Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while addressing the mammoth gathering at Kandaghat, in Solan Assembly Constituency area of Solan district today as part of ‘Pragtisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ (Progressive Himachal: 75 Years of Formation) celebrations to commemorate 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh said that these 75 years of existence the State has witnessed unparalleled growth in all spheres of development.
Chief Minister said that there were only 4 districts when Himachal Pradesh came into existence on 15th April, 1948 with a population of little over 11 lakh, whereas today the State has a population of over 70 lakh. He said that the State had an area of 25,839 sq.kms at that time whereas today the State has a total area of 55,673 sq.kms. He said that today the literacy rate of the State was over 83 per cent, as compared to a literacy rate of little over 4.8 per cent in 1948. He said that the State has made immense progress in the field of health, education, horticulture, tourism and allied sectors. He said that this occasion was a time to celebrate the splendid achievements made by the State during these 75 years. Jai Ram Thakur said that the State also faced hard times due to the Corona pandemic but with the wholehearted support of the people, the State was able to control the situation and simultaneously ensured to maintain the pace of development. He said that the State Government was getting full support of the Centre Government in the matter of development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special attachment towards Himachal Pradesh and under his leadership the State has got projects worth thousands of crores, he added.
Chief Minister said that it was due to the benevolence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the 90:10 ratio for funding of Central projects was restored. He said that a special financial assistance of Rs 800 crore was also provided to the State by the Central Government to accelerate the pace of development. He said that AIIMS, IIM, IIT, Central University were sanctioned for the State by the BJP Government at Centre. Jai Ram Thakur accused the Congress leaders for misleading the people of the State on the OPS issue. He said that Himachal Pradesh was one of the first States to sign the agreement to implement NPS and discontinue OPS. He said that now the Congress leaders, with an eye on polls, were misleading the people of the State. He said that the people must ask these leaders why they have not implemented OPS in their States where the Congress Party was in power. Chief Minister said that the present State Government was spending Rs. 1300 crore on providing social security pension as compared to Rs 400 crore spent by the previous government.
He said that schemes such as Shagun Yojna, Sahara Yojna, Grihini Suvidha Yojna, 50 percent concession in bus fare, 125 units free power were schemes that have helped the people of the State in a big way. He said that now the Congress leaders were claiming that they would discontinue all these schemes once they came to power in the State. Chief Minister announced the opening of Degree College at Mamleeg, provided it fulfills all the desired parameters. A theme song on 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh and a documentary highlighting 75 years of glorious history of Himachal Pradesh produced by the Information and Public Relations Department were also screened on the occasion. He also inaugurated exhibitions of various Departments, Boards and Corporations, highlighting the developmental journey of the State. Earlier, the Chief Minister performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 13 developmental projects worth Rs. 145 crore at Kandaghat for Solan Vidhan Sabha area. Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 1.18 crore augmentation of LWSS Patti Kolian and its adjoining villages in GP Dangari.
Rs. 28 lakh LWSS to village Nouni Majhgaon, Rs. 5.50 crore Skill Development Centre, Rs. 1.91 crore State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Rs. 1.70 crore footbridge near Keen Kiar village over Ashswani khad, Rs. 25.61 crore Solan Rajgarh Bye Pass road, Rs. 30.31 crore Indoor Auditorium at Jatoli (Solan). Jai Ram Thakur laid foundation stones of 55.38 crore source strengthening of WSS to various villages in GP Wakna, Kawarang, Chausha, Bisha, Sainj, Siri Nagar, Kot Mahi from Giri river district Solan, Rs. 8.71 crore augmentation of LWSS Kothi Bara, LWSS Dharol Basha, GWSS Chausha and GWSS Ganori in tehsil Solan, Rs. one crore LIS Damdhar Bakhor GP Dangheel tehsil Kandaghat, Rs. 1.55 crore foot bridge near Paundi, village Ashwani khad, Rs. 9.61 crore Sub Market Yard at Kather and Rs. 4.69 crore Sub Market Yard at Vaknaghat. Earlier, the Chief Minister planted a sapling of Quercus leucotrichophora (Baan) on the occasion. He also flagged-off an ambulance for the area on the occasion.
Member BJP State Executive and BJP leader from Solan Dr. Rajesh Kashyap welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He also thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating developmental projects worth crores of rupees for Solan Vidhan Sabha area. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Member of Parliament and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, former MP and Chairman State Commission for Scheduled Castes Virender Kashyap, Vice Chairperson Tourism Development Board Rashmi Dhar Sood, General Secretary Child Welfare Council Payal Vaidya, District BJP President Ashutosh Vaidya, Chairman Zila Parishad Ramesh Thakur, Chairman APMC Sanjiv Kashyap, Chairman Jogindra Cooperative Bank Yogesh Bhartiya, former Minister Mohinder Nath Sofat, Chairman Nagar Panchayat Kandaghat Geeta Devi, Deputy Commissioner Solan Kritika Kulhari, SP Virender Sharma were present on the occasion among others.
