SHIMLA, 18 April:

While participating in ‘Meet the Press’ Programme held by the Press Club Chandigarh at Chandigarh today, Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur said that soon after assuming office in the State the Government set a target for 100 days. He said that most of these were achieved. He said that his Government does not believe in political vendetta and vengeance. But at the same time the Government would not tolerate corruption at any level.

Shri Jai Ram Thakur said that it was for the first time that 30 new schemes were proposed in the budget. He said that the State Government in its very first Cabinet lowered the age for old age pension from 80 years to 70 years. He said that this has benefited thousands of old persons. He said that the Gudiya episode and Hoshiyar Singh incident had brought bad name to the State. He said that the state Government was committed towards ensuring free and fearless environment to the women in the State. For this Gudiya helpline and Shakti Helpline Botton has been launched for providing them immediate help at the time of distress. He said that Hoshiyar Singh Helpline has been launched to check illegal activities such as illegal mining, drug peddling etc.

The Chief Minister said that the Government would take up the matter with the union government to ensure expansion to rail network in the State. He said that the sole objective of the state Government was to make Himachal Pradesh a most progressive state of the country.

Shri Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government would also take up the matter of mutual interests with the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana. He said that efforts would be made to get legitimate share of the state in Union territory Chandigarh.

He said that more and more parking slots would be developed in Shimla town and efforts would be made to strengthen and redress drinking water issue for Shimla town.

Shri Jai Ram Thakur said that the Government would ensure greater air connectivity to Shimla town. He said that the Udan Scheme for the country was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narinder Modi from Shimla. He said that the issue of expansion of Shimla Airport had been taken with the Union Government. Similarly, airports at Manali and Kangra would also be strengthened. He said that work on four laning of Parwanoo to Shimla would be expedited.

The Chief Minister said that he has continuously won five elections in a row and remained State BJP Chief and Minister also. He said that his Government has full support of the Union leadership. He said that Himachal Pradesh was the second state after Sikkim to be declared ‘Open Defecation Free’ in the country.

Shri Thakur said that he had no political background and was from a humble family and thus was well aware of needs and requirements of the poor. He said that upliftment of poor and downtrodden had been the top priority of the Government.

He said that the Government had framed guidelines for safe transportation of school students. He said that the black spots in the major roads would be improved in the first phase. He said that Government has made a provision on Rs. 2.50 lakh for the treatment of journalists in the State.

President Chandigarh Press Club welcomed the Chief Minister to the Press Club Chandigarh.
Secretary General Press Club Chandigarh Shri Jaswant Singh Rana welcomed the Chief Minister to meet the Press programme of Press Club Chandigarh.