Dehradun: The final day of the three-day “Devbhoomi Silver Jubilee Festival and Winter Char Dham Yatra-based program,” organized to commemorate the completion of 25 years of the Uttarakhand state’s formation, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami by lighting a lamp. On this historic occasion, the Chief Minister extended his heartfelt greetings to the people of the state on the Silver Jubilee year and paid homage to all the brave martyrs and activists whose struggles made the dream of Uttarakhand state a reality. He specifically praised the contribution of women, saying that their role in the formation of the state has been unforgettable and that today they are taking the rural economy to new heights. On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also honored the Uttarakhand activists.
The Chief Minister said that today is also the birth anniversary of the late Indramani Badoni ji, the “Gandhi of Uttarakhand,” who played a crucial role in the creation of a separate state. He paid tribute to Badoni ji and remembered his struggles. Through the Devbhoomi Silver Jubilee Festival, the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand is being preserved by promoting the Devbhoomi Silver Jubilee Festival and the Winter Char Dham Yatra. Today, work is being done to develop services such as education, health, roads, and electricity. The campaign to make India a developed nation through Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Local for Vocal” and “Made in India” initiatives is gaining momentum. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, tourism is being promoted throughout the year by encouraging the winter pilgrimage from Mukhwa Harsil. Today, our government is working on the “One District, One Festival” initiative.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, to accelerate the industrial sector, an Investor Summit was organized, bringing in investments of more than Rs. 1 lakh crore, giving new momentum and success to the industrial sector. To strengthen the state’s local economy, special recognition is being given to House of Himalayas, handicrafts, self-help groups, crafts, and weaving, etc. To boost the economy, by accelerating initiatives such as homestays, Lakhpati Didi (women entrepreneurs earning over a lakh rupees), and wedding destinations, more than 12,000 women in the Uttarkashi district alone have become Lakhpati Didis.
The Chief Minister said that due to the efforts of our government, the Uttarakhand Migration Prevention Commission’s report shows an increase of approximately 44 percent in reverse migration. Today, Uttarakhand is also a leading state in the country in providing employment to the youth. So far, our government has provided jobs to more than 26,500 young people with merit and transparency. Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country in the Sustainable Development Goals Index released by NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister said that compared to the states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, which came into existence along with Uttarakhand, we are performing better in some areas.
He said that to improve the health services of the district, a 50-bed critical care unit is being built in Uttarkashi at a cost of Rs 23 crore. A sub-district hospital is being constructed in Purola at a cost of Rs 46 crore. Every village is being connected by road. The construction work of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi is also in its final stages, which will reduce the distance between Yamunotri and Gangotri, providing convenience to common citizens and giving a new impetus to tourism. The Chief Minister said that while it is impossible to prevent natural disasters, we can minimize their damage by improving our preparedness, for which work is underway to install a monitoring system for lakes located at high altitudes. Expressing his condolences to the victims of the Dharali disaster, he assured them that all necessary steps would be taken.
The Chief Minister said that our government has implemented laws such as the Uniform Civil Code, the anti-conversion law, and laws against land jihad and love jihad, and has freed government land from illegal encroachment. He said that no one will be allowed to tamper with the culture of Devbhoomi (the land of gods). By implementing the UCC, a system of equal laws for all has been established.
Gangotri MLA Suresh Chauhan said that Uttarakhand has completed 25 years, and today our state is celebrating its silver jubilee year based on the winter Char Dham Yatra. The dream of creating Uttarakhand was realized by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, efforts are being made to transform it into a leading state in the country. The state’s economy is being boosted and given new momentum by promoting winter tourism.
Today, the program included an essay competition and cultural performances by school students. Students who secured first, second, and third place in the painting, rangoli, dance, and essay competitions were also honored. The development exhibition organized as part of the Devbhoomi Silver Jubilee celebrations also emerged as a major attraction, showcasing the state’s development journey over the past 25 years through pictures and videos. These digital exhibitions are attracting a large number of people. The digital exhibition displays Uttarakhand’s development journey through modern technology, interactive games, and digital media.
In the evening, Sangeeta Dhoundiyal and the Pandavaz band will present captivating performances at the Devbhoomi Silver Jubilee celebrations. Over the past two days, the colorful performances by the Ajay Bharti group, Ajju Tomar, and Shweta Mahara have enthralled the audience.
