Governor Acharya Devvrat has stressed on public participation for dealing with social challenges and moving forward towards social welfare as constructive changes in society were only possible through awareness campaigns.He was participating in two–day Governor’s Conference organised at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, today.Acharya Devvrat said that during last two years as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, he worked on six major issues including cleanliness, water and environment conservation, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, drug de-addiction, zero budget natural farming, indigenous cow breeding and social harmony programmes and by involving every section of the society with these programmes.To promote tourism in Himachal, cleanliness campaign had been speeded up besides undertaking plantation drive by involving students and NGOs. A strategy had been prepared for the formation of check-dams at a comprehensive level to revive the water resources by running 'Water Conservation Literacy Campaign', said the Governor.
He said that ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign had resulted in increase in the girl child sex ratio and it was a matter of pride that the girls of Himachal Pradesh had been excelling in every field. Various initiatives had been undertaken to safeguard the students from drugs and intoxicants de-addiction center was being set up in Shimla for which land has been identified.He said to double the income of the farmers and make them self-reliant, the concept of zero budgets natural farming had been promoted among the farmers of the State. Organic agriculture departments had been established in the agricultural and horticultural universities besides organizing training camps. He added natural farming was being promoted in the state in a big way to strengthen the economy of farmers, which was beneficial for soil as well.He urged to expedite the work of strategically important first major rail project Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri broad gauge railway route upto to Leh, acceptance of major projects related to rail and road and to restore the grant given to the freight rate to nearest railway station.The Governor also briefed out various initiatives taken by the Raj Bhawan including water harvesting, solar energy, solid and liquid waste management, plantation, energy conservation etc.