Chief Minister appeals to Non-Resident Uttarakhandis to remain connected with their culture and roots
Chief Minister expresses gratitude to 30 Non-Resident Uttarakhandis who have adopted their native villages and contributed to their development
Participation of every section of society, along with the government, is essential for the overall development of the state: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the Third Non-Resident Uttarakhandi Conference held at Doon University, Kedarpuram, Dehradun, on Friday.
Welcoming Non-Resident Uttarakhandis who had arrived from different parts of the country, the Chief Minister said that the conference gave the feeling of family members coming together after returning home following a long time apart. He said that Uttarakhandis living in different parts of the country have always maintained an emotional connection with their homeland. Remaining connected with one's culture, traditions and roots is essential for everyone, he added.
The Chief Minister said that Non-Resident Uttarakhandis were bringing recognition to the state in various fields through their talent, hard work and achievements. Their experience, knowledge, resources and capabilities should also benefit the development of the state.
He expressed special gratitude to 30 Non-Resident Uttarakhandis who had taken the initiative to adopt their ancestral villages and contribute to their development. He said this initiative reflected their attachment to their homeland and their sense of social responsibility. It would also inspire other Non-Resident Uttarakhandis to contribute to the development of their native villages.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand had made remarkable progress in various sectors of development over the past few years. The state's budget and per capita income had increased significantly. Along with the expansion of basic infrastructure, continuous encouragement was being given to employment, self-employment, tourism, agriculture, horticulture and industrial development.
He said Uttarakhand had become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code. A stringent anti-cheating law had also been implemented to ensure transparency in recruitment processes. More than 35,000 young people had been provided government jobs over the past five years. In addition, more than 13,000 acres of government land had been freed from encroachment.
The Chief Minister said special efforts were being made to strengthen women's empowerment and the rural economy. Around 3.5 lakh women in the state had become Lakhpati Didis. An incentive amount would also be provided to encourage these women soon.
He said the state government would soon increase the honorarium of guest teachers, Anganwadi and ASHA workers, and Bhojan Matas (midday meal cooks). The government was committed to the welfare and economic empowerment of every section of society.
The Chief Minister said schemes such as the Apple Mission, Kiwi Mission and Timur Mission were being promoted to make agriculture and horticulture important sources of employment and self-employment in the state.
More than ₹6 crore worth of products had been sold through the House of Himalayas brand, launched to give local products recognition at the national and international levels. He said branding and marketing of local products were creating new opportunities for farmers, women's self-help groups and local entrepreneurs. This was strengthening the rural economy while increasing employment and self-employment opportunities at the local level.
The Chief Minister said roads, railways, air connectivity and other infrastructure facilities were being developed rapidly in the state. Work was under way on the Saung Dam project to meet the long-term drinking water requirements of Dehradun and surrounding areas. The project would provide significant support in meeting drinking water requirements for the next 50 years.
He said work on the Jamrani Dam and Lakhwar Dam projects was also progressing, while a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed for the Kishau Dam project.
The Chief Minister said significant work was being undertaken to establish an AIIMS satellite centre at Kichha, expand Pantnagar Airport and construct heliports across the state. Efforts were being made to connect various cities and major tourist destinations in Uttarakhand through helicopter services.
Improved air connectivity would provide fresh momentum to tourism, pilgrimage and economic activities in the state. It would also strengthen transport facilities in remote areas, he added.
The Chief Minister said active participation by every section of society, along with the government, was necessary for the overall and balanced development of Uttarakhand. The government could formulate better schemes, ensure their effective implementation and play a coordinating role among various initiatives. However, broad-based development, comprehensiveness and prosperity could be achieved only through collective efforts, he said.
The Chief Minister appealed to Non-Resident Uttarakhandis to remain continuously connected with their ancestral villages and contribute their experience and expertise in education, healthcare, agriculture, horticulture, tourism, entrepreneurship and self-employment.
