KAZA/SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced Rs 1500 per month to all 9000 women of  Spiti over 18 years of age  and three per cent DA to the employees and pensioners of Himachal as the 76th Himachal Day gift  celebrated at State level function at snowclad Kaza in Lahaul & Spiti district, which was celebrated with tribal festivities and culture.

After unfurling the Tricolour on the occasion, Chief Minister Sukhu expressed his gratitude to Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister of the Himachal Pradesh, and all those who worked tirelessly for the special recognition and separate status for Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister, announced release of three percent Dearness Allowance (DA) for all the employees and pensioners of the State thus raising it from existing 31 percent to 34 percent.

The decision would benefit around 2.15 lakh employees and 1.90 Lakh pensioners. This would put an additional burden of about Rs. 500 crore on the state’s exchequer.

He also announced a pension of Rs. 1500 to all the 9000 women of Spiti above 18 years of age from June 2023 in the second phase, a college and to make 50 bedded Community Health Centre (CHC) in Kaza operational.

The Chief Minister said that the State government would take up the issue of developing an airstrip at Rangrik in Spiti Valley with the Defence Ministry.

Besides, being important from strategic point of view this will also help in boosting tourism activities.

The Chief Minister said that besides constructing a heliport at  Rongtong and a road to cost Rs 34 crore would also be constructed  from Atargu to Mud in Pin Valley, as part of the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Additionally, the Government would also prioritize the construction of a road to connect Bhawa with Mud, which will the world's highest altitude road. He said that a star-gazing observatory would be set up in the Fossil Village Langza, which is a paradise for stargazers with the assistance of Union Government's.

The land has been identified for setting up Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School at Shego near Kaza, which would prove to be a significant development in the education sector, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the government has established the Chief Minister's Sukh-Ashray Kosh with an initial provision of Rs 101 crore to provide support to orphan children. The government has adopted around 6,000 orphan children as ‘Children of the State’ under the Yojna.

He said that the government has brought 1.36 lakh government employees under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) thus fulfilling its promise of restoring the OPS, besides to provide a monthly pension of Rs 1500 to 2.31 lakh women of the state in a phased manner.

The Chief Minister said that the government aims to make the state self-reliant and strengthen its economy through new initiatives.

The state has set a target to become a green energy state by March 2026 and the government has entered into an agreement for the Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project, which will create over 3500 employment opportunities and attract an investment of over Rs 4,000 crore.

The state has declared 6 green corridors, providing facilities for electric vehicles.

Private operators purchasing electric buses, trucks, taxis, autos and e-goods carriers would be given 50 percent subsidy in order to promote the use of electric vehicles, said Sh. Sukhu.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is focusing on the development of tourism. Since, Kangra is being developed as the "Tourism Capital" of the state, and the construction of the airport in Kangra is vital for expanding tourism.

In addition, heliports were being built and expanded to connect all district headquarters by air connectivity throughout the year.

The state intends to establish a Rajiv Gandhi Government Model Day-Boarding School in each assembly constituency, which will be outfitted with cutting-edge technology and equipment, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the government is also committed to ensuring that no meritorious poor child is deprived of higher education due to a lack of money and to meet out this,  

Rs 200 crore Rajiv Gandhi Higher Education Promotion Scheme has been launched, which would provide loans at one percent interest rate to the students pursuing professional courses like engineering, medicine, MBA, Ph.D, and others.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government has launched the Him Unnati Yojana to promote the overall development of the agriculture sector. He said that the MGNREGA wage for tribal areas has been increased from Rs 266 to Rs 294.

The Chief Minister also dedicated three ambulances for the Spiti valley and planted a sapling in Cricket ground Kaza. He also inspected the development exhibitions set up by  various departments.

Earlier, the Chief Minister took salute from the contingents of Police, Home guards, traffic police, Jawans of IRB, NCC cadets, ITBP, Bharat Scouts & Guides led by parade commander Amit Yadav (IPS) during an impressive march past.

A colourful cultural program was also presented on the occasion and the Chief Minister also distributed prizes to the participants of the cultural program and the Government employees of Lahul & Spiti district for their outstanding contribution in service.

MLA Ravi Thakur, wife of Chief Minister Kamlesh Thakur, Former Minister, Phunchog Rai, former MLA Raghuveer Singh, Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary Prabodh Saxena and DGP Sanjay Kundu DC Lahaul-Spiti Sumit Khimta were also present.