Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has announced a 31 percent increase in DA of state government employees on the occasion of 52nd statehood day on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering after unfurling the tricolour and taking salute from the marching contingents of police, Home Guards and NCC cadets at Thodo ground Solan the CM said, “The state government has implemented new pay scales for 2.25 lakh state government employees and given them benefits of nearly Rs 6000 crores and they would be given one more option besides earlier two to remove disparities.”
He said, “The pensioners of the state would also be given pension as per the new pay scales of the Punjab government and benefits of Rs 2000 would be given to them.”
Thakur also announced to raise the annual income limit to draw benefits under various welfare schemes to Rs 50000 and said the benefits of higher pay scales would be given to all eligible constables and those appointed after 2015 would be eligible for the higher scales at par with other employees.
Making another announcement Chief Minister said, “The domestic consumers having electricity consumptions up to 60 units would not be charged for the consumption, consumers with 125 unit consumption would be charged at Rs one per unit benefiting nearly 11 lakh consumers , besides reducing cost of electricity for farmers to 30 paisa per unit from April 2022.”
Paying rich tributes to our freedom fighters and the nation builders, especially Dr YS Pramar, Thakur said, “Himachal Pradesh has made commendable development since 1971 in every field; the per capita income which was Rs 651 in 1971 has increased to Rs 183286, GDP of the state from Rs 223 crorers to Rs 156522 crorers, literacy rate from 23 percent to 82.80 percent and food grain production from 9.40 lakh MT tonnes to 16.74 lakh MT tonnes.”
He said, “Despite COVID pandemic the state government worked with a new zeal and has taken new strides in every field with the PM’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas and honest efforts were made to strengthen economy, providing social security to the elderly, creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth, ensuring women’s security and improving economy of backward people.”
He said, “ During the last four years 3108 km roads and 240 bridges were constructed, 321 villages provided road connectivity, 412 new panchayats created, age lowered to 70 to give old age pension, two lakh new pensions given, mukhyamantri shagun yojana and mukhyamantri kanyadan yojna have proved beneficial for the girls of BPL families .”
Thakur said, “Efforts have been made to promote tourism in the state by launching schemes like nai rahen – nai manzil and tourist places like Bir Billing, Chanshal valley, Janjehli, Tattapani and Larji etc have been developed to attract more tourists and recently rope between Dharamshala and Mcleodganj has been started.”
He said , “ Under mukhyamantri grihini suvidha yojana 3.23 lakh families have been given free LPG connections, 232 jan manch organized to redress public grievances , CM helpline 1100 started , five lakh families registered under HIM Care to provide free medical aid , besides several other such schemes .”
Thakur said, “The state government also organised Global Investors Meet at Dharamshala in 2019 where 703 MOU’s were signed worth Rs 96,721 crores and foundation stones of projects worth Rs 13656 crores were in the ground breaking ceremony in the present of Home Minister Amit Shah at Shimla and projects of Rs 28000 crorer in the presence of PM Narender Modi at Mandi were laid.”
He said, “The state government has taken effective steps to check the spread of this virus and HP has topped the country in vaccination drive with the cooperation of people and health workers”.
Chief Minister honoured three war widows of Solan District i.e. Dil Kumari Thapa, Savitri Devi and Nirmala Devi on this occasion and felicitated President Medal Winner Constable Sandeep Chandel on this occasion.
A colourful cultural programme was also held on the occasion. The function was graced by several MLAs, MP Suresh Kashayap and top government officials, besides others.