MAKING  HIMACHAL A TOP- MOST STATE -Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh

Statehood Day (25th January, 2009)

25th January is a glorious day for the people of Himachal Pradesh as it was on this day in 1971 that our State attained Statehood. With this, the State and its people got an opportunity to shape their own destiny. On this historic and joyous occasion, I extend my heartiest felicitations to the people of the State. I also express my gratitude to the great leaders, who overcame various hardships and challenges to ensure that the State gets a separate identity and status. We also pay our homage to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the Founder of Himachal Pradesh, who apart from spearheading the struggle for Statehood, laid a sound foundation for the future development of the State as its first Chief Minister. The State has witnessed a sustained socio-economic transformation in these 38 years of statehood and a new saga of hill development is being written.

The people of Himachal Pradesh handed over the reins of the State to the present BJP Government on 30th December, 2007 and thus began a voyage towards making it the top-most State of the country. Each day of this journey is an historic milestone in the fulfillment of expectations and aspirations of the people and realizing the vision of a strong, self-reliant and prosperous Himachal Pradesh.

RESPONSIVE & CORRUPTION-FREE GOVERNANCE

Service with sincerity and commitment to the people, has been the prime objective of the Government and we can say with a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, that we have fulfilled this pledge successfully all along. Uniform and balanced development of all areas and all sections of people coupled with responsive and clean governance having zero tolerance to corruption has been the hallmark of the present Government.  Emotional integration of different areas and people of the State has by far been its most outstanding achievement.

WELFARE OF ALL

Welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society, so as to improve their socio-economic status and assimilate them in the mainstream, is the main thrust of the State Government. Social Security pension has been enhanced from Rs. 200 to Rs. 330 per month. Minimum wages of un-skilled workers have also been enhanced from Rs. 75 to Rs. 100 per day w.e.f. 1st January, 2008. This enhanced wage is applicable in private sector also, thereby benefiting over five lakh families.  Historic decision has been taken by earmarking plan budget in proportion to the Scheduled Caste population. Accordingly, as against Rs. 231 crore earmarked during 2007-08, a provision of Rs. 594 crore has been made under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan during the current financial year. The income limit for creamy layer for  OBCs has been enhanced from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 4.5 lakh per annum.

ROAD CONNECTIVITY

In order to ensure that the benefits of development percolate down to the persons living in the remotest part of the State, the Government is committed to provide road connectivity to all the villages with a population of more than 500 persons by the year 2009 and those having a population of more than 250 by the year 2012. To strengthen rural connectivity, 'Mukhya Mantri Gram Path Yojna', has been re-introduced in the State with a provision of Rs. 10 crore.   An ambitious Rs. 1365.435 crore 'Himachal Pradesh State Road Project' has been launched to strengthen road network. Two new national highways viz. Nagrota Bagwan-Ranital-Mubarakpur and Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Hatkoti have been sanctioned and proposals to declare five more roads as National Highways have been submitted to Government of India.

MAKING THE STATE AN EDUCATION HUB

Education is the key instrument for developing human capabilities. The State is swiftly moving towards achieving cent-percent literacy besides becoming a "Knowledge State" of the country. An amount of Rs. 2094 crore has been earmarked for the education sector during the current financial year.  Due to the persistent efforts of the State Government, an IIT has been sanctioned for the State for which 530 acres of land has been identified at Kamand in Mandi.  Classes in this prestigious institution would start from the academic session 2009. A Central University has also been sanctioned for the State and 697 acre land has been identified in Dehra Sub-Division of Kangra District for the same. "Atal Shiksha Kunj" is being developed in Kalu Jhanda area of Baddi in Solan district. Foundation stone of National Institute of Fashion Technology has been laid at Cheb in Kangra district of the State. Establishment of prestigious educational institutions would be encouraged here so as to develop it as world level standard "Education Hub". Mid-Day Meal Scheme has been extended to students of VI to VIII classes from July, 2008 in all Government as well as  government-aided schools. 

QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL

The State Government is committed to provide quality healthcare to all. For this, we are striving hard to increase utilization of public health services, strengthen primary health sector and improve the quality of secondary health-care facilities. Rogi Kalyan Samities have been reconstituted upto District, Sub-Division, Community and Primary Health Centre level. Monthly remuneration of Medical Officers has been enhanced to ensure that there is no paucity of doctors in the rural and difficult areas. The State Government has decided to open five Medical Colleges in the State in private sector so as to provide quality medical  education and health  services to the  people. 

Due to concerted efforts of the State Government, the Employees State Insurance Corporation is opening an ESI Multi Speciality Hospital and Medical College in Mandi district. Efforts are on to make Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda a best medical institution of the region. B.Pharma course has been started in Government Post-Graduate Ayurvedic Medical College, at Paprola in district Kangra. Special Geriatric OPD for senior citizens has been started in all Ayurvedic Hospitals of the State on every Tuesday.

DIVERSIFICATION OF HORTICULTURE ACTIVITIES

Horticulture is the strength of the agrarian economy in the State and a major area of development, which has given special recognition to the State besides strengthening the economy of the farmers. Concerted efforts have been made to make the best of the potential in horticulture sector.  For the first time, all activities of horticulture sector have been included as priority sector and "Specialized Category of Activities" in new Industrial Policy of the State and separate package of incentives has been made available for it. In order to ensure remunerative prices to the fruit growers, procurement price of citrus fruits, apple  and mango have been enhanced by Rs. 0.50 per kg. "Horticulture Technology Mission" with a financial assistance of Rs. 80 crore is being implemented so as to bring diversification in horticulture activities across the State.

