Government working with sole objective of overall development of state: CM, Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, July 8, 2018: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the state government was working with the sole objective of overall development of the state without any vengeance or political vendetta towards any one as the government believes in “Sab Ka Vikas Sabka Saath”. He was interacting with the media at Jawalamukhi in Kangra district today before attending the meeting of State BJP Morcha Office Bearers and District Presidents. The Chief Minister said that some leaders of Opposition were not able to digest the best coordination of the State government with the Centre and were issuing baseless statements. He said the state had succeeded in getting sanctioned over Rs. 4365 crores which include Rs. 1900 crore for tourism, Rs. 1680 crore for horticulture and Rs. 800 crore for irrigation and public health sector. He said that this speaks of the commitment of the State government for welfare of the State. Jai Ram Thakur said that the four years tenure of the Union government had been full of achievements and accomplishments. The Union government enhanced the Minimum Support Price of 14 major crops thereby benefitting over 12 crore farmers of the country. The State government was also committed to double the income of the farmers of the State by the year 2022. The Chief Minister said that he got the opportunity to serve the people of the State due to the benevolence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP National President Amit Shah and blessing and affection of the people of the State. He said that Himachali cap was the pride of Himachali culture but it was unfortunate that a few vested interests tried to divide the people on basis of colour of the cap. He said the Jan Manch programme launched by the State government was helping the people of the State in redressal of their grievances nearer to their homes. The opposition leaders were claiming that all the developmental projects initiated by the present State government were their dream. Then what stopped them to implement these schemes, he asked and added that the present government did not believe in dreaming but in taking action. He said that in a short period of six months, the present government had started several schemes for ensuring welfare of every section of the society. The Chief Minister said that Mukhya Mantri Gharini Suvidha Yojana had been launched for ensuring that every house hold in the State had LPG connection. The previous government misused funds collected through offerings in the major temples of the State and now when the present government had taken a historic decision to use 15 per cent of offerings for construction and maintenance of Gau Sadans, the same leaders were making much hue and cry. He said that for promoting tourism, the State owned helicopter was being used as Heli Taxi for tourists for three days in a week. The State Government was endeavouring to make Himachal Pradesh as tourist hub of the country with special thrust on promotion of ecotourism. It was for the first time that a budget provision of Rs. 50 crore has been made for tourism sector. He said that he took up the case of construction of Airport in the State with the union government for which land had been selected and the Airport would be constructed soon in Mandi district. The Chief Minister said that in its first cabinet meeting, the Government lowered the age limit of old persons for getting old age pension without income limit from 80 years to 70 years benefitting over 1.30 lakh people of the State. He said that first budget presented by the State government has 30 new schemes which was a record itself and even political adversaries appreciated the budget.