A media delegation from Assam on "Good Will Mission" called on the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur at his official residence 'Oak Over', today. The delegation is on a week-long visit to Himachal Pradesh.While welcoming the delegation, the Chief Minister said that although a small state, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a role model of development for big States of the country. He said the nature has blessed the State with varied climatic conditions, salubrious and pollution free environment, besides enchanting scenic beauty making it a favoured destination for the tourists.He said that the State government has started Nai Rahein Nai Manzilien scheme for developing the lesser known and virgin tourist destinations of the State. The Janjehli in Mandi district, Chanshal in Shimla district and Bir Billing and Pong Dam in Kangra district are being developed as new tourist destinations.Jai Ram Thakur said that in its first budget, the State government announced thirty new schemes and all of them have been implemented. The Jan Manch programme launched by the state government has emerged as a boon to the people for redressal of their grievances nearer to their homes. More than 40,000 grievances have been received in these Jan Manch and most of them have been redressed.
The Chief Minister said that in order to give human face to the developmental efforts, the state government has lowered the age criteria for availing the old age pension from 80 years to 70 years, benefiting lakhs of old people. The Grihini SuvidhaYojna has been launched to provide gas connections to the families not covered under the Ujjwala Yojana of the union government. Similarly, Him Care scheme has been started to provide health cover of rupees five lakh to the families not covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojna of Government of India.Jai Ram Thakur said that Sahara Yojna has been launched in the state to provide financial assistance of Rs 2000 per month to the family having a patient suffering from critical illness. All these schemes aim at improving the socio-economic upliftment of every section of the society. He said that Himachal Pradesh has also made marked progress in the field of education, health and horticulture. In Education sector, Himachal is second after Kerala in term of literacy and the health indicators of the state are also best in the country.The delegation handed over a letter of the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal to Jai Ram Thakur.The Chief Minister thanked his Assam counterpart and invited him to visit Himachal Pradesh.Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu gave a glimpse of Himachal Pradesh to the delegation. He said that the State was making rapid progress in every sphere of development under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.Joint Director, Public Relations to the government of Assam K. Bargohair and Senior Information Officer Samar Kalita honoured the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.Director, Information and Public Relations Harbans Singh Brascon, Joint Director Mahesh Pathania and other senior officers were present on the occasion.