Dawn of a New Era in Himachal
Jai Ram Thakur (Chief Minister )
25th January is a momentous day for the people of Himachal Pradesh as it was on this historic day in 1971 that our State was granted full Statehood status. With this, Himachal Pradesh became 18th State of the Indian Union and the people of the State got an opportunity to shape their destiny and choose their own path of development. On this historic and joyous occasion, I extend my heartiest felicitations to the people of the State. I also express my gratitude to the great leaders, who overcame various hardships and challenges to ensure that the State gets a separate identity and status. On this historic day, we also pay our homage and gratitude to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the founder and thefirst Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, who apart from spearheading the struggle for Statehood, laid a sound foundation for the future development of the State during its initial days. The State during these 47 years, has witnessed a socio-economic transformation in almost every sphere of development and a new saga of hill development is being written.
The present State Government assumed office on 27th December, 2017. I take this opportunity to thank the people of the State for giving a massive mandate to Bhartiya Janta Party in the assembly elections. I also thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narinder Modi ji for reposing faith in me and giving me opportunity to serve the State of Himachal Pradesh as its Chief Minister. I assure him and the people of the State that the present BJP Government would work with total commitment and dedication to come up to their expectations. Under his benevolence and guidance, Himachal Pradesh would forge ahead on the path of progress and prosperity. The people of the State have reposed their faith in the BJP Government to attain the objectives of all round development coupled with self-sustenance and socio- economic justice, which we stand fully committed to deliver.
The previous Congress Government failed to take real benefit of the large number of welfare and developmental schemes started by the Centre Government. It is a matter of great concern that due to extravagant expenditure and ill financial management by the previous Government, the borrowing of the State has gone upto Rs 46,500 crore. Thus, the first and the foremost task before our Government is to bring back the derailed economy on track and instill faith and hope among the people of the State. The State Government would soon prepare a bail-out package so that it could be sent to the Centre at the earliest. However financial constraints would not be allowed to come in the way of development.
On the day one of assuming office, our Government has decided to implement the ‘Swarnim Himachal Drishti Patra-2017’ of the BJP as the policy document of the State Government. All the Departments have been asked to prepare a 100 day road map of their aims and targets. During this short period of 30 days, the State Government has taken few significant decisions with a view to improve the quality of life of the people. The priority of the State Government would be to expedite and implement the centrally sponsored schemes vigorously, which were ignored or progressed at a snail’s pace during the previous regime. We would ensure best contribution in the schemes by ensuring active participation of all the people.
Keeping in view the importance of education in nation building, the State Government will provide every opportunity of qualitative education to the children of the State, without any hurdle. All out efforts would be made to ensure bright future of the State by way of overall intellectual, physical and moral development of the children. Our motto is to make Himachal Pradesh ‘Education Hub’ of the country. Efforts would be made to ensure better health care facilities to the people near their door steps. The Union Government has recently sanctioned Rs. 1351 crore for All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur. This premier institution would prove a milestone in the field of health sector in the State. An extension centre of PGI, Chandigarh is also being established at Una. We are thankful to the Centre Government for sanctioning Medical Colleges for Chamba, Nahan and Hamirpur.
Tourism is another sector which could be a source of income and employment to the local people. Adventure tourism, religious tourism, eco-tourism and rural tourism would be promoted in the State in a big way. Special thrust would be laid on exploitation of the rich natural grandeur and development of religious places of Himachal Pradesh. A joy ride train has been started between Shimla-Shoghi-Shimla to attract tourists. The State Government has urged the Union Government to provide subsidy for operating flights and heli-taxi services on the pattern of north-eastern states to Himachal Pradesh for assisting in tourism promotion. Roads are an essential infrastructure for rural economy and are life lines of development, particularly in a hill State like ours. The previous BJP Government were known for laying maximum stress on providing quality drinking water and best road facilities in the State. The State Government would initiate Road Maintenance Policy to bring qualitative improvement in roads. The Government of India has sanctioned in principle 69 National Highways for the State for which I express my gratitude to the Centre Government. This would strengthen the road network in the State.
