One should love his culture and traditions as only those societies flourish which love and respect its culture. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the gathering on the occasion of function organised by the Mandi Mitra Mandal, Shimla here today.Jai Ram Thakur said that such celebrations provide an opportunity to the people of district Mandi to share a common platform to redress their common problems and ponder over the issues of mutual interest. He said that one should work with dedication and commitment, only then he can achieve goal in life. He said that it was after a long period that this function was being organised by the Mandi Mitra Mandal. He said that Mandi district has a unique culture and tradition and such events provide an opportunity to preserve the same. Whatever one achieve in life and wherever one reach in life he or she should always be strongly grounded to his roots, he added.Chief Minister said that the nine months tenure of the present State Government has been full of achievements and accomplishments. He said that he was working with a sole objective of overall development of the State, with special focus on those areas, which remained neglected so far due to one reason or other. He said that he welcome all the new ideas and suggestions from different sections of the society.Chief Minister assured the members of Mandi Mitra Mandal for providing all possible help for construction of Mandi Mitra Mandal House, so that people of Mandi visiting Shimla could get an appropriate place for their comfortable stay.
He said that efforts were being made to construct an airport in Mandi district and the State Government has released Rs. One crore for undertaking survey for the airport in the district. The Government would ensure that Mandi district emerges as one of the major tourist destination of the State. Jai Ram Thakur announced Rs. 31000 from his discretionary fund for the school children presenting cultural programme on the occasion.President Mandi Mitra Mandal B.D. Pathak while welcoming the Chief Minister said that the people of Mandi were fortunate to have Chief Minister of the State from Mandi district for the first time. He said that people of the State in general and of Mandi district in particular have great expectations from the Chief Minister.Mentor of the Mandi Mitra Mandal R.K Verma welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. A colourful cultural programme was also held on the occasion. Wife of Chief Minister Dr. Sadhna Thakur, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, MLAs Col. Inder Singh, Rakesh Jamwal Inder Singh Gandhi, Pawan Nayar and Hira Lal, MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, Former Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, Chairman MILKFED Nihal Chand Sharma, General Secretary Child Welfare Council Payal Vaidya, Chief Secretary B.K.Agarwal, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu, Secretary Youth Services and Sports Dinesh Malhotra, PPS cum Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Vinay Singh, Director Information and Public Relations Anupam Kashyap, Vice President of the Mitra Mandal Arun Shitak, General Secretary T.S.Verma were present on the occasion among others.