Using the hoary Bagwal festival whose deadly ritual of pelting stones was converted into showering of flower petals and fruits last year — the spirit of fighting giving way to idiom of love and peace — in Devidhura Ma Barahi temple in Champawat district, the Chief Minister Harish Rawat has embarked on a announcement overdrive on Saturday. Notably, the festival coincides with Rakhsa Bandhan. The State Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal was also present on the occasion.
In his address, CM Rawat said that there is need to preserve and promote the state’s historical culture wherein figures respect for the elderly. “The state government is leaving no stone unturned to provide the youths with jobs. We are now creating fresh 30000 jobs in government and non- government sectors. We are appointing guest teachers who would fill all the vacant posts in the educational institutions. 3800, including 1800 women constables, are being recruited and 3000 women will be recruited in PRD (Prantiya Rakshak Dal),” he said.
He appealed to the people to extensively cultivate Mandua, lemon, Malta and Pears aside from fodder plants. “Promotion of fruit orchards would enhance our income and by growing fodder plant we can increase milk production as well. Both will directly increase our income and it will boost the state’s economy in the long run,” he said.
Addressing the demands of the local people, CM also announced that the state government would expand Devidhura temple, build four new class rooms in inter college and renovate drinking water projects by 2016. “Besides, we have allocated Rs one crore to beautify Khushiram Arya Pandal and have approved road between Chetna centre to the college,” he said.
He also appealed to the villagers to strengthen their own water resources. “The state government would purchase the same from such villages if things move right,” he said. He asked the women to enroll under social security insurance schemes with the state government paying the premiums. He also asked them to take care of the newly planted trees for next three years to be bestowed with Rs 300 per tree per annum. “To develop villages from within, we are all set to distribute 50 cows among the economically helpless widows in each of the state’s 13 districts under Ganga Gai yojna. This would boost our milk production significantly,” CM added.