Himachal This Week Team
Josh Urdu Poet Wrote
Haijan hai chashm e pasti main rufat ka noshta padhne kaIk dhun hai taraqqi karne ki ik josh hai aage badhne ka (There is excitement amongst people on the go to push ahead, A time for verve to progress, a spirit to rise)
Contributed by Prof. N.K.Singh
Himachal As 18th State
Himachal became a part C state in 1951 and a Union Territory in 1956. On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on January 25, 1971. Thus Himachal Pradesh emerged as the eighteenth state of Indian Union.
‘Aim To Make Himachal Self Reliant’
Himachal This Week’s Sunil Sharma talked to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to know his vision for state’s development. Following are the excerpts of the interview:
Our government is different. Corruption will not be tolerated at any level and guilty persons will not be spared
-Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister
HTW: The government has not been able to do much as law and order situation remained in the news recently?
CM: It has been directed that officials must improve image besides maintaining law and order situation. People’s faith will also be restored through community schemes. There would be no place for any mafia in
the state.
HTW: What new initiatives would be taken to check corruption ?
CM: Our government is different. Corruption will not be tolerated at any level and guilty persons will not be spared.
HTW: What are achievements since the government was sworn in about a month ago?
CM: Every department has been given a target for 100 days. Decisions taken indicate that our government is employees friendly. We are trying to fulfill aspirations of people of Himachal.
HTW: How would you generate resources for development as state has empty coffers?
CM: Wec inherited a debt liability of Rs. 45000 crore. Efforts are on to raise resources besides seeking Centre’s assistance. We aim at making Himachal a self reliant state.
HTW: How would you tackle unemployment issue?
CM: Unemployment youths hope to get government jobs. Our effort is to enhance industrialisation to generate employment and self employment opportunities. Efforts are on to get a special industrial package.
HTW: How would you improve connectivity to boost tourism?
CM: The Centre has been urged to enhance air and rail connectivity. I had a meeting with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after GST Council meeting. Focus will be on strengthening connectivity in Himachal.
Notable Contributions …
All former chief ministers of Himachal contributed towards the development of the state, though they had their own priority areas. However, policies and programmes of various governments of both the main political parties aimed for the betterment of Himachal and Himachalis. Notably, Himachal has bagged numerous wards in different sectors that are indicative of initiatives taken by different chief ministers during their tenures.
Dr YS Parmar: Founder of Himachal
Paaniwala Mukhyamantri: Shanta Kumar
Virbhadra’s Development Model
Sadakwala Mukhyamantri: PK Dhumal
The Way Ahead…
Himachal This Week talked to some eminent personalities to seek their view as to what is the way forward to put this hilly state on the path of fast development. Their opinion was sought on following three questions:
1.How Himachal can become self reliant?
2.What should it expect from Centre?
3.What should be the development model here ?
2 Plead for financial assistance for development of different sector.
3 Develop all sections and far flung areas while using resources without damage to the environment.
-KC Sharma. Retd. IAS, Dharamshala
-By Naren Kumar/ Dharamshala
2 Improve Ease of Doing Business, strengthen four laning and railway connectivity.
3 Strengthen social infrastructure including healthcare and education.
-Rajesh Saboo, Chairman, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council
-By Vipin Sharma/ Nalagarh
2 A special tourism package besides improving connectivity.
3 Construction of quality roads and improving conditions at religious and hill destinations.
-Ankush Sood, Hospitality Sector, Mandi
-By Ashish Bharmouria/ Mandi
2.Centre should grant a special bail out package to improve state’s financial position.
3.Strengthen connectivity and promote religious tourism.
-Kanwar Hari Singh, State President, Himotkarsh
-By Jatinder Kanwar / Una