Government Reaches Border Areas, Development Gets New Momentum
Oct 2026 : The Uttarakhand government has taken a new initiative to extend governance to the state’s remote and border areas. As part of this initiative, a meeting of the state Cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the NHPC complex in Banbasa, Champawat district, located near the India-Nepal international border. This was the first-ever Cabinet meeting held in Champawat district. Dozens of important decisions were taken during the meeting.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Cabinet meetings would no longer remain confined to Dehradun and would also be held in different districts of the state. This would provide an opportunity to directly place local-level problems, development possibilities and regional priorities before the government. He said the government’s effort was to reduce the distance between the administration and the people and ensure that the benefits of development schemes reached the farthest corners of the state.
The Chief Minister said border areas were not merely the geographical boundaries of the state but an important link in the country’s security, culture and development. Connecting people living in border areas with the mainstream of development was a priority of the state government. Basic infrastructure, employment, tourism and connectivity in these areas were being further strengthened.
He said organising Cabinet meetings in different parts of the state would help the government understand local conditions, public expectations and development requirements more closely. This would also pave the way for effective and speedy decisions on issues related to specific regions.
Precious Heritage of Devbhoomi’s Folk Tradition ‘Farra/Chhantoli’ Presented
During the Cabinet meeting held in Banbasa, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and members of the Cabinet were presented with the precious heritage of Devbhoomi’s rich folk traditions, known as ‘Farra/Chhantoli’. It is a traditional shield associated with the famous Bagwal tradition of Devidhura in Champawat.
The traditional shield used in the Bagwal tradition is mainly prepared from strips of bamboo or ringal and made in the shape of an umbrella. The presentation of this traditional heritage to the Chief Minister and Cabinet ministers symbolised respect for Devbhoomi’s folk culture, traditions and the distinctive cultural identity of the border region.
