Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disbursed Rs 97.69 lakh to 2,171 eligible women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana at a function held at Kupvi in the Chopal area of Shimla district.
He also inaugurated development projects of Rs 81.83 crore to the people of the area. “The rules under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana will be modified to address the unique challenges faced by the women of Kupvi so that all of them, barring working women, receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the government was working with the motto of “Vyavastha Parivartan” and to make Himachal a self-reliant state. He added that the government had implemented many schemes and programmes with the aim of strengthening the rural economy and “it is for the first time that the minimum support price (MSP) for milk purchase has been fixed”.
He said that efforts would be made to establish Kupvi as a separate ward in the Zila Parishad and Sub-Divisional Officers of the Irrigation and Public Health and Public Works departments would be granted the powers of an Executive Engineer to ensure more efficient administration.
Sukhu said that the possibility of opening an industrial training institute (ITI) at Kupvi would be explored. He assured the gathering that the foundation stones of the previously announced projects in the area would be laid soon and adequate medical staff, including qualified doctors, would be deployed to improve healthcare services in the region.
The Chief Minister inaugurated several key infrastructure projects and dedicated several road projects to people. He said that the government was continuously working to protect the resources of the state and ensure social equality and empowerment. “Himachal Pradesh has become the first state to give the highest support price for wheat and maize,” he claimed.
Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that the state government was committed to empowering the weaker sections of society through various schemes and programmes.