Committed to provide quality health services at affordable cost: Himachal CM

 Himachal Pradesh government is committed to provide quality health services at affordable cost to people, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday said.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh government is committed to provide quality health services at affordable cost to people, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday said.

The thrust of the government was on strengthening the medical education sector and three medical colleges were being opened in the state besides AIIMS at Bilaspur which will strengthen the health services, he said.

The chief minister was addressing a public meeting at Rampurghat in Paonta Sahib after performing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Boys Hostel of Himachal Institute of Technology to be constructed at a cost of Rs two crore.

In order to encourage private sector investment in medical Education sector, expression of interest (EOI) has been invited from the interested parties for setting up chain of medical colleges in the state, Singh said.

Chief Minister disclosed that 200 posts of doctors would be filled shortly while 500 posts of para medical staff have been proposed by the Government in the Budget of 2015-16.

"Our education institutes and the number of educated outmatch the standards of few famed institutions of the country as well other countries, and we were committed to provide affordable and quality health care services to the people of the state," he said.

Referring to unemployment among youth chief minister said "I feel that education of all types is very important for development of any State but Job oriented education was of paramount importance," he said.

Chief Minister announced restoration of "backward panchayat status" to remote Palhori panchayat of Nahan Assembly segment and also sanctioned Rs 4.34?Crore for the construction of 7 km long Simbalwara -Palhori road and construction of two bridges on this road.

He directed the Public Work Department to complete the construction work within one year so that people of backward panchayat could be benefited.

Addressing another gathering at Palhori panchayat, Chief Minister said that due to the difficult hill topography of Palhori panchayat, it has been given the status of backward panchayat so that people could get the benefit and avail all other basic facilities near their home.

This panchayat was dominated by Gujjar community and schedule castes and other backward class families.

Virbhadra Singh said that state government had according top priority to the overall development of backward and tribal areas in the state and special provisions of funds had been made in the budget for the development of these areas.

The Chief Minister also announced the starting of science classes in government senor secondary school, Palhori and up-gradation of primary school Palhori-2 to middle school and opening of new primary school at Gara-Guhi.

On the demand of people of Gujjar community, the Chief Minister directed the deputy commissioner Sirmour to identify the land for graveyard in the panchayat and send a proposal to the government.

He said that an action plan would be prepared for the channelisation of Palhori River to protect the private land of the people.

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