Shimla,April 16:Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that budget allocation for Health sector had been increased by 209 percent for the current financial year in order to strengthen the health network in the State. He added that Rs. 80 crore would be spent on construction of roads and bridges, sewerage and water supply schemes in Gehrwin assembly segment during current financial year. He was addressing a public meeting at Gugga (Kot Dhar area) in Gehrwin Assembly segment of district Bilaspur today.
He also dedicated the six kms. long portion of Buhad-Malhot of 20 kilometers long Kothi-Jangal-Malhot road completed at a cost of Rs. 2.10 crore to 2500 residents of six villages of the area by flagging an HRTC Bus on the route.
Chief Minister said that added attention was being paid towards road connectivity and for making available, adequate drinking water facilities to the rural people. He said that all remaining 460 Gram Panchayats would be connected with motorable roads within current financial year besides restarting the Mukhya Mantri Gram Path Yojna by making budgetary provision of Rs. 10 crore for the current financial year. He said that upgradation of existing water supply and irrigation schemes was also being given added priority with a view to strengthen the farm sector by providing better irrigation facilities to farmers. He added that State Government had enhanced the honorarium of officer bearers of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that organic farming was gaining popularity and emphasized upon the need to change over from fertilizers to organic farming which had been a traditional mode of farming. He said that organic farm products were considered to be free of any kind of adverse health hazards and were safe for human consumption. He said that organic produce would fetch remunerative prices to farmers
Chief Minister said that efforts were afoot to post atleast three women police constables in every police station of the State with a view to facilitate women, get their grievances redressed. He said that it would go a long way in creating congenial atmosphere and in winning trust of the public. He said that 1st Women IRB had been sanctioned for the State, which was the result of consistent pursuance of the State Government, due to which one exclusive women battalion and two other IRBs were got sanctioned for the State.
Prof. Dhumal sought the cooperation of rural people in capturing monkeys which were damaging crops and handing them over to local authorities for transportation to primate protection parks developed at Tara Devi near Shimla and Jheen in district Hamirpur in order to provide natural habitats to the wild animals. He said that human interference with the natural habitats of wild animals have resulted into their migration to urban areas in search of food. He said that forest officials were feeding the captured monkeys in the parks.
Chief Minister said that agriculture was the basic and vital sector for sustenance of human beings and added that the sector would be modernized and diversified by cultivating improved varieties of cash crops, since they offered vast employment avenues. He said that State Government would be testing the farm soil free of cost and suggest farmers about best crops for cultivation so that economy of farmers was strengthened. He said that agriculture scientists had been directed to motivate farmers by visiting them and added that progressive farmers of different areas had started cultivation of cash crops, off-season vegetables, flowers and herbs which could yield them good returns.
Chief Minister announced upgradation of Marutan, Buhad and Gagudi Health Sub-Centres to Primary Health Centers besides completing the construction work of Ayurvedic Dispensary Building soon. He assured of sympathetic consideration of all other demands.
Shri J.P. Nadda, Forest Minister said that people of Bilaspur district were grateful to the Chief Minister for announcing to set up IRB Women battalion in district Bilaspur. He thanked him for making provision of Rs. 37 crore for construction of long pending Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri broad gauge railway line, keeping in view the necessity of the same, to decongest the National Highway. He said that 50 % reservation to women in PRIs was a landmark decision and added that social security pension scheme was initiated by former Chief Minister, Shri Shanta Kumar and later Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal enhanced the same from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 and now to Rs. 300 which was a laudable decision. He said that saw mill reopening was a landmark victory, which included welfare of thousands of families. He said that ban had been lifted on Khair wood export.
Shri Rikhi Ram Kaundal, Local MLA also welcomed the Chief Minister and said that road connectivity was improved in his assembly segment during the tenure of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal as Chief Minister. He said that development came to a grinding halt during last five years and urged for budgetary provision for completion of water supply scheme for the area, Ayurvedic Dispensary Building at Dhali, road for Kharani and upgradation of HSCs of the area.
Shri Randhir Sharma, MLA also lauded the decisions being taken by the Chief Minister for the welfare of the public and especially, the decision of providing 50 percent reservation to women in PRIs and urban local bodies which would provide adequate representation to women.