The State Government is giving top priority to improve rural economy by laying focus on agro-horticulture sector. Various schemes and programmes have been initiated to benefit the farming community and orchardists of the State including better marketing facility and technical assistance. This was stated by Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today while addressing a huge public meeting at Potato Ground Theog in Shimla district on the occasion of State level Children Day function. Chief Minister said horticulture sector had ensured distinctive identity to Himachal Pradesh and it was also one of the important sector to boost the economy of the State. He said despite good apple production during this season, the growers could not get good price for their produce due to excess supply of the apple in market. The Government would establish cold storage centres in the State to overcome this problem. Besides, efforts would be made to set up more apple juice factories in various parts of the State.
Virbhadra Singh said that overall development of the State was ensured whenever Congress Governments remained in the power. Today, there was a strong network of roads, electricity, drinking water education and health institutes in the State and the credit goes to the Congress Party for this development, he added. He gave a clarion call to the people to preserve their rich cultural heritage and traditions which was the base of our identity adding that no society could flourish by forgetting its culture and traditions. Remembering former Prime Minister late Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru on his birth anniversary, the Chief Minister said that Pt. Nehru gave his valuable contribution for the sake of the nation. He ensured modernization of the country and it was due to his efforts that education, industrialization, science & technology expanded by leaps and bounds. He said that when India got independence the country's population was 40 crore out of which 8 crore went to Pakistan and that time we did not have enough food grains and were compelled to import wheat. At present we are not only self-reliant but exporting food grains to other countries. Chief Minister said that Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru had special love and affection for Himachal Pradesh and its people and he played a major role in giving separate identity to Himachal Pradesh. He said that it was his honour that he got chance to work with Pt. Nehru when he became Member of Parliament from Mahasu in 1962. He said that he was privileged to work with all the Prime Ministers of the country.
Virbhadra Singh announced to rename Potato Ground, Theog as Jawahar Lal Nehru Ground on the occasion, adding that a statue of Pt. Nehru would also be set up in this ground. He announced district level status to the ‘Ekadashi Mela’ of Balag in Theog Sub pision. He also announced to upgrade Tiyali, Nahaul and Dhamandri High Schools to Government Senior Secondary Schools and Palel Primary School in Gram Panchayat Balgar as Government Middle School. He announced Rs. 10,000 each to the schools who participated in the cultural programme and Rs. 20,000 to the Thoda traditional dance troupe, Rs. 15,000 to Indian Idol fame singer Kritika Tanwar, Rs. 10,000 to Folk Singer Pradeep Sharma and Rs. 10,000 to Balwari, Theog. Earlier Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Bye-Pass Theog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 45.50 crore. This 2.5 kms by-pass road from Devri Ghat to Prem Ghat would help in de-congestion of heavy traffic in Theog market. He also laid foundation stone of new Hospital Block at Theog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 crore which would have parking facility for 30 vehicles. He also inaugurated new OPD building of Civil Hospital Theog.
Virbhadra Singh laid foundation stone of shopping complex-cum-office block of HRTC at Janog Ghat, Theog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6.90 crore. Besides 73 shops would also have the parking facility. Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of four storied Modern Bus Stand of Theog to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 15 crore which would be having Bus Bay for 10 buses, idle parking for buses, car parking, booking counter, waiting room, cloak room and shops etc. Horticulture and Irrigation & Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes thanked the Chief Minister for solving the long pending demand of bus stand Theog. She also thanked him for laying foundation stones of Bye-Pass, new Hospital Block and Shopping complex Theog. She also thanked him for upgrading schools in her area and said that adequate budget provision has been made for improving roads, electricity, water supply and other development works in Theog constituency. She said that 66 KV Sub Station would be set up at Sandhu to improve the electricity supply of the area. She announced Rs. 5000 each to the school children who performed the cultural programme on the occasion and Rs. 20,000 for the Thoda Team.
Transport and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Shri G.S. Bali said that free traveling facility was being provided to the Government school students from home to school and vice-versa in HRTC buses. He said that an ambitious Skill Development Allowance of Rs. 1000 for general and Rs. 1500 for physical handicapped per month was being given to the youth for acquiring skill for two years. He said that the BPL family would get increased ration from next month and if any ration card holder doesn’t get any ration item in particular month he could get the same next month. He said that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh equal and speedy development of all areas was being done, as our Government doesn’t believe in regionalism and discrimination.
President Block Congress Committee Theog Caption Nathu Ram Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister and said that it was a historic day for the area as many old demands have been fulfilled by the Chief Minister. MLA Shri Balbir Verma, Chairman HP State Marketing Board Dr. Subhash Manglet, President District Congress Committee (Rural) Shri Kehar Singh Khachi, Vice-Chairman HPSIDC Shri Atul Sharma, Chairman Zila Parishad Shri Chandereshver Prasad, Member PCC Shri Vijay Pal Khachi, Senior Congress leader Shri Rajender Verma, Advisor to Chief Minister Shri T.G. Negi, DC Shri Dinesh Malhotra, SP Shri Abhishek Dular, Director Transport Shri Ritesh Chauhan, MD HRTC Shri R.N. Batta, CMO Shimla Dr. R.K. Gupta, Senior Officers and prominent persons of the area were present on the occasion.