Solan, March 19 : Lashing out at the opposition Congress leaders for “misleading” the people of the country and state regarding the safety of the vaccine, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday said that these leaders were themselves waiting for the booster dose after completing both first and second doses of the vaccine. Addressing a public meeting at HIMUDA Complex Baddi, Thakur announced opening of BDO office at Patta, upgradation of Government High School Shera and Jagjitt nagar to Government Senior Secondary Schools, upgradation of Government Middle School Sudhar to Government High School, opening of PHC at Manpura and upgradation of Primary School at Makhumajra to Middle school. Earlier, the Chief minister performed inauguration and foundation stone laying of 11 developmental projects worth about Rs 88 crores at Baddi. He said that Rs 12.56 crore double lane bridge with footpath over Balad khad on Baddi-Barotiwala road would go a long way in facilitating the commuters. He said that funds for this bridge were provided by Baddi-Brotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority and was executed by the State Public Works Department. Thakur said the corona pandemic has adversely affected the economy of the whole world, but fortunately it seems that we are gradually coming out of this situation. He said that Himachal Pradesh also emerged as a pioneer in vaccinating cent percent of its eligible population. The Chief Minister said that the performance of BJP in recently held elections of five States has completely baffled the Congress leaders. He said that the people of these States have totally rejected the Congress and once again reposed faith in policies and programmes of the Centre as well as State Governments. He said the previous Congress Government did nothing for the welfare of the people, whereas the present State Government has initiated several schemes for welfare of every section of the society. He also detailed various welfare schemes initiated by the State Government during the last four years. He also inaugurated Rs 12.56 crore double lane bridge with footpath over Balad khad on Baddi-Barotiwala road, a Rs 1.75 crore continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station at Baddi, Rs 12.50 crore strengthening and improvement of Manpura Dharampur road, Rs 1.95 crore bridge on link road to Channal Majra, Rs 2.31 crore LWSS Dhella, Rs 4.50 crore Fire Station building at Baddi and Rs 3.16 crore Barrack for Ladies constables and Barrack for NGOs at Kishanpura, tehsil Baddi. The Chief Minister laid foundation stones of Rs 49 crore which includes Rs 1.57 crore replacement and automation of pumping machinery of various water supply schemes of Tubewell, Rs 7.81 crore check dam on Balad khad at Ba Bhatoli in tehsil Baddi, Rs 31.75 crore augmentation of LWSS Dumanwala, Barotiwala, Kotian, Mandhala, Landeywal and Amru, Bawasni and Rs 7.50 crore office building of BBNDA. Thakur was honoured by several social and political organizations on the occasion. MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap thanked the Chief Minister for being considerate towards the developmental demands of the people of the area. He said that for the first time a component of gender budgeting has been made in the budget to ensure women empowerment. MLA Doon Paramjeet Singh Pammi, while welcoming the Chief Minister to his home constituency, thanked him for dedicating and laying foundation stones of 11 developmental projects worth Rs 88 crore for Doon Vidhan Sabha area. He also thanked the Chief Minister for initiating several welfare schemes for the socio-economic upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden. He also detailed various developmental demands of the area. XC DB RKM