Kullu: The Chief Minister inaugurated office building for 7th Battalion of Home Guards, Kullu constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.84 crore, City Livelihood Centre building with hostel at Government ITI Shamshi constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.52 crore, multipurpose building at Malana constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.03 crore and bridge at Summa over Sarwari khad constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.24 crore under Scheduled Castes Special Component Plan.
Jai Ram Thakur laid the foundation stones of building of Government High School, Chansari to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.27 crore and Mahila Police Station building, Kullu to be built at a cost of Rs. 3.52 crore.
While addressing the people at ITI Shamshi, the Chief Minister said that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced all of us to strictly follow the norms of social distancing and also effectively use face mask and face cover. He said despite lockdown for several days, no one in the State went to bed empty stomach. He said that everyone generously contributed towards the PM CAREs and CM COVID Fund. He said that the elected representatives have also been contributing their best to effectively fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the State.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has brought about 2.25 lakh people of the State to their homes stranded in different parts of the country. It was strange that the Congress leaders were making much hue and cry over this issue. He said that the Congress leaders were earlier alleging that the government was not concerned about the Himachalis stranded in different parts of the State and now when the government has brought back lakhs of people, the same leaders were saying that the state government was bringing Corona to the State.
The Chief Minister said that the able leadership in the form of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took timely steps to check the spread of the virus and the people of the country strictly followed the directions given by him. He said that the decision of lockdown by the Prime Minister helped in checking the spread of the Coronavirus. He said that due to the timely decisions taken by the Prime Minister death rate in India due to Corona was very less as compared to most of the developed nations of the country. Over 7.60 lakh people have lost their life to Covid-19 in fifteen most developed countries with a total population of 142 crore whereas India with a population of 135 crore, has reported over 47,000 deaths due to corona till date, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State has suffered losses of about Rs. 30,000 crore due to the Corona pandemic. He said that the tourism sector was adversely affected and though the State has provided some relief to this sector, but still a lot more needed to be done. He said that the Rs 9.50 crore water supply scheme Siyun Hathithan would be completed at the earliest.
Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Corona warriors such as doctors, paramedical staff, police, sanitary workers etc. in rendering their valuable services in this testing time.
Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur said that it was after a long struggle and martyrdom of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee that today Article 370 has become a history and Jammu Kashmir was now an integral part of India. He said that credit for this goes to the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that construction of Lord Ram Temple at Ayodhya was also a long cherished dream of crores of Indians which has come true after hundreds of years. He also thanked the Prime Minister for announcing a new Education Policy for the country which would pave the way for making India once again a ‘Vishva Guru’.
Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma said that the State was fortunate to have Jai Ram Thakur as Chief Minister, who was also committed to the welfare of every section of the society. The Chief Minister has effectively handled the corona pandemic in the State. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advised the Chief Ministers of other States to follow Himachal Pradesh to tackle this virus.
MLA Kullu Sunder Singh Thakur urged the Chief Minister to announce more irrigation and drinking water projects to solve the water problem of the area. He also urged to provide relief package to the tourism sector, which was badly affected due to the corona pandemic.
Former Member of Parliament Maheshwar Singh detailed out various developmental demands of the area.