Dehradun: PM Modi began his address at the silver jubilee celebrations of the formation of the state of Uttarakhand in Garhwali. He said, “My brothers and sisters of the land of Uttarakhand, I have forgotten you, you are all my namaskars.” PM Modi spoke in Garhwali twice throughout his address, highlighting Uttarakhand’s development story over the past 25 years. During this address, PM Modi praised Uttarakhand’s local products and festivals.
PM Modi began his address by paying tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Uttarakhand statehood movement.
Journey of Development: The Prime Minister said that 25 years ago, the new Uttarakhand faced many challenges. Resources were limited, and sources of income were scarce. But today, the picture has changed. 25 years ago, Uttarakhand’s annual budget was ₹4,000 crore. But today it has crossed 1 lakh crore rupees. Furthermore, power generation has increased fourfold in 25 years. Road length has doubled. There was once only one medical college, but now there are 10. During this, he again said in Garhwali, “First climb the mountains, development stops floods, now new paths have started opening up.”
Religious Travel in Uttarakhand: He further said, “Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is the heartbeat of India’s spiritual life. Countless pilgrimage sites like Chardham, Jageshwar, and Kailash are symbols of faith. Every year, millions of devotees visit these holy shrines. Uttarakhand is the spiritual power of the country, and Uttarakhand can establish itself as the Spiritual Capital of the World.”
Regarding the Vibrant Villages Scheme, PM Modi said, “Now tourists will be able to get to know our border villages up close. Thanks to the Vibrant Villages Scheme, tourists from India and abroad will be able to experience Uttarakhand’s culture, clothing, and food, such as dipka, chudakani, roti, arsa, and jhangora kheer.”
Branding of Local Products: While branding local products, PM Modi gave the message of Vocal for Local and described the use of local products as a part of tradition. He praised Badri cow ghee. He said that receiving the GI tag for Badri cow ghee is a major achievement. Badri cows are the pride of every village household in Uttarakhand. Regarding the ‘House of Himalayas’ brand, he said that the House of Himalayas brand is a means to promote your products, which is increasing competition in the global market. Today, the Uttarakhand fruit Bedu is reaching every market.
