Shimla, Aug 18: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said 50 percent of link roads in the state have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and the credit goes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who extended his affection towards the hill state. Presently, over 39,000 km of road is providing connectivity across the state included far-flung rural areas.
The Chief Minister said this while addressing a public meeting on the occasion of the celebration of 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh, ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh’ at Indora in Kangra district. This was the first program in the series organized in Kangra, the state’s biggest district. He said the hilly state has witnessed tremendous progress despite various challenges and topographic difficulties.
“Such programs will not only give us an opportunity to peep into the history of 75 years of existence of the state but also an inspiration to come forward and work with dedication and honesty for further progress of Himachal Pradesh.”
Thakur said the government has always accorded top priority to the welfare of needy and downtrodden people. Taking a dig at the previous government, the Chief Minister said during the regime of the previous government, only Rs 400 crore was spent on social security pension. The present government has increased it to Rs 1,300 crore.
Taking a historic decision in its first cabinet meeting, he said, the eligibility age for the social security pension was reduced from 80 to 70 years and now it is 60 years. The Chief Minister said due to hydropower potential, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a power surplus state but the people did not get the benefit from this status.
He said the present government, considering this issue seriously, took a decision, and nearly 15 lakh domestic power consumers are now getting zero bills for electricity consumption up to 125 units in a month.
The Chief Minister said under the Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojna, financial assistance has been increased from Rs 31,000 to 51,000. Similarly, financial assistance has also been increased to Rs 21,000 under the Beti Hai Anmol Yojna. During the previous year, 30,851 girls benefited, and over Rs, 9 crore were spent on it. During the current financial year, 2,633 girls were provided assistance, he added.
