CM announces Jal Shakti Division for Kangra

· Says, Kangra to witness massive development in times to come

· Lashes out at BJP for poor Education and Health policies

Kangra Jan 21: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while addressing a public gathering at Matour in the Kangra Assembly constituency announced for setting a division of the Jal Shakti Department in Kangra and assured the introduction of new courses in Matour College besides strengthening water and electricity schemes in the area. The construction work for the Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in Kangra would begin soon and he also announced to construct a new bridge over Jalodi Khad.

He revealed about his deep rooted connections with Kangra and stated that despite the people supporting the Congress, few have frequently shifted their political allegiance. He expressed confidence that the Kangra district would witness a significant development over the next five years and the present state government would ensure progress and prosperity of grassroots communities. The people of the area would get improved water supply, healthcare and other essential facilities nearer to their homes.

The Chief Minister said that the government was committed to revitalize the rural economy, as over 80 percent of the population of the state resides in rural areas and highlighted several measures to strengthen the rural sector. He said that the government has increased the purchase price of milk by Rs.15 and for the first time launched a scheme to purchase cow-dung in state. Apart from this the state has procured 4,000 metric tonnes of maize produced through natural farming at Rs. 30 per kilogram. From the next season, wheat will also be procured at Rs. 40 per kilogram. He said that the daily wage for MNREGA workers had been increased by Rs. 60, raising it from Rs. 240 to Rs. 300. These efforts aim to empower rural community. He said that a milk processing plant with a capacity of 1.5 lakh liters was being established at Dhagwar in Kangra which would benefit approximately three lakh farmers. He reiterated the importance of good governance, stating, “Good governance requires Good Government.”

He criticized the previous BJP government education policy, which led to the decline of enrollment in schools. He assured that the present government was working to improve the education system to meet future challenges. He said that the present state government has also made reforms in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) norms to evaluate performance of all officers and officials of the State Government.