Shimla, June 18
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected Panchayat Pradhans and Up-Pradhans of Kangra district and extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). He also administered a collective pledge to the gathering to make Himachal Pradesh free from Chitta and to strengthen the mass movement against drug abuse.
Addressing the oath-taking ceremony at Dari ground in Dharamshala the Chief Minister said that Panchayats were the strongest pillar of Indian democracy and played a pivotal role in realizing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj. The Panchayat representatives serve as the most important link between the Government and the people and bears the responsibility of ensuring transparency, accountability and public participation in implementing schemes related to roads, drinking water, sanitation, education, healthcare and livelihoods while promoting village development, social harmony and public welfare.
The Chief Minister said that the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments marked a historic step towards ensuring women’s participation in PRIs and urban local bodies, an initiative inspired by the vision of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi. He said the State Government conducted the Panchayat elections in a timely and well-planned manner to ensure that student’s education was not disrupted. He also informed that the honorarium of Panchayat representatives had been enhanced.
He said the state government was working with a commitment to bring about systemic reforms and make Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state over the next five years. Through fiscal discipline, better resource management and control over unnecessary expenditure, the government had generated additional revenue worth thousands of crores during the last three and a half years. Simultaneously, it had been vigorously pursuing the State’s interests before the Union Government on issues such as green bonus, revenue deficit grant, Shanan Project, Bhakra Beas Management Board and other matters concerning Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said the State Government had achieved a significant breakthrough in safeguarding Himachal’s interests in the 422 MW Kishau Dam Project. The Government of India has, in principle, agreed that the beneficiary States of Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi would bear approximately Rs. 2,000 crore cost of Himachal Pradesh’s power component in the project, thereby substantially reducing the financial burden on the State. He added that upon completion of this project, Himachal Pradesh would receive around 100 crore units of electricity annually, valued at nearly Rs. 600 crore. He also referred to the Supreme Court’s decision in favour of Himachal regarding royalty from the Karcham-Wangtoo hydroelectric project and the successful resolution of hotel Wild Flower Hall case, both of which would significantly strengthen the State’s revenues.
Highlighting the state government’s initiatives to strengthen the rural economy, Sh. Sukhu said the support price for cow milk had been increased from Rs. 32 to Rs. 61 per litre and for buffalo milk from Rs. 47 to Rs. 71 per litre. Alongside promoting natural farming, the Government was providing Minimum Support Prices of Rs. 150 per kilogram for raw turmeric, Rs. 80 per kilogram for wheat and Rs. 50 per kilogram for maize. The Pangi valley in Chamba district had been declared the State’s first natural farming sub-division, where naturally grown barley was being procured at Rs. 80 per kilogram and ginger was being purchased for the first time at a support price of Rs. 30 per kilogram.
He said the Government was creating maximum employment opportunities for youth and announced that recruitment for 800 constable posts in the Police department would commence shortly.
