Shimla: Coming into an action mode, the new state government has asked its top bureaucrats to set targets for accomplishing the goals.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, in his first meeting after taking over the charge of the Chief Minister with administrative secretaries and Head of Departments today, said

“Go for 100 days, ‘Dil Se’, (whole-heartedly) for completing the pending works and set targets for yourself for accomplishing the goals. Repeat it again for the next 100 days to take up the new challenges for implementing the programmes of the government in letter and spirit”

The Chief Minister asked his top officers to think ‘out of the box’ to transform the state to make model state for other to follow. The Chief Minister said

“This is what was expected from us by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Though Himachal was a small state but much was expected in terms of development and welfare for which the support of all the officers was required”

The Chief Minister cleared that the Government is open to suggestions at any forum and ensured that the Government would fully co-operate and expects the same from the departments.

The main priority was to give a push to the centrally sponsored schemes, which were quite sidelined and the work went at a snail’s pace in the previous government regime, said the Chief Minister adding that we require to implement and accomplish them effectively. It was a matter of pride that even the Prime Minister in a recent meeting wished to see Himachal Pradesh as a trend setter in the field of development in the country, said Jai Ram Thakur.

As there was no dearth of funds and projects from the Central Government during the last few years, but the saddest part was that these were not implemented in letter and spirit, he said. “I want all of you to work beyond routine and come out with new initiatives and ideas”, said the Chief Minister. He said that though there was a loan burden of more than 45000 crore, yet the motive was to go ahead in a planned manner to achieve the goals.

The Chief Minister made it clear that there would be zero-tolerance towards corruption even at the highest level and there will be a complete check on it. He cautioned

“One should ensure that if anyone was found indulged in corrupt practices, appropriate action would be taken against them. We expect best possible contribution from all of you so as to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the state.”

All Departments to share to do list

The Chief Minister stressed that every department will make its presentation of the work done and the targets fixed which would be reviewed by the Chief Minister’s office as well by the concerned Ministries.

He said it was rather sad to discuss the way the inauguration and foundation stone laying spree was conducted a year back by the previous regime, just to take credit. “Our Government believes in doing work, getting job done and not to publicize the same amongst the people for the sake of propagating”, he said.

Chief Secretary Vineet Chaudhary assured the Chief Minister that the administration will come up to his expectations and will work to benefit the people. We will work at the ground zero level to accomplish the tasks sincerely, he said.

Irrigation and Public Health minister Mahender Singh Thakur, MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Manisha Nanda were also present on the occasion amongst all administrative secretaries and head of departments of the state government.