Govt releases list of 95 achievements carried out in last one year

Opposition Congress question source of funds for the rally

Dharamshala/Shimla: Himachal Pradesh government celebrating its first year in office by hosting grand show ‘Jan Aabhar Rally’ at Dharamshala by spending crores from state exchequer. Prime Minister Narender Modi is coming for the event and to make the event impressive, the Chief Minister of the state Jai Ram Thakur is himself supervising the arrangement.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur directed all the state departments to ensure effective coordination so that the Jan Aabhar Rally turns out to be historic event. The Govt also making proper security arrangements for smooth plying of vehicles on the Rally day.

To impress the Prime Minister and the general public at large, most of the department of the state government displaying exhibitions to propagate the Jai Ram Thakur Govt’s initiatives and developmental activities carried in the past one year.

LCD/LED screens are also being installed at the rally ground for best view of the rally. The state government leaving no stone unturned to put an impressive show, but question remains does any of the state government entitled to organise such event to just tell people of the state that the government has done something in its tenure.

Himachal Public Relation Department has released a detail of 95 achievements taken by the Jai Ram Thakur government in last one year. Good Governance, Welfare, Qualitative Education, Health Services, development of infrastructure and village connectivity and development of natural resources. Here is a list…

Good governance

• Swarnim Himachal Drishtipatra of BJP made as policy document of the state government.
• ‘Shakti Button App’ and ‘Gudiya Helpline’ 1515 launched for the protection of women.
• ‘Hoshiar Singh Helpline’ 1090 started to deal strictly with forest mining and drug mafia.
• The emergency response support system started in Himachal Pradesh. Now all emergency notifications can be given on the same number- 112.
• Online monitoring system started for the monitoring of welfare schemes, employment generation and Jan Manch.
• Mobile app facility launched for Anganwadi centers.
• 127 services are being provided to the people through 2366 Common Service Centers.
• All the family register and cash book made online in the Gram Panchayats.
• Point of Sale (POS) machines installed in all fair price shops.
• New women police stations opened in Solan, Chamba and Hamirpur districts.
• A comprehensive campaign initiated against drug addiction. Anti-drug treatment committee formed at the police station level.

Ensuring Welfare and development of each citizen

• Under the Social Security Pension, the age limit for getting pension without any income limit reduced from 80 to 70 years.
• 76,025 new cases of social security pension sanctioned. Pension increased to Rs 750 per month. The pension of more than 70 percent specially abled persons and people aged above 70 years increased to Rs. 1300.
• Maternity leave of women employees appointed on contract basis increased from 135 days to 180 days.
• The amount of assistance being given to the girl born in the family of BPL family increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12000 under Beti Hai Anmol Yojana.
• Under Mother Teresa Ashaya Matri Sambal Yojana, the financial assistance increased to Rs 5000 per child per year.
• Additional honorarium being given from the state budget to Anganwadi workers, Mini Anganwadi workers and assistants increased by Rs. 300 per month.
• 64,586 women benefitted in this year under Pradhan Mantri Mantri Vandana Yojna.
• The minimum wage of the workers increased to Rs 225.
• 76 Jan Manch organized in 65 assembly constituencies of the state in which 25227 demand and complaints were received and 20062 cases have been settled.
• 32,134 new LPG connections given to the beneficiaries under Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana so far.
• While 85,421 LPG connections have been given under the Ujjawala scheme of the Union government.
• Financial assistance of Rs. 14.59 crore given to 4963 poor and needy persons from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Rs. 55 lakh released for 10 children for cochlear implant from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
• Major developmental projects amounting to crores of rupees sanctioned by the Center for the state. These include Rs. 1892 crore tourism development project, Rs. 1688 crore horticulture development project, Rs. 423 crore integrated mushroom development project, Rs. 800 crore forest management and livelihood improvement project, Rs. 798 crore drinking water conservation scheme and Rs. 4751 crore water conservation and rain water harvesting project. Rs. 3267 crores drinking water facility scheme.

Qualitative Education

• Nursery and KG classes started in selected 3391 schools of the state. 23800 children enrolled under this pre-primary program.
• Akhand Shikhsa Jyoti-Mere School Se Nikle Motu scheme started to encourage the children by associating the old students.
• Atal Adarsh Vidya Kendra Yojana started for providing qualitative education. A provision of Rs. 25 crore has been made for 10 Adarsh residential schools in the first phase. The first Model School opened in Jhanduta assembly constituency.
• Free Wi-Fi facilities made available in 114 degree colleges.
• Under students’ digital plan, 4577 meritorious students of tenth and plus two classes have been given laptops and internet dongles with one G.B. data.
• In the State of States survey, Himachal Pradesh received the Best Performing and Implementation Award in the category of big states for its outstanding performance in the education sector.
• ‘Cluster University’ is being set up at and at a cost of Rs. 55 crores. Out of this, Rs. 11 crore each will be spent on Sunder Nagar, Dang and Basa, institutions.
• Under the Chief Minister’s start-up plan, the process of formation of ‘Incubation Center’ at a cost of Rs 4.22 crores started at State Polytechnic Institute, Sundernagar.
• Employment fairs organised at I.T.I Solan, Nalagarh, Shahpur, Shamshi, Sunder Nagar and Mandi. 4572 students selected for employment.

