DW BUREAU / shimla Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 17 developmental projects worth about Rs. 60 crore at Mela Ground Banjar in Banjar assembly constituency of Kullu district today. While addressing a largely attended public meeting at Mela Ground, Banjar as part of 'Pragtisheel Himachal: Sathapna Ke 75 Varsh' programme, Chief Minister said that the celebration of 75 years of the formation of the State was not going well with the Congress leaders as they were perturbed by seeing the overwhelming response of the people, the Government was getting. He assured the Congress leaders that these celebrations have nothing to do with politics as it was an attempt of the Government to thank everyone who has contributed immensely in making Himachal Pradesh a most developing State of the country. He said that credit of this glorious history of the State goes to the hardworking and honest people of the State, besides able leadership the State got. Jai Ram Thakur said that all the Chief Ministers right from Dr Y.S. Parmar, Ramlal Thakur, Shanta Kumar, Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal have made immense contributions in the development of this State. He said that the literacy rate at the formation of the State was 4.8 per cent whereas today the literacy rate of the State has crossed the mark of 83 per cent. He said that at the time of formation of the State, there were only 228 kms roads in the State in 1948, which today has gone upto nearly 40,000 kms. He said that Rs. 60,000 crore PMGSY started by the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had been proving boon to the State as nearly 51 per cent roads were constructed under this scheme which has paved a way for a sound foundation of development of the State. He said that far flung areas like Banjar have immensely benefited from the PMGSY. Chief Minister said that all his five predecessors got the opportunity to work in normal conditions and circumstances, but he had to face the uphill task to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic for almost two years. He said that even during this testing time the State not only successfully brought home over 2.50 lakh people stranded in different parts of the country, but also became the first State in the country to vaccinate cent per cent eligible population of the State. Jai Ram Thakur said that daily of the daily wagers was enhanced by Rs. 50 per day during this year and record increase has been made in the honorarium of Para workers to provide them relief. He said that social security pension of various categories was increased and the Government was spending over Rs. 1300 crore as compared to Rs. 400 crore spent by the previous Congress Government. He said that 3.35 lakh free gas connections were provided to the needy under the Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna and Rs. 3000 per month assistance was being provided to a family with chronically ill patients under Sahara Yojna. (editor@dailyworld.in)