Himachal Pradesh Marching Ahead on Socio-Economic Resurgence -Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh

Independence Day (15th August, 2009)

We are celebrating 63rd Independence Day today.  I extend my heartiest felicitations to all countrymen in general and people of Himachal Pradesh in particular.  15th of August has special significance to all of us.  It was on this day in 1947, that India attained freedom from the colonial rule.  The day reminds us of the supreme sacrifices made by the great warriors, freedom fighters and patriots for the independence of the Country.

 Six decades of our journey as free and vibrant democracy is a testimony to the development and progress that our country has made in all these years. Unity in diversity and inclusiveness has remained our strength despite the attempts of some fissiparous forces to weaken us.  Still, we have a long way to go.

Recently, the nation celebrated 150 years of First War of Independence-1857.  The people of our State contributed significantly to the first war of Independence.  Great leaders visited Shimla and other places in the State to chalk out strategy for the freedom movement. Inspired by them, our people also plunged into the freedom movement. The armed rebellion in Jutogh, Kasauli, Dharamshala, Rampur, Kullu and various other places are some examples which tell about the contribution of the State in this movement.

 The people of Himachal Pradesh have never lagged behind in strengthening the fabrics of unity and integrity of the Country.  Many brave sons from this tiny hill State joined the Indian National Army (INA), when the Nation was striving for freedom.  The Praja Mandal Movements in the State also gave a momentum to the freedom movement, 'Dhami Goli Kaand', 'Pajhota Andolan', 'Suket Satyagraha', are some of the incidents which tell us the urge and spirit of the hill people for freedom. 

 Himachal Pradesh has been contributing significantly in the Indian Armed Forces.  More than 1.20 lakh brave sons from the State are serving in the armed forces from the State and there are over 1.01 lakh ex-servicemen in the State. During 'Operation Vijay' in Kargil in 1999, the brave sons of the State displayed exemplary courage in defending the Country.  As many as 52 brave sons from Himachal Pradesh made supreme sacrifice. Out of four Param Vir Chakra awarded during this operation for bravery and sacrifice, two were conferred on brave sons from this State out of this one was awarded posthumously.  Major Som Nath Sharma who was the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra after independence also hails from Himachal Pradesh.  A number of other brave sons of the State had won dozens of gallantry awards, which is a matter of great honour to the people of the State.

 Himachal Pradesh came into being on 15th April, 1948. It has marched ahead with the Country and emerged as a pioneer of development.  It has shown way to other States of the Country in the matter of development and socio-economic resurgence.  Today it is known as 'Apple State of India' and is poised to become 'Fruit Bowl' and 'Power State' of the Country.   The literacy percentage, per capita income and many health indicators the State is much higher then the National average. It has many firsts to its credit.  In providing social services, it has emerged as a face of the country.  It is heading towards becoming Educational Hub and Carbon Neutral State. The credit for this goes to the people of the State, who are known for their sincerity, honesty and hard work.

 It has been my privilege to serve the people of the State as a Chief Minister for more than six and a half years, first from 1998 to 2003 and now from 30 December, 2007 onwards. The endeavour of our Government has been to accelerate the pace of development besides ensuring the welfare of people especially weaker sections of the society.  During my previous tenure, priority was accorded to strengthen the road network in the State and also ensuring best social services to the people.  This time we are concentrating our efforts on strengthening and expanding the road network, ensuring qualitative education and health services to the people at their doorsteps, development of agriculture and horticulture particularly increasing the farm income of our small and marginal farmers through diversification of agriculture, precision farming and micro irrigation.

  Self sufficiency, self dependence and self employment are other areas which have been given special attention.  This will go a long way in achieving the economic freedom so essential with political freedom for the progress and development.

 Government is paying special attention to improve the socio-economic conditions of the poor, down- trodden and weaker sections.  We have succeeded in achieving the desired results. Himachal Pradesh has been adjudged the best State in the Country in the implementation of Twenty Point Programme for the year 2008-09.  Our indicators in most of the developmental parameters speak for themselves about the steps we have taken for the welfare of poor and weaker sections. 

