Shimla: The State Government would be spending Rs. 964 crore under Scheduled Caste Component Plan during current financial year. This was disclosed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering at village Mandrech of Gram Panchayat Mandhol Ghat in remote area of tehsil Sunni in District Shimla after he dedicated newly constructed motorable bridge on Sainj Khad constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.60 crore and dedicated the same to the people of the area today.

Chief Minister said that it was during BJP regime that the budgetary provision under schedule caste component plan was increased from 11 percent to 25 percent in proportion to the population of schedule caste in the State. He said that the objective behind the enhancement had been to carry concentrated development in the areas dominated by schedule cast community. He said that it would go a long way in bringing schedule caste dominated areas in terms of development at par with the other developed areas in the State.

He said that the speedy socio economic upliftment of the schedule caste was on the priority agenda of the State Government and all out efforts would be made to ensure development of such areas in a time bound manner.

Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the State Government was according high priorities to the connectivity of villages by constructing roads and bridges across the State specially in the areas which has remained neglected for want of adequate developmental infrastructure during previous regime. He said that with the dedication of new bridge the remote panchayat would be getting various developmental benefits under different schemes of State Government.

He said that since the time BJP came to power in the State pace of development had been accelerated and uniform development was taking place in all over the State.

Chief Minister said that out of the total six km. long road connecting the Panchayat Mandhol Ghat three km. had been metalled while tender for one Km. more had already been floated while for remaining two Km. would also be tendered on priority. He assured the people that their demand for upgradation of local high school to senior secondary school would also be considered sympathetically. He advised the local people to take benefit of various schemes launched by State Government for the development of rural areas and people.

Shri Virender Kashyap, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, said that weaker section of the society had been the focal point of all the policies and programmes of State Government. He said that special attention was being paid towards the welfare and development of schedule caste and other minority communities.

Smt. Veena Thakur, Chairperson, State Social Welfare Board thanked Chief Minister for his one day visit to the remote area and for dedicating developmental milestone works over two dozen crores of rupees to the people of the area.

Smt. Kamla Sharma, Pradhan of local panchayat also welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for dedicating bridge to the people of the area.

Shri ID Dhiman, Education Minister, Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, Shri Hira Lal, MLA's, Shri Ganesh Dutt, Vice Chairman HIMUDA, Shri Gyan Chandel, APSC Chairman, Smt. Roopa Sharma, State BJP Vice President, Shri Bhagat Ram, former MLA, Shri Ishwar Lal, Chairman Mashobra Panchayat Samiti, Shri Dev Raj Sharma, Vice Chairman, Basantpur Panchayat Samiti, Shri Pitamber Lal Gupta, Chairman Karsog BJP Mandal and prominent persons were present on the occasion.