July 13, 2009 :Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister urged media to help Himachal Pradesh in projecting it in right perspective at national level. He said that Himachal Pradesh has achieved distinction in various fields which needs to be highlighted so that it helped in strengthening the efforts further. He was presiding over a meeting of H.P. Press Advisory Committee here last evening.Chief Minister said that of late there has been practice of publishing news locally which deprive the State of publicising its happenings elsewhere. He said that management of newspaper must see whether there can be a single edition so that people all-over could keep themselves abreast of the happenings everywhere.
He said that Himachal Pradesh’s efforts in preserving the environment had been appreciated at national and international levels and it was the only State which had banned the use of recycled plastic bags and had decided to put complete ban on polythene bags.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh had surpassed Kerala in the field of primary education. He said that there were 20 per cent of the students opting for higher education in that and Government endeavours were to increase it upto 50 per cent in coming few years. He said that emphasis was being laid on quality education. . He said that 15 private universities had been attracted. He said that first IT University in Asia was opened at Waknaghat in Solan district. He said that endeavours were afoot to make Himachal Pradesh an educational hub.
Chief Minister said that the State had been adjudged best for tourism activities in the country Zand its capital Shimla best tourism destination. He said that State had initiated various programmes aimed at tourism promotion, which included home stay scheme to involve rural people in the tourism promotion activities, which could also generate income to them by way of extending traditional hospitality to visitors in the villages.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that State Government was focussing its various policies and programmes in strengthening the rural economy.
Chief Minister sought the cooperation of members of Press Advisory Committee to guide the State in getting maximum exposure at national and international levels for its various activities so that Himachal Pradesh could make its mark globally. He said he himself take the views and comments seriously so as to guide the further path of progress.
Chief Minister thanked the members of the Press Advisory Committee for giving valuable suggestions which would go a long way in effective governance.
Shri Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary, Information and Public Relations welcomed the Chief Minister and others. He said that transparency and welfare of the common man was the agenda on which the Government was working.
Shri B.D. Sharma, Director, Information and Public Relations urged the members of the committee to give their valuable suggestions so as to ensure the effective working of the department.
Shri Vipin Pubby, Resident Editor, Indian Express, Shri Ramesh Vinayak, Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, Shri Uttam Sen Gupt, Associate Editor, The Tribune, Shri Anand Soondas, Resident Editor, Times of India, Shri Naresh Kaushal, Editor, Dainik Tribune, Shri Nishi Kant Thakur, Resident Editor, Dainik Jagran, Shri Irwin Khana, Editor, Uttam Hindu, Shri Vishwa Kirti, Editor, Hindi Milap participated in the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions.
Shri Rajender Rana, Chairman, H.P. Press Advisory Committee, Smt. Asha Swarup, Chief Secretary, Shri G.S. Gill, Director General of Police and other senior officers also attended the meeting.