Forest, Transport, Youth Services & Sports Minister Govind Singh Thakur and Social Justice & Empowerment and Cooperation Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal have hailed the budget presented by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and said that it is an endeavour to ensure welfare of all sections of the society and will give a big boost to the growth and development of the State. They said that budget aims at welfare of the farmers, horticulturists, workers, employees, youths and women.
They appreciated the decision to include 50 thousand more beneficiaries under various pension schemes in 2020-21 and to raise the pension being given to widows and divyangjans to Rs. 1000 from Rs. 850 per month.
The Ministers also thanked the Chief Minister for announcing to bring anganwari workers/helpers, ASHA workers, water carriers/guards, mid-day meal workers, tailoring mistress etc under insurance scheme.
They hailed the decision to increase the honorarium of anganwari workers by Rs. 500 per month, mini anganwari workers by Rs. 300 per month and to anganwari sahayka by Rs. 300 per month.
Ministers thanked the Chief Minister for announcing awareness program “Woh Din” on a campaign mode in 20 selected blocks in the state at a cost of Rs. 3.24 crore. This campaign would be collectively run by Health, Ayurveda, Women and Child Development and Rural Development departments.
They welcomed the decision to announce, “Parvat Dhara” scheme. It would be implemented by Forest Department. Rs. 20 crore has been proposed to be spent on this scheme.
Ministers welcomed the announcement to eradicate lantana from 2500 hectares of land, doing water conservation and management works in 2500 hectares of land and plantation on 5000 hectares of land in 2020-21under various projects.
They said that target of raising plantation over 12000 hectares of land in 2020-21 would help to enhance the forest cover in the state. This is 3000 hectares more as compared to previous year. One crore saplings will be planted to achieve this target. This coverage would be increased in a phased manner in coming years, so that the target of 30 percent forest cover is successfully achieved by 2030.
Ministers hailed the decision to suitably amend the cooperation laws to strengthen the Cooperative Societies and to improve transparency. These changes would help the Cooperative Societies to improve their capacity and income.
They thanked the Chief Minister for announcing to start air conditioned and super deluxe buses between big towns and to purchase 250 buses by HRTC including 100 electric buses. On the analogy of Shimla town, HRTC would start tourist circuits in Dharamshala, Bilaspur and Mandi.
Ministers appreciated the announcement to establish Transport Nagar in Hamirpur. This Transport Nagar would have modern facilities like driving test track, traffic park, training centre and workshop for repair and maintenance of vehicles.
They said that this budget would take the state towards new heights of development and prosperity.
