The announcements pertaining to a hike in the procurement price of milk up to Rs 1 per litre,free denture scheme for senior citizens above 65 years,and a series of development projects for Rohru,the Assembly segment BJP won in the recent byelection,were the highlights of Himachal Day celebrations in the state on Thursday. In an apparent bid to make the celebrations politically more meaningful,Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal chose to hold the main function at Rohru,the erstwhile citadel of Union Minister for Steel Virbhadra Singh. The message was clear that the BJP had started making inroads in to the Congress strongholds,especially the apple belt of old Shimla areas. Dhumal announced a series of new schemes for Rohrus development and assured the people that the government would give top priority to its roads to ensure smooth movement of the apple crop during the upcoming season. Sharing the dais with Dhumal were Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta,newly-elected Rohru MLA Khushi Ram Balnatah and Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj. The CM hoisted the National Flag and took salute at the march past. Dhumal launched the Happy Smile Denture for All scheme,under which all senior citizens above 65 years of age will be provided dentures free of cost. This service will be made available in 76 health centres of the state and nearly 10,000 senior citizens will be benefitted in the next three years, he said. Dhumal referred to the recently launched Rs 300-crore Doodh Ganga Yojana under which he announced an increase in the procurement price of the milk by MILKFED a cooperative body engaged in the procurement of milk from farmers in the rural areas. The price will now be Rs 5 per litre,instead of Rs 4. Dhumal also mentioned the Rs 353-crore polyhouse scheme for farmers to boost their agriculture income. Referring to the development of Rohru,Dhumal said the pace of development would be faster than before. He announced Rs 1 crore for an indoor stadium and Rs 4.58 lakh for the outdoor stadium at Rohru,besides sanctioning Rs 3.45 lakh for Sarahan stadium and Rs 20 lakh for extension of the Kotkhai stadium. Awards go to. Dhumal conferred Himachal Gaurav Puruskar upon Kirpal Singh Thakur of Una and Prena Sarot Samman upon Dr Rakesh Kapoor,a lecturer of commerce,Government Degree College,Mandi. Others awarded with cash and citations included Hem Raj Chadda,Assistant Commandant (Retd),ITBP,and Sushil Tanwar,who leads NGO Ashadeep. The Civil Service Award was conferred upon Technical Cell,CID. Dhumal conferred the Rescue Team Award upon the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Dr Rajnish Pathania and his team of 40 were awarded a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh for saving lives of hundreds of patients,especially those from poor families,by performing bypass surgeries at the Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla.
