DW BUREAU / Shimla

No new scheme was introduced for development of the tourism sector during the past one year and the government continued the 'Nai Raahein, Nai Manzilein' scheme started by the previous government, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the Assembly during Question Hour on Thursday.

Replying to a question of Chaitanya Sharma and Sudhir Sharma (both Congress) and Lokender Kumar (BJP), the chief minister said that the focus is on strengthening the tourism infrastructure and all the districts would be connected with heliports this year.

So far, Rs 13 crore each have been released for construction of four heliports at Rakkar, Palampur, Reckong Peo and Chamba, and the works are in progress.

He said that no application for investment in the tourism sector was pending and no information centre has been opened but funds have been released for other works. He also assured that work on the Shiv Dham project would be started as soon as funds are available.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil told the House that the liabilities under the 'Him Care' scheme have reached Rs 254.4 crore and the government would try to clear the dues in the next two months.

Replying to the questions of Dr Janak Raj, Randhir Sharma, Deep Raj, Rakesh Jamwal, and Ashish Sharma, Shandil said the scheme is applicable in 283 health institutions (both government and private) and the liabilities of 249 institutions are pending.

In addition, payments amounting to Rs 16.34 crore to various medical colleges under the Ayushman Bharat scheme are also pending. He said that 8.53 lakh families are covered under 'Him Care' but government servants and pensioners are excluded from the scheme.

During the past one year, 1,36,015 families were registered under the 'Him Care' scheme, he said and asserted that there was no move to discontinue the 'Him Care' or 'Sahara' schemes.

He informed the House that 31,032 beneficiaries are registered under the 'Sahara' scheme and 6,257 new cases have been sanctioned and 543 cases are pending.

Dr Janak Raj said that the figures given by the minister are not correct and demanded the constitution of an all-party committee to look into the matter.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur also said that the liabilities under the 'Him Care' scheme were about Rs 350 crore and not Rs 254 crore as stated.

Under the 'Him Care' Scheme, cashless treatment coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per year per family is provided in the empanelled hospitals.
(editor@dailyworld.in)