Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday listed several steps which the new Government has taken for the welfare of the people in the last one month, adding that it was unfortunate that leaders of the Congress were making baseless allegations.

Addressing a public meeting on his third day of a winter sojourn to district Kangra, Thakur  said the very first decision was taken in the interest of the elderly people of the State by reducing the age of social security pension from 80 to 70. “There were very few beneficiaries who were above 80 years of age and that was the reason the Government took a decision to reduce the age to 70 years for pensionary benefits to cover more persons under this scheme,” he said. 

He said the Detailed Project Report (DPRs) of the 69 National Highways were pending from over one and a half years in Congress regime. “As of now, my Government has directed to complete the process of tenders for DPR preparation by 31st March 2018,” said the Chief Minister.

He said the State Government would initiate Road Maintenance Policy to bring qualitative improvement in roads.  The GOI has sanctioned in principle 69 National Highways for the State for which the State is grateful to the Centre Government. It would strengthen the road network in the State, he said.

Thakur said Himachal Pradesh had again been selected under second phase of Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), a regional connectivity scheme. The visitors will now be able to avail air services at mere between Rs 2500 to Rs 2800 from Chandigarh to Shimla, Kangra and other places as well

“We launched ‘Shakti Button’, a mobile App for safety of women with unique features. Apart from this we launched ‘Hoshiar Help line, on toll free number 1090 to tighten noose  around the forest  mafia which was being monitored by Chief Ministers office and yet the Congress leaders could not see as what the BJP did in one month of its regime,” quipped  the Chief Minister.

He said that the Congress leaders were afraid as their business would come to an end and for the same reason were finding faults in Government actions.

Referring to works in pipeline, CM said a sum of Rs 28 cr would be spent on construction of building of centre of excellence of Mental Health Institute and the tender for the same had been invited. An Old Age Home (Geriatric Centre) of 30 beds amounting to Rs 2.56 cr was coming up in Tanda hospital. He said an inn (Sarai) amounting to Rs 3 crore was coming at Nagrota Bagwaan and the tenders had been called for.