A Group of students from Fayetteville State University, North Carolina, United States of America, on visit to Himachal Pradesh, met Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today.

Chief Minister said that the decision of the students to visit to different places in the State was a welcome step and they also would have acquainted themselves with the knowledge of customs and traditions of the State and about the progress that State had made in various fields. He said that Himachal Pradesh was poised to become carbon neutral State and had taken effective steps in the field of environment conservation like ban on plastic, polythene, cups and plates made of plastic.

Prof. Dhumal said that quality education at affordable costs was being ensured to every student where selective private participation was being encouraged to provide world class vocational educational facilities to the students within the State itself. He said that literacy rate in the State was best in the country and qualitative improvement in the same was being emphasized, so that qualified students could explore greater horizons in pursuit of their career the world over. He wished the students all success in their endeavours they would be undertaking in future. He hoped that their visit to tribal area of Kinnaur and Spiti Valley of Lahaul and Spiti would be beneficial in acquiring knowledge about the living style and topography of the area. He hoped that the young students would be carrying sweet memories of Himachal Pradesh back home and urged them to be ambassadors of the State to give boost to tourism in Himachal Pradesh.