STRENGTHENING ECONOMY OF THE FARMERS

Agriculture is the main occupation of 92% rural population and provides direct employment to 69% of main working population.  To strengthen the farming sector, Rs. 353 crore ''Pandit Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan-Samiridhi Yojna' has been introduced in the State. Under this ambitious scheme, subsidy upto 80% would be provided to the farmers for setting up of Poly-houses and drip-irrigation schemes besides 50 per cent subsidy on construction of water-tanks.  A Rs. 86 lakh National Project on Organic Farming has been started in the State under which financial assistance is being provided for setting up of Model Organic Farms, training of farmers, demonstration units and organic certification.  Free soil testing facilities are being provided to the farmers so that they could plan their crops as per the soil texture. One lakh soil samples would be tested during the current financial year and till date, 72,578 Soil Health Cards have already been distributed amongst the farmers of the State. A Rs. 235 crore Swan Channelization Scheme has been sanctioned for the State.

INDUSTRIALIZATION-A STEP TOWARDS PROSPERITY

Industrialization is a step towards modernization and prosperity through enriching State economy and providing ample employment opportunities. The State Government is offering investor-friendly environment and attractive incentives to the investors which have resulted in an upsurge in industrial development in the State. During the last one year, 684 industrial units have been registered with an investment of Rs 1052 crore and employment potential of 10237 persons. In addition, investment proposals worth Rs 7370 crore involving employment potential of 20,421 persons have been sanctioned by the Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority during this period. The State Government has strongly taken up the matter of extending Central Investment Package beyond March, 2010 with the Centre Government In a major move, the State Government has decided to acquire only barren land for setting up of Special Economic Zone and that too after consent of the local people. Land Bank has been constituted to ensure easy availability of land to prospective entrepreneurs and about 6000 bighas of land have been identified in six districts of the State. A Steel Plant will be set up at Gangath in Kangra district with an investment of 105.81 crore.

TOWARDS 'POWER STATE'

The State is poised for a hydro power revolution which is going to put Himachal on the path of high growth and make it a significant contributor to the growth of national economy. The State Government has set a target to exploit 12,000 MW power potential by the year 2012, which would help the State in becoming self-reliant.  'Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna' , an ambitious scheme, has been launched in the State to conserve energy, under which 4 CFLs are  being provided free of cost to all the domestic consumers in the State at a total cost of Rs. 80 crore.  To ensure transparency in allotment of Power Projects, the State Government has decided to allot identified projects above 5 MW capacity through open bidding. 

MAKING HIMACHAL A TOURIST'S PARADISE

Endowed with natural beauty and salubrious ambience, Himachal Pradesh is indeed a paradise for tourists. The State Government has made efforts to break the seasonal factor and tourism has been diversified and made all-weather to attract tourists round the year. A 20-year-master-plan is being prepared for an integrated tourism development in the State.  Hotel Management Institute is being set up in Hamirpur with a cost of Rs. 10 crore, besides a Food-Craft Institute at Dharamshala. These institutes would provide the tourism industry highly trained manpower within the State itself . Home-Stay Scheme-2008 has been launched in the State to encourage tourism activities in rural areas, besides developing infrastructure to promote tourism in lesser known areas.

EMPLOYEES WELFARE

Employees are the back-bone of any Government as they play an important role in translating the policies and programmes of the Government. The State Government has maintained cordial relations with its employees and provided them various financial benefits from time to time. During this period, financial benefits worth Rs 1400 crore have been provided to the employees. "Employees Excellence Awards Scheme" has been announced for the Government employees doing exemplary and extra-ordinary work. Holidays have been declared for women employees on Raksha Bandhan, Karwa Chauth and Bhaiya Dooj with  free travel facility to all  women on Raksha Bandhan and Bhaiya Dooj in HRTC buses throughout the State.  Daily wages of Home Guards have been enhanced from Rs 130 to Rs.150 benefiting more than 8000 Home Guards.

The 'National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme' is being implemented throughout the State and every Job Card holder is being provided minimum 100 days employment in a year. As many as 13,205 Daily Wagers have been regularized in I&PH and Public Works Departments and process is on to regularize 6000 Daily Wagers and Contractual Employees who have completed eight years of regular service on 31st March, 2008. Three India Reserve Battalions have been sanctioned for the State which would provide employment to 3000 persons.  A Battalion of ITBP has been sanctioned for the State which would be established in Una district. A Disaster Management Battalion is also being established at Nurpur in Kangra district.

ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION

Our Government has strived to maintain balance between its social responsibilities, developmental priorities and environmental needs.  The efforts of our Government, in keeping the environment of the State clean and healthy, have been admired and acknowledged at the national level and the State has been awarded 'Diamond State Award' for this. Environment Fund has been created to supplement environment conservation activities in the State.

INTER-STATE RELATIONS

State Government has emphatically taken up various issues of State's interest with the Central Government and neighbouring States.  It is due to effective pursuance and earnest endeavours of the State Government that the Centre has agreed in principal to construct Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh Railway Line which is of immense strategic importance. Funds have been released for carrying out survey of this railway line. Our Government has also succeeded in getting sanctioned an ambitious Carbon Credit Project for the State. We have maintained cordial relations with the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana and several issues of mutual interests have been amicably settled.

OUR VISION

Our Government is committed to provide clean, transparent and responsive administration to the people of the State. 'Sadak, Shiksha, Swasthya, Swarojgar, Swavalamban and Swabhiman' are our objectives. With the able guidance of the BJP leadership and cooperation and support of the people of the State, we are sure to succeed in achieving this objective.

On this auspicious occasion, I once again felicitate the people of the State and assure  that we would work with full dedication and commitment to usher an era of unprecedented peace, progress and prosperity in the State and make Himachal Pradesh the top-most State of the country.