June 27, 2009 :Appreciating the request made by Shri Karam Chand Verma, a visually impaired illiterate person hailing from village Talahan-Shakra, near Tattapani, in tehsil Karsog of district Mandi, to sanction him one harmonium and ‘dholak’ for sustenance, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, sanctioned him musical instruments as goodwill gesture with a view to help him earn his livelihood. Shri Karam Chand Verma who met the Chief Minister here today urged him for musical instruments instead of financial assistance to purchase the same.Chief Minister said that it was one of the rare example of self-respect that a visually impaired person had come forward with a request to provide him musical instruments for self-employment. He said that Shri Karam Chand was talented singer and experienced in playing the musical instruments and hoped that it would help him and his family earn their livelihood by entertaining the people.
He said that people from all over the state visit him with the request for financial assistance but Shri Karam Chand was one who instead of asking for money demanded musical instruments only since he was confident of adopting singing and playing music as self-employment avocation.
Chief Minister directed the department of Language and Culture to procure the musical instruments from the market and hand over the same to Shri Karam Chand at the earliest.