Haryana Government has roped in star couple Dharmendra and Hema Malini to endorse the State as tourist destination.
The duo would visit the upcoming 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela to be celebrated from February 1 to 15 next year in Faridabad.
Haryana Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Monday said that the State Government has appointed Dharmendra and Hema Malini as brand ambassadors to promote tourism in Haryana.
Addressing a Press conference here, Sharma said, “The duo has already signed an agreement with the State Government to become brand ambassadors to promote tourism.
The Minister had met the veteran actor Dharmendra in October here to discuss the matter. Both Dharmendra and his actor wife Hema Malini are linked with BJP, which is in power at the Centre and in Haryana. While Hema is currently MP from Mathura, Dharmendra was earlier a lok Sabha member from Bikaner, Rajasthan.
As per the reports, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar was keen to rope yesteryears romantic couple Dharmendra and Hema Malini to promote tourism in the State.
The State Government is currently working on a plan to develop religious circuit from Kurukshetra to Adi-Badri in Yamunanagar under International Krishna Circuit and also to promote the religious circuits of the State.
Haryana has rich heritage sites at Panipat, Kurukshetra, Surajkund, Pinjore and other places, which are being developed. Also, there are plans to promote Morni, Kalesar and Sultanpur as eco-tourism sites in close coordination with the Forest Department.
The Minister added that Haryana is endowed with many religious and historical attractions which created immense possibilities of growth in the tourism sector. The State Government has planned to promote and develop ancient cultural sites, historical places and famous religious places as tourist
destinations.
Talking about the upcoming Surajkund Mela, Ram Bilas Sharma said, Telangana will be the theme State for the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2016, an annual event organised from February 1 to15 at Surajkund. And, China would participate as a partner nation for the 30th Surajkund Mela.
The craftspersons, cultural troupes and master chefs from China will present their talent and skills to enthrall the visitors at the forthcoming Mela, he added.
Notably, the State Government had earlier appointed Baba Ramdev as the brand ambassador for the promotion of yoga and ayurveda and actress Parineeti Chopra, who has always been vocal about everything, was roped in as the brand ambassador for the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign in Haryana.
Gita shlokas in school curriculum from next session
Ram Bilas Sharma on Monday said that the shlokas from Hindu’s sacred book Gita would be included in the school curriculum from next academic session. To infuse moral values in children, Gita shlokas would be included in the textbooks of the students to be given during the next academic session, he added.
Annual results would be better than first semester
When asked about the dismal results of students in the first semester examinations in class X and XII, the Minister said that these were the result of only first semester and annual result would definitely be better than this. The Government is working to provide quality education to the students. The overall pass percentage in the first semester of secondary exam was only 35.24 per cent, whereas that of the senior secondary exam was 56.75 per cent. In the results declared by Board of School Education, Haryana (BSEH) last week, the pass percentage of boys was only 32.52 against 38.51 of girls in the secondary exam (class X) while the pass percentage of girls in the senior secondary exam stood at 65.78 per cent against 49.66 per cent of boys.
Govt abolished no detention policy
With an aim to improve the education system, Haryana Government has abolished the no detention policy in schools.
Besides, the board examinations would be started in the class VIII, said the Education-cum-Tourism Minister Ram Bilas Sharma. He added that Government has already announced to abolish semester system in classes IX to XII. The State Government is working to ensure adequate presence of teachers in the schools and recruitment process in going on, said he.