He said Non-Resident Uttarakhandis were important participants in the state's development journey. Through coordinated efforts by the government and the overseas and out-of-state Uttarakhandi community, the state could reach new heights of development.
Former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that at the time of the formation of the state, he had to travel on foot to reach his village. Today, however, road connectivity had expanded to remote villages of Uttarakhand.
He said that through the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, road connectivity had been developed up to Lipulekh, enabling pilgrims to view Mount Kailash from Indian territory itself. He added that Non-Resident Uttarakhandis were now returning to their villages to reconnect with their roots.
Former Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said Uttarakhand had been associated since ancient times with rich traditions of the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Sanskrit, yoga and Ayurveda. The state's spiritual and cultural heritage had a distinct identity across the world. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand was progressing rapidly on the path of development.
Dharampur MLA Vinod Chamoli appealed to every Non-Resident Uttarakhandi to build a house in their ancestral village and maintain a continuous connection with it. He said the state government's efforts had encouraged reverse migration. He claimed that 44 per cent of people had undertaken reverse migration due to the government's initiatives, describing it as a major achievement.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said Non-Resident Uttarakhandis were the state's true brand ambassadors. Their experience, technical knowledge, entrepreneurship and investments would give momentum to the vision of a developed Uttarakhand.
He said the Pravasi Uttarakhand Cell was established in October 2022 and the Pravasi Uttarakhand Council, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, was constituted in April 2025 to maintain continuous dialogue with Non-Resident Uttarakhandis and ensure their participation in the state's development.
A website had also been developed for the registration of Non-Resident Uttarakhandis and the exchange of information. He appealed to them to register on the website and contribute to the state in the fields of investment, tourism, agriculture, education, healthcare and self-employment.
Cabinet Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, MLA Kishore Upadhyay, Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi, Government of India Secretary Sudhansh Pant, renowned actress Himani Shivpuri, international hockey player Chitranshi Rawat, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Director General of Police Deepam Seth and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Voices of Non-Resident Uttarakhandis
Union Secretary Thanks Chief Minister for Road Connectivity to His Native Village
Secretary of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Sudhansh Pant said the conference was not merely a platform for emotional bonding but also an opportunity to accelerate the state's development.
He said Uttarakhand had witnessed rapid development over the past few years under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Sharing his personal experience, he said that a road had reached his ancestral village in Pithoragarh three years ago due to the efforts of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. As a result, he was now getting his 120-year-old ancestral house renovated. He expressed special gratitude to the Chief Minister for this.
He said one's birthplace was like heaven and that, after retirement, he would dedicate his time to his homeland.
Prasoon Joshi Recites Poem: “This Is the Rise of Uttarakhand”
Prasar Bharati Chairman and renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi said that although the younger generation of Uttarakhand might not have as strong a command over its native dialects and languages as the previous generation, it had greater confidence in its identity.
He said that earlier, people from Uttarakhand would not openly reveal their identity unless necessary. The Uttarakhand Government deserved congratulations for fostering this confidence among the state's youth, he added.
On the occasion, he presented the state's development journey through a poem:
“This is the rise of Uttarakhand,
There is a rhythm in this rise,
This is a forehead held high with pride,
There is no fear here,
This is the rise of Uttarakhand.”
Uttarakhand Is Developing Rapidly: Bisht
Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker and MLA Mohan Singh Bisht said that wherever their place of work might be, all Uttarakhandis took pride in the fact that Uttarakhand was their birthplace.
He said people from Uttarakhand had earned recognition across the country and abroad through their talent. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand was progressing rapidly, he added.
Youth of Uttarakhand Are Rich in Talent: Chitranshi
Actress Chitranshi Rawat said that people from the hills possessed simplicity as well as great resilience.
She said that no matter where people from the mountains lived in the world, they always preserved the spirit of the mountains within themselves.
She added that the youth of the hill regions had no shortage of talent.
