By:Mohan Lal Verma
The State Government would launch LED Promotion Program for conservation of energy. Under the program three LED bulbs would be made available to the domestic consumers, at less than half the market price. The consumers would have to pay Rupees 10 per LED initially and thereafter Rupees 10 per bulb per month would be recovered from the consumers through their electricity bills.
The Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh revealed this information after hoisting the tricolor on the occasion of State level celebrations of 68th Himachal Day at historic Chaugan in Chamba today.
The Chief Minister said that ever since the present government took over the reins of the state on 25th December 2012, it has concentrated on equitable and inclusive development of the State. ‘Sarv Kalyan- Samagra Vikas’ has been the motto of our Government, said the Chief Minister.
He said that the state government was committed towards the welfare of the employees. Daily wages of the daily wager had been enhanced to Rupees 180 from 1st April, this year. Services of daily wagers, completing seven years of service on 31st March 2015 and contract employees completing five years of services would be regularized.
The Chief Minister said that all the part-time workers, on completion of eight years of service as on 31st March 2015, would be made daily wagers. The State Government has also decided to cover all those Daily Wage Workers, Part-Time Workers, Anganwari Workers/ Helpers and Mid-Day Meal Workers, who are not covered under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, under the Mukhya Mantri State Health Care Scheme to provide them basic and critical health care.
The honorarium of part-time water carriers has been increased from Rupees 1,300 to Rupees 1,700 per month during the last two years. He said that the State Government had enhanced the daily wages of the laborers from Rupees 150 to Rupees 180.
15th April is a day of rejoicing, and introspection as well. We celebrate the birthday of our state and at the same time ponder over its developmental journey. Himachal Pradesh has made unparalleled and unprecedented progress during all these years.
Developmental indicators, like per capita income, state gross domestic product, literacy percentage and other basic facilities like, education, health, road etc. in the state are a testimony to the progress made by the state during this period. Per capita income, which was Rupees 240 in 1948, has gone up to Rupees 1, 04,943.
The Chief Minister said that cent percent population in the state had been brought under the fold of Public Distribution System. Under the Special State Subsidy Scheme, three pulses, two edible oils and iodized salt were being provided at subsidized rates through a network of 4,796 fair price shops. An amount of Rupees 457 crore has been spent under the scheme during the last two years. He said that an amount of Rupees 210 crore has been earmarked for this during the current financial year. To facilitate the consumers a ‘Toll free’ consumer helpline has been setup for attending and redressing the grievances of consumers of the State, he said, adding that digital Ration cards would be distributed to all the consumers.
To strengthen rural economy, Dr. Y.S. Parmar Kisan Swarozgar Yojana has been implemented, under which 85 per cent subsidy is being provided to the farmers to set-up poly-houses. An outlay of Rupees 30 crore has been made for this scheme to cover 2 lakh square meter additional area under Poly-Houses during the current financial year, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister said that as an incentive to the farmers, 50 per cent subsidy would be provided for construction of lift irrigation schemes and installation of bore-wells by individual or group of farmers for irrigation purposes.
The Chief Minister said that to provide houses to the poor, as many as 10,000 houses would be constructed under Rajiv Awas Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana and other housing schemes during the current financial year with an outlay of Rupees 75 crore.
The State Government is determined to provide access of education to all children in the State. As many as 719 new schools have been opened or upgraded and 14 new degree colleges have been opened in rural areas of the state during the last two years added the Chief Minister