Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday announced an award of Rs 1 crore to Varun Kumar, a resident of Dalhousie in Chamba district, who is also a part of the Indian men’s hockey team that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Thakur made this announcement in the assembly on the fifth day of the ongoing monsoon session.
Thakur said that apart from a cash prize of Rs one crore, Varun would be appointed as the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The CM said that it is a matter of pride for the state that a player from Himachal is a part of the Olympic team.
Congress MLA from Dalhousie Asha Kumari told the house that Varun Kumar’s family had shifted to Jalandhar in Punjab a few years back. He urged the Chief Minister to provide better sports facilities in Chamba district so that other players could get proper training near their homes. He also demanded a sports academy for Dalhousie.
Asha Kumari told the House that Varun, who belongs to the Gaddi community, was adjudged the man of the match in the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Rs 6 crore budget for forest fires: Minister
In response to a question by Congress MLA Inderdutt Lakhanpal, Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania told the Assembly that the government has made a provision of more than Rs.6 crore in the budget for extinguishing forest fires.
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