Chief Minister Harish Rawat met local people and addressed a public meeting at Tehsil Munsyari in his constituency Dharchula. It was his first visit after becoming member of Vidhan Sabha by winning Dharchula Assembly bypoll in July this year.
Addressing the gathering, he thanked the people for electing him as their representative. Reiterating his commitment to development of border areas, he said progress needed to be a continuous process.
The effort to meet the high aspirations of the people was ongoing. It required high quality leadership, which was why there was need to give responsibility to the young generation. He urged the youth of Dharchula to step forward in this cause and asked the local people to pay greater attention to the area to improve livelihood opportunities.
Informing that a three year programme had been initiated by the Government for promotion of agriculture, as also a scheme to protect crops from wild animals, he said barriers would be developed to keep out wild boars and monkeys. The DM was asked to take action on this, as well as keeping the urban areas clean through waste management.
Acquainting the people with the welfare schemes launched by the state government, he said pensions would be given to poor farmers above 60 years of age.
Those farmers unable to work in their fields, would be given Rs300 as bonus for three years to grow fodder trees on the land. Farming was being re-incentivised. Similarly, steps were being taken to boost dairy farming, with dairy farmers being given incentive of Rs3 per litre.
The marketing and distribution of organic ‘mandua’ was being promoted. Border schools would get more teachers, with the student-teacher ratio being reduced. Educated students were being employed by the local departments.
He also asked the DM to prepare a proposal on Organic Products Mandi on the land of the Industries Department in Munsyari. Other initiatives included setting up a woolen textile park, improving roads for tourism promotion, approving transfer of forest land for pending road projects so that work could begin by 2015, opening a Himalayan research department in the Munsyari Degree College were also mentioned.
He also made development related announcements which included constructing a ropeway at Khaliyatop, granting Rs1 crore, each, to Dharchula and Munsyari blocks to complete pending disaster relief works, and declared Nachni would be made a sub-Tehsil.
The PWD Dak Bungalow in Munsyari would be provided more rooms, while the KMVN Tourism Centre would have its capacity doubled. The local landless would be provide pattas, for which the DM was asked to take necessary action. Mahila Mangal Dals would get funds directly, he said.
Asha workers would get Rs5000 annual honorarium and provided quota in GNM and ANM training.
Women over 60 years would also be fed at Anganwadi Centres along with the children. Effort was on to lower the child mortality rate to the lowest in the country.
Expecting mothers would get 2 kilos of Mandua and Salt, each. Eleven demands brought before him by the Gangolihaat MlA were granted approval by him.
Earlier, he was welcomed warmly on his arrival for the first time after being elected the local MlA. Public representatives, eminent citizens, and others garlanded him and presented a letter of felicitation.
Former MlA Harish Dhami acquainted the CM with the problems faced by the region. Others who addressed the gathering were Zila Panchayat President Prakash Joshi, Gangolihaat MlA Narayan Ram Arya, Munsyari Pramukh Narendra Rawat, President, Pithoragarh Nagar Palika, Jagat Singh Khati, District Congress President Mahendra lunthi, former president Kundan Singh, etc.
Also present were Kumaon Commissioner AS Nyal, DIS GS Martolia, DM HC Semwal, PRO Khajan Dhami, Jagat Mahar, OSD Shankar Singh, PS Gokarn Singh Jangpangi, former MlA Gopal Datt Ojha, Congress Block President Manohar Tolia, Dhirendra Chauhan, Ramesh Kapdi, Pushp Deopa, and others.
After the public meeting, the CM heard the grievances of the local people at the Munsyari Block headquarters and gave suitable instructions for their resolution. Delegations of various associations and groups also met the CM.