August 16, 2008 :The State Government would be initiating effective steps to bring the off season vegetables under the insurance cover with a view to protect the interests of the vegetable growers. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day long Theog Utsav, which concluded at Theog today, where the Chief Minister was driven in an open jeep by the enthusiastic crowd of his supporters.
Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was the first state to bring the perishable commodities under the insurance cover and ginger, the cash crop of district Sirmour and Solan had also been brought under the umbrella of the scheme. He said that efforts would be made to extend the insurance cover to the off season vegetable growers so that all risks were covered. He said that Theog was known after district Solan for off season vegetable cultivation, which was a matter of satisfaction for the government that the progressive farmers were opting for cash crop cultivation at a larger scale by adopting multi-cropping system in farming.
Prof. Dhumal said that the state government would be promoting the off season vegetable cultivation at large scale so that it could generate employment to the rural youth at their door steps. He said that the state had recently enhanced the support price of the apple and citrus fruits to deliver benefits to the farmers. He said that the marketing network was also being strengthened to meet the demand of the people and provide them appropriate platform near to their home to procure remunerative prices for their produce. He added that the state government would now be paying equal share of the premium of the crop insurance which earlier was being paid by the farmers.
Chief Minister said that the state government had taken record decisions in last seven months in the benefit of every section of the society. He said that women empowerment was given top priority. He said that it was during his earlier tenure that 33 percent reservation was provided to the women in all the panchayati raj institutions which had met resounding success and with a view to encourage women participation in the developmental process, the state government further enhanced the reservation to the women in panchayati raj and urban local bodies election to 50 percent from current year onwards. He said that out of the three IRBs got sanctioned from the Government of India, one was exclusively for women, where recruitment process would be started soon. He said that the state had restored the Karva Chouth holiday to the working women besides granting them public holiday and making their travel free on Raksha Bandhan and Bhaiya Dooj festivals. He said that efforts were being made to provide fair share in every sector to women in proportion to their population in the state.
Prof. Dhumal said that every promise made in the Election manifesto was being fulfilled in letter and spirit. He said that the state had already announced DA instalment due to the employees and pensioners from January this year, regularization of the daily wagers and contract employees completing 8 years of regular service by 31st March, 2008, enhanced the daily allowance of home guards, incentives to gram panchayats and mahila mandals carrying exemplary sanitary services in their respective jurisdiction and excellence employees award to state dedicated employees contributing significantly towards the developmental activities and delivering people benefit of the same.
Chief Minister welcomed the request of the local MLA Shri Rakesh Verma, to return to the party alongwith his supporters in the segment. He said that the BJP would get strengthened with the joining of more people. He said that the party was committed to carry development uniformly by rising above all political considerations and make Himachal Pradesh, the model state in coming years. He reminded the people that degree college building at Theog was also constructed during his earlier term. He announced construction of the ITI building at Theog, consider construction of Theog by-pass and declared ‘Theog Utsav’ as district level festival.
Shri Narender Bragta, Horticulture Minister, thanked the Chief Minister for providing Rs. 227 crore for the widening and improvement of Theog-Hatkoti road, which would facilitate the fruit growers immensely. He said that the construction work of subzi mandi and kisan bhawan would soon be started in Shimla. He said that the matter of market commission in Delhi Subzi Mandi was being reiterated with the Delhi government while possibilities to procure anti-hail guns was also being pursued vigorously.
Shri Jai Ram Thakur, MLA and State BJP President, said that the state government was making rapid strides on all fronts and the Election Manifesto being implemented. He also welcomed Shri Rakesh Verma to the BJP and gave a clarion call to all party workers to work dedicatedly to win all the four seats in coming Parliamentary elections.
Shri Rakesh Verma, local MLA, welcomed the Chief Minister and announced unconditional support to the government and the party in all its endeavours. He also assured the support of the local panchayat samiti, municipal council, pradhans and up-pradhans of various gram panchayats, members of the municipal council, Panchayat samiti, Zila parishad and former members as well.
Shri Ajay Shyam, Mandal BJP President and Shri Hem Raj Verma, President, Municipal Council also welcomed the Chief Minister.
Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA, Shri Khushi Ram Balnahta, Chairman, HP State Cooperative Bank, Shri Ganesh Datt, President, District Shimla BJP, Shri Gyan Chandel, Shri Rajender Verma, Shri Virender Kashyap and other senior BJP leaders, Shri J.S.Rana, DC, Shri R.M.Sharma, SP and other senior officers were also present.