Himachal declares Pragpur Lohri as State level celebrations
Dharmshala: Prof. Dhumal, Chief Minister while addressing the Lohri celebrations at heritage village of Pragpur and assured all allied infrastructural facilities to popularise the Pragpur in Dehra Sub Division of District Kangra last evening. He greeted the people of the State in Lohri Festival and wished them a happy and prosperous Lohri. He said that five years tax holidays to be granted to villagers under Home Stay Scheme with a view to involve rural people in promotion of tourism and Pragpur Lohri Festival to be celebrated as State-level Festival.
Chief Minister said that National Institute of Fashion Technology foundation stone would be laid on January 21 wherein the State Government would be contributing Rs. 58 crore towards infrastructure development, besides providing required land free of cost to the Government of India. He said that Institute would be only one in the Northern States like Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir etc. and cater to the modern fashion technological advancements to the promising young fashion designers drawn from different parts of the country. He said that it would add to vocationalization of the education system with global recognition.
Prof. Dhumal said that social security pension had been enhanced by 10 per cent from January this year to facilitate about 2.5 lakh social security pensioners in the State. He said that it was only during BJP regime in the State that social security pension scheme was envisioned and enhanced subsequently from time to time. He said that the same was increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per month from last January and further enhanced by 10 per cent from current calender year. He said that it was a step towards the economic upliftment of vulnerable sections of the society.
Prof. Dhumal said that Pragpur had the privilege and status to be a heritage village aged over 550 year and was named after the daughter of Jaswan king, Parag Raj Kumari. He said that the heritage village had made its name amongst the renowned heritage destinations in the tourism world and heritage lovers from different parts of the universe were regularly visiting the village to see one of the oldest villages of the country. He said that businessmen belonging to the villages had excelled not only in business sector but other sectors as well. He said that it was during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister when the twin villages of Garli-Pragpur were declared heritage villages in March, 1998 with a view to preserve the cultural heritage of the State in right perspective.
A variety cultural programme was presented by the artistes assembled to make the Lohri Festival celebration memorable.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated exhibitions of handicrafts etc. to mark the traditional Lohri festival celebrations.
Dear Sir /Madam,
I congratulatre the forethinking,planning and get his plans in time bound progress.
I and my family congratulate our worthy Chief Minister Shri Professor Dhumal for his untiring efforts
to build HIMACHAL. one of the best state on the map of India.
I suggest he should make some more useful schemes to get participation of EX-Service men to uplift the Financial status of the state by self help.
I am positive that this message will reach our Worthy Chief Minister and I am also confident to have his reply in time. Please Intimate his email address for future correspondence.
With High Regards.
JAI HIND.
Major Mehar Sood (Veteran)