Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday the country needed the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but Himachal Pradesh needed it much more. Addressing the Jan Abhar rally in Dharamsala to mark one year of his government, Thakur thanked Modi for showering special concern on Himachal and said he would ensure that the BJP retained all four Lok Sabha seats in 2019 to strengthen his hands at the Centre.

He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the liberal financial assistance to the state, and said the Centre had approved developmental projects worth over Rs 9100 crore which helped in accelerating pace of development in the state. He assured the Prime Minister for wholehearted support of the people of the state, who were indebted for his love and affection for the state and its people.

The CM said every area of the state and every section of the society had been benefited by the welfare and developmental oriented policies and programmes.

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The CM said the ‘Swarnim Himachal Drishtipatra’ of BJP had been adopted as policy document by the government and from the day one, it ensured that benefits of development percolates down the person living at the lowest ebb.

He said the very first decision of the state government was aimed at welfare of the senior citizens by lowering the age limit for getting pension from 80 to 70 years, benefitting over 1.30 lakh persons. In order to have first hand information about the developmental needs and aspiration of the people of the State, he has visited 63 assembly constituencies of the state out of total 68 during this short period of one year.

Thakur said the Jan Manch programme started by the government had proved to be a boon for the common man for immediate redressal of their grievances. So far, 76 Jan Manch have been organized in 65 Assembly constituencies in which 20062 grievances were settled. Under Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana, 32,134 new LPG connections have been provided to the beneficiaries. In addition to this, 85,421 LPG connections were given under the Ujjawala scheme of the Centre. He said that Himachal Pradesh would become first State of the country with LGP connections in every household.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to providing better healthcare facilities to the people and it was being ensured that all citizens got access to good healthcare facilities. Himcare scheme has been started for families who are not covered under Ayushman India or other medical reimbursement schemes.

Provision of free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh had been made on hospitalization under the scheme, he added.

He said nature had blessed Himachal Pradesh with immense tourism potential and the government was committed to its optimum exploitation. Nai Rahein, Nai Manzilein scheme has been launched to develop unexplored places of the state. He thanked the Prime Minister for getting approved ADB project worth Rs. 1900 crore tourism development project for the State.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, former chief ministers Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal, MPs, party incharge, Mangal Pandey and state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti were also present at the Jan Abhar rally.