Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal claimed that Rs. 269-cr was spent on construction of roads and bridges during past four years in Dharampur region. He claimed it in a public meeting at Kohana Dodni Ka Thala, in Sarkaghat sub-division of district Mandi. During his visit Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of Flood Control Work over Soan Khadd from Sayathi Abbal to Kal Swai, estimated to cost Rs. 638.24 lakh, Lift Irrigation Scheme Pipli estimated to cost Rs. 97.31 lakh at Pipli to facilitate farmers of Sajjao Piplu gram panchayat and Lift Irrigation Scheme Parachhoo, estimated to cost Rs. 61.48 lakh to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of the area. He said that Rs. 98.95 crore were being spent over Satyar Khad and Rs. 85.52 crore for Kanda Pattan-Jareda medium irrigation scheme and Rs. 60 crore for Jakhu onward channelisation of Seer Khad. He assured that efforts would be made to open sub-tehsil at Tihra.
Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was one of few first States to provide 50 percent reservation to the women in panchayati raj and urban local bodies. He said that the State was committed for women empowerment and implementation of various schemes for their speedy socio-economic upliftment. He said that women employees have been provided public holidays on Bhaiya Dooj, Raksha Bandhan and Karva Chouth besides allowing free travelling facilities to them on Bhaiya Dooj and Raksha Bandhan. He expressed concern over the decreasing sex ratio and said that girl child should be encouraged which had been our tradition also.
Dhumal said that State Government was giving Rs. 5100 each upto two girl children under Beti Hai Anmol and facilitating free institutional delivery to every expectant mother. He said that the State had launched Women and Child Health tracking scheme to monitor health condition of the pregnant women and medical care being provided for them from time to time. He said that 38 life saving drugs were being made available to the members of BPL families.
Chief Minister said that 16.5 lakh domestic consumers were provided four CFL bulbs free of cost under Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna, by spending Rs. 65 crore on the same, the financial assistance for construction of houses under Atal Awas Yojna and Indira Awas Yojna had been enhanced from Rs. 27,500 to Rs. 48,500 per unit. He said that under Atal School Uniform Yojna being launched from this year free uniform from 1st to 10th Class free of cost will be given to all students twice a year.
Prof. Dhumal said that the road network had been increased to over 34 thousand kms., in the State that is connecting every gram panchayat in a phased manner. He said that Dharampur had not been left behind in any manner where road density had increased substantially connecting every gram panchayat with motorable roads. He appealed to propagate welfare policies and programmes of the government amongst the targeted groups so that they could reap benefits out of such schemes. He urged them to help beneficiaries to avail the benefits by educating them about such schemes.
Chief Minister said that the State was providing a subsidy of Rs. 166 crore to all domestic consumers to provide cheap power during current financial year and ensuring that no additional burden was put over the domestic consumers. He said that State was also subsidizing essential commodities to every ration card holder by providing a subsidy of Rs. 130 crore during current financial year. He assured mettliing of Riyur-Baroti road and all link roads to be constructed in the segment. He sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh for Tor Khola-Kamlah road. He also sanctioned Rs. 15 lakh for construction of stadium in Morla in the segment.
Chief Minister also listened to public grievances after the public meeting. Earlier, Mahender Singh Thakur, local MLA and Transport and Urban Development Minister, welcomed the Chief Minister to his home segment and thanked him for his one day visit. He lauded the initiative of Chief Minister for emotionally integrating the State. He said that with the liberal funds available, all villages in Dharampur segment had been connected with motorable road. He also thanked for providing funds for construction of Mortan, Sadhot, Bhadoo-Chaswal bridges and roads connecting different villages; 33 KVAs sub-stations at Mandap and Bari. He said that Rs. 46 crore had been sanctioned for construction of roads in the area Rs. 36.66 crore for construction of Kamlah-Dharampur-Baroti road. He said that 70 buildings were under construction in the area. He thanked for sanctioning Rs. 6.03 crore for widening of Roso-Dhanrasi-Paplog-Basantpur-Dali road. He thanked for various other development schemes of IPH in the area which included Rs. 85 crore irrigation scheme for the area.
MP Rajya Sabha Vimla Kashyap said that socio-economic empowerment of women had been on priority agenda of the BJP Government in the State. She said that Dhumal had enhanced the social security pension whenever he came to power which stood at Rs. 330 per month today. Vinod Chandel, MLA, Doon assembly in district Solan, thanked CM for providing 50 percent reservation to women in panchayati raj institutions and urban local bodies. Des Raj Palsara, General Secretary, Dharampur BJP Mandal, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries to the area. Bhagat Ram, President, Dharampur BJP Madal proposed vote of thanks. Ravinder Singh Ravi, IPH Minister, Col. Inder Singh, Hira Lal, MLAs, Khira Mani, Chairman, Zila Parishad, Ram Swaroop Sharma, Vice Chairman, HP State Civil Supplies Corporation, Narender Atri, President, State BJYM, Bhagwan Dass, Vice Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, Saroj Dhumal, Vice Chairman, Zila Parishad, Shri Prithvi Singh Dhumal, Director, HP State Cooperative Bank, Kumkuma, Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti, Dharampur, Bhagat Ram, President, Dharampur BJP Mandal, Dalip Thakur, President, BJP Mandal, Gopalpur, M.R. Chaudhary, senior BJP leader, Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, B.T. Negi, Chief Engineer, PWD, Ashok Sridhar, Chief Engineer, IPH, other senior officers of different departments and office bearers of the party were present on the occasion.
