On the occasion of Mahila Sammelan organized at Ghanahati, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today presented cheques worth rupees twenty thousand each to as many as 72 Mahila Mandals of 24 Gram Panchayats under Shimla Rural Assembly segment under MLA Development Fund for enabling them to carry developmental activities through their respective Mahila Mandals.Speaking on the occasion, he said the state government has always accorded foremost priority to women empowerment as they were the bedrock of the strong and vibrant society. The government has always been endeavouring to give them equal freedom, status and honour. They were being given ample opportunities to excel in every sphere of life and it was a matter of great contentment that they are not lagging behind in any field. Today women are contributing for the progress and development of the nation through their talents.On the demand of people of various Gram Panchayats, Virbhadra Singh announced to open degree college at Poaba Ka Chonra in Chanog panchayat of the Shimla Rural constituency.He said there were no financial constraints for opening educational institutes in the state as it was his passion to provide excellent education facilities to the youth. It was due to these efforts that Himachal Pradesh today was the leading state in education sector.
Similarly, the government had not hesitated from opening health institutes upto the last corner of remote areas to provide quality health services to people nearer to their homes. He expressed happiness that health indicators of the state were far better than most of the states.He said Shimla Rural constituency has been developed as model constituency of the state where every section and sector has been given added priority. He said 10 government senior secondary schools, nine high schools, 10 middle schools and 15 primary schools were opened during this tenure of the state government besides three degree colleges, a polytechnic college, a fine art college and regional vocational training institute for women. For catering to the health needs of the people, three community health centres, 10 primary health centres, various sub health centres and ayurvedic dispensaries were opened during this period.The Chief Minister also released the music album of folk singer Bablu on this occasion.HP Youth Congress President Vikramaditya Singh said new milestones of development had been set up in Shimla Rural constituency in all sectors be it construction of roads, opening of health and educational institutions, providing drinking water and irrigation facilities etc. He said the biggest drinking water supply scheme of the state covering 41 panchayats of the constituency has been dedicated completed at a cost of Rs. 105 crore.He said keeping its promise to provide ample employment opportunities to the youth, the state government was persistently working to generate more avenues for them in both government and private sectors for which necessary training was also being imparted to them.
It was due to consistent efforts of the government that thousands of youth had been given employment during last few years.He thanked the Chief Minister for accepting the demand of the registered Mahila Mandals of the constituency and providing them financial assistance.Former MLA Sohan Lal welcomed the initiative of the Chief Minister for organising Mahila Sammelan, which was a great honour to the women of the constituency. He said the constituency had witnessed speedy and all round development of the Shimla Rural and fulfilling the demands and aspirations of the people of the area.Block Congress President Chandershekhar Sharma, President Sports and Cultural Association, Ghanahti Harichand Gupta also spoke on the occasion and thanked the Chief Minister for carrying out unprecedented development of the Shimla Rural assembly segment.Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Ghanahti Prabha Verma in his welcome address thanked the Chief Minister for initiatives taken by him as local MLA for overall development of the constituency, especially women empowerment.Former MLA Tilak Raj, office bearers and representatives of the Congress party, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Mahila Mandals and frontal organisations of the party were also present on the occasion.