Mini Sectt to come up in Dharamsala

DHARAMSALA, Jan 25: The Himachal Government will build a Mini Secretariat in Dharamsala and strengthen primary education in the state. Th...

DHARAMSALA, Jan 25: The Himachal Government will build a Mini Secretariat in Dharamsala and strengthen primary education in the state. This was announced by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal at the 29th Statehood Day here.

The chief minister unfurled the National Flag at the state-level function held in Dharamsala. He took the salute of an impressive march-past by the contingents of police, Home Guards and NCC. School children presented cultural programmes. Dhumal announced an ambition plan of Rs 136 crore to strengthen primary education by constructing 13,612 new rooms for primary schools in a time-bound period of three years.

Saying that primary education had not been given full attention, he said that 150 new primary schools would be opened in the current year and 200 more schools will be opened in the next two years.

The CM said that the foundation stone for the mini secretariat will be laid soon. He announced that the Police Ground here would be made pucca and parking zones built for vehicles in Dharamsala.

The chief minister said that the government had decided to provide land free of cost, besides exemption of tax for interested entrepreneurs for setting up fruit processing units in Himachal, for ensuring remunerative prices for fruit growers.

Dhumal said this year8217;s annual plan had been approved for Rs. 1,440 crore, which was 43 per cent higher than last year. He said efforts should be made to raise resources by speedy exploitation of hydel, tourism and industrial potential, which would generate employment for thousands of youth.

The chief minister said that Indian Airlines had agreed to start air service between Delhi-Shimla-Bhunter and that the Central Government had also been approached to subsidise air fare from Rs 4700 to Rs 2700, which it had agreed in principle.

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The chief minister said adventure tourism and religious tourism was a priority too. Dhumal launched the Himachal Pradesh Swaran Jayanti Laghu Bachat Purshkar Yojna which could continue till April this year. The scheme envisages a free lucky coupon on investing Rs 5,000 in any national saving scheme. The chief minister honoured Bishamber Dass, Jagat Ram, Krishan Chand and Raj Kumar for bravery for saving the lives of four persons who were caught in the floods of river Beas.

J P Nadda, Krishan Kapoor, Vidya Sagar, all Cabinet ministers, Minister of State for Technical Education, Ravinder Ravi, Atma Ram, G S Bali MLAs were also present among others.

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited the Martyr Memorial and paid floral tributes to the soldiers.

Shimla: Himachal Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal hosted an At Home8217; in Dharamsala on the occasion of 29th Statehood Day today.

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Health Minister J P Nadda, Transport Minister Kishan Kapoor, Agriculture Minister Vidya Sagar, Minister of State for Revenue Rajan Sushant, Minister of State for Technical Education Ravinder Ravi, Captain Atma Ram, G S Bali, MLAs, vice-chairman, Small Saving Advisory Board, Randhir Sharma, Chief Secretary A K Goswamy, DGP T R Mahajan, freedom fighters and ex-servicemen were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, a group of freedom fighters, who were the invited to the function, resentful of not being given due repect. They said the administration did not even bother to offer them chairs.