Under "Indira Awas Yojna" as many as 4677 houses have been constructed during last year for the below poverty line (BPL) families and construction work on 2368 houses is in progress.  A target of constructing 6212 houses has been fixed for this year under the scheme.  Financial assistance of Rs. 38500 is being given to each of the BPL families under the scheme.  Under "Atal Awas Yojna," a scheme being run by the State Government on the same pattern, 3655 houses have been constructed during last year and allotted to the poorest of poor.  A target of constructing 5175 houses has been fixed for the current year under the scheme.

 Under 'Matri Shakti Bima Yojna' the amount of insurance cover has been increased by four times from last year.  Now in case of death a sum of      Rs. one lac and in the event of permanent disability a sum of Rs. 50,000 is given under the scheme. This is also applicable in case of death of her spouse.

Speedy economic uplift of the Scheduled Castes and other weaker sections is being ensured. From the year 2008-09, the allocation under Scheduled Castes Sub Plan has been enhanced from 11 percent to 25 percent in proportion to SC population.   A sum of Rs. 594 crores had been spent during 2008-09 under the sub plan as against Rs. 231 crores spent in 2007-08. This year a sum of       Rs. 668 crore are being spent under it. We have launched a scheme for constructing "Ambedkar Bhawan" in every Assembly Constituency of the State.  The welfare of other backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities is also being ensured.

 There has also been marked improvement in the socio economic conditions of women in the State.  This has been revealed in a World Bank Survey report published in the recent past which says. "Himachal Pradesh has grown faster than the rest of the Country and has the second lowest poverty head count rate in India. It is one of the leading States in term of Human Development. It has some of the best indicators in terms of gender equality and access services. The Survey was conducted under "Mid Himalyan Watershed Project" by the World Bank. Credibility poverty and accessibility were the key indices used in the survey. Referring to the Mid Himalyan Watershed Development Project implementation in the State, it says "in Himachal Pradesh women are unleashing a silent revolution for change." About Bio-Carbon Sub Project implementation in the State the report says, "It was a win-win scenario. Socio-economic conditions of the people were bound to change with the implementation of this project as it will provide more livelihood option to the rural people."

Empowerment of women is one field in which we have made concerted efforts.  Fifty per cent seats in all panchayati raj institutions and local bodies have been reserved for the women.  This has been done to enlist their participation in the development process of the State.  For the working women, the Government has taken various important decisions such as grant of maternity leave to all the categories of working women in the Government offices besides declaring holidays on "Rakshabandhan", "Bhaiya Dooj", and "Karwachauth" for them in all government offices.  They have also been given free traveling facility in HRTC buses on "Rakshabandhan" and "Bhaiya Dooj".

To deliver the better goods and services to the people, emphasis has been laid on responsive, transparent and effective governance. For this, the application of Information Technology to government processes has been encouraged.  A global standard Information Technology Park is being set up at Waknaghat at a cost of about Rs.462 crore. Besides providing employment to over 25000 persons, it will fetch good income to the State Exchequer. 

Emphasis has been laid on improving the socio-economic conditions of the people in rural areas where more then 90 percent population of the State lives. 70 percent of this is dependent for their livelihood on agriculture. Floriculture, Herbiculture and off-season vegetable production is being encouraged in a big way by giving attractive incentives to the farmers.   "Pt. Deen Dayal Kisan-Bagwan Samridhi Yojna" has been started with an outlay of Rs. 353 crore to raise farm income and improve agrarian economy in the State.               80 percent subsidy is being provided for construction of Poly houses and micro irrigation facilities to the farmers under the Scheme. In Poly houses farmers can grow cash crops throughout the year.  This scheme will provide employment to about 10,000 persons in rural areas in the first phase. The scheme is gaining popularity and a large number of farmers are coming forward to construct the poly-houses. 

