Facing the heat of the BJP in the form of the Parivartan Yatra, crisscrossing the state since November 13, Chief Minister Harish Rawat looked elated as the turnout at his rally at the tribal-dominated Chakrata was a massive one on Tuesday.
While addressing the gathering, he stressed more on development than on attacking the BJP. He expressed satisfaction over the success achieved in the cooperative sector over the past 16 years. “State GDP is one and half times more than the national GDP. Industrial growth rate is 16 percent while service sector has achieved a creditable growth of 12 percent. The growth rate in agriculture is an encouraging 5.5 percent. State per capita income and average income are striding ahead. It is just the double of the national average,” he said, stressing that the figures are telling the story of the State’s fast-paced development .
CM also dwelt on the myriad pension schemes his government has launched, bringing a large part of the population under the net of social security.
“When the Congress -led Government came to power in the State the number of the pensioners was a mere 1.74 lakh. Now it has risen to over 7.25 lakh. Even pension amount has seen a quantum jump from `400 to `1000 per month. Several sections of the people like the widows, the elderly, physically handicapped, women deserted by husbands, the wives of the mentally retarded and dwarfs are getting pension. We are giving allowances to ensure nutritious diet for those who badly require it. Besides, the farmers, priests, artists, artisans, journalists, construction workers, Jangaria and Dandarias are also getting pension. State is also working hard to provide security to each and every person of the state. State is running Khilti kaliya and malnutrition eradication programmes as well,” CM said.
He also said that the state government is providing connectivity to the far-flung villages, bereft of roads. “The State government is running Mera Ganv Meri Sadak aside from implementing the Prime Minister Sadak Yojna. `1425 crore is being spent to construct 77 kilometer road and it will give connectivity to 227 villages. For community farming, we are rearing Mahila Mangal Dal by giving them cash assistance of `one lakh cash,” he said.
Stressing on speedy development of agriculture, he said that the farmers are being given pension, the first in a state. “We are not ignoring traditional and local farming either as we are giving bonus on local produce. To promote organic farming, fruit nurseries are being established. To promote unseasonal vegetables, state government has declared MSP for local produce and traditional crops,” Harish Rawat said.
He asked the people of the state to throw full collective support to the developmental programmes being initiated in the state.
Harping on his favourite theme of women empowerment through development, he said they are promoting women self- help groups (SHG) by giving them `5000 by way of cash assistance . “Now, the state government would give wages to the women as per MNREGA norms if she cultivates her own land. We have made recruitment against 16000 vacant posts. The remaining reserved posts will be filled by December end,” he said.
Dwelling on his Government’s success in helping the char dham yatra to revive from the effects of the catastrophe 2013, he said he had taken the reins of a depressed state in 2014. “Many skeptics asked me to postpone the yatras for a few years. I refused to be cowed down by the suggestions of the nay- sayers. I took initiatives as a result of which 15 lakh pilgrims have visited the state this year,” he said.
He also praised the role played by the home minister Preetam Singh in the tribal dominated Jaunsar region. Singh said that the region being included in the Scheduled Tribe category has pushed up development.