”The thrust should be on rural areas. Development is not possible without the development of villages” was stated by Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
While inaugurating National Saras Fair -2018 , Thakur said,” The main objective to organize this event, is to provide an opportunity to various self-help groups to sell their products directly to the buyers without any middlemen.”
On this occasion, Thakur also launched Mukhya Mantri Yuva Ajivika Yojna for the empowerment of the youth by providing them incentives to start their self-employed ventures in trade,shops, restaurants, tour operators, adventure tourism, traditional handicrafts etc.
He said,” This ambitious scheme would cover all the Himachali youth in the age group of 18 to 35 years and the eligible youth would be provided 25 percent subsidy on loan up to Rs. 30 lakh taken from banks. Apart from it, interest subsidy of 5 percent would also be provided on the loan amount for the period of three years. The subsidy would be 30 per cent in case of women entrepreneurs.” He also shared that the State Government has earmarked a budget of Rs. 75 crore for the current financial year under the scheme.
He also released the logo of Jan Manch and ‘Namaste Dharamshala’ booklet for the benefit of the tourists besides the guidelines of Mukhya Mantri Yuva Ajivika Yojna.
While Jai Ram Thakur stressed that the present state government is ensuring welfare and development of all areas of the state. He pointed out that, ”Due to financial mismanagement by the previous government, the state is reeling under the financial burden of over Rs. 46,500 crores . But the state had succeeded in getting sanctioned developmental projects worth Rs. 9000 crore for the state during a short period of about ten months.”
He again targeted the previous state government blaming them for opening the educational and health institutions without any budgetary provisions.
He added that the construction work of the Central University would be completed soon and the foundation stone would be laid at Dharamshala and Dehra on the same day.
He also promised a cement plant in Chamba district.
Thakur shared his future plans to attract investors to the state. For this, an investor’s meet would be held during the month of February next year most likely at Dharamshala.
He also launched Mukhya Mantri Lok Bhawan Yojana for the state under which community houses would be constructed in all the Vidhan Sabha segments by spending an amount of Rs. 30 lakh. This will facilitate the people in organizing various social events. He promptly released first instalment of Rs. 20 lakh to BDOs of some development blocks on the occasion.
We all talk about villages. What really have we done for any of them. Lip service has become order of the day, govt.after govt.Action is what is required not the lip service of which every citizen is tired now and is looked down upon by the helpless people. Why do not the govt./s come out with well laid out and integrated plan for the development of the villages. We are experts only in lip service not in taking any concrete action. We hear this thing daily. When we can not even provide drinking water to people, let alone other basic needs like quality education, health services etc. I wonder whether we have that kind of national character where action only matters and nothing else.