Himachal CM stresses on preserving traditions and culture for future generations
Author(s): City Air NewsShimla, December 27, 2016: Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, who was presiding over the closing ceremony of ‘Bishu’ festival celebrated after hundred years at Sainj in Theog area of Shimla district today said...
Shimla, December 27, 2016: Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, who was presiding over the closing ceremony of ‘Bishu’ festival celebrated after hundred years at Sainj in Theog area of Shimla district today said that Thoda was an ancient game of Himachal Pradesh and needs to be promoted in a big way. Announcing, Rs. 15 thousand each to the participating Thoda teams, the Chief Minister said that competitions should be organized to promote the game adding that the Sports department would be directed to organize the competition of Thoda teams at district level and to include them in annual sports calendar.
Thoda, an impressive folk dance form of Himachal Pradesh, relies on one's archery prowess, dating back to the days of the Mahabharata, when bows and arrows were used in battles, said the Chief Minister.
He said that fairs and festivals play an important role in promoting our culture and customs and it was the duty of all of us to preserve them at all cost and make the future generation aware of it. “Our identity resides in our traditions, the language we speak, the costumes we wear and we should be proud of being called ‘Paharis’, said the Chief Minister. After obtaining education and placement in big towns and cities, we should never be ashamed of speaking our language, to showcase our traditions and culture and we should promote them to let the world know the rich customs, he said.
The Chief Minister said that apart from preserving the culture and traditions, we should also conserve our temples. The deities we worship were an integral part of our lives and our daily chores were associated with them, he said.
Speaking about the education, he said that recently Himachal Pradesh was adjudged and awarded for being the best and the first amongst big states in the field of education and inclusive development. This shows the strides the State had made in the field of education by ensuring basic and higher quality education to every child of the state.
Today there were more than 15500 schools in the State and during the last four years of the present government regime as many as 1329 schools were either opened or upgraded and 42 colleges were opened taking the total strength of the colleges in the state to 116, he said.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said crop diversification and protective farming were the thrust areas of the State Government, as agriculture provides direct employment to about 60 per cent of total workforce of the State. However, after adopting the latest techniques and tools in the field of agriculture and horticulture and shifting to off season vegetables and floriculture on a large scale, we should not completely shun our traditional crop growing pattern.
He said that in the wake of sky rocketing prices today the State government was providing subsidized ration to the people of the State under 'Rajiv Ann Yojana' by providing them 3 kilogram of wheat at Rs. 2 per kilogram and 2 kilogram of rice at Rs. 3 per kilogram per month.
He also listed the other developments in sectors like health, roads, agriculture etc.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt.Vidya Stokes said the State Government had launched World Bank funded “Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project” with an outlay of Rs. 1,115 crore for strengthening horticulture sector. She said that to protect fruit crops, especially apple from hailstorms, the Government had enhanced the subsidy on anti-hail nets to 80 percent. Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme, initially introduced for apple and mango in limited areas, had now been expanded to cover additional crops of peach, plum and citrus fruits.
The Minister also credited the development of the State to the Chief Minister.
Earlier, President of Bishu Mela Committee, Shri Raj Kumar Chauhan and Pradhan GP, Sainj, Shri Rajinder Sharma welcomed and honoured the Chief Minster and the other dignitaries present on the occasion.
Vice President HPCC, Shri KS Khachi, Chairman, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, Shri Subhash Manglet, Vice- Chairman, HPSIDC, Shri Atul Sharma, President, DCC Shimla Shri Rural, Shri Prakash Thakur, BCC President (Theog), Shri Brahmanand and senior officers of the district were present on the occasion amongst others.