category Regional, mandi, , tags Regional, mandi, , DW BUREAU Mandi Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today presided over the first convocation ceremony of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College Nerchowk in district Mandi and presented internship certificates to the first batch of MBBS doctors. On the demand of students, he directed the administration to identify land for constructing a Sports ground and an additional hostel. Congratulating the newly passed out doctors in his address, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by doctors due to the saturation in the profession. He emphasized the importance of hard work in dealing with challenges and achieving success. He said that the state government is working towards providing ample employment opportunities to doctors despite limited job opportunities in the government sector. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for doctors to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in medical science. He said that Department of Emergency Medicine is being created by the state government, under which doctors and paramedical staff will work in eight-hour shifts and this would help in strengthening the emergency services besides keeping the medical staff fit. He said that the government is introducing robotic surgery in Shimla, Tanda, Nerchowk, Hamirpur medical colleges and the latest PET scan and CT scan facilities would be provided in Shimla and Tanda Medical Colleges. He said that world-class facilities would be available in the medical colleges of the state in the coming times and the state government was working on it. A modern cancer hospital is going to be built in Hamirpur and the State Government has constituted the Medical Service Corporation, which will bring transparency to government procurement. The Chief Minister said that to improve the quality of drinking water, the state government will use UV-based technology for water purifiers in all drinking water schemes in a phased manner. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that due to the financial mismanagement of the previous government, the economic condition of the state was so bad that it had to take Rs. 6000 crore loan to meet the expenses of the government. He said that Himachal Pradesh s economy would be brought back on track in four years with the cooperation of the people of the state and for this, tough decisions will have to be taken. He said that decisions are being taken in the direction to revamp the system and future generations would get the benefit of these decisions. In the next ten years, Himachal Pradesh would be made the most prosperous state of the country. In order to enhance the financial resources of the state, the government has imposed water cess on the power generation in hydropower projects being operating in the state despite the opposition and revenue of Rs. 1800 crores would be received in a year. He said that he has also talked to the government of Haryana and Punjab regarding this decision. He said that the revenue has increased by 40 percent by auctioning liquor vends, while the previous BJP government s decision to renew the contracts has led to a loss for the exchequer. He said that the state government is also promoting tourism in the state, under which Kangra is being declared tourism capital and Kangra airport is being expanded. Along with this, efforts are being made to promote tourism in Mandi and other areas. Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that IGMC College has given the best doctors in the country and is providing services in top medical institutes of Delhi. He said that he also won the election of CSA of Government College Sanjauli and became CR at the age of 17 years. He also recalled the days spent at Himachal Pradesh University Shimla. (editor dailyworld.in)