Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal dedicated and layed foundation stone of Polytechnic Institute, Baru in Hamirpur. Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of boys hostel to be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 3.81 crore and girls hostel worth Rs. 1.85 crore and inaugurated Rs. 3.70 crore indoor stadium.

Chief Minister said that during last four years a sum of Rs. 9851.54 crore had been spent on strengthing educational infrastructure in the State whereas Rs. 3419.33 crore was being spent in this current financial year in this sector so that quality facilities could be provided to the students.

He said that education was on priority agenda of the State Government and 19 percent of the total budget was being spent on education. The State was being developed as educational hub so that higher technical and professional education could be made available to the youth of the State at their very door-steps.

He said that at present there were nine Polytechnic, 39 Engineering, 13 B.Pharma Colleges and 191 Industrial Training Institutes in the State. During current financial year five Polytechnic Institutes were being opened in districts of Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmour, Kinnaur and Lahul & Spiti and sum of Rs. 27 crore would be spent on upgrading the existing nine Polytechnic Institute in the State.

Chief Minister said that at present there were 67 Degree Colleges, five Sanskrit Degree Colleges, 1272 GSSS and 852 High Schools in the State. He said that during the current financial post graduate classes would also be started in Government Degree Colleges Ghumarwin, Karsog, Dehri, Nadaun and Palampur.

Earlier Anurag Thakur said that Hamirpur had emerged as education hub and to make education employment oriented, technical education was being given added preference. He thanked the Chief Minister for inaugurating and laying foundation stone of projects worth crore of Rupees in Baru at Hamirpur.

Virender Kanwar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Urmil Thakur, MLA also spoke on the occasion. Baldev Sharma, MLA, Desh Raj Sharma, District BJP President, Pyare Lal, State President Kissan Morcha, Raseel Singh Mankotia Chairman Kangra Central Co-operative Bank and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.