15 June : Present State Government’s efforts to benefit the common man in their speedy socio-economic uplift has started giving results which is evident from the fact that the performance of the State under the Twenty Point Programme (TPP) which gives thrust on poverty alleviation, employment generation, housing, education, health and other social programmes had been spectacular. Himachal Pradesh had attained the first position in the Country in the implementation of TPP in this financial year (2008-09) upto January 2009. The peculiarity of the State’s achievement is that out of the 18 set parameters, the achievements of the State in 13, had been adjudged top most as the State had got hundred percent marks under these.
The achievements of the State in Individual Swarojgaris assisted under ‘Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna’ had been 495 per cent, as 7157 was the achievement of the State against the target of 1446. Under the ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGA) as many as 7,91,847 job cards had been issued and 1.19 crore mandays generated. A sum of Rs. 138.31 crore had been spent under the scheme for providing gainful employment.
Likewise, under the Self Help Group (SHG) formation, Himachal Pradesh has achieved 101 per cent target, by forming 531 SHG’s against a target of 524. Similarly, the achievements of the State in settling the cases under Minimum Wages Enforcement had remained about 450 percent.
Food security, quality control, checking of inflationary trends, generation of consumer awareness etc. are the few main areas which had remained on priority agenda of the Government.
The State Government has strengthened its Public Distribution System as a result of which the achievements of the State had remained cent per cent. Under ‘Antyodaya Ann Yojna’, 71,878 tonnes of food grain had been distributed against a target of 68,950 tonnes and the achievement of the State under it had remained 104 per cent.
To ensure house to houseless is one of the priorities of the State Government. Under rural housing scheme, 3414 houses have been constructed against a target of 2968 under ‘Indira Awas Yojna’ during the period. Thus the achievement of the State is 115 percent. Besides this scheme, houses are also being constructed under ‘Atal Awas Yojna’ for the poorest of the poor. As many as 4084 habitations have been provided safe drinking water against a target of 3801 fixed for the period. The achievement of the State is 107 percent in this respect. Under Rural cleanliness programme, 2,72,152 houses had been covered in the state during the period upto January last.
Under ‘Total Sanitation Campaign’ (TSC) concerted efforts are afoot to make all Panchayats of the State ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF). Out of 3,243 gram panchayats in the State 1,300 has been declared ODF till date. In Himachal Pradesh 265 Panchayats have been awarded with ‘National Nirmal Puraskar’ by the President of India.
In its endeavour of ensuring speedy socio economic uplift of the weaker sections of the society 44,502 Scheduled castes families had been assisted in their uplift. In addition to this, the State has achieved 100 percent universalization of ‘Integrated Child Development Scheme’ (ICDS). 18,248 aanganwari Kendra’s had been set up and made functional till January, 2009 and the achievement of the State is 100 per cent.
Under Afforestation programme, 17.014 hectare area had been brought under plantation against the target of 16,660 hectares under Government and private land. 1008 crore saplings were planted and the achievement of the State is 102 per cent.
Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) 1,118 kms of new road length had been constructed as against the target of 1,106 kms and the achievement of the State had been 101 per cent. Hundred percent villages had already been electrified in the State.
The achievements of the State under the Twenty Point Programme speaks aloud about its concern for the welfare of weaker sections especially common man and this is also the sole objective of the Government.