Himachal Pradesh : Government committed to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions: Chief Minister

Mandi : While presiding over the Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan at Balichaiki under Siraj Vidhan Sabha constituency of Mandi district today, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Panchayati Raj institutions are the most important basic institutions of democracy, for which the government is committed to strengthen them.
The Chief Minister said that the training program for the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions was prepared when he was the Panchayati Raj Minister of the State. Its main objective is to educate these elected members about their duties, rights and acts so that they can be able to perform their work with greater commitment. He said that this time about 60 percent women have come elected in Panchayati Raj Institutions and local urban bodies of the state, which is a big step in the direction of women empowerment. He urged the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions to work with full devotion and dedication so that the people of their area would always remember their work.
Jai Ram Thakur announced to provide Rs.11-11 thousand to the Mahila Mandals of the area for organizing various activities. He called upon the people of the state to ensure their participation in the tricolor campaign by hoisting the tricolor at their homes on the auspicious occasion of 75th Independence Day of India.
He said that opening of SDM office in Balichaki would not only facilitate the people but would also lead to development of the area. He said that all this is a result of the continuous and unconditional trust of the people of Siraj Assembly Constituency, which they have given to them for the last nearly 25 years. He said that the State Government is making every effort to increase the pace of development so that the time lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic can be compensated. He said that during this pandemic, he himself has laid foundation stones and inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 4200 crore in about 42 assembly constituencies through virtual medium. He said that a senior leader of the Congress party related to the district has alleged that only Siraj area has developed during the tenure of the present state government. He reminded the Congress leader that during his recent visit to Drang assembly constituency, he had inaugurated and laid foundation stones of development projects worth about Rs 200 crore.
The State Government has also decided to upgrade the Office of Horticulture Development Officer, Primary Health Center to Community Health Center and open Forest Rest House at Balichaki. He said that the work of channelization of Tirthan Khad has been started. Jai Ram Thakur also distributed educational literature material to the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions on the occasion. Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur said that the state has witnessed unprecedented development in the last three and a half years. He said that the benefits of welfare policies and schemes of the state government have reached every section of the society. Director, Rural Development Department, Rigved Thakur said that the objective of the Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan is to provide an opportunity to the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions to discuss with the Chief Minister. He said that exhibitions have also been organized on this occasion in which various departments and NGOs have displayed their products.
Chairman of Panchayat Samiti Balichaki Sher Singh thanked the Chief Minister for other developmental projects including opening of SDM Office, BDO Office, Mini Secretariat, Tehsil Welfare Officer Office and Sub-Employment Office at Balichaki and Sub-Tehsil at Thachi.
MLA Surendra Shourie, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary and Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri were also present on the occasion.