HP a role model for mountainous states, says Speaker

Tribune Reporters

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Mandi, April 15

Himachal Pradesh has become a role model in development for other mountainous states in the country, said Vidhan Sabha Speaker Brij Behari Lal Butail, while presiding over the district-level Himachal Day function here today.

He hoisted the national flag and took a salute during the march-past presented by the contingents of the police, Home Guards, NCC cadets and school students.

He said after attaining statehood, Himachal witnessed an unprecedented development in all fields. He said the present state government made people a partner in decision-making and achieved new goals in the development and welfare of the public.

The Speaker said the state government had done a remarkable job on various fronts in the past two years. To provide transparent, accountable and time-bound services to the public, 30 more services of the departments of housing, transport, home, and health were included in the Public Service Guarantee Act, he said.

Under the social welfare programme, the government had increased the social security pension from Rs 500 to Rs 550 per month and those above 80 years of age and not getting any kind of pension were being given Rs 1,000 per month, he said.

Butail said the state government was giving Rs 1,000 to unemployed youth as skill development allowance and Rs 1,500 to physically challenged people and in the past two years, 64,389 youth were benefited from the scheme.

He said Mandi was one of the leading districts of the state and the present government was making all-out efforts for the overall development of the district. The government had opened and upgraded schools in far-flung areas of the district and in the field of higher education, a cluster university would be established at Vallabh Government College, Mandi.

Students of DAV Centenary Public School, Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Girls Senior Secondary School, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya presented cultural programmes.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur, SC, ST and Women’s Development Corporation vice-chairman Tek Chand Dogra, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam, Superintendent of Police Mohit Chawla and Additional District Magistrate Vivek Chandel were also present.

Govt to release Rs 109 cr for panchayats: Minister

Bilaspur: Presiding over the district-level function at Bilaspur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anil Sharma said the 5th State Finance Commission had been constituted to give timely recommendations for the devolution of funds to Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.

He said the government would release Rs 109 crore to panchayats in 2015-16 from the state budget and further Rs 195 crore would be released for panchayats, as per the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and as many as 400 posts of panchayat sahayak would be filled during the current financial year.

Tribal areas’ development top priority: Lahaul & Spiti DC

Keylong (Lahaul & Spiti): Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and Spiti Hans Raj Chauhan presided over the district-level function at Keylong.

He said equitable and balanced development of tribal areas and welfare of tribal people was the top priority of the state government.

He said an outlay of Rs 432 crore had been made for the Tribal Sub-Plan 2015-16.

He said a total budget allocation of Rs 985 crore had been made including the Non-Plan one for tribal areas for current financial year.