With a view to ensuring remunerative prices to the fruit growers, the State Government is implementing the Market Intervention Scheme for apple and other citrus fruits.  For apple support prices of Rs. 5.25 per kg has been given this year.  Last year, Rs. 5.35 per kg support price was given for Kinnoo, Malta, Santra and Rs. 3.75 per kg for Galgal.  For Seedling Mango and Kalmi mangoes, the support price of Rs. 4.55 and Rs. 5.25 per kg respectively, has been given this year. The Government has decided to bring apple and mango under Crop Insurance Scheme on pilot basis. 

Roads, Education and Health are three major sectors which concern all especially the common man.  These have been accorded priority by the State Government.  Steps are being taken to provide road connectivity to all villages in the State, having a population of 250 or above by the year 2012.  In last             19 months of the present Government, 532 new villages have been provided road connectivity by constructing 1634 kms of new road.   A sum of Rs. 1280 crores would be spent on construction of roads and bridges in the State under various schemes during the current financial year. 

Efforts are being made to provide better health care services at the door steps of the people. About 250 allopathic doctors were appointed last year and posted in far flung areas of the State. Approval for appointment of 175 Ayurvedic doctors has also been given. Out of these, 88 have been posted on batch wise basis and remaining 87 are being appointed through the State Public Service Commission.  

With the objective of providing for quality education in the State, efforts are being made to make Himachal Pradesh an Education Hub with participation of the Private Sector.  Educational and professional institutions of par excellence are being encouraged.  The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Central University, the National Institute of Hotel Management and Food Craft are coming up in the State soon. The National Institute of Fashion Technology at 'Cheb' near Kangra has been inaugurated recently.  

We have made a very good start in fulfilling the promises made to the people on the eve of last Assembly Elections. The Election Manifesto has been made a policy document of the State Government.  Although the promises made in the manifesto are for the full term of five years, yet we have fulfilled more than 80 per cent of the promises, in a period of one- and- a -half year. The process to fulfill the remaining is on. 

Social Services top our agenda.  We have enhanced Social Security Pension from Rs. 200 to Rs. 330 besides sanctioning this pension to 27,757 new eligible persons. This has benefited over 2.50 lakh eligible aged, handicapped and widows in the State.  Social Security pension was also enhanced by our Government from Rs. 100 to Rs.200 in the last tenure.   

The daily wage of the workers has been increased from Rs. 75 to  Rs. 110 per day. This has ensured additional income of Rs. 12,775 to each daily wager's family in the State.  All those daily wagers who have completed eight years of service as on 31st March, 2008, have been regularized. 

The welfare and interests of pensioners and employees are being fully safeguarded.  They have been given monitory benefit of over Rs. 2000 crores since the present Government took over.  

A good beginning has been made in the direction of achieving the objective of self-sufficiency, self-dependence and self-employment. Speedy exploitation of immense hydel potential of the State is being ensured.  The Government is working on a plan to exploit the 12000 MW of power potential by 2012.  

Industrial development has been given a big boost by encouraging environment-friendly industry.  Projects worth hundred crores of rupees have been cleared by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority in the last  19 months.  Thousands of people would get employment in these units.  

Another Sector which can be a main source of income and employment in the State is Tourism. More than one crore domestic and foreign tourists visit Himachal Pradesh every year. Emphasis is being laid on development of new places from tourism point of view.  

Effective steps are being taken to preserve and maintain the environment.   Himachal Pradesh is heading towards becoming a Carbon Neutral State. In recognition of State's initiatives in preservation and protection of environment, Himachal Pradesh was given "Diamond State Award" last year. For preserving and protecting the precious forest wealth of the State, two ambitious schemes "Sanjha Van-Sanjivini Van" and "Apna Van-Apna Dhan" with people's participation are being implemented in the State.  

The interests of freedom fighters, soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families are dear to us. Their contributions are supreme.  As a mark of respect to them, we are implementing various schemes for their rehabilitation and welfare. The annuity of the Gallantry Award winners has been increased by the Government in the recent past. 

 We, the people of Himachal Pradesh assure the Nation on this auspicious Day of Independence that we will not consider any sacrifice too big for protecting its unity and integrity, and will march with fellow countrymen shoulder to shoulder, in taking the nation forward. 

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