Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while presiding over the ‘Pragtisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ celebrations to commemorate 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh at Anni in Anni Assembly Constituency of Kullu district today, said that Anni area was almost identical with his own Seraj assembly constituency in matter of developmental needs, tradition and lifestyle, therefore, has a special place in his heart and present State Government was giving priority to those areas which had been neglected due to one reason or other.
Jai Ram Thakur said that 50 per cent concession in bus fare was being provided to women passengers in HRTC buses. He said that this concession in bus fare to women was not a political move, rather it was a small step towards our resolve to strengthen women empowerment. He said that this scheme would prove helpful in making women self-reliant and would give a new impetus to the progress of women in the State. He said that the State Government would spend about Rs 60 crore annually on the scheme since as per an estimate as many as 1.25 lakh women travel in the HRTC buses daily. Chief Minister said that the decision of the State Government to celebrate 75 years of existence in a befitting manner was not going well with the Congress leaders. He said that these leaders were misleading the people of the State on one pretext or another. He said that these leaders even politicized sensitive issues like corona by calling corona vaccine as Modi vaccine. Afterwards these same leaders stood in queue to get themselves vaccinated, he said.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State has made unparalleled progress in all spheres in the development during these 75 year and credit of this goes to the able leadership the State got and the hardworking employees, farmers, youth and above all the people of the State. He said that the literacy rate which was only 4.8 per cent in the year 1948 has today gone up to 83 percent. He said that road length has gone from 288 kms in 1948 to 39,500 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 this number has gone up to 16124. He said that per capita income was only Rs 240 in the year 1948 which today has crossed the magical mark of Rs 2 lakh. He said that people of the State used to cross rivers with the help of inflated skin of buffalo, whereas today there were over 2326 bridges in the State.
Chief Minister urged the people of Ani to give wholehearted support to the present State Government so as to ensure ‘Mission Repeat’ of the BJP Government in the State. He said that ‘Mission Repeat’ of BJP Government has been ensured in Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Haryana, Goa etc. and now it was the turn of Himachal Pradesh to repeat the Government to ensure that the pace of development goes uninterrupted. He assured the people of Anni that the pace of development would be accelerated in the area and said that all their demands would be considered sympathetically. Referring to the development of Anni Vidhan Sabha area, the Chief Minister said that Rs 66 crore was being spent on construction of Civil Hospital Anni. He said that on completion of this hospital, the people of the area would get the best health care facilities. He said that an SDM office has been opened at Nirmand to facilitate the people of the area.
Earlier, the Chief Minister performed foundation stones of 6 developmental projects worth Rs. 44.70 crore for Anni Vidhan Sabha area. Jai Ram Thakur laid foundation stones of 9.22 crore Combined Office complex at Nither, Rs. 9.47 crore upgradation of Damehli to Nishani Arsu road under PMGSY, Rs. 7.32 crore upgradation of Nither to Damah road under PMGSY, Rs. 12.70 crore upgradation of Nishani to Pali Prantla road under PMGSY, Rs. 5.79 crore upgradation of Bajir Baudi to Thachwa road under PMGSY and Rs. 20 lakh Press Club Anni. Chief Minister also released a booklet highlighting the developmental works initiated in Anni Vidhan Sabha area during the last about five years.
Local MLA Kishori Lal Sagar while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries, said that Anni area has emerged as the model constituency in the matter of development during the tenure of the present State Government. He said that the long pending demand of SDM office at Nirmand was fulfilled by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. He said that several villages have been connected with roads and several schools upgraded during the present State Government. He also raised a few developmental demands of the area. Deputy Commissioner Kullu Ashutosh Garg, Director Information and Public Relations Harbans Singh Brascon and other prominent BJP leaders of the area were also present on the occasion.
