A tribal hostel will be set up in Nurpur area and the state government is contemplating over proposals to open institutes and granting various facilities relaxing the existing norms. A drive will be launched to uproot lantana and other harmful shrubs in the areas habitated by the Scheduled Tribe community.Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said this while presiding over a meeting of the Gaddi Kalyan Board organized here at Dharamshala today. He said that the state government was committed for equal and balanced upliftment, progress and prosperity of ST community and tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. Expressing his special inclination to the Gaddi Community, the Chief Minister said that the state was owed to this community as it had contributed significantly in its development and progress. Himachal Pradesh was primarily an agriculture state and the people were engaged in related activities. He said that for the welfare and upliftment of this community, it was accorded a special status.The Chief Minister said that no community should forget its past and stick to its customs, traditions, language and culture. All the people should strive collectively for the upliftment of their community so that no section was left out. The educated should work for strengthening the weaker so that the whole community might progress equally. The Gaddi community had a rich culture to feel proud of it. “The areas dominated by the Gaddi community have been thriving due to its hard work, diligence and sincerity. I wish them to engage themselves in agrarian and related activities including fishery so that they may achieve equal economic independence and prosperity along with other communities”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Forest Minister Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri said that state government had literally implemented various provisions made in the congress election manifesto. He said that it had been possible due to various policies and programmes launched by the state government for the welfare of the Gaddi community. He said that the Gaddi community would ever remain grateful to the Chief Minister for enabling it to tread on the path of progress. The members of this community were today leaving their impressions in all walks of life throughout the world.Chief Secretary Shri VC Pharaka while conducting the meeting welcomed the Chief Minister and members of the Gaddi Kalyan Board for attending the meeting.Chairman State Wool Federation Shri Raghuveer Singh presented the vote of thanks.Issues, which surfaced the house, included construction of roads not in line with the survey conducted, installation of five tubewells in Gagwal panchayat in Indora Block, reopening of Govt. Primary School at Kulani, issuing of directions to private companies to deposit money under LADA, building of jeepable road from Main Road to Kunha village and Allannali Bathari village to GSSS, Maluna, construction of over bridge on Railway line at Gujreha in Nagrota Bagwan Block, opening of allopathic dispensary between Dharamkot and Bhagsunag and Ayurvedic dispensary at Lalot Baroti and Biana, construction of Check Dams at Kali Nallah in GP, Paleur, Sanghani Nallah of Kiri, and a Kuhal at ST habitat in Daru Village and repair of Bakani Kuhal in Chamba district, replacing of pipes from Silla Nallah to Baijnath and Patola Tika in Dharamshala area, allocation of funds for drinking water and irrigation schemes in Thalla in Kangra district, construction of roads from Mcleodanj to Chola, Karodi Bridge to Chakalu Gujreha to Garhmata, rain shelter at Bhandal and link road from Phatahar Harer via Taras, Utrala Holi Road etc.Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, ACS Shri Tarun Shridhar and Shri R.D. Dhiman were among the prominent persons present on the occasion.