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April      Last updated: April 29,  5:00 p.m.

Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal Chief Minister, HP

THE fifteenth of April is a red letter day for the people of Himachal Pradesh. It was on this auspicious day, 52 years ago that Himachal Pradesh came into being after the merger of 31 odd princely states. In a sense, we are celebrating today the 53th birthday of the State.

We recall with reverence the sincere efforts put in by our freedom fighters, the heroic struggle of the Praja Mandal Movement and we also pay our homage to Dr Y.S. Parmar and others who played a leading role in the formation of Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh, though had to pass through various vicissitudes since its formation yet it is most aptly described as the pioneer in hill areas development today. India Rural Development Report brought out recently by the National Institute of Rural Development shows that HP is ahead of all the States in the country with respect to indicators of human development and availability of rural infrastructure.

The present BJP-HVC government took over reins of this State two years back. Our endeavour is to make HP as one of the most prosperous States in the country in the next 10-15 years. For this, we are focussing our efforts to generate resources by using hydel, tourism and industrial potential available within the State.

Himachal Pradesh has immense hydel potential of 21500 MW, out of which only 4000 MW could be harnessed so far. My Government has accorded top priority to this sector. In view of limited State resources, we have decided to involve private sector besides fully utilizing the services of the State Electricity Board. To encourage entrepreneurs to complete the projects expeditiously, efficiency linked incentives have been introduced. Employment to local people is also being ensured in these projects.

Tourism sector can also be a prime revenue earner to the State. We are emphasizing promotion of adventure, pilgrim and heritage tourism. A new Tourism Policy is in the offing which aims at building infrastructure to meet the needs of tourists, a greater role to the private sector and creating employment opportunities in tourism sector.

Industrial development has also been given big boost. New Industrial Policy Guidelines have been formulated which offer attractive package of incentives to the entrepreneurs to invest in Himachal Pradesh. Environment friendly, local raw material based and employment-oriented units are being encouraged.

Our Government inherited a very dismal scenario of State finances as our predecessors had failed to raise internal resources or to get assistance from the Centre Government. We presented the case of the State before the Centre Government in the right perspective as a result of which Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Central Government provided a financial package of Rs. 700 crore during last two years.

The Government has initiated a reform process which aims at an accountable goverancne, accelerated development of the State, fiscal stability and building a self-reliant Himachal Pradesh. We have outlined a nine point charter in this year's budget on the basis of which each department of the State government will have to draw up action plans, take up rationalization of schemes and also ensure proper monitoring of the situation.

There has been a progressive devolution of financial and administrative powers to Panchayati Raj institutions and bodies. Women have been given 33 per cent reservation in these institutions.

To ensure better administration, the Government proposes to make the areas of all non-tribal Assembly Constituencies and Development Blocks coterminus, for which nine new development blocks will be created.

Poverty alleviation is another priority of the Government. We have decided to bring 30 per cent families above poverty line within a period of five years by giving them an integrated package of assistance.

Various schemes for the poor in general category and for SCs, STs, OBCs and the tribal boys and grils have also being launched. The Government has also decided to provide free education upto university level to students will more than 40 per cent disability.

The social services sector has been accorded top priority and Rs 702.36 crore has been allocated for this vital sector. This comes to 40.08 per cent of the Annual Plan of Rs 1720 crore approved for this year.

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the State. For improving the economy of the farmers, various new schemes have been initiated. The Government has given due priority for the construction and maintenance of roads. Efforts have also been made to bring qualitative improvement in education and health services in the State.

The Government contemplates to form a new education policy in which the Government will confine itself to only regulatory functions, except elementary education which is a constitutional obligation for the Government. The Government will seek investment from non-government sectors, institutions of repute and NRIs in the education sector. We have entered into an agreement with NASSCOM for formulation of Information Technology Policy for the State. Welfare of freedom fighters, soldiers and ex-servicemen has also been taken care of.

Our endeavour, during the last two years, has been to ensure equal and speedy development of all areas of the State, social uplift and economic betterment of the poor.

I make a fervent appeal to all the people of the State to take a pledge that they will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the development, unity and integrity of the State and the Nation.