Not to be published/broadcast before 15^th March, 2010

Making top spots has become a passion and practice with Himachal Pradesh. Yet again, it has emerged a front runner in the implementation of Twenty Point Programme, the most comprehensive programme in the country for poverty alleviation, employment generation and raising the quality of life, especially in rural areas. For the period April to October, 2009 progress review report of the Government of India, Himachal Pradesh has been ranked Number One amongst all the States in the Country.

Himachal Pradesh is the only State to have registered 100 percent achievement rate under the programme followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand with 85 per cent achievement. The State obtained 51 marks under various items of the programme scored a lead of five points over Karnataka and Uttarakhand, both sharing the second spot with 46 points each. Himachal Pradesh presents a picture of consistent and balanced development in all the given spheres. Himachal Pradesh is the lone State in the country to have achieved "Very Good" performance (90 per cent or above targets) in all the individual items under the programme during the period April-October, 2009.

The performance in the implementation of this ambitious programme, speaks of the commitment of the State Government towards the general well-being of the people of the State and the importance that is being attached to overall balanced development of rural areas.  

Roads, being the life line of development in the hill State, have been accorded top priority and the performance has been equally noteworthy.  923 Km. roads have been constructed under the PMGSY against a target of constructing 463 Km. roads, which is 199 per cent achievement.

245 per cent achievement was registered under the head 'Pumps sets energised' with 939 sets being energized, whereas the target was 383 sets. Under Employment Generation Programme, (NREG Scheme) 9,16,378 job cards have been issued  during the period. Employment of 131.88 lakh mandays was generated and wages to the tune of Rs. 147.43 has been provided.

 

The achievement of the State in assisting the Individual Swarozgaries under the Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana had been 171 per cent. As many as 1044 individual swarojgaries were assisted against a target of 610 persons fixed for the period.

 In providing Income Generating Activities to the Self Help Groups, Himachal Pradesh has surpassed the target of assisting 351 Groups by helping 424 Groups, which is 121 percent performance. Besides, 995 new Self Help Groups have been formed under the Swaran Jayanti Shahary Yojana during the period.

Under Food Security (Antodaya Anna Yojana) the achievement of the State is 101 percent. The State lifted 48707 tonne foodgrains under the Scheme during the period. Under Targeted Public Distribution Scheme (Below Poverty Line) the State achieved almost cent percent target by lifting 76952 lakh tonne foodgrains during the period.

The State recorded 144 percent achievement under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme by covering 2880 slipped back habitations and those with water quality problems.  

The achievement in assisting the Scheduled Castes families in their socio-economic uplift has also been very good. As many as 32991 families were assisted in the State during the period.

The State's performance under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and Operationalisation of ICDS Blocks has been 100 percent.

The performance of the State under the Twenty Point Programme is yet another feat vindicating its position at the top; " Sabse Upar Himachal ".

Issued by:

 

Director,

Information & Public Relations,

Himachal Pradesh, Shimla-2