The Himachal Government on Sunday said it has has launched several programmes for the upliftment of weaker sections and minority communities to ensure their participation in the State’s development by providing them opportunities.
The Government has constituted Gaddi, Gujjar, Gorkha and labana welfare boards for socio-economic development of these communities.
It has also increased the annual income limit from Rs20,000 to Rs35,000 so that more eligible persons could be benefited through welfare schemes, an official statement said. Social security pension has become a source of regular financial support to elders, widows and disabled persons who do not have dependable financial support. The pension to eligible persons in this category has been increased from Rs450 to Rs650.
As many as 3,87,000 eligible persons are receiving social security pension with the budget outlay of Rs35,768.47 lakh in this fiscal. Persons at the age of 80 and above and persons with 70 per cent disability are being provided Rs1,200 per month as social security pension, it said.
The Government is providing a grant Rs75,000 for construction of house to persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class category who are having land in their names. A target of construction of 3,167 houses has been fixed with a provision of Rs2,368 lakh in the scheme.
“Mukhya Mantri Aadarsh Gram Yojna” is being implemented in SC dominated villages to provide road connectivity in such villages. Two villages in each Assembly constituency are selected with an SC population of 40 per cent or more, a strength of 200 people for inclusion under the scheme. The selected village is given Rs10 lacs for construction of roads or link roads to improve connectivity in such village. Rs1,165 lakh are being spent under the scheme in the State, the statement added.