Press statement of Urban Development and TCP Minister Suresh Bhardwaj issued at Shimla on 30th January, 2022.

Urban Development, Town and Country Planning, Housing and Co-Operation Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said here today that the present BJP Government of the state during last four years has worked with new zeal and innovative thoughts to give new dimension to the development of all parts of the state.

He said that the State Government has taken Himachal to new heights of development by imbibing the basic mantra ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for balanced and holistic development and welfare of all sections of the society. He said that State Government has made honest efforts for attracting industrial investment to strengthen the state’s economy, providing social security to the elderly, creating employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth, ensuring women’s security and their socio-economic upliftment, prosperity of farmers and horticulturists and backward sections of the society.

While thanking Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Suresh Bhardwaj said that the Government has taken several decisions keeping in mind the welfare of not only the working class but also of common man.

In a Press statement issued from Shimla today Suresh Bhardwaj said that the recent decision to revise the electricity rates and not to charge any charges up to 60 units is in public interest. Consumers using electricity up to 60 units in the state will no longer have to pay bills. At the same time, consumers using electricity up to 125 units will have to pay the bill amount at the rate of Rs. one per unit. Earlier, for using 125 units of electricity in the state, the bill had to be paid at the rate of       Rs. 1.90 per unit. Apart from this, the rate of 50 paise per unit fixed for farmers has been reduced to 30 paise.

He said that leaders of opposition have been trying to create confusion for a long time through various means. He said that the reality is that under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the State is moving ahead on the path of progress and prosperity and it has been able to make a special identity in the country.

He said that the historic and bold decisions taken by the State Government in the interest of the State and its people have irked the entire Opposition. The opposition is trying to mislead the people of the State for their political gains. Keeping in mind the interest of the common man, the BJP Government has paved the way for many more families to benefit by increasing the minimum income limit for social security pension from existing Rs. 35000 to Rs. 50000. He said that the BJP Government has taken many steps with the vision of social security.

He said that the State Government was spending about Rs 436 crore in 2017 on social security pension for different sections of society in 2017. This budget has increased to Rs 1037 crore in 2021. The State Government in its first Cabinet meeting decided to lower the age from 80 years to 70 years for providing Social Security Pension without any income limit. About 2 lakh new pension cases have been sanctioned and the different types of Social Security Pensions have been increased during this period. Pension of Rs. 1000 per month is being provided to the women of age 65 to 69 years under Swarn Jayanti Nari Sambal Yojana.

Urban Development Minister said that the State Government has also taken several steps for the welfare of the employees and pensioners. He said that the Government has taken steps like redressal  of issues related to employees of various departments providing their services on outsource basis, providing benefits of higher scales to Constables who are eligible for higher scales, reducing the contract period of employees to 2 years etc.

Suresh Bhardwaj said that the State Government has been taking decisions in the public interest and will take it further. Shimla’s development plan is going to be implemented soon after 40 years. In this, efforts have been made not only for the development related projects but also to remove the problems being faced by the common man.

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