The State Government is committed for expansion of economic, infrastructural and skilled human resource development with a view to ensure overall development of rural areas. Agriculture development would be accorded high priority to strengthen the rural economy as more than 70 percent population of the State depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Greater stress would be laid on zero budget/organic farming and cultivation of off-season vegetables. Horticulture plays a vital role in our agrarian economy, thus efforts would be made to strengthen the horticulture by adopting new techniques. Our Government has enhanced procurement price of citrus fruits. Now procurement price for kinnow, malta and oranges for ‘B’ category would be Rs 7 per kg. and Rs 6.50 per kg for ‘C’ category. Procurement price for galgal would be Rs 5.50 per kg. The State Government has urged the Centre to enhance import duty on apple so as to protect the interests of the horticulturists of the State. A Rs. 1134 crore Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project has been sanctioned for the State by the World Bank. A contract has been signed recently with Plant and Food Research, a Government undertaking of New Zealand, regarding technology transfer in horticulture sector for providing technical know-how regarding horticulture development in the State.
Mud ponds, check dams etc. would be constructed to check decrease in ground water level. Special thrust would be laid on preservation and renovation of traditional water sources. Tube-well and hand-pumps will be established to ensure maximum use of ground water. Efforts would be made to generate more and more income to the State by harnessing the natural resources available in the State. The State had identified hydel potential of 23,000 MW. The Government would make a perspective plan to harness this potential expeditiously.
Industrial development would also be given big boost so as to generate income and employment to the people. Environment friendly, pollution free, income and employment generating industries are being encouraged in the State. Special thrust would be laid on ‘Ease of Doing Business’. Our Government would ensure that at least 80 per cent employments in up-coming industrial units in the State are provided to the Himachali youth. Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme would also be effectively implemented and land should be identified for setting up of new industrial areas in the State.
The State Government would protect the interests of coming generation by ensuring environment protection. People’s participation would be ensured in environmental conservation efforts. The State loses forest wealth worth crores of Rupees due to forest fire. A mechanism would be developed to protect forests from fire. ‘Van Lagao-Rozi Kamao Yojna’ would be made more effective in order to associate employment with forest and afforestation. In order to meet the challenges of global warming and drastic change in environment, it becomes our duty to judiciously use natural resources and cause minimum burden on our eco-system. Welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society would be given special attention to improve their economic lot. The Government would make all possible efforts that all the poor, without any discrimination would be provided house by the year 2022.
Government employees play a vital role in speedy and effective implementation of Government policies and programmes. Our Government would accord special attention to welfare schemes for employees. The Government would adopt effective grievances redressal mechanism to solve various problems of the employees. The employees of the State should work beyond routine and come out with new initiatives and ideas so as to make the State the most developed State of the country. The State Government would adopt the policy of zero-tolerance towards corruption and anyone found indulging in corrupt malpractices would be dealt strictly. A 24×7 ‘Atal helpline’ would be established in the State to check corruption at all levels. Besides, an anti-mafia “Hoshiyar help-line’ would also be created in Chief Minister’s Office to curb mafia activities in the State. ‘Gudiya help line’ would be created in the State to check crime against women.
The youths of our State are excelling in every field. Our Government is committed to ensure youth welfare and provide them every opportunity to excel in life. Lieutenant Pratibha Jamwal of our State, along with six all women crew, created history by hoisting the Tricolour on dangerous ‘Cape Horn’. A female health worker of Mandi district, Ms. Geeta Verma has found a place in Calendar-2018 of World Health Organization, for achieving cent-percent immunization of measles and rubella virus in her area. Ms. Aanchal Thakur of Kullu district has won first bronze medal for the country in recently concluded World Skiing Championship. Shri Varinder of Sangrah in Sirmour district has won silver and bronze medals in first National Athletics Championship for visually impaired held at Ludhiana recently.
We are committed for a prosperous and vibrant Himachal. Our Government is working with the motto of making Himachal Pradesh a place where there are ample opportunities of employment, the State is self-reliant and people of the State can live with dignity and peace. Let us on the auspicious occasion of Statehood Day take a pledge that we all will march shoulder to shoulder for achieving this goal by rising above all considerations.
Jai Hind! Jai Himachal!
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