Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday called for preparing new innovative schemes to usher in new era of development in Himachal Pradesh and said the government has already came up with record 30 new schemes in budget for 2018-19.

Addressing the 71st Himachal Day which was celebrated with traditional fervor, fanfare and enthusiasm at the historic Ridge, Thakur said lauded the people’s sincere efforts and active participation in the developmental process.

“The government is encouraging the employees to think ‘out of the box’ and prepare new and innovative schemes for the welfare of all sections of the society,” he said.

He said Chief Minister Dash Board has been setup through which all the important government departments have been linked for bringing efficiency in administration. The government has made a provision of Rs 100 crore for tarring and maintenance of roads and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 123 roads had been completed. In addition, the DPRs for 69 National Highways that were sanctioned by Central government but were delayed by previous Congress government has now been prepared DPR and work on these would be started soon, he said. He said that under ‘Himachal GrihaniSuvidha’ scheme, women of those families will be provided economic support for purchasing ‘gas chullah’ who have not been covered under ‘UjjawalaYojna’of the government of India.

The Chief Minister said that ‘MukhyamantriAadarshVidya Kendra’ would be started under which ideal schools would be set up with hostel facilities in phased manner in every assembly constituency where there were no ‘Eklavya and NavodyaVidyalayas’.

He said that 262 posts of medical officers have been filled up in this period and the process of filling up 2000 posts of paramedical staff was in process.

The Chief Minister said that the government has taken effective steps to diversify agricultural activities, strengthen and implement irrigational facilities and promote zero budget natural farming and organic farming.

Asserting that the government was firm in its resolve to make Himachal Pradesh an industrial hub of the country, Thakur said 17 industrial units involving an investment of Rs 456.43 crore have been approved under the single-window mechanism.