Accessible Health Services

• Under the free drug policy, 330 drugs are being provided free-of cost in all Zonal and Regional hospitals while 216 drugs are being provided in Civil Hospitals and Community Health Centres, 106 in Primary Health Centres and 43 in Health-Sub-Centres.
• 681 bigha land transferred for construction of AIIMS at Kothipura in Bilaspur district.
• In this period, 359 posts of medical officers, 643 posts of staff nurses, pharmacists and other assisting staff filled up. The process for recruitment of 200 more medical officers and 2,000 nurses in the final stage.
• And Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Ayushman India started in the state. The scheme will provide insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs to about 22 lakh people of the state. Golden Card issued to 52,207 persons under the scheme.
• Himcare scheme started for those families not covered under Ayushman India or other medical reimbursement scheme. Provision of free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakhs made on hospitalization under the scheme. The goal fixed to connecting 6.50 lakh people with the scheme.
• Mukhya Mantri Nirog Yojana launched for getting done various health tests.
• 108 bike ambulance service started in the state.
• Decision taken to start telemedicine service in 50 sub-health centers. The facility provided in 5 sub-health centers of Chamba, Sirmaur and Mandi districts.
• Yoga facility started in 471 Ayurvedic health centers of the state.
• 82 posts of Ayurvedic medical officers have been filled up on batch-wise basis. 250 posts for Pharmacists, Staff Nurses and other employees also filled up.

Farmer’s welfare

• Prakritik Kheti, Khushhal Kisan scheme started with a budget provision of Rs. 25 crores for promotion of natural farming in the state.
• For solar energy fencing under the farm protection scheme, the subsidy increased to 85 percent. So far,1070 farmers availed the benefit of the scheme.
• 10.31 lakh soil health cards distributed to the farmers.
• 91,359 farmers included in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
• Horticulture-Forestry Development and Extension Center established at Thunag in Mandi district.
• The restructured weather-based crop insurance scheme launched in 110 development blocks of the state for apple, mango, peach, plum and citrus fruits. 1,61,524 farmers brought under the ambit of the scheme.
• M-Kisan Mobile Portal scheme started to provide technical information to the fruit growers, 6.90 lakh farmers registered under the scheme.
• 2 new veterinary clinics opened. 8 Animal Veterinary hospitals upgraded as Animal Hospitals and one to sub-divisional Animal Hospital.
• Cabinet sub-committee set up to resolve the problem of unclaimed animals.
• The law passed in the Vidhan Sabha to constitute the Gau Seva Aayog.
• A cow sanctuary will be established at the Kotla Barog in Sirmaur district at a cost of Rs 1.52 crore. Rs. 3.55 crores sanctioned for opening of Gau Sadan in Indora (Dumtal) of Kangra district.
• A provision made for free insurance cover of Rs. 2 lakh to 12,680 fishermen of the state under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

Better Road and Irrigation Facilities

• During last one year, 30 villages connected with the roads. 148 kms. mettaled roads, 231 kms. unmettaled motorable roads and 13 bridges were also constructed.
• Out of the 69 national highways approved for the state, consultants appointed for preparing the DPR of 58 roads.
• Rs. 385.56 crore sanctioned by the Centre for construction of 120 roads and 4 bridges from under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Apart from this, Rs. 843 crores has also been accorded in principle for construction of 219 roads and 9 bridges.
• Himachal received a special incentive amount of Rs. 39.39 crore for good performance in PMJSY. Under PMGSY, 1265 km. roads and 17 bridges were constructed during past one year.
• Under the Central road fund scheme, Rs, 564.29 crore have been sanctioned for the state for upgradation of 10 roads and 16 bridges.
• Under NABARD, Rs. 372.03 crore sanctioned this year for 95 works. 86 kms. unmettalled motorable roads, 236 km mettaled roads and 17 bridges were constructed. 7 villages were connected with the road facility.
• Government of India approved Rs. 770 crores to the state under the State Road Transformation Project. The World Bank has also approved this project.
• 2214 hectare additional cultureable command area was brought under irrigation.
• A proposal of Rs 102.15 crore sent to the Central Government under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and Rs. 51 crore received as the first instalment. Under this scheme, 3 micro irrigation schemes of Rs. 41.28 crore have been sanctioned, for which Rs. 6.88 crores received from the Center.
• The Central Government has given approval in principle for Rs.157.66 crores project for flood control operations on Sir Khud in Sarkaghat of Mandi district.
• During this period, 617 habitations were brought under water supply schemes.

