Himachal Pradesh Day: Towards attaining Self Reliance in Agriculture, Horticulture & Floriculture

Natural farming is being done in 5,595 hectares under Prakratik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana and about one natural farming. Under the Mukhymantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojana, 3,873 farmers were provided benefits of Rs. 105 crore through solar and barbed-wire fencing.  

Special efforts are being made to promote horticulture. At present, fruits are being produced in an area of 2,33,300 hectares. Production of fruits also increased to 8.45 lakh metric tons. Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Project of Rs.1134 crore and HP SHIVA project of Rs. 1000 crore are being implemented in the State.  

Under the Himachal Pushp Kranti Yojana, a subsidy of Rs.23.60 crore has been provided to 1,134 flower growers. 

Background (Himachal Pradesh Day) 

APRIL 15 is a historic and memorable day for the people of Himachal Pradesh. On this very day in 1948, exactly eight months after the independence of the country, our State came into existence as a centrally administered 'Chief Commissioner's Province' by merging 30 small and big hilly princely States. N. C. Mehta, Indian Civil Service (ICS) was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner assisted by his deputy E. Penderal Moon.

26 princely States and the Thakurayi of Shimla Hill States were merged to form Mahasu district which included States of Baghal, Baghat, Balsan, Rampur-Bushahr, Khaneti, Delath, Beja, Bhajji, Darkoti, Dhami, Jubbal,Ravin, Dhadi, Keonthal, Theog, Koti, Ghoond, Madhan, Ratesh, Kumarsain, Kunihar, Kuthar, Mangal, Mahalog, Shangri and Tharoch. Mandi-Suket princely States were merged to form Mandi district. Chamba and Sirmaur were given the status of separate districts. These four districts Chamba, Mahasu, Mandi and Sirmaur had 23 tehsils. The total area of the State was 10,451 sq. km and the population was 11.09 lakh. On 1 July, 1954 part 'C' State Bilaspur was merged to Himachal.

On 1 November 1966, hilly areas of Punjab were merged in Himachal as result of whivh the area of the State increased to 55,673 sq. km which remains same as of now. Presently, the State has 12 districts and as per census 2011, the population is 68.64 lakh.The then prominent leaders and activists of Prajamandal movement and ambitious people of the State played a very important role in establishing Himachal as a separate State. 'Dhami Golikand', 'Suket Satyagraha' and 'Pajhauta Movement' have a special place in the glorious history of Himachal Pradesh.

Today, Himachal is reckoned among the prosperous and progressive States in the country. The length of roads in the State has increased to 38,470 km. Total 1,140 villages have been connected with road facility while 99 percent of the Panchayats have been connected by roads and the remaining Panchayats will soon have road facility.

Free gas connections have been provided to 1.36 lakh families by spending an amount of Rs. 21.76 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Similarly, 2.91 lakh women have been provided free gas connections under Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana started by the State government. Himachal was declared a smoke-free State in December, 2019 and has become the first State in the country to achieve this achievement. 

Jal Jeevan Mission has been started from August 2019. In the first phase, 327 schemes have been approved under the Jal Jeevan Mission, worth about Rs 2,900 crores. After this, 530 schemes have been approved for the financial year 2019-20 and 696 for the year 2020-21. So far, about 2.12 lakh houses have been provided with tap connections. Under this mission across the country, a target has been set to provide clean and adequate drinking water to all rural households by the year 2024. Efforts are on to achieve this target in the State by July, 2022. 

Today, there are 38,470 km long roads and 2,226 bridges in the State. In the year 2020-21, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 1,915 km long 283 roads were constructed, which is highest in all the previous years. In the year 2020-21, under the scheme, the State has attained first position in the achieved percentage of the target in road construction, while Himachal is second in road construction. District Mandi received top position among all districts for constructing roads under the scheme of maximum length in 2020-21. During the last three years, 4,468 km of roads have been constructed under the scheme, by spending Rs. 2500 crore.  

The construction of strategically important Atal Tunnel, Rohtang is a major achievement for the country and the State. The tunnel will provide road connectivity to the tribal areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Leh throughout the year. 

On behalf of Krishi Jagran, we congratulate the People of the State of Himachal Pradesh as the State celebrates its Statehood Day and wish the State to progress towards being self-reliant.