While presiding over the 71st State Level Independence day celebration function at Rampur in Shimla district, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh announced Dearness Allowance of four percent to State Government employees and pensioners from January, 2017 to be incorporated in salary of September, 2017 and to be paid in October. He also announced Government Degree College at Jeuri.Congratulating the people of the State on the occasion, he said that it was hard-earned independence and we salute the freedom fighters and our countrymen who laid their lives for attaining Independence.He said unemployment was the biggest issue when the government came to power and fulfilling its commitment as promised in its election manifesto, the State Government declared unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 per month to unemployed having 10 plus two or above qualification. Youth with disability were being given unemployment allowance of Rs 1500 per month.Shri Virbhadra Singh said that emoluments of contract employees have been enhanced from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of grade pay and wages of daily wagers have been increased from Rs 150 to Rs 210 besides many other benefits to employees and pensioners.
We have established Kaushal Vikas Nigam to implement Rs. 640 crore ADB assisted Skill Development Project, said the Chief Minister. As many as 31,991 youth have been provided employment in private sector by organising 42 job fairs and holding 949 campus interviews and besides this, around 63000 were employed in Public sector and an almost equal number of employment avenues were generated in private sector, he added. the Chief Minister said that the government announced regularisation of contract employees after three years of service.During these years, the State has achieved spectacular progress in the field of health, education and inclusive growth. The State has been adjudged as 'Best State' in the country in the field of education and inclusive growth, he said adding that Himachal had been declared the first Open Defecation Free State amongst the big States in the country. It has also won the 'Krishi Karmanaya Award' for increasing food grain production. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the government paid special attention to welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society. Social security pension had been enhanced from Rs. 450 to Rs. 700 per month there by benefitting around 3,89,168 old-aged, widows and physically challenged .
Chief Minister said that construction of roads was on the priority agenda of the Government and special emphasis was being laid to provide road connectivity to the remotest corners of the State. As many as 2314 kilometres of new roads and 215 bridges have been constructed during over last four and a half years and 864 villages were provided road connectivity.As of now, around 3140 panchayats out of a total 3226 have been connected with motorable roads and work was in progress to connect the remaining panchayats. With this the total road length of roads in the state was now around 37 thousand, said Virbhadra Singh.Himachal Pradesh was becoming a Education Hub of the country. Fifty new colleges have been opened in the State and six colleges have been taken over by the State Government during this period taking strength of colleges to 128. About 900 posts of different categories have been created for smooth functioning of these newly opened colleges.In addition, 9600 posts of different categories have been filled in the education department and 1485 new Government Schools have been opened or upgraded during this period, said the Chief Minister. In addition to this three Engineering Colleges, 35 Industrial training Institutes and four Centrally Funded Institutes viz. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) have also been opened on the state.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that over 230 new health institutions have been opened in the State during the past over four and a half years. A super specialty block of IGMC would be constructed at Chamyana, near Shimla to cost Rs 290 crore. Dr Y.S. Parmar Government Medical College has been opened at Nahan in Sirmour district. ESI Medical College and Hospital in Mandi has been taken over by the State Government and named after Sh. Lal Bhadur Shastri, he said adding that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College has been opened at Chamba and classes in both these Medical Colleges for 100 MBBS seats each would be started from the current academic session. Process is on to open another Government Medical College at Hamirpur.He said that the work to provide three-phase electricity was underway to solve the low voltage problem, adding that almost 100 percent electrification had been achieved. Similarly, there was tap water for drinking in almost all villages. Earlier, the Chief Minister hoisted the National Flag and took salute from the impressive march past by contingents of Police, Home-guards, NCC, scouts and guides and NSS cadets including school children. The parade was led by parade commander Dr. Monika Bhatungru (IPS) from Lahaul in Himachal.A colourful cultural performance was presented on the occasion. He also gave away prizes to the participants of culture performances and others.Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Nand Lal, MLA, Rohru Shri Mohan Lal Brakta, former MP, Smt. Pratibha Singh, State Youth Congress President Shri Vikramaditya Singh, Chief Secretary Shri V.C. Pharka, DGP Shri Somesh Goyal were also present on the occasion amongst Civil and police officers besides others.