Declared backward, Chamba to see rapid development

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 21

Chamba has been declared as the backward district by Government of India. It is among the 115 districts selected by the Government of India in keeping with its vision of a New India by 2022.

The Chamba district was selected as backward district in November 2017 when the Prime Minister launched a program to development 115 most backward districts of the country under vision 2022 policy. However, it was tomorrow that the scheme was being formally inaugurated by Shanta Kumar and JP Nadda.

Shanta Kumar, former CM and BJP MP from Kangra, and Union Minister for Health JP Nadda would preside over a function in Chamba tomorrow to thank the Government of India for selecting the district of Himachal under the scheme. Shanta Kumar today said that after being declared as backward district Chamba district would witness rapid development. Chamba district is among the most backward areas of Himachal Pradesh. It has a population of 5.20 lakh as per 2011 census. Chamba and Dalhousie are only two towns in the district. Saloni, Tissa, Holi and Pangi are the remotest and most backward areas of Chamba.

The Government of India had embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the country. Senior government officials in the rank of the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have been designated as Prabhari Officers or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing the specific developmental needs of the districts. Chamba is only district from Himachal selected under the scheme.

The Government of India in coordination with the state government would provide funds to improve education, health, nutrition, basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, rural household electrification, besides potable water and individual toilet facilities. While selecting these districts, it has been ensured that ministries of the Government of India, implementing social sector scheme, would select at least one most backward district in every state for extending the reach of the programme in different part of the country. Improvement in one district is likely to spur similar growth in the neighbouring districts through demonstration effect.

It has been envisaged that using their experience, these officers would form a team with representatives of the state governments. States have been accordingly requested to nominate senior level functionary for each district. States are the main drivers of this program.

In Chamba the towns of Dalhousie and Khajjiar are popular hill stations and vacation spots for the people from the plains of northern India. Chamba is the only district in northern India to preserve a well-documented history from 500 AD. Its high mountain ranges have given it a sheltered position and helped in preserving its centuries-old relics and numerous inscriptions. Chamba has temples erected by erstwhile rajas more than a thousand years ago.

Education, health, infra to be improved

• Senior government officials have been designated as ‘Prabhari Officers’ or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing development activities.
• The Centre in coordination with the state government will provide funds to improve education, health, nutrition, basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, rural household electrification, potable water and toilet facility.