Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated and laid foundation stones of 30 developmental projects worth about Rs. 175 crore at Nerwa in Chopal assembly constituency of Shimla district today. While addressing a mammoth public meeting to mark ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ programme at College Ground Nerwa, the Chief Minister said that this event was different from other events as this programme was being held to thank the people of the State from different walks of the life instead of glorifying the political leaders.
He said that although the able leadership the State got over these 75 years had played a big role in shaping the destiny of the State, but the real contributors were the people of this hilly State, who worked with dedication and commitment to make Himachal Pradesh one of the most progressive States of the country.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State has made unmatched progress in all spheres in the development during these 75 years and credit of this goes to the able leadership the State got and the hardworking employees, farmers, youth and general people of the State.
He said that the literacy rate which was only 4.8 per cent has today gone up to 83 percent. He said that road length has gone from 288 kms in 1948 to nearly 40,000 kms and the number of health institutions from 88 in the year 1948 to 4320 today.
He said that there were only 301 educational institutions in the State at the time of its formation, whereas today the number has gone up to 16124. Chief Minister said that Chopal area has immense tourism potential and efforts would be made to fully harness this potential in the times to come.
He said that the State Government has opened SDM office and Degree College in Kupvi area of the State and opened Nagar Panchayat at Nerwa. He said that several important offices were opened in the constituency to facilitate the people of the State.
Jai Ram Thakur said that all his five predecessors were fortunate that they got the opportunity to work in favorable conditions and circumstances. He said that almost two years of his present tenure got adversely affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only motivated the scientists of the country to develop vaccine against this virus, but also successfully launched the biggest free vaccination campaign of the world.
He said that opposition leaders even tried to politicize this sensitive issue of vaccination, but people did not listen to their baseless logics. He said that Himachal Pradesh also emerged as the pioneer State in the country in cent percent vaccination of eligible population.
Chief Minister said that the present State Government launched several welfare and development oriented schemes such as Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna, Himcare, Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna, Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojna, Chief Minister Swabalamban Yojna etc. to provide a helping hand to the needy.
He wondered why even the leaders who claimed vast experience could not even think of starting such schemes. He said that Rs. 3000 per month was being provided to over 21,000 families with chronically ill patients under Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna and over 3.37 lakh free gas connections were being provided under Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna.
He said that going a step forward the State Government provided 50 percent concession in bus fares in HRTC buses to women passengers. Not only this, 125 units power free to domestic power consumers in the State and free water to all in rural areas was also being provided to help the people of the State, he added.
He said that the social security pension has been enhanced considerably and the age limit for availing old age pension without income limit has been lowered first from 80 years to 70 years and now further reduced to 60 years. He said that an amount of Rs 1300 crore was being spent on providing social security pension to the needy.
Still the Congress leaders were baselessly accusing the State Government for ignoring the weaker sections, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that these big reliefs being provided to the people of the State were not going well with the opposition leaders.
He said that they were accusing the Government for making the people of the State habitual of freebees. He urged the people of the State to not get carried away by tall claims of the opposition and give their wholehearted support to the present BJP Government in the coming general assembly elections so that the pace of development goes uninterrupted.
Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated Rs. 1.48 crore Mundla to Sari road, Rs. 2.88 crore Mashrain to Thiara road, Rs. 3.74 crore Sagroti to Maneoty road, Rs. 3.83 crore Dhartua to Ghareen (Magrog) road, Rs. 9.09 crore Sheergah Shalan road, Rs. 82 lakh Sheekiar Sandli Bholala road and link road from Ajitpur to Gadda Bavra, Rs. 8.42 crore Tharoch to Mandhana road, Rs. 3.97 crore Kiri to Kharachali road, Rs. 1.36 crore LIS Jarwa to Jander in GP Pujarli tehsil Chopal, Rs. 25 lakh improvement and upgradation of Nanoo-Kuthar Badadhar, Kanuri road, Rs. 8.89 crore upgradation of Balghar, Tihana Dhar, Meha Dhar, Batewari, Kalana, Sujna road, Rs. 85 lakh bridge over Balson khad on Ghorna, Deoth road and Rs. 6.50 crore LIS for all villages in GP Kuthar, Basadhar, Bagri and Gorna in tehsil Theog.
He performed opening ceremonies of PWD Sub Division at Sarain, Ayurvedic Dispensary at Chopal, Fire Chowki Deha, upgradation of veterinary dispensary to veterinary hospital Pulbahal and upgradation of Fire Chowki Chopal to Fire Station Chopal.
Chief Minister laid foundation stones of Rs. 10.23 crore retrofitting of five ongoing LWSS under NRDWP in Chopal to provide FHTC under JJM, Rs. 25.61 crore sewerage system with STP to NAC Nerwa, Rs. 1.57 crore augmentation of GWSS Sundla Gadah, Rs. 1.05 crore augmentation of GWSS Jheena Jubri in GP Nanhar, Rs. 5.73 crore LWSS Neoty Khad to Up Mahal Nao Dhar, Up Mahal Bawi and Up Mahal Ruslah, Rs. 10.23 crore balance functional household tap connection by source level augmentation and retrofitting of 5 existing LWSS in Chopal constituency, Rs. 14.27 crore augmentation of source strengthening and various existing LWSS under JSV Sub Division Chopal, Rs. 5.07 crore augmentation of source strengthening and various existing LWSS under JSV Sub Division Kupvi, Rs. 30.45 crore works to be executed under RDSS schemes in Chopal constituency, Rs. 4.24 crore renovation and remodelling of old water supply scheme Bag Barog WSS Baicher, WSS Shirguli and WSS Deothi under ADB in tehsil Theog Rs. 12 crore improvement and store strengthening of old scheme under Sub Division Sainj, tehsil Theog and Rs. 1.57 crore renovation and remodeling of old WSSS for Khagna Upper and Sundla Garah.
MLA Chopal Balbir Verma welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various developmental projects being executed in the constituency. He said that developmental projects worth crores of rupees were being executed in the constituency.
He said that being himself from a humble background, the Chief Minister well understands the developmental aspirations of the people of the State. He assured the Chief Minister that people of the constituency would give a massive mandate in favour of the BJP in the coming elections.
He also detailed a few developmental demands of the area.Mandal BJP President Mangat Ram Sharma, State BJP Spokesman Shashi Dutt Sharma, Social worker Divya, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi, Superintendent of Police Dr. Monika were present on the occasion among others.