State Government had launched ‘Bhed Palak Samridhi Yojna’ in the State with a view to improve the economic condition of the shepherds in the State. This was stated by Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing the ‘Prashashan Janta Ke Dwar’ programme at Holi in interior of district Chamba today after dedicating newly constructed Tourist Hut completed at a cost of Rs. 126.20 lakhs, to the adventurers visiting the picturesque valley.
Chief Minister said that the scheme would also go a long way in serving the traditional avocation of sheep rearing in the tribal and other areas of the State. He said that besides soft loan, 33 percent subsidy was being given to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe and 25 percent to the general category beneficiaries under the scheme. He said that loan of Rs. one lakh was being given to purchase 40 sheep and 2 rams. He said that speedy development of tribal areas was on priority agenda of the State Government and 9 percent of Total Annual Plan was being spent under Tribal Sub Plan to ensure speedy development of tribal areas. He said that the State Government had spent Rs. 1036 crore under Tribal Sub Plan during past four years which had revolutionized developmental activities in tribal areas.
Prof. Dhumal said that a Rs. 270 crore detailed project report had been prepared for construction of Holi-Uttrala, Karsetar-Telang (Bhuvi Jot) and Bangana-Dhaneta tunnels in the State. He said that construction work on Holi Uttrala Tunnel project was on priority agenda and codal formalities to start work were nearing completion. He said that the tunnel would reduce distance between Holi in Chamba and Uttrala in Kangra district by hundreds of kilometers besides facilitating year round connectivity between the community people living on either side of the proposed tunnel.
Prof. Dhumal said that tribals has always got special deal during BJP regime. He said that besides the present Speaker Vidhan Sabha Tulsi Ram who represents Bharmour Assembly Constituency, late Thakur Sen Negi had also remained Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha. He said that the State Government had launched Thakur Sen Scholarship Scheme in his name as mark of respect.
Chief Minister also heard the grievances of the people on the occasion and redressed the grievances and solved the problems of the people who from far flung areas had come to meet the Chief Minister in ‘Prashasan Janta Ke Dwar. Chief Minister announced Rs. 11 lakh for various developmental works in the area including Rs. 4 lakh for construction of four rooms in Government Primary School, Holi.
Tulsi Ram Sharma, Speaker, HP Legislative Assembly thanked Chief Minister for getting the detailed project report of Holi-Uttrala prepared which would link the valley with Baijnath in district Kangra. He also thanked Chief Minister for his generosity towards the tribal community and for protecting their interests at different level. Inder Singh and Chaman Singh, Members Tribal Advisory Committee were present on the occasion among others.
