The BJP is now making a conscious effort to win over dalits.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told reporters here on Sunday that his government was setting up community centres named after Dr B.R. Ambedkar in every Assembly segment. “All these community centres will have a seating capacity of 1,000-2,000 persons and will be built on a similar design. Besides, villages having a dominant dalit population will be provided drinking water facilities and solar light systems,” he said. Mr Dhumal, who was here to attend a party programme, said that since tourism was an important sector of his state’s economy, he had initiated the home-stay programme in the rural interiors.
“We will be providing housekeeping training to the local people who have an additional room and toilet and no commercial charges for electricity etc. will be taken from them. The programme is designed to take tourists on routes other than known places like Shimla and Manali,” he said. The Himachal government had also decided to provide a free night stay to couples having a girl child. “If anyone stays at our hotels for two days with their daughter, the third night will be a free gift from the girl child to the parents,” the HP chief minister said.
Mr Dhumal said that his government was working towards releasing a book containing tales of love, honour, courage and even haunting spirits related to various villages.