Himachal Pradesh celebrated the 78th Independence Day and functions were organized at districts and sub- division levels.
The state level function was held at Dehra in Kangra district where Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unfurled the national flag and took the salute from marching contingents of Police, Home Guards NCC and NSS cadets.
Paying tributes to the martyrs and our freedom fighters, he said, “Himachal Pradesh is home to the country’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient, Major Somnath Sharma, a pride for the state, several other martyrs made supreme sacrifice of their lives in defending the boarders of our country and during the freedom struggle,” he added.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion , the CM said , “The state government faced significant challenges on political, economic and natural disaster fronts in a short span of 20 months, many conspiracies were hatched to destabilize the democratically elected government through money power, but our government faced the challenge boldly and have emerged much stronger .”
The CM announced to pay pending arrears of pensioners and family pensioners above the age of 75 years immediately and pay arrears of other employees in a phased manner.
He also announced opening of SE offices of HPSBEL, IPH and Block Medical Officer at Dehra, resolve ownership claims of Pong Dam evacuated people by amending Forest Rights Act and install 10 solar power projects of 5000 KW each in ten gram panchayats.
Under the Chief Minister Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the CM announced a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 for children up to the age of 18 years, from single-woman households, destitute women, widows and specially-able parents, besides bearing educational expense of such students pursuing education in IITs, IIMs, medical colleges, and doing PhDs.
The CM also presented several awards in the function. A cultural function was also organized on the occasion.
The CM also spoke about various initiatives taken by the present government to strengthen the economy and deal with ongoing financial crunch in the state.
Several MLAs, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and many top officials of the state government among others were present on the occasion.
