The State Government is adopting zero tolerance towards corruption and it is committed to provide transparent, efficient and responsible administration to the people of the State. In order to provide corruption-free, accountable and citizen friendly administration, the government has decided to bring more services under the Public Service Guarantee Act. A toll-free telephone number will also be provided to facilitate the general public for reporting the cases of corruption and the identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.
Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh said this while addressing a public meeting at Basantpur in Shimla district, today after dedicating and laying foundation stones of various irrigation schemes in the area. He said that during his two days tour of the Shimla Rural constituency, foundation stones of various developmental schemes, especially drinking water and irrigation schemes worth crores of rupees had been laid. The foundation stone of Rs. 85 crore lift water supply scheme from Sainj Khad to Gharog-Ghandal had been laid which would benefit more than 50 thousand population of 29 panchayats of Dhami area.Virbhadra Singh gave a clarion call to the farming community to take up vegetable and fruit cultivation and dairy farming in a big way to give boost to the rural economy. He said that Dr. Y.S. Parmar Kisan Swarozgar Yojana with an outlay of Rs 100 crore would be started from the next financial year for constructing 4,700 poly-houses covering 8.30 lakh square meter area. This would not only increase the vegetable production but also create employment opportunities for about 20 thousand people.
He said that the State Government would provide 85 per cent subsidy for the construction of poly-houses. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had emerged as role model not only for hilly States but also for the bigger states in the country. It was due to the consistent efforts of the State government that Himachal today stands as the leading State in education sector and it had also been adjudged number one state in health and investment sectors. He said that government was committed to improve health facilities and IGMC, Shimla and Tanda Medical colleges were being developed as super specialty hospitals. Besides, it was also being ensured that people get best medical facilities at district level hospitals, community health centers and primary health centers in the State.He said that Shimla Rural constituency was being developed as model constituency in the State where state of art education, health and other basic facilities were being provided on priority. He said that a 50-bedded hospital was coming up at Sunni and vacant posts of the doctors and paramedical staff in Sunni hospital had been filled up.
Earlier, he inaugurated the lift water supply scheme for Naya Ser-Jubbad and adjoining villages constructed at a cost of Rs. 164.74 lakh. The scheme would benefit about 2000 people of 15 habitations of the area. He laid foundation stone of ITI building at Sunni to come up by spending Rs. 514.27 lakh.The Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of lift water supply scheme from Sainj khad for 12 panchayats of Sunni area. The scheme will be completed by spending Rs. 20.96 crore and will benefit more than 16,000 people of 190 habitations. Later, he laid foundation stone of lift irrigation scheme Jaishi-Bharara to be constructed at a cost of 67.50 lakh and GSSS building Dharogra to be constructed by spending Rs 114.70 lakh.He also inaugurated Primary Health Centre; Jalog constructed at a cost of Rs. 603.65 lakh and laid foundation stone of Community Health Centre building and staff quarters at Jalog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 252.46 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes said that more areas would be brought under irrigation and more market yards with special emphasis on small vegetable markets would be constructed on priority to facilitate the farmers and fruit producers. The State government was giving priority to the drinking water and irrigation schemes in the five year plan.She said that State Government had taken various important initiatives in the recent budget proposals to benefit all sections. She said that government had enhanced the social security pension and daily wages of the workers, additional honorarium to Anganwari workers/ helpers had been increased by 50 percent, all daily wagers completing seven years of service and all contractual employees, completing six years of service would also be regularized.Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, District Rural Congress Committee President thanked the Chief Minister for giving added priority for the development of the Shimla Rural constituency.Shri Chander Shekhar Sharma, Mandal Congress President and Smt. Dharmila Harnot, Zila Parishad member also spoke on the occasion.