Republic Day celebrated with gaiety in Himachal

The 67th Republic day was celebrated with usual gaiety and fervour throughout Himachal Pradesh.
The Governor Acharya Devvrat unfurled the national flag at the historic Ridge Maidan at the state level function here and also took salute at an impressive march past.
Colourful functions marked by impressive march past and cultural programmes were held at district and Sub-divisional headquarters across the state.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his wife and former MP Pratibha Singh, MLAs, Chairpersons of Boards and Corporation, Civil and military officers including Chief Secretary P Mitra and DGO, Sanjay Kumar and several other dignitaries were present at the state level function at the Ridge.

Presiding over the R-Day function at Nahan Vidhan Sabha Speaker B B L Butail said that Himachal had emerged as role model of development for Hilly state and emerged as a leading state on the world map.
The present State Government had fulfilled its all promises during last three years and new milestones of development had been set during this period.

Presiding over the function at Dharamsala, Health and Family Welfare minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that the State Government was strengthening the health services and three new medical colleges would be opened in the State at the earliest.
He said 110 new health institutes have been opened during last three years besides filling up 600 posts of the doctors.

The Cancer unit at IGMC Shimla was being strengthened by spending Rs 90 crore and a new building was under construction at KNH Shimla.
He said Rs 150 crore had been spent to develop Tanda Medical College into super speciality hospital and another mother child care hospital was being established at Mandi.
While, 22 new Sub Tehsils had been opened in the State during last three years besides eight new Sub Divisions.
At Solan, Food and Civil Supplies and Transport Minister G S Bali said that CCTV would be installed at 17 more bus stands and 300 new buses would be added to the bus fleet of HRTC.

He said that State Government was providing three pulses, edible oil and salt to all ration card holders of the state and 13.90 lakh quintal food items were provided to ration card holders of district on subsidized rates.
Presiding over the function at Chamba, Multipurpose Power
Projects (MPP) and Power Minister Sujan Singh Pathania said that the government was subsidizing electricity to domestic consumers to the tune of Rs 996 crore.
He said domesticand non-domestic consumers were also being provided LED bulbs at the cheaper rates and this scheme would go a long way in conservation of the energy.
Speaking at district level function at Bilaspur, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers of who sacrificed their lives for the country.

He congratulated the Bilaspur district administration for launching ascheme with a view to improve the child sex ratio which was a noble idea and would go a long way in improving the sex ratio.
Presiding over the district level function at Hamirpur, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said under the visionary leadership of chief minister Virbhadra Singh the state had made spectacular progress and said that so far 1,07,887 youth hadbeen benefitted under the Skill Development Scheme.
Efforts are on to give boost to industrial sector and the State Government had reduced the stamp duty and fee on transfer of land use by 50 per cent to attract entrepreneurs.

Excise and Taxation Minister Prakash Chaudhary was chief guest at Una while Social Welfare and Empowerment minister Dhani ram Shandil presided over the function at Kalpa in Kinnaur, Ayurveda Minister Karan Singh at Mandi and Rural development minister Anil Sharma at Kullu.
The governor Acharya Devvrat hosted 'At home' at Raj Bhawan on the occasion of Republic Day.