Uttarakhand Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said that the State Government is doing everything to ensure all-round development of the State despite its challenging geographical conditions.
“Challenges to development are there. Some of them are formidable, given the tough geographical terrain of the State. But we are determined to develop the State,” he said while addressing the closing function of Khirsu Mahotsav at Khirsu in Pauri Garhwal district on Friday. He said the State Government has taken initiatives to fulfill the shortage of doctors in the hospitals. He hoped that the problem would be nearly solved by the end of the year 2015-16.
Negi congratulated those who had organised the festival and also the people of Khirsu and adjoining villages for the cultural and sports programmes that came up in course of the festival. Cultural programme was presented by the students of G.I.C Kaduli. Druyadhan Badh— a play based on Mahabharata— was presented by Garhwal University Youth Club Srinagar. Negi said that age cannot be a bar for learning new things. “The platform that the festival provides is excellent to hone local talents,” he said.
The State health minister asked parents to be on their guard to stop their children from falling prey to drug addiction and smoking. “loss of energy for the youth is not just a loss for the family but for the State and the nation,” he said. Khirsu block Congress president Govind Singh, district Congress president Govind Singh Rawat, Kot block pramukh Sunil lingwal, block pramukh Khirsu Sushama Negi, convener of the Mahotsav lakhpat Singh Bhandari also spoke on the occasion.
Negi felicitated the winners of the different cultural and sports activities. The Government Inter college Khirsu won the over-all championship, while Sarshwati Sishu Mandir Khirsu got the second position. Mahila Mangal Dal Kakakoli was the winner of women tug of war, while Mahila Mangal Dal became the runner. In men tug of war finall gram sabha Kutli won in the final. In the competition of folk dance, Sarshwati Sishu Mandir Khirsu stood first and Sarshwat Vidya Mandir Khirsu stood second in junior category.