SHIMLA: The 50 years journey of the hill state has been glorious and full of achievements despite difficult geographical conditions, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said while addressing the special session of the state assembly. The per capita income of the state had now gone up to Rs 1,95,000, against Rs 651 in 1971 and the length of the roads increased to over 37,808 kms as against 7,370 kms in 1971, he said.
Thakur said that in 1971, there were 4,945 educational institutions in the state whereas today this number had crossed 15,000. The state had several national level prestigious institutions such as AIIMS, IIM, IIIT and had made extensive progress in agriculture and horticulture sector, he said.
He said his government had launched several welfare schemes and. for the first time, organised global investors meet to attract more investment in the state for the upliftment of the society. Himachal had become the first state in the country to achieve cent-percent target for first dose vaccination of all above 18 years in the Covid campaign.
On the occasion, Thakur expressed his gratitude to all the people for their significant contributions in the development journey of the state and paid his tributes to former CMs late Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, Ram Lal Thakur and Virbhadra Singh. He also thanked former CMs Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal for their contributions in the development of the State.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said different regions of the state had different culture and customs and this sense of respect for diversity needs to be carried forward. Assembly speaker Vipin Singh Parmar also traced the rich and glorious history of the state assembly, saying it was was probably the first in the country which could be truly called ‘E-Vidhan Sabha’. Deputy speaker Hans Raj presented the vote of thanks.
