Tribal districts carved out for speedy development: CM

Shimla, Jul 17 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the tribal districts of Kinnuar and Lahaul-Spiti of the state were carved out for their speedy development.

Consistent persuasion by former state chief minister Y S Parmar helped in declaring these districts tribal besides provided substantial funds to meet their development, he said while addressing a public meeting at Sangla in Kinnuar district of the state.

Mr Singh said his government was spending nine per cent of its annual plan for the speedy development of four per cent tribal population.

Lahaul-Spiti district, which was a tehsil of Kangra district prior to its merger with the state on November one, 1966, was declared an independent district keeping in view its similar geographical condition with Kinnaur district, he said.

He said the tribal areas were being governed under a single line administration for its speedy development, adding that the tribal areas of the state were better developed as compared to other tribal areas of the country.

Criticising the previous state government for reducing the funds to the tribal sub plan, he said this had stalled various development programmes of about Rs 90 crore during their tenure.

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