MNREGA workers, way-side vendors, petty shop keepers, handicapped with over 70 percent disability had been brought under the ambit of Rs. 1.00 lakh health insurance cover, Samman Rashi provided to Nambardar, small contractor with Rs. 30 lakh turn over exempted from filing return, 3243 panchayats and 50 urban local bodies to be provided gymnasium by spending Rs. 17 crore during current financial year.

This was stated by Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting at Paplog in Dharampur segment, near Sarkaghat in Mandi district, today, after he laid foundation stones of two ambitious schemes, which included Driver Training School at Paplog, estimated to cost Rs. 40 crore and Lift Drinking Water Supply Scheme for Sarkaghat (from Kanda Pattan), estimated to cost Rs. 3964.36 lakh and benefit Laka, Tatih, Ramnagar, Jamsai, Kalas, Kunalag, Ropa Colony and Behad Wards at the Sub-Divisional Headquarter, a population of over 55 thousand, by year 2028.

Prof. Dhumal said that ramp would be added to the upcoming hospital structure at Sarkaghat. He sanctioned PHC and Ayurvedic Dispensary at Cholgarh and Baroti area respectively. He announced opening of sub-tehsil at Tihra.

Chief Minister said that the State had the lowest IMR in the country with best health indicators in every sphere. He said that the State Government had launched a large number of schemes aimed at preventing pre natal tests and check female foeticide. He said that Beti Hai Anmol and Matri Seva Yojna were two ambitious schemes aimed at protecting the girl child. He said that free institutional delivery facilities were available to the pregnant women in Government hospitals. He said that mother and child mobile tracking scheme had also been launched to monitor their health. He said that BPL family girl child was being provided Rs. 10,000 per girl child, upto two girl children, at the time of their birth under Beti Hai Anmol by depositing the same amount in their name at the time of their birth which grows substantially till the time they grow adult. He said that 33 percent reservation had also been ensured to women in cooperative sector as well. He said that 2,77,218 persons had been brought under the umbrella of Social Security Pension Scheme.

Prof. Dhumal said that off season vegetables turn over had increased to Rs. 2250 crore in the State surpassing the record set up by apple growing area in the State. He said that farm sector had vast potential of generating employment and self employment to the rural educated youth. He thanked Tata Motors for adopting Paplog ITI since every ITI trained youth were finding employment avenues in industrial sector. He said that there was increasing demand for skilled professionals which could be met through the ITIs in the State. He said that efforts were being made to introduce demand based vocational courses in technical institutions.

Chief Minister said that it was common man’s government at the helm of affairs in the State. He said that State Government was focusing its policies and programmes upon different sections of the society. He said that the state had made concerted efforts to deliver benefit to each and every family under different policies and programmes launched in the state during past four years. He said that Rs. 110 crore of bills of domestic consumers were saved in one year under Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna wherein four CFL bulbs were distributed free of cost to every domestic consumers. He said that the housing subsidy under Atal Awas Yojna and Indira Awas Yojna was increased from Rs. 27,500 to Rs. 48.500 thereby bringing more deserving families under the ambit of the scheme.

Ravinder Singh Ravi, IPH Minister said that State was providing 120 litres drinking water per person per day (PPPD) in urban areas and 70 litres PPD in rural areas compared to 40 litres PPPD at national level. He said that 90 percent of the area had been covered under potable drinking water supply scheme, 11,012 handpumps bored in past four years thereby increasing number of hand pumps to 26,052 in the State. He said that negligible numbers of water tanks were being used during drought conditions. He appealed to the people to save every drop of water for future generations. He said that Sarkaghat DWSS would also ensure 120 litres of water PPPD to present population of 11,000 of the town which would cost State Rs. 36,000 per person. He said that Rs. 2,000 crore were being spent under IPH activities during current financial year. He said that IPH schemes worth Rs. 190 crore were in progress in the area which included Rs. 105 crore in Gopalpur and Rs. 85 crore in Dharampur area. He said that Rs. 245 worth of IPH schemes had been proposed for the area which included Rs. 125 crore for Dharampur and Rs. 120 crore for Gopalpur segment in the area.

Mahender Singh, Transport and Urban Development Minister, also welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for providing funds for completion of road and bridges in the area. He said that 9 kms. long Paplog-Kharoh-Dhanrashi-Mortan-Kangu-Ka-Gehra road had been completed at a cost of Rs. Rs. 3 crore and counter various other road projects which had been completed during past four years. He also thanked for providing Rs. 2.5 crore for construction of ITI building at Paplog. He said that development had been given new direction under the leadership of Prof. Dhumal. He thanked for providing record Rs. 120 crore under NABARD for road projects in Dharampur segment.

He said that the only Drivers Training School would enable produce professionally competent drivers to maintain safety of life on roads. He thanked Tata Motors for adopting local ITI and start six new vocational courses in the Institute to upgrade skills of local youth. He thanked for Rs. 35 lakh for GSSS Paplog building and urged for notification of sub-tehsil at Tihra, PHC at Cholgarh, Ayurvedic Dispensary at Mandap and IPH Dn. At Dharampur.

Col. (Rtd.) Inder Singh, MLA, Gopalpur, said that visit of Prem Kumar Dhumal on April 17, 2012 would be written in golden letters in the development history of Sarkaghat when foundation stone of a long awaited drinking water supply scheme was laid. He thanked the Chief Minister for providing record funds for the development of the area during past four years.

Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Dullar, Superintendent of Police, Vijay Chandan, Director of Technical Education, Ashok Sridhar, Chief Engineer, IPH, other senior officers, were present on the occasion.