Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday launched the state-level programme ‘Pragatisheel Himachal: Sthapna ke 75 Varsh’ or ‘Progressive Himachal: 75 Years of Formation’ at the historic Chaugan in Chamba.
Thakur, addressing the people, said that when the nation was celebrating 75 years of Independence, Himachal Pradesh was also celebrating 75 years of its formation. “The state, during all these 75 years, has made unparalleled development and progress in all spheres and credit of this goes to every hardworking and honest Himachali,” he said.
Thakur asserted that despite all odds, people of the state worked with “utmost dedication and commitment to make Himachal Pradesh one of the most progressive states of the country”.
Tracing the state’s developmental history, the Chief Minister said that the state has made unprecedented development in all spheres. “In 1948, state’s per capita income was only Rs 240 which has now increased to Rs 2,01,873, while the state’s GDP has gone up from Rs 27 crore in 1948 to Rs 1,75,173 crore,” he said.
Thakur said that the state’s literacy rate has gone up to 83 per cent, which was 4.8 per cent in 1948; state’s agricultural production has also increased from 954 metric tons (MT) to 1,500 MT, and foodgrains production from 1.99 lakh MT in 1948 to 15.14 lakh MT.
Stating that roads are truly lifelines of development being a hilly state, Thakur said that there were only 228 km roads in the State at the time of its formation and today the state has over 39,354 km roads. “The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) started by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has played a major role in ensuring rural connectivity,” he said.
He said that almost 20,000 km roads were constructed under PMGSY in the state. Chamba district had only 48 km roads at the time of its formation, whereas today the district has over 2,660 km length of roads, he added.
“The present State Government has also completed over four and a half years in office and all these years have ensured a balanced and all-round development of the state. It was unfortunate that the opposition leaders were raking up baseless issues and trying to mislead the people with an eye on elections," the Chief Minister added.
He further said that the present government is spending over Rs 1,300 crore annually on providing social security pension to the needy as compared to only Rs 400 crore spent by the previous state government.
Thakur also congratulated the people of the State in general and people of Chamba district in particular for celebrating the historic Minjar fair with great enthusiasm, tradition, and fervour for centuries.
“Minjar fair is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, made special references to Chamba Minjar, Sayar fair, and Jagra fair celebrated in the State,” he said while congratulating the people of the State on the occasion of Minjar. This shows the benevolence and bonding the Prime Minister shares with the State and its people, he added.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion of the Minjar fair, announced the International Status to Minjar Fair. He announced that proper lighting would be made for the beautification of Chamba Chaugan.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the exhibition based on the theme ‘Himachal Tub Aur Ab’ put up by various departments, boards, and corporations on the occasion.
A theme song on ‘75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh’ was also released on the occasion. A documentary based on 75 years of glorious history of Himachal Pradesh produced by the Information and Public Relations Department was also screened on the occasion.