The planned development of every village and city

• Rs. 55.19 crore sanctioned for 3345 beneficiaries of 41 cities in the state under Pradhan Mantri Housing Scheme. First instalment of Rs. 21.83 crore released for the construction of houses. In this period, 460 beneficiaries completed the house construction work, approval letters released to 2799 beneficiaries for house construction.
• A provision of Rs. 42 crores made for providing housing assistance to general category families of BPL under Mukhya Mantri Aawas Yojana.
• Number of days for providing employment under MNREGA increased from 100 to 120.
• Rs. 361.63 crore sanctioned this year under the 14th Finance Commission, Rs. 180.81 crore released to the 3226 panchayats of the state.
• Rs. 188 crores spent on different activities under the State Finance Commission.
• Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, a 100-day cleanliness campaign was organised in the state. 1224 sanitary rallies were organized, 9,000 natural water sources and more than 14 thousand water storage tanks were cleaned.
• 1120 Patwaris were given 18 months training and 706 of them were given appointment on contract basis in different districts while the process is progress to appoint rest Patwaris.

Development of natural resources

• Nai Rahein, Nai Manzilein scheme started to develop unexplored places of the state. Tourism projects are being implemented in Janjehli, Bid- Billing, Chanshal and Larji reservoir in the first phase by spending Rs. 50 crores.
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Government of Punjab on September 28, 2018 for Shri Naina Devi Ji ropeway pProject from Sri Anandpur Sahib.
• Shimla-Chandigarh-Shimla heli-taxi service started. Land identified at Nagchala in Mandi district for construction of International Airport.
• Under the eco-village scheme, 10 villages of the state will be developed as Eco-Villages. Rs.50 lakhs approved for each selected village.
• Work on six projects worth Rs. 62 crores for Dharamshala smart city is under progress. DPR’s of 11 projects worth Rs. 341.72 crore ready.
• 25 electric buses made operational in Manali-Rohtang and adjoining areas. 50 electric taxis also started in different towns of the state.
• 59 projects with an investment of Rs. 2358.34 crores approved by Single Window Authority in which about 5000 people will get employment.
• Rs. 7.88 crores sanctioned for 36 projects under Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojana. 793 cases sent to the banks.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme, 583 entrepreneurs were given assistance of Rs. 16.95 crore for starting their ventures.
• 41,385 new electrical connections provided to consumers.
• 17 MW Solar projects connected to the grid.

Self-employment and self-reliance

• Memorandum of Understanding signed for the five year Skill Development Project worth Rs. 650 crore with the Asian Development Bank.
• The State has received first instalment of Rs. 21.56 crore under Pradhan Mantri Skill Development Scheme. 50,000 youth will be given employment oriented skill development.
• Under the skill development allowance scheme, more than Rs. 38.54 crore distributed to 26 thousand beneficiaries. Under the Unemployment Allowance Scheme, 22,407 beneficiaries have been given more than Rs. 17.20 crore.
• Financial assistance of 17.69 crore was provided to 42,531 workers registered with the Building and Construction Labour Welfare Board.
• Additional dearness allowance instalments released to employees and pensioners from 1 July, 2017 and 1 January 2018. The interim relief of 8 percent released from January 1, 2016 and percent from July, 2017. This has provided an additional benefit of Rs. 960 crores to the employees and pensioners.
• The honorarium of part-time water carriers increased from Rs. 1900 to Rs. 2200 per month.

Other

• Construction work of Cultural Heritage Center at a cost of Rs. 25 crores started in Janjehli in Mandi district.
• The financial benefits of the ex-servicemen’s restored. On the basis of the employment to the dependents of the martyrs in the army on compassionate grounds, this benefit is now payable to the dependents of the Himachali martyrs in the Armed Forces as well. The old age financial assistance of the ex-servicemen and their widows enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 3000 per monthly.
• A Battalion of National Disaster Response Force approved for the state.
• The honorarium of the Asha Workers increased from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1250.
• The Dev Bhoomi Darshan scheme started for the citizens aged above 70 years for the purpose of providing them opportunity to visit various religious places.

Opposition Congress criticising extravagance to mark the event. Like anyother opposition Congress leaders too blaming BJP led state government for corruption. Commenting on rally, Congress leaders alleged that public money was being misused for the rally while the state was reeling under a debt of Rs 50,000 crore. Congress leader Sudhir Sharma has sought BJP to explain the source of its funding for the rally.

Besides opposition, such extravagance also raising question of need of such event when a parliamentary election are just few months away. Tomorrow Prime Minister Narender Modi is coming to the state and BJP might be hoping for some important announcement to give party cadre some feeder for wooing state electorates.