Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced to constitute Rajput Kalyan Board and Brahmin Kalyan Board in the State. These Boards will be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister. He made this announcement during a function organized by the Rajput Kalyan Sabha and Trust at Kangra after unveiling the statue of Maharana Pratap at Maharana Pratap Complex. The statue has been created by Shri Faqir Charan Farida, a renowned sculpturist of the country. Chief Minister lauded the work of Shri Farida who had also sculptured the Rani Jhansi Bai statue in the State capital. Appreciating the efforts of the Rajput Kalyan Sabha and Trust for erecting this statue, Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Maharana Pratap was a great patriot and warrior who bravely fought against the invaders. He also remembered the heroes of freedom struggle who laid down their precious lives for the cause of motherland. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of Government Industrial Training Institute at Daulatpur in Kangra Tehsil. The construction work will be completed within two years by spending Rs. 381.46 lakh. He also approved to start Science classes in GSSS Daulatpur and said that separate block would be constructed to facilitate science students. He announced to set up 25 hand pumps in Changer area.
Virbhadra Singh said that roads, education and health sectors were top priorities of the State Government for which there would be no financial constraints. The Congress Governments had opened schools and colleges in large number to facilitate the students of the State in getting education near to their homes. He said that unemployment was a major concern and State Government was taking effective steps to tackle this challenge. The Skill Development Scheme was one of the ambitious initiative in this direction which would go a long way in imparting technical training to the youth and providing them opportunities to get employment in government as well as private sector. He said that the State Government was contemplating to reduce minimum age from 18 years to 16 years under the scheme with a view to cover more youth under its ambit. Chief Minister said that the State Government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna to benefit various sections of the society. A telephone number had been provided at all fair price shops for the convenience of the consumers who can report any problem regarding availability of ration to the concerned officers or directly to the Chief Minister office.
Food and Civil Supplies and Transport Minister Shri G.S. Bali said that the State Government had made a provision of Rs. 175 crore to provide pulses, edible oil and salt on subsidized rates to its consumers. An additional provision of Rs. 40 crore had been made to provide 35 kg of ration to the BPL families from next month. He said that 800 new buses would be added to the fleet of the HRTC soon to facilitate the commuters. The Minister said that the super specialty block of Tanda Medical College was being constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crore and efforts would be made to develop this medical college at par with AIIMS, Delhi. He said that Engineering College would be started soon at Nagrota and Rampur Bushehr. Agriculture Minister Shri Sujan Singh Pathania said that the present State Government had ensured unprecedented development of the State in short period of time. He said that Government had enhanced the financial assistance to the houseless poor from Rs. 48,500 to Rs. 75,000. The State Government was also providing free travel facility to the students of Government schools in HRTC buses. Col. M.S. Parmar, Vice President of Rajput Kalyan Sabha welcomed the Chief Minister. Col. Kuldeep Singh, President, Rajput Kalyan Trust, Rana Tek Chand Katoch, President, Rajput Kalyan Sabha also spoke on the occasion. Shri B.B.L. Butail, Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Shri Jagjivan Pal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Sanjay Rattan, Shri Ajay Mahajan, Shri Pawan Kajal and Shri Manohar Dhiman, MLAs, Shri Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chairman, H.P. State Pollution Control Board, Shri Jagdish Sipahiya, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, Shri Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice Chairman, State Forest Corporation, Shri Raghuvir Singh Bali, Vice President, State Youth Congress, Dr. K.K. Katoch, Vice Chancellor, Agriculture University, Shri T.G. Negi, Advisor to the Chief Minister and Shri C. Palrasu, Deputy Commissioner were also present on the occasion.