Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/NEW DELHI & DEHRADUN
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Saturday. He raised key developmental concerns and showcased Uttarakhand’s progress across multiple sectors while seeking central support for future initiatives.
Addressing the gathering, CM Dhami emphasized the urgent need to address urban drainage issues caused by rapid urbanization. He urged for a national-level plan to develop a sustainable urban drainage system tailored to hilly regions like Uttarakhand. The Chief Minister also recommended the inclusion of lift irrigation in the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, pointing out that only 10 percent of the hill areas are currently irrigated. He highlighted efforts such as river-linking, construction of check dams, and rainwater conservation to improve irrigation.
Looking ahead, Dhami sought support to organize two major upcoming religious events — the 2026 Maa Nanda Raj Jat Yatra and the 2027 Haridwar Kumbh Mela — on a grand scale. He stressed the importance of harnessing the demographic dividend in the next decade by promoting self-employment opportunities across the state.
The Chief Minister noted that although agriculture contributes just 9.3 percent to Uttarakhand’s GDP, it employs 45 percent of the population. To enhance rural income, the state is promoting high-value agriculture through Apple, Kiwi, Dragon Fruit, and Millet Missions, as well as aromatic farming.
Highlighting the state’s achievements, Dhami stated that Uttarakhand’s economy has grown 1.5 times in the last three years, with the state topping NITI Aayog’s 2023-24 SDG index and ranking second in CARE Ratings for governance among small states. Over 23,000 youths have secured government jobs in the last three and a half years, and the state has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
The 38th National Games were organized as “Green Games,” aligning with the PM’s Net Zero vision, using solar energy and recycled materials, and preventing the emission of over 4,000 tons of CO₂. Tourism initiatives, including winter tourism and eco-tourism, are boosting the sector, while policies for geothermal energy and Gross Environment Product (GEP) are promoting sustainable development.
He also highlighted the success of the Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme, under which beneficiaries are earning over ₹1 lakh per month.
