An Atal Adarsh school for girls would be opened in Drang area to ensure quality education to the girl students of the area and matter regarding mining of salt in Drang mine would be taken up with the Union Government. This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Narela in Drang area of Mandi district after laying foundation stones of Vallabh Cluster University Building, ITI Building and of 130 meter PSC girder bridge over river Uhl at Kamand to be constructed under CRF by spending Rs.10.72 crore, Rs. 10.86 crore and Rs.14.82 crore respectively.Jai Ram Thakur said that the present one year's tenure of the State Government had ensured all-round and balanced development of the State. The State government was working with a sole aim of welfare of the common man of the State. In its very first Cabinet meeting the government lowered the age limit for availing social security pension without any income criteria from 80 years to 70 years which has benefited lakhs of beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister said that the BRICS scheme, foundation stone of which was laid by him today would go a long way in solving the water problem of the area. The State government would provide all possible assistance to develop Jatingri, Parashar and Barot area from tourism point of view so that tourist could get opportunity to visit this beautiful and virgin valley.He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ensuring that Himachal Pradesh gets all possible assistance in matter of development. He said that the State government has given International status to Mandi Shivratri and notification in this regard has been issued. He said that State Government was also planning to develop Mandi town as a tourist destination for which Shiv Dham would be developed in the town which would prove an added attraction to the tourists.
The Chief Minister said that the budget for the next financial year presented by him recently has several schemes for almost every section of the society. The announcement has been made in the budget for providing financial benefits to various categories of teachers. He said that the Government was ensuring that every household of the State becomes smoke free by providing gas connection within next two-three months. The State government has also announced providing financial assistance of Rs. 2000 per month to those families where any family member was suffering with chronic illness.Jai Ram Thakur announced upgradation of CHC Barot to Civil Hospital, opening of Fire Sub Station at Padhar, upgradation of Middle Schools Bhamsoi and Garlog to High School and Primary Schools Kunnu, Kaushal and Sidbudhani to Middle Schools. He also announced construction of Science Block in Government Senior Secondary School Sudhar and School Building at Government Senior Secondary School Salah. He announced Rs.61 lakh for construction and upgradation of eight link roads of the area.Earlier, the Chief Minister performed Bhumi Pujan of Bhiuli Tung road stage-II and of Arnehar Bunga road under PMGSY to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 7.06 crore and Rs. 5.90 crore respectively.The Chief Minister laid foundation stone of 19.75 meter span RCC T-beam bridge over Sakaryar Khud on Arnehar Bunga road under PMGSY to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 58.5 lakh. He also inaugurated water supply scheme to partially covered habitation of Dhundha area from Dhandhwal Khad in Kufri Gram Panchayat completed by spending Rs. 1.42 crore.He laid foundation stone of lift water supply scheme to partially covered habitations Baragaon, Kufri, Dharmchyan, Tikker etc under BRICS to be constructed at a cost of Rs 60.58 crore. He also laid foundation stones of lift irrigation scheme from Beas river to village Pali, Silag, Kunnu in Padhar Tehsil and of augmentation and improvement of lift water supply scheme Julag Sangalwah in Gram Panchayat Batheri to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 11.93 crore and Rs. 2.78 crore respectively.
The Chief Minister gave away drafts of Rs. 10,000 each to the parents of girl child under Beti Hai Anmol Yojna and soil health cards to the farmers on the occasion. The Mahila Mandals of the area were also provided Rs. 20,000 each by the Chief Minister under Vidhyak Nidhi Yojna.Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj while addressing the gathering on the occasion of foundation stone of Vallabh Cluster University said that it was a matter of pride that the Chief Minister and Union Human Resource Minister had laid foundation stone of Central University at Dehra and Dharamshala on Thursday, which would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1300 crore. He said that the Cluster University would ensure that the youth of the region get quality higher education nearer to their homes.Member Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said that the Vallabh Cluster University coming up at Mandi would go a long way in providing quality higher education to the youths of the region. He said that the State has taken a historic decision to provide ten percent reservation to the economically weaker sections of the general categories. He also thanked the Chief Minister for announcing developing Shiv Dham at Mandi for attracting visitors to this ‘Choti Kashi’ of the country.MLA Jawahar Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for laying foundation stone and inaugurating developmental projects worth about Rs. 127 crore in his constituency today.Jawahar Thakur presented a cheque of Rs. 51000 to the Chief Minister towards Chief Minister's Relief Fund on this occasion.Vice Chairman Zila Parishad Puran Chand Thakur welcomed the Chief Minister and others on the occasion.Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Chairman, MILKFED Nihal Chand Sharma, Chairman, Wakf Board Raj Bali, District BJP President Ranbir Singh, BJP Spokesman Ajay Rana were also present on the occasion among others.