Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur underlined the need to sensitise the public about the government schemes to ensure their successful implementation.

virtually addressing the closing ceremony of the second round of Jan Bhagidari Se Sushasan-Himachal Ka Maha Quiz organised on the theme Industry and Investment at Baddi in Solan district on Sunday, Jai Ram said, “To ensure successful implementation of the schemes and programmes of the government, it is necessary to make the masses aware about them so that maximum people could avail of the benefits of the schemes.”

He informed that the state government had taken a unique initiative of organising the quiz by making apt use of technology in the dissemination of information regarding public welfare schemes and programmes to the masses. Under this, for the first time in Himachal Pradesh, an online competition based on the schemes of the Central and State governments is being organised.

Thakur said, “A large number of people are ensuring their participation in the Maha Quiz. So far, about 40 thousand people have participated in the quiz. In the first round, 23,467, in the second round 14,407 and in the third round, more than 14 thousand people took part in the Maha Quiz.”

He said he was happy that people are getting an opportunity to get acquainted with the schemes of the government through the quiz. It would generate more awareness amongst the people and encourage them to avail of the benefits of the government schemes.

The Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh has a favourable environment for investment. It is a power surplus state with better law and order situation and the state government has simplified various procedures for the investors. The ranking of Ease of Doing Business in the state has increased from 16th place to 7th place.

Thakur pointed out that MoUs worth Rs. 96 thousand were signed and investments worth crores of rupees have been cornered during the Global Investors Meet organised in Dharamsala in 2019 to promote industries in the state. He also pointed out that the state has established its identity as a pharma hub with 45 per cent of the medicines of Asia being exported from Himachal Pradesh.

“Effective steps are being taken to provide employment to the youths of this small hilly state despite fewer resources,” he informed citing the Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojana (MMSY) to provide self-employment opportunities to the youths of the state. Under the scheme, the state government is also providing subsidies on loans to establish the industry.

Additional relaxation of up to five years has been given to women in the upper age limit to avail the benefit of the scheme, he said, adding that MMSY has shown encouraging results and more than 11,000 people have got employment opportunities through this.