The present state government has initiated various innovative and ambitious schemes to double the income of farming community by 2022 as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rearing of milch animals could play important role in it.This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur after laying foundation stone of 50,000 litre per capacity Milk Processing Plant of MILKFED at Chakkar in Balh Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district today to be constructed by spending an amount of Rs 16.31 crore.Chief Minister said that MILKFED has a capacity of collecting milk upto 1 lakh liter which needed to be increased. He said that in the developed country the base of the rural economy was Animal Husbandry and the farmers by going for best breed of cows could increase their income manifold. Jai Ram Thakur appreciated the efforts of the MILKFED in diversifying its activities as this would not only ensure increase in its revenue but also help the farmers by offering them more effective services. He said that the state government was also promoting indigenous breed of cattle so that the farmers could get high milk producing cows. He said that the state government was also promoting natural farming so that people could be motivated to rear cattle. He said that the state government has also constituted a Gau Sanrakshan Boarding in the state, besides several Cow Sanctuaries were being opened in different parts of the State. Chief Minister said that the Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College Ner Chowk, Mandi was fast emerging as the premier Medical College of the region and the state government was committed to strengthen this Medical College. He said that the state today has six medical colleges in government sector alone and AIIMS was coming up in Bilaspur district. He said that land was being identified nearby Ner Chowk to ensure proper functioning of Medical University in the state. He said that as soon as land was identified the work would be started.
Jai Ram Thakur said that he had laid the foundation stone of Tertiary Cancer Care Centre at Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College Ner Chowk today, which would cater to health care needs of over 25 lakh population of the area. The centre would be equipped with latest machinery and equipments like Linear Accelerator, HDR Brachytherapy and Planning CT-Simulator for the treatment of various cancers like head and neck, breast, cervix, lungs and lymphoma etc. He said that dedicated chemotherapy, radiotherapy, oncosurgery and palliative care facilities would also be made available in this cancer centre.Chief Minister also presented cheque Rs 2000 each to the Milk Cooperatives as Assistance on behalf of MILKFED. He also presented Automatic Milk Collection units to farmers on the occasion. Chief Minister announced starting of science classes in Government Senior Secondary School Mehra Maseet and opening of Fire Station at Ner Chowk.Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of Tertiary Cancer Care Centre at Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College Ner Chowk Mandi to be constructed by spending about Rs 45 crore. He also inaugurated PHC building at Leda constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.75 crore. Later, the Chief Minister also inaugurated Fire Station Building at Jhamad Bag constructed at a cost of Rs 3.80 crore. Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar said that the Milk Processing Plant would prove a boon to the farmers of the district and also help the farmers to double their income by the year 2022. He also urged the Chief Minister to increase the rate of milk to facilitate the farmers.
He also urged the farmers to rear cows of good breed, for which the state government was providing subsidy for purchase of such cattle. MLA Balh Inder Singh Gandhi while welcoming the Chief Minister detailed various developmental demands of the area. He urged the Chief Minister to open Electric Division at Balh. Chairman MILKFED Nehal Chand Sharma while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries said that this processing plant would go a long way in strengthening the economy of the farmers of the area. He also thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning of over hundred posts to be filled up in the HIMFED for its effective functioning. He also presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of MILKFED to the Chief Minister towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur , Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma, MLAs Col. Inder Singh, Vinod Kumar, Rakesh Jamwal, Hira Lal, Jawahar Thakur and Prakash Rana, General Secretary Child Welfare Council Payal Vaidya, Chairperson Zila Parishad Serla Thakur, Mandi District BJP President Ranvir Thakur, Vice Chancellor Medical University Dr Surinder Kashyap, Director Medical Education Dr Ravi Sharma Principal Medical College Dr Rajneesh Pathania, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rugved Thakur, Superintendent of Police Gurdev Sharma' Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Singh, Managing Director MILKFED Bhupender Kumar Attri were present on the occasion.