions were organized at State, District, and Sub-pisional level to mark the occasion. Hoisting of Flags, impressive march-past, cultural programmes were main highlights of the functions organized in the State.
At Shimla
The State-level function was held at the historic Ridge where Smt. Urmila Singh, Governor unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march-past presented by the contingents of Army Regiments, ITBP, SSB, Police, Home- Guards and Ex-servicemen, Scouts and NSS. Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, was also present on the occasion.Major Amol Dhumal of Rajput Regiment commanded the parade.The tableaux exhibited by various Departments were main highlights of the function. Cultural programmes were presented by various cultural troupes of the State.Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Excise and Taxation Minister, Shri Nand Lal Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Mohan Lal Brakta, MLA, Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation, Shri Tikender Panwar, Deputy Mayor, councillors, Shri P. Mitra, Acting Chief Secretary, Shri T.G. Negi, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Director General of Police, Shri Balbir Tegta, Chairman, H.P. Board of School Education, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, leaders of various political parties, Freedom Fighters, prominent persons of the town, Senior Civil, Police and Military Officers were also present on the occasion among others.
At Hamirpur
The District level function was organized at the premises of GSSS (Boys), Hamirpur. Presiding over the function, Shri B.B.L. Butail, Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha said that State Government was committed to provide safe drinking water to every household. He said that Rs.64 crore drinking water scheme would be constructed for Hamirpur town with financial assistance from Government of India. After completion of this ambitious scheme, the people of the town would get 135 liter water per person per day till year 2044. Shri Butail honoured freedom fighters, the contingents of Police, Home Guards and NCC and the cultural troupes on the occasion. Shri Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Rajender Rana, MLA, Shri Ranjeet Singh Verma, Ex-Minister, Smt. Anita Verma, Ex-MLA and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Bilaspur
Presiding over the District level function at Bilaspur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes said that the people of the district had contributed immensely in the freedom struggle and development of the country. She said that Rs. 1483 crore were being spent on providing safe drinking water and irrigation facilities during this financial year. She said that safe drinking water was being made available to the people of Bilaspur district through 273 schemes. So far, 2492 hand pumps had been set up in the district while 115 hand pumps would be set up during this year adding that work on 80 hand pumps had already been completed. Smt. Stokes said that 2350 hectare Changer Area of the district had been covered under Medium Irrigation Scheme while farmers were being provided irrigation facilities through 80 irrigation schemes. She said that Rs. 21.56 crore sewerage scheme had been sanctioned for the new Bilaspur Township while a DPR was being prepared for the other sub towns of the district. She added that Rs. 23.17 crore Flood Control Scheme was under consideration for channelization of Seer khad from Jahu to Bam.Shri Ram Lal Thakur, Chairman, 20 Point Programme Implementation Committee, Shri Rajesh Dharmani, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Bambar Thakur, MLA, Shri Babu Ram Gautam, Shri Tilak Raj and Shri B.R Kishore, ex-MLA’s and other prominent person were present on the occasion.
At Mandi
Transport and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Shri G.S. Bali presided over the district level function organized at Seri Manch of Mandi. He said that the State Government had started Him Gramin Parivan Swarojgar Yojna to provide self employment avenues to the youth of the State. He said that a proposal of Rs. 471 crore had been sent to the Union Government for purchase of 1123 new buses out of which 800 had been sanctioned. The Minister announced to start bus services at low fares between Mandi-Kullu, Kullu-Manali, Mandi-Sundernagar, Mandi-Jogindernagar, Mandi-Kotli via Gaggal. He said that a Mudrika bus service with fixed fare of Rs. five would also be started in Mandi town. The Mandi-Delhi Deluxe bus service would be replaced with AC Super Deluxe bus service while a new bus service would be started from Banjar to Haridwar via Pandoh, Gohar, Chail Chowk and Baggi. He announced Rs. 50 lakh for construction of Kotli bus stand. Smt. Sushila Sonkhla, Chairperson Nagar Parishad and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Una
Agriculture and MPP & Power Minister Shri Sujan Singh Pathania, presided over district level function at Una. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the State Government was providing 50 percent subsidy on all seeds during the Rabi season and the subsidy on composite fertilizers had been enhanced from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 per metric tonne. Besides, 50 percent subsidy was also being given on insecticides and plant conservation equipments. He said that 35729 farmers had been registered for organic farming in the State and 13138 hectare area had been brought under organic farming. Shri Pathania said that the horticulturists were being given 50 to 85 percent subsidy for the construction of green houses. He said that a subsidy amounting to Rs. 320 crore was being provided for giving electricity at cheaper rates to the domestic consumers and also for the agriculture sector. Shri Satpal Singh Satti, MLA, Shri Virender Dharmani, District Congress President, Shri Onkar Sharma, Ex Vice Chairman, Agro Packaging Corporation, other senior leaders of the district Congress and prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Kullu
Forest Minister Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri unfurled the National Flag and took salute of the impressive march past during the District level Republic Day Function organized at Dhalpur ground. Speaking on the occasion, the Forest Minister said that with a view to give pace to the developmental projects, the State Government had simplified the procedure for forest clearances and the concerned department had been directed to provide clearance report within 90 days. The State had formulated new TD Policy which would enable the people to get timber easily. He said that a timber depot had been opened at Shamshi in Kullu district to facilitate the people of the district. He said that 19523 people of the district were being provided social security pension for which Rs. 9.60 crore were being spent during this financial year. Shri Karan Singh, MLA, Shri Hari Chand Sharma, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Shri Raghubir Singh, Chairman, Wool Federation, Shri Satya Prakash Thakur, Ex-Minister, Shri Sunder Singh Thakur, General Secretary, HPCC, Shri Bhuvneshwar Gaur, Spokesperson and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Nahan ( Sirmaur)
Industries Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri presided over the district level Republic Day function at historic Chaugan of Nahan. He said that the past one year of the present Congress Government had witnessed alround development of the State and many milestones had been established during this period. He said that due to efforts of the State Government, the industrial package to the State had been extended till March, 2017 by the Government of India and approval had also been granted to establish 62 new industrial units in the State with investment of Rs. 1756 crore. The State Government had also simplified the procedure to provide all clearances to the industrial projects within 90 days so that industrialization could gain momentum in the State.
