Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has announced to revive the status of backward panchayat to Palhori panchayat of Nahan Assembly segment. He has also announced to sanction an amount of Rs4.34 crore for the construction of 7 km long Simbalwara to Palhori road and construction of two bridges on this road.
While addressing a gathering at Palhori panchayat on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that due to the tough topography of Palhori panchayat, it has been given the status of backward panchayat so that people could get the benefit of all basic facilities near their home. This panchayat was dominated by Gujjar community, schedule caste and other backward class families.
He also directed the Public Work Department to complete the construction work within one year so that people of backward panchayat could be benefited. Virbhadra Singh said that State Government was according top priority to the overall development of backward and tribal areas in the State and special provisions of funds had been made in the Budget for the development of these areas.
He announced setting up of five tube-wells in five hamlets of Palhori panchayat for which Rs1 crore would be spent. He said that a bridge would also be constructed at Haripurkhol of lohar panchayat so that people could get better transportation facility.
The Chief Minister also announced to start science classes in Government Senior Secondary School, Palhori and up-gradation of primary school Palhori-2 to middle school and opening of a new primary school at Gara-guhi.
On the demand of people of Gujjar community, the Chief Minister directed the deputy commissioner, Sirmour to identify the land for graveyard in the panchayat and send a proposal in this regard to the Government. He said that an action plan would be prepared for the channelisation of Palhori river so that private land of the people could be protected.
Virbhadra Singh said that three medical colleges were being opened in Chamba, Hamirpur and Nahan and land had been identified for the construction of medical college in Nahan. Besides, Indian Institute if Management (IIM) was being opened at Dhaulakuan in Paonta. With the opening of this renowned institution, Sirmour district will get internal acclaim in education sector, he added.
Earlier, while addressing a gathering at Rampurghat in Paonta Sahib, the Chief Minister said, “Our education institutes and the number of educated, outmatch the standards of few famed institutions of the country as well other countries and we were committed to provide affordable and quality health care services to the people of the State.”
He said that the thrust of the Government was to strengthen the medical education sector in the State and in this direction the Government in its Budget for the next fiscal proposes to encourage private sector for opening medical colleges in the State by inviting expression of interest from the interested parties for string up medical colleges in the State. Three medical colleges were being opened in the State besides AIIMS at Bilaspur which will strengthen the health services in the State, he said.
He added that to strengthen the health services in the State, Asha Workers will be placed in villages after giving them proper training. The Chief Minister said that 200 posts of doctors and 500 posts of para medical staff will also filled up by the Government.