Himachal CM announces slew measures

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced grants of Rs 40 lakh for development of Shaheed Bhuvnesh Dogra Stadium at Dehra, and Rs 4.30 crore to Government College in Haripur in Kangra.
Addressing a gathering at Dehra in Kangra district on the occasion of Himachal Day, Singh announced a slew of measures.
The Chief Minister said his government had decided to upgrade Government Girls High School at Dehra and Govt High School at Beh Bhaunta to Senior Secondary School, and Govt Middle School at Shivnath to High School.
For the Jaswan-Pragpur Assembly segment, he announced decision to upgrade Govt Girls High School in Pragpur and Govt Girls High School in Garli to Senior Secondary School.

For Jawalamukhi constituency, he said an SDM office would be opened at Jawalamukhi. He announced opening of sub-tehsil at Haripur (Guler), Gangath (Indora) and Panchrukhi.
He said Civil Hospital in Jaisinghpur would be upgraded to a 50-bedded facility, and the second campus of Indira Gandhi Medical College-Shimla would be constructed near Ghanahatti in the district at a cost of Rs 150 crore. Singh said 142 medical officers had been appointed during his tenure and 60 ambulances were added to National Ambulance Service.

"Himachal Pradesh today has not only emerged as a model of development among hill areas in the country, but has also shown the way to big states by becoming a pioneer in various fields," the Chief Minister said.

He said successive Congress governments at the Centre and in the state had given positive direction to the developmental endeavours of Himachal.
He said per capita income of the state, which was merely Rs 651 in 1971 has gone up to Rs 82,611 in 2013-14, and Gross Domestic Product at current prices has shot up from Rs 223 crore in 1971 to Rs 72,076 crore.
He said food grain production has increased from 9.36 lakh metric tonne to more than 15.34 lakh metric tonne, and fruit production from 1.49 lakh metric tonne to 5.41 lakh metric tonne.
He said there were only 4,963 educational institutions in 1971 whereas today 15,292 educational institutions providing quality education in the state.

Terming his government's present tenure of one year as "fruitful and productive", he said they had strived hard for the welfare of the common man and ensuring balanced development of all areas.