Shri Agnihotri said that the Sirmaur district had taken lead in the State by achieving the targets under Skill Development Allowance Scheme and 7125 youth had been benefited under the scheme. He said that the survey was being conducted to explore the possibilities of new industrial areas in Sirmaur district. He said that 16000 small, medium and big industrial units with investment of Rs. 3000 crore were functioning in the district in which over 25000 youth had got employment. Rs. 21 crore had been sanctioned to establish Pollution Control Plant at Kala Amb while Rs. three crore had been granted to develop basic amenities at Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb industrial areas. Shri Vinay Kumar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Dr. Rajiv Bindal and Shri Baldev Tomar, MLAs, Shri Ajay Bahadur Singh, Chairman, HIMFED, Smt. Satya Parmar, Chairman, Social Welfare Board, Shri Kush Parmar and Shri Harsh Wardhan Chauhan, Ex MLAs, Shri Ajay Solanki, District Congress President and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Solan
Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma presided over the district level function organized at historic Thodo ground at Solan. Earlier, he paid tributes to the martyrs at Shaheed Smarak, Chambaghat. Shri Sudhir Sharma said that the State Government was ensuring complete and balanced development of all areas of the State irrespective of any discrimination. He said that the State Government had implemented Rajeev Gandhi Ann Yojna under National Food Security Act under which 36.82 lakh consumers of the State were being provided subsidized ration. A provision of Rs. 175 crore had been made during this financial year under State Food Subsidy Scheme. An additional provision of Rs. 62 crore had also been made under the Scheme.
He said that 127097 ration card holders of the district were being provided subsidized ration through a network of 302 fair price shops by spending Rs.55 crore. Shri Kul Rakesh Pant, Chairman, Nagar Parishad, Ms. Sheela, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Shri Rahul Thakur, District Congress President and other prominent persons.
At Dharamshala (Kangra)
While presiding over the district level function at Dharamshala, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that Himachal Pradesh had scaled new heights of development and today it was considered as model of hilly States development on international level. He said that 30 percent of total budget of the State was being spent on social sector in the State. The State Government had enhanced the social security pension and 2,92,921 eligible beneficiaries were being benefited with the social security pension. He said that financial grant had been enhanced under various welfare schemes for the empowerment of the women. The government was ensuring welfare of the poor and downtrodden sections of the society and Rs. 1014 crore were being spent this year under Schedule Caste Sub-Plan which was 100 crore more than previous year. Dr. Shandil said that Government was also ensuring the welfare of the freedom fighters and ex-servicemen and their dependents. Shri Neeraj Bharati, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Ajay Mahajan, MLA and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Chamba
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Anil Sharma presided over the district level function at Chamba. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Anil Sharma said Rs. 20.43 crore were being spent in the district during current fiscal year under Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). He said that Construction work of as many as 72 water supply schemes had taken up under BRGF on which Rs. 89.96 lakh were made available for this year. 55977 families in the district earned employment under Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and a sum of Rs. 56.11 crore was spent till now. Work on 3769 various MGNREGA jobs had been completed thereby generated about 25 lacs person days, he added.Shri B.K. Chauhan, MLA, Shri Surender Bhardwaj, Ex MLA, Ms. Anita Thakur President, Municipal Council and other prominent persons were also present on the occasion
At Reckong Peo (Kinnaur)
Presiding over the function at district headquarter Reckong Peo, Deputy Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha Shri Jagat Singh Negi said that Rs. 369 crore were being spent under Tribal Sub Plan during this financial year which was 11 percent more than the previous year. He said that Government of India had provided 10,000 solar lights for Kinnaur district which would be distributed free of cost to the people of the district. He distributed solar lights to 10 families of Dakhon village of Kalpa Sub pision who became houseless during natural disaster last year. He said that the State Government had provided Rs. 7.57 crore to 5193 affected families of the district for construction of houses. Shri Umesh Negi, District Congress President, Smt. Priyanka Negi, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Kumari Saroj, District Mahila Congress President and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
At Keylong (Lahaul-Spiti)
Deputy Commissioner Shri Beer Singh Thakur unfurled the National Flag at District level function organized at Keylong. Speaking on the occasion, he said that a budgetary provision of Rs. 42.49 crore had been made for the district during this financial year. He said that a provision of Rs. 4.50 crore had been made for the district for relief and rehabilitation works under Central and State Disaster Response Fund.