On statehood day, Himachal govt remembers works achieved by all of the previous CMs, and Indira Gandhi

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a rise of almost 1,200 per cent in its street community through the 50 years of its existence as a state, the federal government on Monday stated. The whole size of metalled roads within the hill state has elevated from 2,218 kilometres in 1971 to twenty-eight,588 kilometres now, it stated on the event of golden jubilee of Himachal’s statehood.
“Remember those times, when we had narrow foot tracks and there was no such thing as a road. When someone seriously sick, village residents would carry him/her on a charpoy and walk for many kilometres to reach a health centre,” stated BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda whereas talking throughout a perform to mark the golden jubilee day on the Ridge Maidan in Shimla.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated that street connectivity was the topmost precedence of Himachal’s first CM Dr YS Parmar, additionally referred to as the architect of Himachal. “During a meeting of the Planning Commission, when Dr Parmar was asked what should be the priority for Himachal’s development, he replied in three words – roads, roads and roads. People back then carried a heavy burden on their backs wherever they had to go because of lack of roads, and he believed that removing this burden would bring a quick development in every sector,” stated Thakur.
He stated that although connectivity has vastly improved within the state, it nonetheless stays one of many greatest challenges. Around 50 out of three,615 panchayats are but to be related by roads, and the state wants a significant airport the place huge airplanes can land, he stated. A significant airport is already proposed to be in-built Mandi, and Nadda stated that he, too, would make efforts in the direction of getting an airport constructed within the state.
Past CMs remembered
Talking about development in different sectors within the final 50 years, Thakur stated that per capita earnings of the state has reached Rs 1.95 lakh each year, there are actually greater than 4,100 well being establishments within the state in comparison with 587 in 1971, and the literacy charge has jumped from 32 p.c to 86 p.c throughout this time. Electricity and consuming water has been made accessible throughout the state, he added, and recalled the contributions of former chief ministers YS Parmar, Thakur Ram Lal, Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Virbhadra Singh within the state’s journey. He described Shanta Kumar as ‘paani wala mukhya mantri’ and Dhumal as ‘sadko wala mukhya mantri”.
Nadda stated that Parmar, after years of serving as a chief minister, lived like a standard man. “He carried a backpack and took a bus home from Shimla to his village when his tenure as a CM ended,” he recalled.
He and others paid tributes to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, who declared Himachal the 18th state of India amid snowfall on the similar venue 50 years in the past, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who typically lived within the state and gave it an industrial bundle, whereas additionally envisioning the tunnel at Rohtang now named after him.
Thakur stated that the state authorities might be celebrating the golden jubilee 12 months by organising 51 programmes all year long, and stated that residents who had made contributions in sports activities, tradition, arts, social service and so forth can be honoured.
‘Tourism will become state’s greatest employer’
The CM stated that an uncontrolled rush of vacationers has been witnessed in Lahaul after the opening of the Atal tunnel. “We’re promoting newer destinations and during the next 50 years, tourism is going to become the biggest employer here. We’re also aggressively bidding for the allotment of a bulk drug park under the central scheme, which may bring an investment of Rs 70 thousand crore and employ 15 to 20,000 people,” he stated.
Union Minister of state and company affairs Anurag Thakur, additionally current on the perform, stated that the Assembly should focus on methods to chart a roadmap for the state through the subsequent 25 years. “How to become carbon neutral? How to promote tourism and the use of clean and green energy? How to raise the per capita income? These issues need to be discussed now,” he stated.
Nadda stated that Himachal is now one of many developed states. “When we celebrate 75 years of statehood, we may well become the number one state,” he stated, including that the simplicity and honesty of Himachalis are their greatest energy.
Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, who was the chief visitor, stated that the wealthy tradition, excessive traditions and values of life are nonetheless alive within the hill state. “People must continue to work towards building a clean, strong and self-sufficient Himachal,” he stated.