State Government would be considering creating a Corpus Fund for the skill development of youth of the minorities. This was stated by Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting in Misserwala village of Paonta Sahib Sub-Division. He said that to start with, the Fund and help the youth of the minorities Government would contribute Rupees two crore for it which could be increased later on. He said that besides scholarships would also be given for the skill development of minorities youth. He reiterated the resolve of the State Government to protect the interests of minorities in the State in all respects.
Chief Minister said that the State Government would be spending Rs. 34 core over the channelization of Giri-Bata River which would sea-change the entire economy of the farming community possessing land on either side of river bank by making irrigation facilities available to them. He said that the State Government had successfully implemented the Swan River Channelization Project in district Una where the farm economy had grown by leaps and bounds. He said that progressive growers had produced off season vegetables valued at about Rs. 2250 crore during preceding year and filled the void created by low yield of apple. He said that the State Government would also explore possibilities of boring more tube-wells in the area on the demand of the local population besides providing them hand-pumps close to the Mosque area. He said that the State Government would take up the matter of restoration of quota of the Muslim Pilgrims in Haj Pilgrimage with the Government of India to honour religious sentiments of the community.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government had sanctioned 100 posts of teachers each in Urdu and Punjabi for the border schools in the State with a view to facilitate students of the communities willing to educate their wards in these languages. He said that more posts of teachers could be considered on demand in schools where more than 20 students opt to study Urdu or Punjabi language. He said that there were a number of schemes under implementation for every section of the society and appealed to the people to take benefit of the same for their economic upliftment. He gave a clarion call to the awakened citizens to educate masses about such schemes and help them in availing benefits under the scheme for overall prosperity of the State. He also detailed other developmental programmes of the State Government.
Sukh Ram Chaudhary, local MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, welcomed the Chief Minister to his home segment and thanked him for the concern he had towards the welfare of minorities. He said that many schemes were under implementation for their upliftment. Chander Mohan Thakur, Chairman, HP State Cooperative Bank and General Secretary, State BJP, also spoke on the occasion.
Ramda Ali of Minority Committee, welcomed the Chief Minister. Dr. Rajiv Bindal, Virender Kashyap, MP Lok Sabha, Balbir Chauhan, Vice Chairman, State SC/ST Development and Finance Corporation, Baldev Tomar, President, District Sirmour BJP, Dayal Pyari, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Smt. Pushpa Chaudhary, Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti, other prominent people and senior officers were present on the occasion.
