Pangi becomes Himachal’s first ‘natural farming sub-division’, CM Sukhu gives the gift of revolving fund of Rs 5 crore
CM Sukhu taking the salute of the march past
Pangi, April 15: For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, the state level Himachal Day celebrations were organized in the Killar area of the remote but picturesque Pangi valley of Chamba district. A large number of people attended the 78th Himachal Day celebrations at the helipad ground.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu wished the people of the state on Himachal Day. He remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first Chief Minister of the state Dr. Y.S. Parmar for giving statehood to Himachal.
The Chief Minister hoisted the national flag and took the salute of the parade. A total of 6 contingents participated in the parade, which was led by IPS officer Ravinandan. In the parade, 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion Sakoh was led by ASI Satyanath Walia, Women Police was led by ASI Pooja Sood, Himachal Home Guard was led by Khushi Ram, District Chamba Traffic Police was led by ASI Ravinder Kumar, Government Senior Secondary School Killar’s NCC was led by Tanika and Home Guards Band was led by Havildar Ret Ram.
Addressing the public meeting on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government has given top priority to the improvement of Udaipur-Killar road and this matter has been seriously raised before the Central Government, as a result of which the tender process is in the final stage.
He directed the Lahaul-Spiti administration to complete all the formalities soon. He announced to make Pangi the first natural farming sub-division of Himachal and provide a revolving fund of Rs 5 crore for it. He announced to give Rs 60 minimum support price (MSP) for naturally grown barley and to set up a milk processing plant with a capacity of 10 thousand liters in Pangi.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is working on projects worth Rs 62 crore to strengthen power supply in Pangi valley. Rs 5 crore is being spent on 11 KV line up to Tandi and Shour. He announced Rs 45.50 crore for laying 33 KV line from Thirot to Killar. He also assured to give sub-tehsil status to Sach and provide adequate funds for construction of Mahila Mandal buildings.
He announced to issue 20 new bus permits, give 40 percent subsidy on purchase of buses and provide exemption in road tax for 4 months to strengthen transport facilities in the area.
He also announced to develop a Rajiv Gandhi Day-boarding School in Pangi and Civil Hospital in Killar as an ideal health institution.
To promote rural tourism, he announced to give 50 percent discount on home-stay registration fee and Rs 1.5 crore for improvement works of connecting roads in the valley.
The Chief Minister said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a special attachment to Pangi Valley and she was the first Prime Minister of the country to visit here in 1984. After her visit, the development of the area gained momentum. This shows the commitment of Congress governments towards the tribal area.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has made special changes in policies and laws to bring the state’s economy back on track, which has improved the economic situation.
The government has fulfilled 6 out of its 10 election promises and has taken several steps to strengthen the rural economy. The state government is providing minimum support price to farmers on natural farming of crops like milk, wheat, maize and turmeric and so far 1.58 lakh farmers have been certified for natural farming.
CM Sukhu said that this year the Agricultural Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme will be started so that by bringing a ‘One Time Settlement’ policy through banks, relief can be given to those farmers whose lands are on the verge of auction. With this scheme, they will be able to repay their agricultural loans up to Rs 3 lakh. Under this policy, the government will bear 50 percent of the interest on the principal amount. He said that the state government has made a historic increase in the support price on cow and buffalo milk. Now cow milk will be given at Rs 51 per liter and buffalo milk at Rs 61 per liter.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to make Himachal a green energy state by March 31, 2026. Under this, electric vehicles and renewable energy are being promoted in the transport sector. 5 percent interest subsidy will be given to the people of the area for setting up solar power plants ranging from 250 kilowatts to one megawatt in tribal areas.
He informed that the state government is linking forest conservation with employment under the Rajiv Gandhi Forest Conservation Scheme. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for this. Women and youth are being linked under the scheme. Now they will save forests and also earn income. Each group will be given an amount of Rs 6 lakh 40 thousand in 5 years.
The Chief Minister said that the state has been honored by the India Today Group in two categories for better work in the tourism sector. Bir-Billing has received the ‘Editor’s Choice Best Adventure Destination’ award and Dharamshala has received the ‘Best Mountain Destination’ award. The state has also won three National Panchayat Awards. Sikandar Gram Panchayat of Bamsan Block of Hamirpur district has received the second prize on the theme ‘Water Sufficient Panchayat’.
In the direction of revenue reform, the state government has organized revenue Lok Adalats for the first time, under which more than 2.75 lakh Intkaal, 16,258 Taksim, 27,404 Nishandehi and 7,260 Correction cases have been settled so far. In the health sector, the government is purchasing state-of-the-art medical equipment worth Rs 1,570 crore. The process of installing PET-scan and MRI machines is going on in IGMC Shimla and Tanda Medical College.
Major reforms have also been made in the education sector. Now the responsibility of education from pre-nursery to class XII has been handed over to the Directorate of School Education and the responsibility of college level has been handed over to the Directorate of Higher Education.
The Chief Minister said that the state police has launched a strict campaign against the drug mafia. The Anti Narcotics Task Force has been strengthened and a special task force has also been formed, which will be headed by a senior police officer.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
