All out efforts to be made to declare Transgiri area of Sirmaur district as Tribal status :CM

All out efforts to be made to declare Transgiri area of Sirmaur district as Tribal status :CM
By Bijender Sharma
Dharmshala 25 Febuary.-Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that State Government would reiterate the matter of declaring Transgiri area of district Sirmaur tribal status at par with adjoining area of Uttrakhand with Government of India besides paying added attention towards developmental and welfare activities in the area. He was addressing the 1st meeting of re-constituted OBC Welfare Board at Dharamsala today. Chief Minister said that there were about 26 backward gram panchayats in Shillai, Poanta and Sangrah developmental blocks of district Sirmaur which fall under the proposed plan of getting declared as tribal keeping in view difficult geo-physical conditions of the area. He said that in earlier tenure as well, unanimous resolution was adopted and passed by the H.P. Vidhan Sabha to get above gram panchayats declared as Scheduled Tribe so that justice could be delivered to the residents of the area since people of adjoining gram panchayats of Uttrakhand fall under scheduled tribe area and additional benefits were available for their speedy development. He said that all channels would be used to press the demand. Prof. Dhumal said that there were certain other areas with difficult topography such as Bara Bhangal in district Kangra, Malana in district Kullu which too deserved similar status and additional financial aid for speedy development to bring them at par with rest of the State. He said that although Backward Area Sub-Plan was under implementation in the State, however, concerted efforts would be made to procure additional finances for accelerated development. Chief Minister emphasized the need to avail the NREGA Scheme for generating rural employment avenues for unemployed youth. He said that it was under his earlier tenure that recommendation was made to include two most backward districts of Chamba and Sirmaur in the Scheme. He said that it was unique scheme aimed at ensuring assured employment of 100 days to the job card holders in a year and was instrumental in solving the unemployment problem in rural areas. He urged Members of the Board to give their valuable suggestions for effective functioning of the Government. Prof. Dhumal said that it was during his earlier tenure that the Members of OBC, SC and ST were provided unlimited chances in HAS and other allied services examination with a view to provide more opportunities to the educated youth of these communities. He said that motive behind constitution of welfare boards was to get public opinion through non-official members so that welfare schemes were formulated accordingly. Chief Minister said that State had agrarian society and majority of population of the State was linked with farming in one way or other. He said that there was vast scope for self-employment in diversified farming since the State would make technical know-how and other inputs to the rural youth besides testing the soil free of any charge so that farm owners were advised to cultivate soil friendly cash crops to strengthen their economy. He assured people that irrigation network would be strengthened besides encouraging rain water harvesting for irrigation purposes. Smt. Sarveen Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister welcomed the Chief Minister. She said that different sections of OBC were being provided skill upgradation under different programmes by providing financial incentives and scholarships. She said that house building subsidy at the rate of Rs. 27,500 and house repair grant of Rs. 12500 were being made available to members of OBC. She added that loan facilities at low interest rate were also being made available for self employment avocations. She also detailed out various other social welfare activities. Shri Ramesh Dhawala, Food and Civil Supplies Minister proposed vote of thanks. He thanked for protecting the interests of OBCs besides strengthening OBC Commission.