Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh yesterday said that State Government was resolute to provide quality education to the youth of the State and to achieve this target, special emphasis was being laid on opening educational institutions in the rural and far-flung areas.
The Chief Minister was speaking on the closing ceremony of State-level Kinnaur Mahotsav at Reckong Peo. He laid foundation stone of the government degree college Reckong Peo building to cost Rs 3.72 crore. He also inaugurated the newly constructed police barracks at Police lines Reckong-Peo constructed with an outlay of Rs 1.09 crore with intake capacity of 28 persons.
He announced Primary Health Centre at Chitkul and Nigulseri in place of Ayurveda dispensary, opening of Health Sub-Centre at Yangpa-II. He also announced enhancement in bed capacity of regional hospital Reckong -Peo from present 100 to 200 bed hospital, upgradation of Government High School, Brua to plus two, transfer of vacant land at Kalpa, which at present was in name of Agriculture department, to Horticulture University, Nauni for setting up demonstration orchard for providing training to horticulturalists of the latest technical know-how. He said that it would help the farmers and horticulturalists to adopt new horticultural practices, to grow new varieties of fruits, which would result in increase in their economy.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the police ground would be converted into a stadium by demolishing the old structures around the ground. He also announced a sum of rupees one crore for maintenance and improvement of the police ground stadium.
He said the work on Hindustan -Tibet road was in progress and various link roads in the district were being maintained and widened. He said that there was a vast tourism potential in the district and once the roads get improved the Kinnaur would be the favourite destination of the tourists.
He said that a lot had been achieved in education sector, our per capita income had increased and our state was now one of the fast developing hill State in the country and the credit of the same goes to the successive Congress governments. He said that though we may develop leaps and bounds but we should not forget our customs and culture, our beliefs in our deities and needs to strengthen the same. He said that the Congress believes in uniting the people and believes in overall and equal development of all areas and was unlike the opposition which believes in dividing the people.
The Chief Minister said he was not on the mercy of the opposition and its leaders, as he has become the Chief Minister six times with the blessings of the people of the State. The BJP had lost the faith of the people of the State and its leaders were always involved in dirty and cheap politics adding that though there was BJP led NDA government in the Centre, but the policies being implemented by them were not extended to all. He said the governments should not favour a particular religion or community but consider every Indian irrespective of any region and religion as inseparable part of the country.
The Chief Minister also witnessed the final bout of State level boxing tournament between Shimla and Kinnaur organised by the Kinnaur district Boxing Association. As many as 111 participants from Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Sirmour and Kinnaur participated in the tournament. He also distributed prizes to the winners of the tournament in Light fly weight category.
He also released a souvenir of the State level Kinnaur Mahotsav and distributed prizes to the winners of various tournaments.
He also listened to the public grievances at Reckong Peo.