DW BUREAU / kullu Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over the state level Samvad programme with the beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna at Dhalpur Ground in district Kullu today. Addressing a mammoth gathering on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had become the first state in the country to provide LPG connection to every household. He said that 4.72 lakhs gas connections have been provided under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna and Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna by spending Rs. 160 crore. Jai Ram Thakur said that three refills were also being provided free of cost under both schemes. He said that budget provision of Rs 70 crore has been made for Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna during the current financial year. Besides free connection and cylinder, one additional refill has been provided free to 2.51 lakhs beneficiaries and two additional refills to 40 thousand beneficiaries, he added. Chief Minister said that many effective steps have been taken for the empowerment and welfare of women in the state. He said that for the first time in the state, social security pension was being given to every woman from the age of 60 years (without any income limit). Women in the state were being given 50 percent concession in fare in Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses. He said that about 1.25 lakh women who travel daily in transport corporation buses in the state were getting benefit from this scheme. He said that the State Government would spend about Rs. 60 crore per annum on this scheme. He said that the state government has given a record hike in the honorarium of para workers of various departments, Anganwari workers and Asha workers and now these employees were getting the monthly financial benefits ranging from Rs. 900 to Rs. 4500. Jai Ram Thakur said that more than two lakh women of self-help groups would also be benefited from Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana in the state. He said that financial assistance of Rs 31,000 was being provided under Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojana for the marriage of daughters of BPL families in the state. He said that an amount of about Rs 20.54 crore has been spent on the marriage of 6626 daughters in the state so far under this scheme. Under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana, the grant given on marriage of poor girls has been increased from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000 by the present state government and under Vidhwa Punarvivah Yojna, the state government is also providing financial assistance of Rs.65000, he added. Chief Minister said that the State Government is working in a planned manner to make women self-reliant. He said that under the Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojna, a provision of up to 35 percent subsidy has been made for women entrepreneurs. He said that Rs. 40.86 crore assistance has been given to 1 lakh 36 thousand 920 beneficiaries under Beti Hai Anmol Yojna, about Rs 100 crore to more than six lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandna Yojna, 38.26 crore to 96,371 beneficiaries under Mother Teresa Asahaya Matri Sambal Yojna and an assistance of Rs.39.29 crore has been provided to 8255 beneficiaries under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojna. He said that apart from this, lakhs of women of the state were getting benefits from various ambitious schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojna, Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojna and Atal Ashirwad Yojna. He said that for the safety of women, a helpline number has been started by launching the Shakti Button app. Jai Ram Thakur said that the BJP government in the state would make history by making Mission Repeat a success. He said that to provide continuity to the ongoing development works and for the fast development and prosperity of the state, a double engine government was necessary in Himachal. (editor@dailyworld.in)