Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while addressing over a massive public meeting held at Baduhi ground in Nurpur of Kangra district today as part of ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ celebrations to commemorate 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh, said that the 75 years' journey of the State has been full of achievements and accomplishments and credit of this goes to the hardworking and honest people of the State.
He announced the opening of Degree College at Baranda to facilitate the students of the area.Chief Minister said that it was also a coincidence that as our nation was celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to celebrate 75 years of Indian independence, the State was also celebrating 75 years of its formation.
He said that the decision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate this historic occasion in a befitting manner by hoisting the Tricolour on every house in the country under 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign was also commendable. He said that the State Government has also decided to celebrate 75 years of its existence in a befitting manner by organizing 75 events throughout the State.
The main objective to celebrate this occasion was to educate the younger generation about the developmental, cultural and political journey of the State, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that at the time of formation of the State, there were only four districts whereas today there were 12 districts.
He said that in the year 1948 the per capita income in the State was only Rs. 240 which has now increased to Rs. 2,01,873 and literacy rate of the State has gone upto 83 percent, which was 4.8 percent in 1948. He said that there were only 228 kms roads in the State in 1948, whereas today there were nearly 40,000 kms roads connecting every nook and corner of the State.
He said that major credit of this goes to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who started PMGSY with an amount of Rs. 60,000 crore as about 50 percent roads in the State were constructed under the PMGSY.Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has special love and affection towards the people of the State and always considers Himachal Pradesh his second home.
He said that the Prime Minister has visited the state seven times during the last five years and was planning to visit soon at least twice or three times. He said that during this period the Prime Minister has provided several incentives to the State. He said that during the Covid-19 crisis, the Prime Minister ensured that the Nation came out of this crisis at the earliest.
He said that the biggest free vaccination campaign of the world was also successfully launched in the country and credit of this also goes to the able and strong leadership provided by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that there were only 50 ventilators in the State when covid-19 pandemic broke out, whereas today there were over 1100 ventilators.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the present State Government during its about five years tenure had to fight the corona pandemic for two years but during these years also the State Government ensured that the pace of development goes uninterrupted.
Since two years of the present State Government were affected due to the pandemic, he urged the people to provide another five years to his Government so that he could work for development of the State and welfare of the people with more vigour and commitment.
Chief Minister said that since the State was known as the ‘Power State’ and the Government felt that the electricity consumers of the State should get some benefit of this distinction of the State, thus the State Government has decided to provide 125 units free power to the consumers.
He said that with this decision of the State Government, out of total 22,59,645 domestic consumers in the State, over 14,62,130 consumers were now getting zero electricity bills. He said that 50 percent concession in fare in HRTC buses was also being provided to the women in the State and free drinking water was being provided in rural areas of the State.
He said that now the Congress was claiming that 300 units free power would be provided to the people once they come in power, whereas earlier the same leaders were alleging that the State Government was making the people habitual of freebees.
Jai Ram Thakur said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi that 90:10 ratio for funding of Central projects was sanctioned for the State and Bulk Drug Pharma Park was also sanctioned for the State by the Prime Minister.Earlier, the Chief Minister dedicated Rs. 39 crore drinking water supply scheme from Chakki Khad for left out villages of Nurpur.
Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania, while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion, said that the biggest demand of Nurpur constituency to make Nurpur as a Police district was fulfilled during the tenure of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
He said that opening of Bulk Drug Park which has been sanctioned for the State would give a big boost to the development of the region and the whole State. He also thanked the Chief Minister for always being considerate towards the developmental demands of the people of Nurpur area.
MLA Jawali Arjun Singh, Vice Chairman Small Savings Sanjay Guleria, former MP Kripal Parmar, Senior BJP leader O.P Chaudhary, BJP leader from Fatehpur area Baldev Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Nipun Jindal and other senior officers were present on the occasion among others.