On Statehood Day,Dhumal speaks about development,new schemes

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Wednesday unveiled a plan to connect every village with a population of 250 and above by road within a year,turn the state into a knowledge hub,provide better health care facilities and generate 12,000 MW of power by 2015. On Himachal’s 42th Statehood Day function held at Sundernagar,Dhumal announced a slew of job schemes. Speaking about the state’s achievements in the last 41 years as being the “fastest growing” economy,Dhumal also raised the honorarium of water guards engaged in drinking water supply schemes from Rs 750 to Rs 1,350 per month.

He also said that 2,000 water guards will be employed to maintain water supply schemes in rural areas. More than 100 Junior Engineers will also be appointed in the irrigation and public health department.

Addressing the function,Dhumal traced Himachal’s journey from 1971. He claimed that the state’s development indicators like per capita income,state gross domestic product and literacy percentage were the best in the country. While the per capita income,which was Rs 651 in 1971 has gone up to Rs 18,493 in 2011,the state’s GDP has increased from Rs 223 crore to Rs 52,426 crore. Literacy percentage was 83.8,up from 23 per cent in 1971.

“The government is committed to the state’s speedy development. Rural areas have seen a visible change,12 per cent of budget was spent on agriculture,” said Dhumal.