Provide funds for Panchayat Samitis, Zila Parishad: HP CM to

Centre Shimla, Sep 9(PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief MinisterVirbhadra Singh today urged the Union government to amend therecommendations of 14th Finance Commission to pave way fordevolution of funds to Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. "The Commission has clearly directed that the funds wouldbe provided to the gram panchayats only, though requests havebeen made by the state government to provide funds forPanchayats Samitis and Zila Parishads as well," said Singh ata public meeting in Bhaloh here. He also reitereated his government’s commitment towardsupgrading the quality of education in the state. "The state government has opened or upgraded over 1010schools in the state during past three and half years besidesopening 24 ITI’s, two engineering colleges and 41 colleges,mostly in rural and remote areas," he said. "The ‘Mukhya Mantri Adarsh Vidyalaya Yojna’ has beenlaunched to provide state-of-the-art infrastructural andteaching facilities in two senior secondary schools in eachconstituency while 36 schools have been either upgraded oropened in Shimla," he added. PTI PCL CHT SMNCHT