State Government would motivate youth to form gymnasium clubs at gram panchayat level for which Rs. 17 crore would be spent by the Government so as to ensure gymnasium in each of the 3,243 gram panchayats and 54 urban local bodies in the State. Rs. 50,000 would be given for each gymnasium. This was stated by Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing an public meeting at Gasota in Hamirpur district after inaugurating week-long District Level Nalwari Fair, at Gasota Mahadev temple complex. He also performed foundation stone laying ceremony of Rs. 15 lakh Pond Restoration Project and dedicated Veterinary Dispensary Building constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.22 lakh, to the people of the area.
Chief Minister said that the aim of setting up gymnasiums was to engage youth towards posititivies. He expressed concern over the dangerous trend of youth falling prey to drug abuse. He said that the immense energy of youth if channelized, in right direction could bring about sea change in the development and nation building scenario. He exhorted the youth to take lead by forming youth clubs to run the gymnasiums at panchayat level. He also appealed to the people to maintain constant vigil over the activities of the youth and ensure that they were not getting addicted to drugs and other intoxications. He said that proper guidance of the youth was joint responsibility of every awakened citizen of the country.
Prof Dhumal said that Rs. 353 crore Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna had benefited large number of farmers with construction of poly houses wherein subsidy component of record 80 percent was available to them. He said that Rs. 300 crore Doodh Ganga Yojna was also contributing significantly towards bringing about white revolution in the State and providing honourable self employment to woman dominated self help groups, which too contained subsidy component of 25 percent to general category and 33 percent to SC beneficiaries. He said that the State had made its mark in off season vegetable production and record Rs. 2,250 crore marketing had been done during preceding financial year, surpassing the income generated by apple marketing.
Chief Minister said that the State Government was spending Rs. 6.52 crore on various tourism infrastructure developmental activities during current financial year which included Rs. two crore for multi-storeyed parking at Hamirpur; Rs. 84 lakh for parking at Deotsidh, Rs. 35 lakh for development of River Rafting Centre at Cholu, Nadaun; Rs. 75 lakh for construction of Tourist Reception Centre and Parking at Nadaun; Rs. 40 lakh for construction of Tourist Reception centre and View Point near Narbadeshwar Temple, Sujanpur; Rs. 35 lakh for landscaping and beautification of Tauni Devi shrine; Rs. 32 lakh for development of wayside amenities at Ukhli; Rs. 13 lakh for renovation of Shiva Temple and Development of picnic Spot at Bhounkar; Rs. 15 lakh for landscaping and beautification around Gasota Mahadev Temple; Rs. 68 lakh on landscaping and beautification around Awah Devi Temple; Rs. 20 lakh for erection of signages and Rs. 35 lakh over erection of high mast lights at Awahdevi, Anu, Pucca Bharoh, Gandhi Chowk, Hamirpur Bazar, Bhota Chowk and Nadaun. He said that historic Taal was also being restored and beautified to attract visitors to the area.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had issued directions that patwaris should be available in patwarkhanas on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week to the people. He said that efficient, corruption free responsive and transparent administration was on priority agenda of the State Government. He said that there were a number of socio-welfare schemes under implementation in the State aimed at socio-economic upliftment of weaker sections of the society which were being implemented in letter and spirit. He exhorted party workers and social activists to help members of the specific section of the society in completion of required formalities so that benefit of such schemes could be delivered to the targeted groups. He said that introduction of social security scheme was the vision of the BJP which had initially launched the scheme to disburse Rs. 50 per month to widows, old aged and handicapped and every time BJP came to power, the pension was increased substantially by the BJP Government and now social security pension of Rs. 400 per month was being given to every eligible persons thereby benefitting 2.78 lakh pensioners in the State.
Chief Minister announced Rs. three lakh for mettling the passage from Gasota Mahadev temple complex to the pond; Rs. 2.5 lakh for construction of rain shelter at the crematorium site, Rs. 2 lakh for cementing the ground within the temple complex and Rs. 2 lakh for adding one more floor to Mahila Mandal Bhawan. He assured local people of considering their genuine demands sympathetically besides considering the cases of landless families. He also gave away cash prizes to Mahila Mandals present on the occasion.
Mahant Swami Vivekanand Giri ji Maharaj, lauded the people friendly image of Prof. Dhumal and for staying in constant touch with the masses. He thanked CM for his liberal financial assistance for development of different religious shrines in the area.
Prithi Singh Thakur, a veteran BJP Leader and former Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, congratulated the Chief Minister for setting new record in the development history of the State. He said that the State had made rapid strides on the path of development under the leadership of Prof. Dhumal.
Surinder Kumar, Pradhan, local gram panchayat, also welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for inaugurating the traditional cattle fair and dedicating developmental schemes worth several lakhs of rupees. Capt. Jagir Singh Pathania, Pradhan, Gram Sudhar Sabha, welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for his visit to the area.
Urmil Thakur, MLA, M.C. Parmar, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, HP State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation, Rasil Singh Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, Vijay Pal Soharu, Member, HP state Media Advisory Committee, Rajender Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Madhusudan, Superintendent of Police, Ashok Sridhar, Chief Engineer, IPH, B.T.Negi, Chief Engineer, PWD, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.
