Minister seeks addl grant for forest management

Col Dhani Ram Shandilya, minister for social justice and empowerment, has stated that Himachal is protecting water and forests against which the state deserves additional financial support from the central government.

Col Dhani Ram Shandilya, minister for social justice and empowerment, has stated that Himachal is protecting water and forests against which the state deserves additional financial support from the central government.

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He said the chief minister had also urged the finance commission to grant Rs 1,430 crore for forest wealth management.

Interacting with mediapersons, he said the rivers protected by the state were prospering other states so some additional grant should be given for such protections. The minister said he had an informal meeting with the members of the 14th finance commission recently, during which the issue was raised.

He also stressed on the need of blood donation for serving the society.

He said every person should donate blood on regular basis. Replying to a query over the increasing cases of child labour, he said action would be ensured strictly and added that local children were not involved in labour, but people migrating from other states like UP and Bihar were allowing their children to work as labour in sweet meat shops, hotels and restaurants.

The minister also took part in the blood donation camp being organised by the DCC at Congress Bhawan on the eve of Sadbhawana Diwas, birth anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi.