By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, in a list of incentives announced on Independence Day Monday, said every household in the state would be provided a rainwater harvesting tank.
“The government will provide a rainwater harvesting tank to every household in the state in the next three years,” he said in his speech in Badsar town of Hamirpur district. “Each tank will cost Rs.58,800.”
There was no mention, however, of whether these tanks would be provided free or at subsidised rates. The state has a population of over six million, according to the latest census.
Dhumal further announced the launch of a social security pension scheme, enhancement of pension for freedom fighters, free treatment for infants and pregnant mothers, and reduction of sentence for prisoners with good behaviour.
The ‘samman rashi’ or monthly pension to freedom fighters will go up from Rs.4,000 to Rs.5,000.
The social security pension, at the rate of Rs.330 per month, will cover an additional 10,535 people from October this year. Totally, it is expected to benefit 252,000 widows, the elderly and the physically challenged.
For schoolchildren, Dhumal announced the launch of the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Students Health Programme, under which 10 lakh students in government schools will be medically examined.
“The government will also provide free medical care to infants up to the age of one year in all government health institutions and the expectant mothers will be provided free medical facilities during pregnancy,” he said.
Those imprisoned for life or more than 10 years will get a remission of three months, while those convicted for five to 10 years will have their sentences reduced by two months for good behaviour, Dhumal announced.