Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that State Government would welcome the entrepreneurs in the field of medical education to open one Medical College in district Hamirpur. He was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of first private ‘Career Point’ University at Tikkar (Kharwarian) Bhoranj in district Hamirpur today.

Chief Minister said that the State had got MBBS, MD and MS seats in IGMC and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical Colleges increased to 200 and 140 respectively. He said that additionally ESI Medical College and Hospital was coming up at Ner Chowk in district Mandi besides one private medical college of Markendeshwar University of Medical Education in district Solan where best medical professionals would be produced. He said that the State was in requirement of hundreds of allopathic medical officers which would be met with the completion of their education in coming years. He welcomed the proposal of Career Point University to open one Medical College in district Hamirpur which would further supplement the endeavour of the State Government in this direction.

Prof. Dhumal said that Atal Swasthya Sewa Yojna had been of great help to the people and free ambulance service was available on toll free number 108 to transport any critical patient to the nearest health institution under the scheme. He detailed other public welfare schemes of the State Government which had no mention in the Election Manifesto of the Party adopted as Policy of the Document on coming to power on December 30, 2007. He said that the State had extended benefits of different policies and programmes to every family.

Chief Minister said that killing of two B.Ed. students from Himachal Pradesh studying in Jammu led to considering opening of B.Ed. colleges in the State for the benefit of the students leaving their home state for higher studies and vocational courses outside the state. He said that later former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee also inspired the State Government to open higher learning centres in the clean and calm environment of the State. He said that 24 B.Ed. colleges had been granted permission during earlier term of 1998-03 for opening in private sector. He said that there was no looking back thereafter and the State had now over a dozen universities of par excellence learning in different parts of the State which were providing quality vocational education to local youth at affordable costs within the State. He said that Career Point happened to be the first university in private sector in district Hamirpur.

Prof. Dhumal said that with the opening of private universities, the students were getting education at their doorsteps and need not go out of state.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was emerging a hub of knowledge as thousands of students from different states of the country had taken admission in different courses. He said that opening of such higher learning institutions were also instrumental in giving boost to tourism and allied income generating activities. He said that there was no dearth of educated and well qualified persons in the State and most of the teaching and non-teaching staff in private universities belonged to Himachal Pradesh.

Shri Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Education Minister, said that Sarswati Bal Vidya Sankalp Yojna had been a big hit during earlier term of Prof. Dhumal which had ensured three roomed ‘pucca’ accommodation to each of the primary schools in the State. He said that various merit cum need based scholarships were started which had benefited meritorious students of scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, OBC, general categories etc in carrying forward with the career building pursuits. He said that the State was spending highest of 19 percent of its budgetary provisions over education and related activities during current financial year. He said that drop out rate had reduced to negligible and quality of education had improved considerably. He thanked Career Point Management for promising free coaching in different disciplines to local youth besides attaching 50 senior secondary schools with it.

Shri Om Maheshwari, Chairman, Career Point University, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and said that the University was poised to emerge hub of quality vocational education in the district. He thanked Chief Minister and state/district administration for their cooperation and said that there was no state better than Himachal Pradesh for opening high learning centres.

Dr. Srichand, Vice Chancellor of the University also welcomed the Chief Minister and said that the University being located in rural areas would give boost to education and allied activities besides generating employment to the local people.

Variety cultural presentation marked the opening ceremony of the Career Point University.

Smt. Urmil Thakur, MLA, Shri M.C.Parmar, CMD, Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation, Shri Pyare Lal Sharma, Chairman, APMC, Shri Des Raj Sharma, President, District Hamirpur BJP, Smt. Sarla Sharma, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Smt. Veena Sahrma, Member, State BJP Executive Committee, Dr. Dinkar Burathoki, Director of Education, Shri Rajender Singh, DC, Shri Madhusudan Sharma, SP, Shri B.T.Negi, Chief Engineer, PWD, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.

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