Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna paid tributes on Sunday at the memorial in Jainti of Salam Chhetra on Martyrs’ Day in Almora.
“Devastation has been caused in the State due to the natural disaster. Now, the State will have to get over narrow self-interests and unite to redevelop the State. Discussions were on to include the Guerilla volunteers in the relief work, so that their problems could also be sorted out. Now there is need to give focus on health, roads, electricity, drinking water and education” Bahuguna said while paying tribute at the memorial in Jainti of Salam Chhetra on Martyrs’ day in Almora.
The CM further said: “We should always remember the brave freedom fighters who gave up their lives to save the country. They had fought to end the tradition of Coolie and Begaar, and ended the Maal Guzaari system of collecting taxes by British.”
Uttarakhand, and especially District Almora’s Salam and Salt, have made a special contribution to the freedom struggle of the country. To pay tribute to the sacrifice of these martyrs, special programmes are being organised in Deghat, Salt and Khumad on August 19, 25 and September 5 respectively. Special pledges are taken to learn from their sacrifice on these days.
Bahuguna also laid the foundation stones for several projects worth `7 crore which include the Kasturba Gandhi Girls’ School in Jainti, worth of `3.17 crore; Allopathic Hospital building in Barakot area of lamgada development block costing `12.55 lakh; Kasturba Gandhi School, Sunadi’s building amounting to `1.2215 crore and reconstruction of the ITI which would cost `1.6184 crore.
The CM assured Vidhan Sabha Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal and the Parliamentary Secretary that their demands for their respective areas would be conceded in phases. The Speaker would be handed over the related Government orders on the demands before the coming Vidhan Sabha session.
Taking forward the vision of his father, the late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, the decision to build Gairsen into the capital had been taken. He said that proper policies for hill area development would be made and implemented.Policies were also being designed to rehabilitate the victims of Dharchula, Munsyari, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. He said that work was on to re-establish them in their respective areas, but if it was not possible, then provision would be made for them in the plains. Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said that everyone would collectively work at solving problems of the home town of the great freedom fighters. The quick acceptance by the CM to his invitation to attend had been a true tribute to the martyrs and also given new hope for development of the region.
He expressed his gratitude to the CM for inaugurating several projects and schemes in the district.MP Pradeep Tamta, MlA Manoj Tiwari, former President Zila Panchayat Mohan Singh Mahra, former President, District Cooperative Bank, Diwan Singh Bhaisoda, former Principal, Peetambar Pandey, Ramesh Malkani, Kewal Sati, Jaman Singh Bisht, Kishan Negi, Ramesh Chandra, Jeet Singh Dhanik, Bittoo Karnatak, Anand Prasad, Ganga Prasad Joshi, Prahlad Mehra and Dinesh Kunjwal, gave emphasis on strengthening the education system and rising above petty politics.