Himachal Statehood Day

The 46th Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh was celebrated with great gaiety today. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh presided over the Statehood Day function organized at Jaisinghpur in Kangra district.

He hoisted the National flag and took salute from the impressive march past by contingents of Police, Home Guards, NCC Cadets and school children.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said 25 January was a historic day for the people of Himachal Pradesh as this hilly State got Statehood status on this day. He remembered first Chief Minister of the State Dr. Y.S. Parmar and former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi who played a significant role in getting Statehood status for the State in 1971.

He said that the real credit of the unprecedented development goes to the hardworking people of the State and also to the leadership provided by successive Congress governments at the Centre and the State.

Virbhadra Singh announced Sub-Divisional offices at Nagrota-Bagwan and Shahpur, HPSEB division, DSP office and Fire Brigade unit at Jaisinghpur and up-gradation of Panchrukhi police post to fully fledged Police Station in Kangra district. He also announced government Degree College at Rakkar in Dehra sub-division and to take Sugh-Bhatoli and S.D Rajpur private colleges under the control of State government.

He announced to upgrade Government Middle School Jhunga-Devi to Government High School and GHS Harsi to Senior Secondary School, construction of science block at Jaisinghpur College and starting of science classes at GSSS Sari. He also announced up-gradation of GHS Tangroti to GSSS at Dharamsala. He also announced construction of additional accommodation in PWD rest house Jaisinghpur and new Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Jagrupnagar besides a Veterinary Hospital at Harsi.

The Chief Minister claimed of carrying out all-round development of all areas of the. He also thanked people of the state for electing him six times as the Chief Minister of the state.

He said that government had adopted its election manifesto as a policy document and had gone beyond to fulfill the promises made in the manifesto. Around 1365.65 kilometers of new motor-able roads and 134 bridges were constructed during last three years and 255 villages had been provided road connectivity.

The Chief Minister said emphasis was being laid on providing houses to poor and needy. As many as 13652 houses had been constructed under Indira Awas Yojana by spending Rs. 8538.65 lakh and 2141 under Rajiv Awas Yojana at a cost of Rs. 2280.47 lakh.

The Chief Minister also distributed the prizes to the participants of the cultural troupes.

Cabinet Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Sudhir Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Jagjivan Pal and Neeraj Bharti, MLAs, Chairman, Vice-Chairman Chief Secretary P. Mitra, DGP Sanjay Kumar and senior civil and police officers were present on the occasion.