Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today officially launched the un-employment allowance scheme and distributed cheques of Rs.1000 each to as many as 10 beneficiaries under the scheme while presiding over the State Level 70th Himachal Day function at Chamba. Speaking on the occasion, he said the state government had always been considerate towards the welfare of youth and lately the government had taken a decision to provide unemployment allowance to the youth of the State as was promised in election manifesto, which had been adopted as a policy document.The Chief Minister also announced that the period of regularisation of contract employees now would be three years instead of five. He reiterated his announcement (made on 14th April 2107) to increase the honorarium of Special Police Officers to Rs 2000 deputed in Chamba district along the belt bordering the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. There are around 500 SPOs assisting paramilitary forces. He unfurled the tricolour amidst the tune of national anthem played by home guard band.Virbhadra Singh said that in an historic move, the State Government had decided to provide unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 per month to unemployment youth having 10 plus two or above qualification where as the youth with disability would be given unemployment allowance of Rs 1500 per month.He also announced a passenger lift to be installed in the famous Bhalei Mata Temple in Dalhousie constituency.He said that the State Government was giving added priority for upgrading the skills of the unemployed youth in the State so as to make them employable. In order to upgrade the skill of unemployed youth and increase their employability, the Government had implemented Rs. 500 crore Skill Development Allowance Scheme. He said that so far skill development allowance had been provided to 1,52,000 youth. Kaushal Vikas Nigam had also been setup to implement Rs. 640 crore Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted Skill Development Project to upgrade skill infrastructure in the State and provide employment to around 65,000 youth. The Kaushal Vikas Allowance scheme would also be continued, he added.
The Chief Minister said that numerous measures had been taken under social welfare schemes. He said that as many as 3,89,168 persons were being provided social security pension in the State and pension had been enhanced from Rs 450 to Rs 650 during the last four years, which had been further enhanced to Rs 700 per month in this fiscal. An amount of Rs 410 crore would be spent on providing social security pension during the current financial year. The assistance under Mother Teresa ‘Matri Ashraya Sambal Yojana’ has been enhanced from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4000.He said education was the base of any developed society and the government had given added priority to quality education. As many as 42 colleges were opened during the present regime of the government taking the strength of colleges to 119 in the state. All the colleges were opened in far flung areas of the state so that especially the girls could get maximum benefit at their very door-step.He said that as many as 3138 panchayats out of total 3226 panchayats of the state had been connected with motor-able roads and work was in progress to connect the remaining 74 panchayats. Over 2000 kms new roads and 204 bridges have been constructed during the last four years of the present government regime besides 864 villages provided road connectivity. He said that as of today the total road length in the State was around 37000 kilometres.
The Chief Minister said efforts were being made to ensure better health care facilities to the people at their door-steps. As many as 21 Civil Hospitals, 34 CHCs, 96 PHCs and 29 Health Sub Centres had been opened in the State during the last four years and the classes in Chamba medical college would be started soon in near future. He also distributed agricultural tool kits, solar home lights and water purifiers/ aqua guards to the beneficiaries.Earlier, he took salute from an impressive march past by contingents of Police, both men and women, Home Guards, and forest department,NCC cadets and school children. The Parade was commanded by DSP Puneet Raghu who was also honoured by the Chief Minister.A colourful cultural programme was also organised on the occasion, besides a skit on drugs effects by jawans of police department.Forest Minister, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Secretary AICC, Smt. Asha Kumar, DCC President, Shri. Surinder Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Shri V.C.Pharka, DGP, Shri Sanjay Kumar, MLA, Shri Balkrishan Chauhan, Chairman, State Pollution Control Board, Shri Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Shri Dharam Singh Pathania, Secretary PCC, Shri Amit Bharmouri, Chairman, State Haj Committee, Shri Dildar Ali Shah, Chairman, APMC, Chamba, Shri Neeraj Nayar, Member DCC, Shri Pawan Nayyar, officers of the state government were also present on the occasion amongst others.