Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the State Government had earmarked 19 percent of its budgetary provisions, i.e. Rs. 3,465 crore, for education related activities during the current financial year, which was the highest in the country. Chief Minister said in inaugural ceremony of the Rs. 6.80 crore first phase project of Government Senior Secondary School, Chhota Shimla, here today.
Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had been recognised leader in education in the country since it had been according added priority for bringing qualitative improvement in education sector, hence, had earmarked the highest 19 percent for education sector as compared to 4.85 percent by the Centre, during current financial year, which speak volumes of the importance education had been accorded. He said that the budgetary provisions for education during the year 2007-08 was Rs. 1,497 crore and increased by about Rs. 2,000 crore during past four years. He said that additionally the State government was also spending highest in the country on agriculture sector. He said that best of the academic atmosphere was being maintained for the benefit of students so that they could concentrate on studies and take optimum benefit of the quality educational infrastructure available to them. He said that in the age of competition the students needed to be equipped with quality educational facilities so that they could excel in their future endeavours.
Prof. Dhumal gave a clarion call to the teaching fraternity to work hard, dedicate themselves to their students, become role model to them, groom them as responsible citizens to take on higher responsibilities in their lives and thereby contribute significantly in making India a true World Leader in 21st Century and make realize the dream of visionary former Prime Minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said that teachers had higher responsibility to shape their students at their formatting age. He said that there would not be any reward of satisfaction to the teachers than the achievements their students made in their lives. He said the teacher-pupil and parent-children relationship was most pious and above all considerations. He also appealed to the teachers to maintain strict vigil over the activities of their students lest they did not fall prey to drug peddlers and spoil their lives. He said that undoubtedly India would be World Leader with the commitment of the teaching fraternity to shape their students into responsible and capable citizens of the country.
Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs. 4.70 lakh to purchase furniture and fixture for the school. Suresh Bhardwaj, local MLA and former student of the school, thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating record about Rs. 22 crore developmental schemes to the residents of Shimla town. He said that it was during the previous tenure of Prem Kumar Dhumal that an ambitious scheme of Yashwant Gurukul Awas Yojna was launched to provide quality residential facilities to the teachers serving in tribal, backward and difficult areas. He also thanked Chief Minister for enhancing grant-in-aid to Himachal Pradesh University from Rs. 24 crore during previous regime to Rs. 63 crore during current financial year. Meenakshi Sharda, Principal of the school, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and thanked him for dedicating the new school block to the students. She said that the quality infrastructural facilities would go a long way in facilitating quality education to students in convenient environment to study.
Ajay Vashisht, proposed vote of thanks. Veena Thakur, Chairperson, HP State Social Welfare Board, Sher Singh Chauhan, Chairman, HP State Land Development Bank, Ganesh Datt, Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, Roopa Sharma, Vice President, State BJP Mahila Morcha, Madan Sharma, Vice President, District Shimla BJP, Rajesh Sharma, President, Shimla BJP Mandal, Prem Thakur, President, Kasumpti BJP Mandal, other prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.
