Shimla, April 15 -- In a rare gesture, also a step to fulfil one of the primary 10 guarantees of the Congress, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced that all eligible women in the tribal district of Kinnaur will be provided Rs 1,500 per month under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi scheme.
Addressing the state-level function on 79th Himachal Day-the formation of the state, at Reckong Peo, in Kinnaur, the Chief Minister also credited his government for getting the border trade with China via Shipki La Pass started from this year, after it had remained closed for years.
"It is due to the efforts of the state government that border trade with China via Shipki La Pass is set to resume from June 1 this year, which he described as a significant achievement," he said.
The Chief Minister further informed that the matter of commencing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Shipki-La has also been strongly taken up with the Union government, and positive developments are emerging.
"Our efforts to promote border tourism are yielding positive results, with a significant number of tourists visiting areas along the China border, leading to an increase in the income of residents," he said.
He also announced connecting all government institutions, schools, and households in Reckong Peo with a central heating system powered by geothermal energy.
Additionally, he announced Rs 8 crore for connecting Taranda village through a traffic tunnel and the upgradation of Choltu High School to a senior secondary school with the implementation of the CBSE curriculum.
Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 79th Himachal Day on Wednesday with great enthusiasm. Functions were held throughout the state to celebrate the day; a state-level function was held at Reckong Peo of Kinnaur district.
Earlier, he also unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the march past.
He announced that the Polytechnic College of Kinnaur district, currently operating in Rohru, will soon be shifted and made functional at Urni. The Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School under construction in Reckong Peo will be completed within six months.
He said that the Nigulsari-Bhavanagar 4 km road, constructed for Rs 12 crore, has been passed, which will benefit people of both the Kinnaur and Spiti areas.
He further said that, due to the efforts of the state government, a heli-taxi service has been started between Reckong Peo and Shimla, for which Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi made personal efforts.
Sukhu said that the state government is initiating work on the historic 66 KV Pooh-Kaza transmission line project, spanning 125 km with 495 towers, at a cost of Rs 415 crore. This project will benefit approximately 17,500 residents of Kinnaur as well as Spiti Valley. He added that the survey for the 45 km Sumdo-Kaza line under this project has already been completed.
He announced the withdrawal of the 3 per cent salary deferment for Class I and Class II officers. He further stated that the pending gratuity and leave encashment of Class IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016 and December 31 2021, will be cleared by May, involving an expenditure of Rs 50 crore. He added that the temporary deferment of 30 per cent and 20 per cent in the salaries of the chief minister, ministers, MLAs, the chief secretary, the DGP, and senior officers will continue.
The chief minister also announced that all eligible non-gazetted officers of the state police will be granted one honorary higher rank on the day of their retirement. He said, "Our government is committed to ensuring respect for police personnel who serve with honesty and dedication. I hope this initiative will infuse new energy into the police force."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.