Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami kicked off a series of development initiatives by inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for 110 schemes worth Rs. 34,710.19 lakhs. The event, called ‘Main Sevak Aapke Dwar,’ was held at Government Kirti Inter College in Uttarkashi on Saturday.
The inauguration comprised 54 development schemes amounting to Rs. 13,699.01 lakh, while the foundation stone laying included 56 development schemes worth Rs. 21,011.18 lakh. Chief Minister Dhami took the opportunity to visit the stalls set up by various departments during the event. During the ceremony, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami distributed honorarium checks from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund to six talented students. He also presented grant money and house keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Prime Minister's Housing Scheme).
Furthermore, checks were distributed to 63 beneficiaries from different public welfare schemes under departments such as dairy development, fisheries, cooperatives, and horticulture. The Chief Minister also distributed disaster relief kits, agricultural and horticultural equipment, as well as wheelchairs for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities).
Chief Minister Dhami made several announcements regarding the development of Uttarkashi. These included the renovation of the district road from Bagi Bridge to Arakot in the Mori Mautad motor road of the Mori development block. He also called for the construction of a new motor road from Jkhol to Dhara village in the Mori development block and the expansion and strengthening of motor roads to connect the Kuva Scheduled Caste-dominated village in the Naugaon development block.
The Chief Minister also sanctioned the development of the Kharsali to Malthach track route, Hanuman Chatti to Gulabikantha track route, Rana Chatti 1 to Ghinada track route, and the Banas Tapt Rishi Kund and natural springs and places near Yamunotri Dham for tourists. Furthermore, the approval for an eco-park in Barkot and Chinyalisaur was announced. The construction of the Astha Path from Tiloth Bridge to Lakseshwar and from Tamakhani to Tiloth Bridge was also proposed. Additionally, Chief Minister Dhami advocated for connecting Paturi Dhanari with the Sem Mukhem Motorway and constructing a motorway from Gyansu Upper Kot Motorway to Sthanachatti and Malla, Belak Trijuginarayan Motorway.
Considering the Chardham Yatra pilgrimage, the Chief Minister called for the construction of vehicle parking facilities from Main Market to Leesa Depot in Uttarkashi district and the approval of other pocket parking projects in Uttarkashi city. He also proposed presenting Sarnaul to Sottri Bugyal Sarutal as a tourist circuit. The building for Rajiv Navodaya Vidyalaya in Chinyalisaur was approved, and the renaming of Raika Maneri to honour the late mountaineer Savita Kanswal was announced.
Acknowledging the felicitations from a large number of people, Chief Minister Dhami expressed that the inauguration and foundation stone laying of 110 development schemes marked the beginning of a new chapter of progress in Uttarkashi. He highlighted the provision of roads, health facilities, non-residential buildings for development block offices and schools, library facilities, school and hostel laboratories for athletes, and parking amenities for tourists and locals. He emphasized that these schemes would lead to the expansion and development of essential infrastructure in the district.
Chief Minister Dhami praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dedicated service, good governance, and welfare initiatives during his nine-year tenure. He mentioned the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, which provides annual support of Rs. 6,000 to over 11 crore farmers. He also highlighted the availability of affordable and accessible healthcare through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the rapid expansion of road, rail, and air connectivity across the country, and the ongoing reconstruction work in Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham. He added that the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission is progressing swiftly.
Dhami informed that over 21,000 people in Uttarkashi district have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, while more than 13,000 families have received assistance under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Additionally, over 34,000 families have been supported through the Food Security Scheme. In terms of water supply, 6,278 families have benefitted under the Jal Jeevan Mission against a target of 7,488. He mentioned the state government's focus on laying the foundation for new development in Uttarakhand, with initiatives such as promoting homestays, registering over 4,000 homestays, and developing 16 eco-tourism destinations. The Chief Minister also highlighted the progress of the Rs. 2,000 crore Tehri Lake Development Project.
Regarding housing schemes, Dhami noted that over 3 crore houses have been provided across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Furthermore, efforts have been made to register the houses allotted to beneficiary families in the name of women. In Uttarkashi district, 1,457 people have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Awas (Rural) Yojana against a target of 1,544, and 306 people have benefited under the Pradhan Mantri Awas (Urban) Yojana against a target of 652.
The Chief Minister also mentioned the successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, which has transferred approximately Rs. 1,390 crores to the accounts of around 9 lakh farmers in the state. Additionally, the state government is providing interest-free loans up to Rs. 3 lakh to farmers and up to Rs. 5 lakh to women self-help groups through the "Farm Machinery Bank" scheme, which offers agricultural equipment subsidies of up to 80 percent.
