SHIMLA March 31, 2008 :Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister reiterated the resolve of State Government to uplift the minorities of the State and to provide them opportunities for socio-economic upliftment. He was addressing the delegation of Himachal Pradesh Hali Vikas Maha Sangh, which called on him here today
under the leadership of Shri Tulsi Ram, Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha and accompanied by the State President, Shri Rakesh Jariyal, General Secretary, Shri Vijay Kumar, Shri Swarup Chand, Pradhan Gram Panchayat, Shahn and Sri Pratap Singh, Up-Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Pulan in Bharmour area of district Chamba with other office bearers of the organization.
Chief Minister said that the State Government was committed to protect the interests of the minorities and weaker sections of the society for which a number of socio-economic upliftment programmes were being formulated from time to time and would be implemented in letter and spirit for the welfare of the minorities. He said that the State Government had constituted a number of welfare boards for different sections of the society with a view to suggest the State Government, modes to be adopted for the betterment of the specific community. He said that the State Government had been accepting the recommendations being made by the welfare boards after taking all related aspects into consideration. He said that the state Government had made separate provisions for the developmental requirements of the backward sections of the society and areas.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had recently enhanced the provision of Scheduled Caste Special Component Plan from existing 11 percent to 25 percent which was 157 percent more for the coming financial year than the allocations made during the preceding financial year 2007-08. He said that with the provision of the separate budget, the scheduled caste dominated areas would get added priority in developmental activities and would be brought at par with other developed areas of the State.
Chief Minister assured the Maha Sangh that all their genuine demands would be examined and considered sympathetically for implementation by the State Government. He said that interests of the community would be protected and relief delivered to the people besides providing them every possible opportunity to progress ahead in all their endeavours.
Shri Tulsi Ram, Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha apprised the Chief Minister of various demands of the Maha Sangh and urged appropriate action to provide relief to the members of the community.