Adequate and foolproof arrangements must be made to ensure making the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bilaspur an historic one, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday.

Presiding over the meeting through video conference with the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police from Bilaspur,  he said that other than AIIMS, the Prime Minister would also inaugurate Hydro Engineering College at Bandla, Bilaspur and would also lay the foundation stones of Medical Devices Park at Nalagarh and the Four-lane project from Pinjore to Nalagarh.

The Prime Minister is slated to visit Bilaspur on October 5 to dedicate AIIMS at Bilaspur to the people of the State and thereafter will address a public meeting at Luhnu ground, Bilaspur.

Thakur directed the authorities to make adequate arrangements to ensure that the general public does not face any inconvenience. He directed the State PWD authorities to ensure proper maintenance of roads leading to the Bilaspur town besides making elaborate arrangements for adequate parking for the buses and other vehicles in and around Bilaspur town. He said that smooth and uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic must be ensured so that no inconvenience to the general public.

He also directed the officers of Jal Shakti Vibhag to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the town. He also directed the concerned authorities to launch a special cleanliness campaign in the town, both before and after the public meeting.  The Chief Minister on his arrival at Bilaspur, visited Luhnu Maidan, Bilaspur, the venue of the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi slated for 5th of next month.

Chief Secretary R.D. Dhiman said that adequate arrangements would be made to ensure that this programme becomes a grand success.  Principal Secretary GAD Bharat Khera gave detailed information regarding the proposed visit of the Prime Minister.  Deputy Commissioner Bilaspur Pankaj Rai welcomed the Chief Minister and gave a detailed presentation regarding the preparedness of the visit of the Prime Minister.

MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, MLA Jhundutta Jeet Ram Katwal, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal, District BJP President Swatantra Sankhiyan, Superintendent of Police Bilaspur Diwakar Sharma attended the meeting at Bilaspur.              

CM LISTS SCHEMES FOR WOMEN AT JANJHELI 

The Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 14 developmental projects worth about Rs. 29 crore at Janjehli in Seraj assembly constituency of district Mandi.

Addressing a "Mahila Sammelan" at Dheemkataru, Thakur said that the State Government from the very first day of coming to the power had always worked for the welfare of every section of the society including the poor, weaker sections and women. He said that social security pension was being given to all the eligible people above 60 years of age in the state. He said that earlier about 4 lakh people had been getting pension, whereas today more than 7.50 lakh people were being given this pension.

Referring to the welfare and empowerment of women, the Chief Minister said that it was the BJP government in 2010 which had made a provision of 50 per cent reservation for the women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. Now, the participation of women in these institutions has exceeded 50 percent, added the Chief Minister. He said that the State Government had made a provision of a revolving fund of Rs. 40,000 for the economic empowerment of self-help groups run by the women. 35 percent subsidy was being given to the women entrepreneurs under the Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojna, added the Chief Minister. He said that more than 3.35 lakh women of the state had been given free gas connections under Mukhya Mantri  Grihini Suvidha Yojna.