The 74th Independence Day was held in all districts of the State.Unfurling National Flag, impressive march-past by contingents of Police, Home Guards was main attractions of the celebrations.HP Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar presided over the function at Dharamshala in District Kangra. He said that Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha was the first e-Vidhan Sabha in the country. All the 68 Assembly Constituencies of the State have been connected with e-Vidhan Sabha management system so that all the Members of Legislative Assembly could get the information of development works and other activities on their mobiles.He honoured the Corona warriers on this occasion.Jal Shakti and Horticulture Minister Mahender Singh Thakur presided over the function at Shimla and paid his homage to the martyrs, who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country. He said that Rs. 125 crores were being spent under the first phase of Pradhan Mantri Agriculture Irrigation Scheme for 111 projects with a view to provide irrigation facility to the farmers and double their income. He said that the state government was committed for channelization of rivers and there was proposal of Rs. 90 crore for Pubber river of Paonta Sahib, Rs. 250 crores for Yamuna River, Rs. 231 crores for Naker khud of Kangra, Rs. 160 crores for Seer Khud, Rs. 145 crores for Sakrain khud of Mandi and Rs. 6800 crores for Renuka Dam.Urban Development and Housing Minister Suresh Bhardwaj presided over the Independence Day function at Solan, where he said that the Ayushman Bharat Yojna of the Government of India and Himcare and Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna of the State Government have proved a boon to the targeted sections of the society. He said that Himachal Pradesh was doing commendable work under Jal Jeevan Mission.
Referring to the Solan District, he said that the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area has emerged as Pharma Hub in the Asia. He said that out of three bulk drug parks to be established in the country, one would be established in Himachal for which 1800 acres land has been identified in BBN area.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary while presiding over the district level function at Una, said that the State Government has enhanced the social security pension of the widows and specially abled people to Rs. 1000 per month and more than 2.85 lakh people aged above 70 years were being provided pension of Rs. 1500 per month.She said that keeping in view the Corona pandemic, 5.69 lakh pensioners have been given advance pension till September, 2020. She added that the present government has approved 1,63,607 new cases of social security pension during last two and a half years.The Minister said that the Food Corporation of India has set up two procurement centre at Kangar and Jalgran in Una district to facilitate the farmers in selling their wheat crop in the Corona pandemic as they were not able to go to Punjab.Tribal Development and Technical Education Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda presided over the function at Keylong in Lahaul &Spiti district. He said that the state government was allocating 9 per cent of its budget for various developmental works in tribal areas during the current financial year.He said that a provision of Rs. 5.91 crore has been made for medical facilities in the district. He added that Rs. 22.04 crore have been provided for Public Works Department, Rs. 3.3 crore for Education, Rs. 6 crore for irrigation and Rs. 4 crore for drinking water in Lahaul division.The Minister said that the Food Corporation of India opened two procurement centres at Kangar and Jalgran in Una District to help the farmers in the Covid crisis as they were not able to go to Punjab to sell wheat crop.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virendra Kanwar presided over the function at Bilaspur. He said that the state government has started various welfare schemes for development of the state. The age limit for social security pension has been reduced from 80 years to 70 years and more than 2.85 lakh people aged above 70 years were being provided pension at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month.He said that financial assistance of Rs. 5.90 crore has been provided to 9078 beneficiaries under Sahara Yojna, whereas more than 2.78 lakh women have been provided free gas under Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojna. The State Government was encouraging natural farming at large scale and so far around 59,000 farmers have adopted natural farming in the state.Industries and Transport Minister Bikram Singh, while presiding over the function at Mandi, said that the State Government has started skill register portal to provide employment to the youth who have returned back from various states due to Covid-19 pandemic. So far around 15,000 youth have registered themselves under this portal.He said that financial assistance of Rs. 44 crore have been provided to 946 industries under Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojna. He said that loans worth Rs. 45 crore have been sanctioned to establish 218 industries in Mandi district under this scheme. He appreciated the efforts of HRTC for bringing back the Himachalis stranded in various states of the country.The district level Independence Day function was held at Nahan in Sirmour district which was presided over by Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal.Speaking on the occasion, he said that Dr. Y.S. Parmar Medical College Nahan would be soon dedicated to the people of the district. He said that 206 health institutions were functional in the district including a Medical college, five Civil hospitals, six Community Health Centres, 44 Primary Health Centres and 150 Health Sub Centres. He added that Rs. two crore were being spent on construction of 17 additional health institutions.Dr. Saizal said that inauguration of IIM at Dhaulakuan has been done and Rs. 392 crores would be spent on its construction in the first phase.
The Sirmour district has emerged on the international map with opening of this institute.Presiding over the function at Chamba, Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania said that a target has been set to increase the forest area from 27.72 per cent to 30 per cent by the year 2030. In order to achieve this target, Van Mahotsava was being organized since 21 July, 2020 in identified places of 40 divisions of the state.He said that Jan Manch was not being organized due to Covid-19 but the state government has started Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp helpline-1100 to redress the public grievances. He said that so far more than one lakh people have taken benefit of this helpline since July, 2020. He said that 5.50 lakh families have been registered under Himcare Yojna and around 92 crore have been spent on treatment of around one lakh patients under this scheme.Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rajinder Garg, while presiding over the function at Hamirpur said that 20,489 beneficiaries of the district were being provided free gas refills during the Corona crisis. He said that the work on 135 roads has been completed in the district under PMGSY by spending Rs. 145 crores. He said that a target has been set to provide potable water to every household of the district by June, 2021.While presiding over the District level Independence Day function at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur District, Chief Whip Narendra Bragta said that a provision of Rs. 88.60 crore has been made under Tribal Sub-Plan for the district. He said that Rs. 25.86 crore have been provided for construction of roads and bridges in the district during this financial year under Tribal Sub Plan. He added that 14 road projects have been approved under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna for the district and the work on these projects was in progress.