Congratulating the PadamShri winners, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the contribution of both personalities, Vidyanand Saraik and Lalita Vakil was immense in their respective fields.
Chief Minister said Lalita Vakil, hailing from Chamba, has been working for the promotion of Chamba Rumal for the past 50 years. This award was not just recognition for her but also for the traditional art of Chamba Rumal .
Chambu Rumal has earned the GI tag and is now a popular traditional brand internationally among the tourists as well. The Chamba Rumal has become a big source of livelihood for the artisans of the district.
Jai Ram Thakur said Vidyanand Saraik is a multifaceted personality who has been striving to conserve and revive hilly culture for over five decades. He said Saraik has written numerous folk songs, naatis and folklores.
Saraik hails from Devthi Majhgaon village of Pajhauta area of Sirmaur district. He was teacher turned artiste and researcher on his own right who worked to revive the various traditional genres of folk art of the region.
Chief Minister has also congratulated IG South Range Himanshu Mishra, for being awarded the President's Police Medal for his distinguished services.
He has also congratulated four other police officers- Superintendent of Police Lokayukta Ranjana Chauhan, Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Sharma, Inspector Laxman Kumar and Honorary Assistant Sub Inspector Jagdish Chand for being awarded Police Medal for their meritorious services.
