Shimla: State Government had succeeded in getting approval of Rs. 1155 crore World Bank Project for preservation of Environment in the State. This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while addressing a mammoth public meeting at Tauni Devi, in Hamirpur district today, after making the newly sanctioned Tehsil Bamson at Tauni Devi functional, 6th in the district and 84th in the State. He also dedicated newly constructed Science Block in Government Senior Secondary School, Tauni Devi, completed at a cost of Rs. 87 lakh to the students of the school and laid foundation stone of residential complex for employees of Block Development Office, estimated to cost Rs. 38 lakh, today. Earlier he also dedicated newly constructed community hall at Shiv Temple in gram panchayat Panjot, to the devotees.

Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had been the role model in environment protection in the country and appealed to the people to save environment and plant more trees to increase the green cover in the State. He said that water, forests, land, were essential ingredients for sustenance of all living beings and society needed to be educated about the same. He said that World Bank had always been lauding such initiatives of the State Government directed towards protection of environment.

Prof. Dhumal said that the State had ranked at number one for third year consecutively in implementation of 20-Point Programme in the country. He said that per capita income in the state had increased from Rs. 43,000 in year 2007-08 to Rs. 73,000, registering an increase of Rs. 30,000 in past four and a half years. He said that social security pension was vision of BJP and was started with Rs. 50 per month and had now been increased from Rs. 200 in year 2007-08 to Rs. 450 while the previous government had not added even a single rupee. He said that 1,15,600 new pension cases had been sanctioned during current term.

Chief Minister said that despite the reduction in ration quota by the UPA Government the State Government had endeavoured to provide consumers relief by subsidizing the essential commodities for which the State Government was spending Rs. 140 crore for the current financial year. He reminded people of the food grain schemes during NDA regime when plenty of food stuff was available on need basis to the people. He said that Annapurna Yojna was vision of former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said that free ration was distributed amongst the poor people above 65 years of age having no source of income. He said that cheap electricity was being ensured to domestic consumers by subsidizing the same and the state was spending Rs. 190 crore during current financial year over the same. He called UPA Government as full of scandals when record and highest scandals had taken place.

Prof. Dhumal said that Atal Swasthya Seva Yojna had proved to be a boon to the people in saving their lives by providing them efficient free ambulance services. He said that with free institutional delivery, medical check-up, related tests and cash incentive of Rs. 700 were being provided to mothers. He said that Himachal Pradesh was the first state to launch free school uniform scheme under ‘Atal School Uniform Scheme’ where each of the students studying from first to matric standard were being provided with two pairs of school uniform with stitching charges of Rs. 100 per pair.

Chief Minister said that Hamirpur as a district had came into being on September 1, 1972 and had completed four decades when record development had taken place in the district. He said that that tehsil Bamson had also been opened on this historic day to facilitate people with various revenue and administrative services. He said that there would be 19 patwar circles under its control and would serve about 36,000 population in the area. He said that efficient revenue services would henceforth be available to people at their door steps. He said that e-stamping facilities would also be available.

Chief Minister said that the State Government was providing a scholarship of Rs. 800 to two boys and two girls topping in a competitive examinations being organized at block level. He said that 4,000 meritorious students had been provided free net books to acquaint them with latest learning aids. He said that ‘Beti Hai Anmol’ had been a successful scheme where the State Government had enhanced the grant from Rs. 5100 to Rs. 10,000 to two girl child of BPL families on her birth which multiplies substantially by the time she grows adult. He said that the State Government was serious about dealing with people involved in female foeticide and would be dealing with them sternly. He said that additionally the State Government had also decided to provide a special scholarship of Rs. 15,000 per annum for three years to the 2000 top scoring girls pursuing their academics beyond schooling in professional and other colleges.

Prof. Dhumal remembered his school days when he had studied in DAV School, Tauni Devi for a couple of years. He expressed happiness to meet his old school mates. He said that memories of childhood days had been revived with the visit to the school. He shared fond memories of school days with the audience. He appealed to the people to solidly stand behind BJP by extending all support to its policies and programmes.

Chief Minister was also presented bank drafts as contribution towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He also distributed track suits amongst the outstanding sports students of the school.

Earlier Chief Minister also addressed public at Panjot where he was welcomed by local Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Shri Sanjeev Kumar.

Shri Ishwar Dass Dhiman, Education Minister, said that educational institutions were the nurseries of future citizens where young minds were moulded and given perfect shape. He said that there was tremendous increase in the budgetary provisions for education which was 19 percent of the total annual budget of the State. He said that record over 20,000 vacancies of teachers had been filled up in Education while 5,000 more were in the pipeline. He said that Government school students were now finding place in the merit list of Matric and Plus two examinations, which signify the quality education in state owned educational institutions. He said that ‘Atal School Uniform Yojna’ aimed at bringing about uniformity in educational institutions where 9,28,365 students were getting two pairs of free uniform with stitching charges of Rs. 100 each pair.

Shri Des Raj Sharma, President, District Hamirpur BJP, said that September 1, 2012, would be remembered as a red letter day in the development history of Bamson assembly segment when people of the area were provided separate tehsil. He charged preceding government for neglecting Hamirpur for development and the same gained momentum only when BJP came to power on December 30, 2007. He said that road density in the district was highest in the State and national level vocational educational centres had been opened and it had emerged a hub of education. He detailed other major developmental milestones established. Shri Vijay Behl, Vice President, District BJP and Shri Virender Thakur, General Secretary, Sujanpur BJP Mandal, thanked Chief Minister for record development entire State had witnessed. He said that entire State witnessed uniform and balanced development during past four and half years.

Shri Prithi Singh Thakur, Veteran BJP Leader, welcomed the Chief Minister and thanked him for opening tehsil for Bamson population and lauded spectacular achievements State had witnessed under his visionary leadership.

Shri M.C. Parmar, CMD, Ex-Servicemen Welfare Board, Shri Joginder Verma, Chairman, Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board, Shri Pyare Lal Sharma, Chairman, APMC and State President, BJP Kisan Morcha, Smt. Maya Rana, Vice President, State BJP, Shri R.S. Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, Shri Ajit Chauhan,Chairman, HIMCOFED, Smt. Sarla Sharma, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Smt. Veena Sharma, Member, State BJP Executive Committee, Shri Vijay Pal Soharu, Member, State Media Advisory Committee, Shri Virender Thakur, President, Sujanpur BJP Mandal, Shri Rajender Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Madhusudan Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Shri M.S.Kanwar, Chief Engineer IPH, other senior officers and prominent people of the area were present on the occasion.