Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 was a historic step taken by Union Government and people of the State support this decision as this would help in providing citizenship to the minorities migrating from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this while addressing the ‘Shiksha Samwad’ and NSS Camp at Government Senior Secondary School Tihra in Dharampur area of Mandi district today.Chief Minister also launched Jal Jeevan Mission for the State from Tihra. He launched the mission online for Thunag in Mandi, Koti in Shimla, Tissa in Chamba and Jhandutta in Bilaspur for providing uninterrupted tapped water to every household. He also interacted through video conference with the beneficiaries. He said that this was one of the major ambitious programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Jai Ram Thakur said that the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission' would go a long way in solving water problem of the State by spending over Rs 3200 crore throughout the State. He said that this would ensure tapped water to every household of the State. He said that the Jal Jeevan Mission would prove a boon to people of the State. He said that the present state government during the last two years has ensured that the state becomes front runner in matter of development and a role model for other states as well.Chief Minister said that he has visited every nook and corner of the State during last two years and ensured that the every area get its due in matter of development. He said that soon after holding the reins of the State, the Government decided to lower the age limit of availing benefit of social security pension with out income limit for 80 years to 70 years, thereby benefitting lakhs of old person of the State. He said that several old people has written him personally and thanked him for this Initiative.
Jai Ram Thakur said that as many as 1,36,000 families of the state have benefited from the 'Ujjwala scheme' of the Central Government. He said that under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna, more than 2.65 lakh families have been benefited and Himachal has emerged as first state of the country with gas connection in every household.Chief Minister said that dedication and commitment of local MLA and Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur was a source of inspiration for other elected representatives. He said that this shows his commitment for development of his area. He said that the area would be developed as a model Vidhan Sabha area as it had remained neglected during the tenure of the previous state government.Chief Minister announced that a bridge would be constructed under Scheduled Cast Component Plan in the area and Rs 25 lakh for different roads of the area. He announced upgradation of 30 bedded Tihra Hospital to 50 bedded hospital.Chief Minister was accorded rousing welcome with hundreds of people lining up alongside the road showering flower petals on their beloved leader. He was also honoured by various associations and organisations on the occasion. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated Raksh Dhalaun Road constructed by spending Rs. 89 lakh and laid foundation stone of science block of Government Senior Secondary School Kamlah to be built with an amount of Rs. 1.15 crore.
Jai Ram Thakur also laid foundation stones of Lift Water Supply Scheme Tourkhola at Tihra to be operationalized by spending Rs. 109.66 crore. upgradation of Longni to Bandal Chowk road (Portion Bharari to Bandal Chowk) to be made by incurring expenditure of Rs.4 crore bridge on Sanour-Kapahi-Answai raod to be completed by spending Rs. 3 crore and of bridge on Chhatraina-Sajao Piplu road to be completed by spending Rs 2 crore.Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated PWD Rest House Tihra at Bandal constructed by spending Rs 1.18 crore. Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur while welcoming the Chief Minister in his home constituency said that the people of the area were blessed that the Chief Minister has visited his constituency for second time in last two years which shows his love for Dharampur area. He said that the pace of development has increased manifold during the tenure of present state government. He said that foundation stones of several water supply schemes have been laid for the area to solve the water scarcity problem of the area.MLAs Col. Inder Singh, Jawhar Thakur, Inder Singh Gandhi, Hira Lal and Prakash Rana, General Secretary BJYM Rajat Thakur, Director BoD State Cooperative Bank Priyavrat Sharma, Secretary IPH Dr R.N.Batta, Engineer in Chief Irrigation and Public Health Naveen Puri, Deputy Commissioner Rugved Thakur, SP Gurdev Sharma were present on the occasion among others.