CM announces 15 percent increase in ‘Nazrana’ of local deities
“It was for the first time in the history that a revolving fund was created for those temples which were vested under the Government or were under the occupancy tenants (Mujaras) and a sum of Rs 25 thousand was given in the first phase to such deities for upkeep of temples” said Virbhadra Singh, adding that funds won’t be any constraint for the age old temples in future too.
He said that Himachal was land of God and Goddesses and no effort would be spared for providing every facility to the Kardars of these deities besides other temples all over the State. He said that the local deities were involved in day to day lives of the people of the State and inseparable part of our life.
He said that our deities should not be commercialised by few who carry their palanquins in bazars asking for money which in itself was a great insult to deities and the people. “The people should refrain from this practise” he said strictly.
The Chief Minister congratulated the district administration for getting registered the traditional Kullu folk dance (Nati), dedicated to the girl child, in Guinness Book of world records. He said that it was necessary to preserve our traditions and carry forward the message for the future generations.
The mass folk dance, in which more than 12000 women folk of the district participated, showcasing their traditional culture and customs was a step towards conserving and showcasing our traditions besides a loud and clear message of saving the girl child.
“Though the previous government had performed foundation stone laying ceremony ‘Atal Sadan’ but nothing constructive was done thereafter and neither any budgetary provision was made”, he said adding that he had laid foundation stone of Rs 14 crore Auditorium which will house more than 700 people and boarding and lodging for 60 people for which a sum of Rs 13.38 crore had been sanctioned to deputy commissioner Kullu, which will facilitate the ‘devlus’ (Kardars) of the local deities visiting Kullu in various fairs and festivals.
He said that Himachal Pradesh has fast progressed along with passage of time and there were as many as 34000 kilometres of road-length as of now stating furthur that today every household was having electricity connection, clean drinking water facilities and many irrigational schemes and the day was not far when we will provide 100 percent drinking water facility to the people of the State.
He said that the road from Bhuntar to Manikaran would be widened and metalled and said that the government will take up the matter with the hydel projects to maintain these roads as it was due to heavy truckloads and machinery of these projects that these roads get destroyed.
He said that the Kullu Zonal hospital which was started during the congress regimes has been upgraded to 300 bed hospital and also hinted that may in near future it can take shape of Medical College and hospital. He said that the government was opening three more medical colleges in Chamba, Hamirpur and at Nahan in district Sirmaur and the work on medical college Chamba would be started this year.
He said that a time will come that the government may propose to upgrade the zonal hospital in Kullu to a medical college.
The government was committed to provide basic health services at the door steps of the people of the State and in near future these institutions would be strengthened.
