Efforts on to establish to Himachal Pradesh as model state : Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar

Shimla : Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that Himachal Pradesh was again on the path of development after facing the difficult challenges of the Corona pandemic. He said he himself was making efforts to establish this hilly region as an ideal state by contributing towards various social issues.The Governor was addressing the Governors’ Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today. President Ram Nath Kovind presided over the conference. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Governors and senior officers of all the states were present on this occasion. Shri Arlekar said that despite the difficult geographical conditions, Himachal has become the first state in the country to inoculate first dose of Covid vaccination. He said that tourism activities are being promoted in the state by organizing fairs based on the specialty of each district. This would also provide a platform and market to the local products, realising Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Vocal for Local’. He said that cleanliness and environmental protection were among his priorities.

He said that in order to make the working of Raj Bhavan transparent, fast and smooth, Himachal Pradesh Raj Bhavan has been completely converted into e-office with effect from 22 October, 2021. He said that effective steps are being taken to provide quality education in higher education institutions. Complete implementation of the National Education Policy is under process. Speaking about the ‘Har Ghar Pathshala’ programme of the State Government, he said that the State started this unique programme from April 2020 to continue smooth education of the students during the lockdown, which benefited about 8 lakhs students.The Governor said that immense progress has been made in natural farming in the state and more than 1.5 lakh farmers have adopted natural farming under Subhash Palekar Prakritik Kheti. This agricultural activities are being carried on 1.2 lakh bighas of land in the state.He said that the Raj Bhavan is fully active for humanitarian activities through organizations like Red Cross who are making every possible effort to help the needy. He informed that the State Red Cross is developing ultra modern blood bank in Nalagarh along with the district administration and Indian Red Cross, which will be made functional soon.He also raised the issue of drug smuggling and substance consumption and said that work is being done at every level to curb this menace. He said that as a Governor, it would be his endeavour that the benefits of various schemes of the Central and State Governments reach the people directly and they are also benefited out of them. He said that in a short span of about four months, he has tried to give direction to the society by targeting various projects of social concern in Himachal.