Chief Minister Shares Uttarakhand’s Development Priorities During Interaction With Intellectuals
Migrant intellectuals associated with various institutions offer suggestions for the state’s development
New Delhi, Sept 2026 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday met migrant intellectuals from Uttarakhand at Uttarakhand Niwas in New Delhi. He said migrants from the state and members of the intelligentsia have an important role to play in Uttarakhand’s development journey.
During the interaction, migrant intellectuals associated with various institutions shared suggestions concerning the development of the state. Dhami said the suggestions received during the meeting would be incorporated into policies being prepared for Uttarakhand’s development. He also thanked the participants for attending the programme despite their busy schedules.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand is endowed with a rich culture, traditions and natural resources inherited from previous generations. He said the state government has increased the budget to Rs 1.12 lakh crore to accelerate development.
Dhami said more work was required in various sectors to promote reverse migration. The government, he said, was making continuous efforts to utilise the “water of the hills and youth of the hills” for the state’s development. Expansion of tourism, self-employment and local economic activities has resulted in positive changes towards reverse migration, he said, adding that Uttarakhand had recorded a 44 per cent increase in reverse migration.
Highlighting connectivity as a major strength for attracting investment, Dhami said the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor had significantly reduced travel time between the national capital and Dehradun. More than 50 air services are available from Dehradun to major cities across the country, he said.
He described Haridwar as one of Uttarakhand’s major industrial areas, while Pantnagar in Udham Singh Nagar has developed into an important centre for both agriculture and industrial activities. The proposed greenfield airport at Pantnagar, he said, would be important from the perspective of industrial and logistics development.
Referring to the state’s achievements, Dhami said Uttarakhand had secured the top position in NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals ranking. He also said the state had secured a leading position among Himalayan and northeastern states in creating a favourable policy environment for investment.
On employment and youth, the Chief Minister said the state government had accorded the highest priority to transparent recruitment processes. He said that after assuming office on July 4, 2021, his government had resolved to ensure transparency in recruitment.
According to Dhami, strict action had been taken in cases involving paper leaks and cheating, with more than 100 people being sent to jail in action against what he described as the cheating mafia. He said more than 35,000 young people had been appointed to government services and extensive reforms had been undertaken to make recruitment processes transparent.
He said a large number of young people and women were moving towards self-employment through homestays, small hotels, agriculture, horticulture and local enterprises.
Describing tourism as an important pillar of the state’s economy, Dhami said large numbers of pilgrims and tourists were visiting destinations associated with the Char Dham Yatra, Kanwar Yatra and Adi Kailash. He said the Char Dham Yatra had increased several times, while around five crore devotees had reportedly participated in the Kanwar Yatra. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Adi Kailash region, he said, there had also been a significant increase in the number of tourists and pilgrims, benefiting tourism-based economic activity and local employment in border areas.
Dhami said Uttarakhand had presented a new model of good governance and equal rights through the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. According to him, its implementation had created a positive atmosphere in society and strengthened the rights of women, children and senior citizens.
He also said anti-conversion and anti-riot laws had been implemented to protect Uttarakhand’s identity and demographic character. He said strict action had been and would continue to be taken against activities that, according to the government, undermine the peace and culture of Devbhoomi.
The Chief Minister also highlighted steps taken to promote equality and modernisation in education. He said the state had abolished the Madrasa Board and introduced the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority, with representation from different sections. The objective, he said, was to provide equal and quality education to every child.
Dhami said action had been taken against more than 250 madrasas that were allegedly not operating according to prescribed standards. Strengthening educational institutions and ensuring quality education for children, he said, remained a priority.
He said the state government was working continuously for the overall development of Uttarakhand. Road, rail, ropeway and air connectivity had expanded rapidly to border areas, while the Char Dham Yatra and religious tourism had been linked with modern facilities. New opportunities for employment and self-employment were also being created locally for young people.
Dhami further said Uttarakhand’s youth were bringing recognition to the state at national and international sporting events. Following the successful hosting of the 38th National Games, Uttarakhand was developing a new identity as a sports destination, he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that a strict anti-cheating law had been implemented to ensure transparent recruitment and protect the future of hardworking youth. He said every appointment represented not merely a number but the hard work of a young person and the hopes of an entire family.
Several prominent intellectuals and public figures from Uttarakhand attended the programme, including Prasoon Joshi, Prof Pradeep Joshi, Ashwini Lohani, Prof Harsh V. Pant, Subhash Dhulia, Prof Dhananjay Joshi, Sushmita Rawat, Dr Sarita Pathak, Kulanand Joshi, Nirmal Pathak, Harisuman Bisht, Dev Raturi, Dr Sushma Rawat, Dr Nidhi Gusain, Devendra Gusain, Dr K.K. Pandey, Vinod Bacheti, D.S. Rawat, Dr Saroj Pandey, Shankar Pandey, Prof Dinesh Saklani, Prof Pawan Kumar Joshi, Virendra Singh Negi, Pawan Kumar Maithani, Harendra Aswal, Sanjay Joshi, Dr Bhuvan Chandra Pandey, Vijay Joshi, Dr Megha Bisht and Lakshmi Rawat.
The programme was conducted by Prof Govind Singh.
