While presiding over the 13th Triennial Convention of Himachal Pradesh Koli Samaj at Rohru in Shimla district today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the present State Government was committed for the welfare of all the sections of society with special focus on the vulnerable sections.
He commended initiatives undertaken by the Koli community and the work they were doing for the welfare of the society. He said that the State government has allocated Rs 2399 crore for the Scheduled Caste Development Programme during the current financial year, adding that the State Government also aims to provide employment and self-employment opportunities to Scheduled Caste families.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government would consider a one-time settlement policy for Co-operative Bank loan defaulters and emphasized the government's focus on education and health sectors. He said that the one Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School would be opened in each assembly constituency of the State to ensure quality education to the students.
He said that Rs. 300 crore would be spent on this scheme in a phased manner. He said that the present government has restored the old pension scheme, fulfilling the long pending demand of the employees and budgetary provisions have been made to provide Rs.1500 per month to 2.31 lakh women, he said.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured to extend all possible assistance to the victim family of Totsa fire accident in Rohru Sub Division. He said that the government will cover the expenses of the treatment of a girl child who suffered burn injuries in a fire incident and would also bear the education expense of the other girl child of the family.
The Chief Minister also announced Rs 30 lakh for the construction of Ambedkar Bhawan in Rohru and honoured outstanding students from the Koli community on the occasion. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was also presented a cheque of Rs. 51,000 by Sukhdev Singh of Rohru area towards Mukhyamantri Sukh Asharya Yojna on the occasion.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil congratulated the organizers for holding such mega event of Koli Samaj at Rohru, while former MP Virendra Kashyap welcomed Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on the occasion.
MLA Yadvinder Goma, Ex MLA Chiranji Lal, OSD to Chief Minister Ritesh Kapret, Chairman Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Bank. Devendra Shyam, Vice-Chairman Zilla Parishad Shimla. Surendra Retka, Former President Panchayat Samiti Rohru. Sohan Lal, Senior Congress leader Devendra Bushaheri, Arun Sharma, Koli Samaj State President, Uttam Singh Kashyap, General Secretary Rajesh Kosh and office bearers of Koli Samaj were also present on the occasion.